Three years after making her solo debut on the music scene, Beyoncé has continued to expand her empire with the release of the acclaimed album “B’Day.” The originals compilation, which debuted in 2006, not only stayed true to the R&B identity inspired by one of the greatest performers of all time, but, in fact, immortalized his legacy and significance. as an artist, primarily through the shrewd mentality of staying original in the face of a mainstream milieu that was exuding new and old talent in an aesthetic profusion and growing exaltation of pop music (one year earlier, for example, we had (had the return of Madonna with the acclaimed ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’, while 2007 will see the return of Britney Spears with the hard-hitting ‘Blackout’).
Contrary to the usual interpretation speaking of love, ‘B’Day’ would take advantage of Beyoncé’s recent participation in the film ‘Dreamgirls’ to introduce fans to a series of songs that together generate a narrative that, in some respects, would escape to the formulas of the genres explored and would open a space for discussions of feminism and empowerment – using her signature artistic skills to vocalize declamations that would accompany her on subsequent albums. And it is in this atmosphere filled with 1970s and 1980s styles that the record takes shape and enchants listeners around the world, in addition to becoming a commercial success with no less than 8 million copies sold.
Here our Queen B was letting go of the past with the band Destiny’s Child – not with a negative understanding, but as someone looking for other chapters in a career marked by timeless successes. If ‘Dangerously in Love’ allowed Beyoncé to chart her own path, her second solo album is imbued with a testamentary aspect in which she enjoys greater creative freedom – as seen, for example, in the grand opening track “Déjà Vu”, again collaborating with Jay-Z. The track, steeped in elements of R&B, funk and hip-hop, is about a woman who constantly remembers a passion from the past – but that’s not what grabs our attention the most, but the confidence conveyed by the performance power of. the singer, either by the rising notes that culminate in the enveloping chorus, or by the phrasing of each verse.
That same confidence shows up in several tracks in the production, like “Pound the Alarm,” one of the most daring and differentiated builds Beyoncé has delivered thus far. The mixed reception by critics of the time seems unfounded, since the deliberate aggressiveness is not limited to this specific song, appearing in most of them and making it an important detail in understanding the time and place in which the artist inserts himself (and here I am without referring to the multiple controversies encountered in the pictorial construction of the disc and the clips, it is better to leave the problem aside). The beautiful ballads that adorn the book, such as “Irreplaceable” and “Listen”, start from a similar principle: while the latter takes the time necessary to blend into an exciting plot (“Listen: I am alone at a crossroads “), the former brings Ne-Yo’s instantly recognizable participation in a story of overcoming – and which is established as one of the singer’s best and most important forays.
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As if the risks taken by Beyoncé weren’t enough, she also demonstrates an enviable ability to build a universe of her own that wins us over from the first touches – even with songs that can’t keep up with the greatness of her compatriots. “Kitty Kat” is an ode to the 2000s, in which the instrumental repetitions are key points in understanding the message; “Freakum Dress” seduces us with the confidence and force with which the verses are delivered, although the crescendo to the chorus does not culminate in anything as ambitious as one might expect; and “Green Light,” located at a strategic point on the album, veers into funk and abuses the power of the lead singer to guide us through its solid, practical composition.
There are several nuggets to explore throughout the album, like “Get Me Bodied,” which leaves R&B in the background for the exhilaration of the bounce and well-defined choices that help the song stay stuck in the groove. mind and to make us dance with inclinations. for reggae and dancehall; “Sugar Mama” is one of the songs that deserved more recognition for the delightful audacity with which Beyoncé declaims every word; and “Beautiful Liar,” featured in the deluxe version (and which joined our list of female collaborations that marked the century), unites her with Shakira for an impeccable and exuberant construction that has been present in playlists since its official launch in 2007.
‘B’Day’ remains faithful to what Beyoncé has offered us since her solo debut in 2003, taking the opportunity to expand a microcosm that already put her in the spotlight. Showing herself more at ease and more faithful to what she wanted to convey to her audience, the interpreter has indeed demonstrated how to remain original in a scenario that continued to change deliberately and frighteningly.
Note per track:
1. Deja Vu, feat. Jay Z – 4.5/5 2. Give Me Body – 4/5 3. Mama Suga – 5/5 4. Upgrade U, exploit. Jay Z – 3.5/5 5. Sound the alarm – 4/5 6. Kitty Kat – 3.5/5 7. Freakum Dress – 3.5/5 8. Green light – 3/5 9. Irreplaceable – 5/5 10. Resentment – 4/5 11. Check On It, feat. Bun B & Slim Thug – 4/5 12. Listen – 5/5 13. Beautiful Liar – 5/5
