Early impressions, anyone? Upon first listen, a lot of this is a bit too... adult contemporary/radio pop for my taste. "Blow" is amazing. I wish we had an album full of this disco-funk sound -- it suits her so well.
I actually love her reason for doing it this way:
“I miss that immersive experience. Now, people only listen to a few seconds of a song on their iPods. They don’t really invest in a whole album. It’s all about the single. And the hype. It’s so much that gets between the music and the artist and the fans. I felt like…I don’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready. From me to my fans.”
So pleased to wake up to such an amazing surprise this morning. Feel sorry for all those other pop princesses because the Queen swooped in at the end of the year and SLAYED them all.
Yoncé/Partition is probably the highlight for me which is no surprise there because duh, The-Dream.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
David Bowie did that last March. But it was a real album.
I love how artistic it is. The album is apparently in a one week exclusive with iTunes and hard copies are being pressed now. This is pretty brilliant yet risky marketing/PR.
I thought it was a genius move to just drop it all. The fact that there was absolutely no build up created this explosion of buzz when it was released because it was so unexpected. You win Beyoncé.
Brilliant. Incredible free publicity and buzz.
I loved how she showed those other pop-tarts how to do it. They spent the summer denying "leaked" singles. Outclassed.
I've said for a while Beyonce is this generations Michael Jackson. Who else could sell out a world tour with NO new music to promote? She let Gaga and Katy have their time and BAM drops an ALBUM.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
And by "they," you mean that joke of an artist Lady Gaga. I hope.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Everything in America isn't required to be a phony "choice" between Coke and Pepsi.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Unless you hold some kind of contempt for Pepsi or Coke. Of course, you know you left out Mr. Pibb...
I'm not a fan of Beyonce, but it's incredible that not only was she able to pull it off, she WANTED to pull it off. After being inundated with social media postings from every cast member of Into the Woods while they were filming, it's amazing that Beyonce didn't document every moment of creating this album.
I agree, givesmevoice. It's such a refreshing move. It's also a way to outdiva all the divas, well done. This will be remembered for a long time and will probably be thought of as a huge career event in the future. Has anyone actually listened to the album?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
I'm surprise this is blowing people away so much. Seriously. David Bowie had been, for all seeming intents and purposes, retired for a decade. And then, all of a sudden, he released The Next Day back in March. Somehow, nobody who worked on the album with him had even let anybody know they'd seen him.
I dunno, I suppose no hype is the new hype or something.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Namo, I never took you for a Bowie fan boy. Who knew?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
I went to my first Bowie concert in May of '78.
I'm not a fanboy. I am not voting for Bowie over Beyoncé, I'm just pointing out that she isn't the first person to do a surprise release, even in this year.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
There is nothing wrong with fanboys, FYI.
GENIUS
This is seriously the only thing all my friends are talking about.
Well, in one fell swoop she revealed the phoniness of all the "leaks" and smashes the competition in 2013 just as everyone is closing their ledgers.
She run the world.
Previously, I was only a fan of her ballads, mainly DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE. However, this album has made me a wholesale fan. Lyrically, she opens up a great deal without becoming completely self-indulgent. And thank goodness it's not cookie-cutter urban pop. It's not fair to compare but this strikes me as an album that her sister Solange would have recorded.
Back to Bey...all that's left to write is...she did that!
I am not a fan of Beyonce. She usually annoys the hell out of me. This, however, was pretty brilliant. It got FAR more press than any other album released recently.
And Namo, in 2013, sadly, Bowie doesn't even blip on many radars. Beyonce is BEYONCE. I don't get it, but that's how it is.
After listening and watching the album many times I would definitely put it at the top of the Best Of 2013 list. Beyoncé is a real artist who doesn't need all the phoniness like some. She doesn't have to rely on a schtick because her music speaks for itself.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
I'll still buy it when it comes out as a regular cd, because she is somebody I always purchase. But lately, I'm kind of bored with her. So I hope this does not disappoint. I was out of the country, when Britney was released. So I got it yesterday. Haven't opened it, but hope it doesn't disappoint either.
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