I‘ve always liked Destiny’s Child’s music, so when I heard the three members were all taking a break to pursue solo careers it was quite obvious that Beyonce’s album would definitely be the most popular. Anyway I’ve no interest in Michelle’s album as I just don’t like her voice, but Kelly on the other hand produced a great album, which I enjoyed listening to. It was a hit but as soon as Beyonce released this, everybody had forgotten about Kelly Rowland’s album “Simply Deep”.
You must have seen Beyonce on every TV show promoting this album, and to be honest I got rather sick of seeing her face on every channel! I guess all that hard work promoting it paid off, as the album went in at number 1 and stayed there for a while. But I do think Beyonce deserves the success she is getting because she is known for writing all of her own material, which is very impressive for someone so young. One thing I love about Beyonce is that she has a very different voice to anyone out there, if you hear a song she’s singing you’ll instantly know it’s her as her voice is very distinctive. Most people were expecting this album to be a progression from “Survivor” and anything Destiny’s child related, but honestly who had most control over Destiny’s child in the first place? To me this album isn’t something completely different, just a new take on an old idea. There are some signs of originality here and I praise Beyonce for doing something new but for everything original there is something not so original to even things out, so that is why I don’t think this album is a ground breaking one so many expected it to be. This album starts off brilliantly with some explosive tracks, you can’t help but feel excited about what else is to come. However after the delight that is the first few tracks everything seems to slow down with some extremely boring ballads. What went wrong? Also the array of guest artists on this album gets a tad frustrating after a while.
THE TRACKS~~
1) CRAZY IN LOVE (Featuring Jay Z) 3:55
“Got me looking so crazy right now, your love’s got me looking so crazy right now (In love)”
First time I heard this track I instantly loved it. By releasing this song first Beyonce hasn’t just released a mediocre R’n’B song to please the fans, but has released this somewhat different song to the normal Destiny style, but this song is just amazing. The tune is great and everything fits together really well, this song to me is really original and different and I’m glad Beyonce released this first. The song was apparently written about Beyonce’s love for JayZ who also happens to features on this song throughout and also raps mid way. These two obviously make a good team, musically and romantically (if they are dating for real that is) as Bonnie and Clyde ’03 was a great song and this one is even better. 9/10
2) NAUGHTY GIRL 3:28
“Your vibe's just taken over me, Start feelin so crazy babe, I feel the funk coming over me, I don't know what's gotten into me”
This is one of the funkiest songs on the album; it provides the album with an upbeat, retro sounding affair. One of the highlights of this track is the sampling of Donna Summers “Love to love you baby” which Beyonce sings in a very sexy manner. The song has a sort of Arabic theme to it which meshes well with the rest of the song, it sounds brilliant. This song is not the type you will get bored of, and thankfully it isn’t repetitive in my opinion, it’s a very cool sounding track with a good sound overall. One thing that I find a bit annoying about this song is Beyonce’s tendency to go a bit high pitched which I’m sure at one point only dogs can hear. But other than that, definitely a track to sing along to! 9/10
3) BABY BOY (Featuring Sean Paul) 4:04
“Baby boy you stay on my mind, fulfil my fantasies,
I think about you all the time, I see you in my dreams”
Carrying on the Arabic theme from the last song is Baby boy, which is my favourite song on the entire album. Beyonce has of course jumped on the Sean Paul bandwagon and collaborated with him on this very trendy track. I’m a huge fan of Sean Paul anyway, so when I heard he was on this album I had to skip to the song he was featured on and I have to say its impressive. This song would pretty much fit into the whole Bollywood saga, which has taken the R’n’B world by storm. Beyonce’s angelic vocals go well with Sean Paul’s reggae style; it’s a combination that works extremely well. Sean Paul is extremely popular at the moment and he adds a very cool reggae element to the song, which goes well with Arabic sound and Beyonce’s sweet voice. I have to say I’m gutted it’s been released because I know I’m going to get bored of it very soon. 9/10
4) HIP HOP STAR (Featuring Big Boi And Sleepy Brown) 3:42
“Are you infatuated with me? I could end your curiosity, if you don’t think I’m too rude, here’s your chance to make your move”
I am so in love with this song at the moment. It’s got such an amazing and different sound. It’s R’n’B but with a bit of a rock sound, but doesn’t go too overboard with the rock style. This song was a favourite of mine as soon as I heard it because it’s just so different to anything else on the album. Beyonce doesn’t really sing on this track but in a sense talks, but it all sounds good. There is a hard, guitar sound that plays continuously throughout the song, which sounds so brilliant and makes it different to all the other tracks. I think this song will impress a lot of people because unlike a lot of tracks on the album, this track is original. Big boi’s rap is ok, but nothing groundbreaking. 9/10
5) BE WITH YOU 4:20
“I'd rather be with you, because I love the way, you scream my name, and there's no other man, that gives me what I want”
This song is the beginning of the slow jam trend on this album, but unlike the majority of the slow tracks this is actually good! This is typical slow jam, with the cool beats and sultry style of singing. The beats on this track are very impressive as they set the tone of the song, and give it that very cool sound. The song also has a very catchy chorus; I enjoy listening to this song because to me it’s smooth, and very cool, one of the slow song highlights on this album in my opinion. It also sounds very reminiscent of that signature Destiny’s child sound. If you enjoy slow songs, which are smooth and sultry, then this song is definitely for you. 8/10
6) ME, MYSELF AND I 5:01
“Me myself and I, that's all I got in the end, that's what I found out, and it ain't no need to cry, I took a vow that from now on, I'm gonna be my own best friend”
First time I heard this I thought oh my god, this song sounds like it was taken off Aaliyah’s album “One in a million”. For some reason though it just didn’t appeal to me. To me this is where the album begins to go downhill. It sounds a bit too outdated for this album and for some reason I don’t think it suits Beyonce. I wasn’t too impressed with this song because there’s nothing new or original about it. 6/10
7) YES 4:18
“I said yes to your number, and yes to you dating me, yes we can be together, but you gotta wait for me, the first time I say no, it's like I never said yes”
This is a song I simply do not like. I can listen to it over and over and it will not grow on me. For one thing the cackling noise throughout the song just doesn’t help. Plus the intro to the song is very annoying. One thing that I don’t like about this song is that the tone is a bit inconsistent; the song has a very heavy beat which kind of clashes with everything else, which is really slow. They might be trying to do something new and original but it’s just plain and annoying. The meaning of the song doesn’t even help. It’s just about Beyonce saying “yes” to her man, wow great. 3/10
8) SIGNS (Featuring Missy Eliott) 4:58
“I was in love with a Sagittarius he blew my mind, he also had a flip side too much like a Gemini, he was freaky like a Taurus the way he handled me yeah, flirtatious like an Aries, which sign is best for me?”
Seeing Missy Elliot’s name attached to this song, you’d expect a cool, slick hip-hop record when in reality it does nothing but disappoint. This song to me is boring and dull. The songs main theme is about star signs and isn’t really too interesting to be honest. The chorus is extremely lame with Beyonce just singing different star signs…not very creative. The sounds, beats and tune of the song are quite irritating to me; I don’t think this song is very entertaining as it’s gets extremely repetitive after a while. This is a song I tend to skip because it has no interest to me, it’s boring. 3/10
9) SPEECHLESS 6:00
“Going outta my head I think I'm losing my mind, drive me crazy burning candles making love all night, feels so strange it feels so crazy to be in your world in your arms lost for words, you've got me!”
Here’s another average song, which is obviously there to fill the album. This song is just a simple R’n’B record with beats reminiscent of tracks by TLC and Mary J. Blige. This song is meant to be a smooth and sultry love song but I don’t see it. It’s just to reliant on the heavy beats and for some reason Beyonce’s style of singing is mediocre at best. The song does not grab your attention, it just goes on by, and is most probably going to be the track you skip. This song in my opinion has absolutely nothing going for it, because to me is sounds like it belongs in the mid 90’s, and it’s just way too long. I’m sure with more effort this song could have been much more promising. 4/10
10) THAT’S HOW YOU LIKE IT (Featuring Jay-Z) 3:39
“I need a thug that'll have my back, do-rag, Nike Airs to match, ain't nothin' wrong with that, that's how I like it, baby”
Here is another example of the early/mid 90’s sound. This song features JayZ but no don’t expect a slick, cool hip-hop record, this song is far from it. The only thing Jay Z does is say “That’s how you like huh?”. Nope nothing new here either. His rap mid song is not impressive either. Initially when I first heard this song I expected it to grow on me but it actually had the opposite effect. It became more annoying and boring. This song irritates me because it’s so repetitive, what’s the point of saying “That’s how you like it” over and over again? This song has no real chorus, this song is nothing new or original, it’s just plain boring, and irritating, not even JayZ could save it. 3/10
11) THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU (Duet With Luther Vandross) 4:57
“Over and over again, I tried to tell myself that we, could never be more than friends, but all the while, inside, I knew it was real, the way you make me feel”
Snore, Mariah is that you? Ok I know Luther Vandross is a talented singer but I don’t understand why this song was ever made. It sounds like all those other duets he’s done. Beyonce trying to be different, you’d guess this duet would be a groundbreaking affair but nope, it sounds very similar to all the other ones. Not impressed one bit with this song. It just sounds so passé, it doesn’t fit on this album one bit. The sounds and beats on this track stand out but for all the wrong reasons. This song just does not mesh in with all the other tracks; it just stands out for being different. I don’t understand why R’n’B diva Beyonce has done such a soppy ballad, which sounds like it should be on Mariah’s album. If you like Mariah type ballads then you’ll love this, if not avoid it like the plague. 4/10
12) DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE 2 4:53
“My happiest moments weren't complete, if you weren't by my side”
Destiny’s Child fans will recognise this song title as it appeared on their last album “Survivor”. This could probably be described as an updated version, which I think, is only slightly better than the album version but what baffles me is why it’s on here in the first place, it sounds too similar to the original. I guess the only explanation can be is that it’s probably a favourite of Beyonce’s or it might mirror her real life, who knows? It’s just a song about being dangerously in love with someone. It is a very sweet song with a lovely sound. The original is a favourite of mine from the survivor album, but there aren’t too many differences between the two tracks. 8/10
13) BEYONCE INTERLUDE 0:16
“Every time I paint it sharpens my harmony, yesterday I tried to paint you”
This is just a useless interlude, where Beyonce talks about harmonies. It’s just a skit, and an annoying one at that.
14) GIFT FROM VIRGO 2:43
“Every morning, every afternoon, every night, I wanna be with you”
This is quite a simple tune, which has a very jazz inspired sound. This to me is a lovely chill out tune, as everything about it is kept simple. This is very different to any of the other songs as it’s quite retro in the sense that’s it quite reminiscent of old songs from the 60’s. Even though this track is nice enough, it’s not good enough for you to remember it or want to listen to it again and again. 5/10
15) WORK IT OUT 4:06
“You know I don’t ask for much, but for a girl spendin’ time alone, can be pretty rough”
First time I heard this song all I could say what the hell? But as usual the more I heard it the more I liked it and to this day I still like it! As most of you will remember this song featured on the soundtrack for Beyonce’s debut movie Austin Powers in Goldmember (if you don’t count Carmen that is). Anyway the film to me was a major disappointment but the very cool soundtrack made up for that. This song is nothing but cool, and has a 70’s vibe about it, which connects to the movie. The Neptune’s produced it (I love you Pharrell!!) and I thought it was very original. The tune that plays throughout the song is quite retro sounding but adds more originality to the song and makes it more 70’s style to suit the movie. At first I just found it irritating but it grew on me and I love it, it’s a cool, different and original song, something you wouldn’t really hear today but sounds great! This version is different to the radio edit as this one just goes straight into the song rather than having a slow intro. 7/10
16) BONNIE & CLYDE ‘03 3:24
“She rides with me - the new Bobby and Whitney, only time we don't speak is during "Sex and the City" she gets Carrie fever, but soon as the show is over, she's right back to being my soldier”
This song is nothing but cool. The tune is cool and the singing is even better. I thought this duet was way better then Nelly and Kelly but that song did so much better. Anyway this song is smooth and stylish. The tune that plays throughout the track is extremely cool. JayZ’s rapping sounds really good, and I think these two make a great team when it comes to making cool R’n’B songs. JayZ’s rapping goes extremely well with Beyonce’s vocals. I think this song is good but after a while it can get slightly repetitive but overall a very good track. 8/10
17) CRAZY IN LOVE (Featuring Vanness Wu From F4) 3:55
“I look and stare so deep in your eyes, I touch on you more and more every time, when you leave I'm begging you not to go”
This the exact same track as the first one except Jay Z is replaced by Vanness Wu who does a little rap mid song. One thing I like about this version is that in the intro there is no Jay Z talking over it and to me it sounds better. It sounds really strange and I’m sure it’s in another language. I think it messes up the track enormously as you can’t bear to listen to this guy’s rap, it’s awful! Messes up a perfectly good song. 3/10
18) DADDY - Hidden Track
“And that’s why I want my unborn son, to be like my daddy, I want my husband to be like my daddy”
This is a track about…yes you guessed it Beyonce’s daddy. How sweet? No not really, it’s nothing but dull, luckily this song just appears after the last song and isn’t listed on the track listing, thank god. This song is not original and probably just a dedication to her daddy rather than a ground breaking hip hop track. The sound of the song is very basic and again I feel it doesn’t fit onto this album, so it’s just as well it doesn’t appear on the track listing. 2/10
OVERALL~~
Overall I would have to say this album is a major disappointment as it becomes repetitive after a while, and loses its appeal mid way through the album. One of the things that dragged this album down was the fact that there is a drought of upbeat tracks destiny’s child are so well known for half way through the album. It becomes dull and dreary. Expect to skip tracks as nothing stands out after the first few tracks. This album begins explosively but it just let’s itself down after that. I think when people ran out to buy this album they were expecting a string of cool, up-tempo songs such as “Crazy in love” but it’s nothing like that. I, for some reason find this album a big mess, it features too many different artists, and you can’t figure out whether this is a hip hop album or a collection of ballads. The tone is confusing, and you will get bored after only a few listens. I don’t think the track list has been put together correctly, as a lot of artists these days (such as Christina Aguilera) seem to be producing albums with various different sounds but this album doesn’t create that atmosphere, it’s just confusing.
I don’t understand why this album has been such a success, I personally think Kelly Rowland’s album is better yet this album has already outsold hers. One of the reason’s I think this album was so successful is that this album kind of contains a new sound, which is a bit risky considering, rather than going for a mediocre pop sound which would have gained her instant success, she went into a new direction which in a sense is risky as it could possibly alienate her fans, but along with that, she has produced tracks which are similar to that of Destiny’s child which is why I find the tone and style of this album confusing, because in my opinion, it just doesn’t mesh well. The so-called new sound is cancelled out by too many unoriginal tracks. It might sound confusing to say this album is original but not, but when you have very original tracks like “Hip hop star” you do in a sense expect more of the same stuff, but songs like “Me, Myself and I” don’t stand out because they don’t sound original. Rather than coming out with a fresh sound it just sounds too familiar, as there are some songs, which do sound new and original, but others that sound so unoriginal. I don’t know whether to tell you to expect up tempo tracks or slow jams. If you’re expecting this album to be full of “Crazy in love” type anthems then you’d be sadly mistaken, the album is a mixture of different sounds and unless you appreciate a ballad here and there, I don’t think this album will be for you. This album will definitely appeal to Destiny’s Child fans but do not expect something different and original, it’s been done before.
“Dangerously In Love” is available to buy at www.cdwow.com priced £8.99.
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It's hyped up, rush-released to avoid piracy and full of stars--but is Beyoncé's solo ... more
album Dangerously in Love worthy of all the expectancy? Yes. Her individual break from Destiny's Child has been predicted for the last four years, but Dangerously in ...
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Sep 29th, 2003
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