_How do I love Bey? Let me count the ways…_
When I first discovered Beyoncé in high school, I didn’t really know how I felt. I thought that she was talented, but I wasn’t sure if she was quite my cup of tea. Mind you, I was making my judgement solely based on the song “Single Ladies,” which is a complete misrepresentation of Beyoncé’s artistry. One day, I finally listened to the entirety of “I Am…Sasha Fierce,” followed by all of “4.”
That was the day that my life was forever changed
Trying to explain why I love Beyoncé is like trying to explain quantum mechanics to an English major; there’s just too much for me to explain, and you’ll never fully understand it. She’s easily one of the most talented artists in the world, and everyone knows it. Even if you aren’t a Beyoncé fan, you can’t look me in the eye and tell me that she’s not talented, because if you did, you would be lying.
Just look at the way she performs live. She dances just as well as all of her backup dancers, interacts with her audience and gives people context and meaning behind her songs. Amidst all of this, she can still sing with her incredible range and beautiful vocal purity. She sings better live than most artists do on recordings. I don’t call her “Queen” for nothing.
On Nov. 4, it was announced that Beyoncé would be releasing a platinum edition of her self-titled album that dropped last year. The box set will include two brand-new tracks, four remixes and a live performance DVD. When she dropped her self-titled album in December without announcing it, I died. When she released her remix to “Flawless” over the summer with Nicki Minaj, I was slain.
And then, this past week, there was a photo leaked online of a tracklisting for “Beyoncé Vol. 2.” I swear to you, dear reader, I actually cried. The thought of having an entirely new Beyoncé album merely one year after the surprise release of her greatest album created seemed too good to be true.
Unfortunately, it was.
It’s not that I’m not excited for new Beyoncé music, because I am. But I was under the assumption that I was going to be getting a whole new album from Queen Bey, and that she was going to drop it within the next few weeks. I was expecting a repeat of the most ambitious, well-done album that I’ve ever listened to. I thought that I was getting eight brand-new songs with collabs from Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Minaj. When I saw that ‘leaked’ track listing, I was blown away. So when I heard that it would only be two new songs and a few remixes, I was a bit disappointed.
But honestly, new music from Beyoncé is still a blessing on all of our lives. Her sound has evolved over more than a decade of being in the music business. She has honed her sound and her talent into this extremely pure, perfectly-stylized musical experience. Her most recent album was easily her greatest masterpiece to date, because she has learned exactly how to grab hold of an audience with her music and not let go until the last note of the album plays. When I first listened to the album, I was entranced and completely unable to turn it off. Every song was composed and performed with absolute precision and perfection. The album’s flow was effortless and it never let up.
That’s why I know the platinum album’s new songs will be impeccable. Beyoncé knows how to please fans. She proved that with the songs from her last album, the videos, and even at the VMAs. She knows what her fans are looking for, and she always provides for them. I’ve doubted Beyoncé before, and I learned my lesson the hard way.
I now know that I can do all things through Beyoncé who gives me strength.