Customer Reviews

B'Day

5 star:		(128)
4 star:		(86)
3 star:		(88)
2 star:		(66)
1 star:		(94)

 

 

After listening to this cd, the first question I asked myself is "Is Beyonce leaving R&B or is she taking R&B in another direction"? Beyonce stings like a bee with such fire, it seems she is channeling the great Tina Turner and it seems she may be considering other genres to express herself. She has the vocal power and star quality to pull it off. I decided to review this album differently by not talking about each song, but to point out what I think are the good and bad parts of this cd.


THE BAD:
Only 10 songs? If Xtina over did it with her new album, Beyonce under did it with hers. Most today's artists put at least 12-14 songs and considering the fact that Beyonce recorded over 22 songs for this cd, don't be surprise if she (re)releases a "new and improved version" of B'Day.

No "Magic" Song. There are no songs on the cd that can match classics like "Crazy in Love", "Independent Women" "Say My Name" or "Bootylicious". The quality of her songwriting has dropped a bit.

Re-using old ideas. The song "Get Bodied" is nothing more but a part 2 of "Jumpin, Jumpin" and we all know that "Deja Vu" is "Crazy In Love" cheaper sister.

Checking other people styles. "Ring The Alarm" owes Kelis for its vibe and I didn't have to look at the credits to know Rich Harrison produced "Freakum Dress" and "Suga Mama".

Tired of Jay Z. I rather Beyonce not rely on him so much for her street cred.

THE GOOD:
"Freakum" will become the new word in the hood and probably make its way to mainstream America.

Give credit to the right people. The Producers. They gave her some of the sickest beats I ever heard. Even if there is no real melody, you cannot help but respect the beats.

Channeling Tina Turner. Taking Tina's funkiness, fire and sassiness, then mixing it with Hip Hop and youth is not a bad idea. A TRUE rock-soul album is something Beyonce should consider in the future. Beyonce's voice is like fire on this cd.

Taking risks. Some of the hardcore R&B fans may be disappointed because she is doing something different, but doing something different is what makes an artist grow.

In conclusion, the good certainly outweighs the bad. However, this album could have been so much better if she had taken more than three weeks to work on it. What hurts this cd is the song quality (the lyrics are not that hot, although the subject is) and it is the producers that saves this cd. Rating is 3.5.

Best songs are: Suga Mama, Kitty Kat, Irreplaceable, Resentment and Upgrade U.

Also, please check out other songs that didn't make B'Day "Lost Yo Mind" and "Creole"

This album is definitely NOT good. I've read several reviews that claim the opposite, but I think those listeners could not have been listening with a discerning ear. There are so many things wrong with this album, I don't know where to begin. Oh, by the way, I AM a fan of her talent. I just wish she would have actually showcased some on this album.

A majority of these songs were poorly written, with trite, unimpressive lyrics. "Get Me Bodied" leads me to believe Beyonce's vocabularly isn't very extensive, with 'body' obviously being her favorite word. And the phrase "get me bodied" is so elusive that she had to explicitly state "get me bodied- that means come closer to me". . . When you have to clearly state what your phrase means, it's not a good one. I don't recall anyone ever saying "bling bling, that means my diamonds" in a song.

She relies too heavily on her producers on B'Day, when in fact, they don't bring too much to the table. Rich Harrison's songs "Suga Mama" and "Freakum Dress" have his signature sound alright, but not neccessarily in the best way. "Freakum Dress" sounds like it was supposed to be Amerie's songs, but once again, he gave her sound away. Swizz Beatz did a good job with "Upgrade You" and arguably "Ring the Alarm" but everything else falls short and actually are quite annoying. The Neptunes was a waste of money. Their songs are even difficult to recall.

I wish she would just sing and stop already with the screaming. I could pan this album all day, so I'll highlight the GOOD points.

She has some good ideas. "Kitty Kat", "Freakum Dress" and "Ring the Alarm" are very fresh ways of approaching a very trite topic. She gets many Kudos there. "Irreplaceable" and "Upgrade U" are single worthy songs, although the lyrics to both could have been better, especially the latter.

I think this is an album of a girl who has no direction and who isn't being true to herself. She needs to find herself, aside from what her parents expect and what her boyfriend would like her to be. Alot of these songs sound like Keyshia Cole should have sang them, simply because Beyonce was trying so hard to be "hood" (her exact words, actually, of how she wanted the album to sound). But we all know the only thing hood this girl has in her is her boyfriend, Jay-Z.

Back to the drawing board. She should follow her real daddy's direction next time.

I have been listening to B-Day for over a week now and it still hasn't grown on me. For someone who has been singing for over a decade and producing hit after hit, she should have known better than to put out something so trite. Before I hear from all of those who feel people who wrote something negative are "haters", let me make something clear. I am NOT a hater. I am a singer and a musician and I have been a performer for many years. I am surely not a hater but I am certainly entitled to express my opinion. We are all entitled to express our disssatisfaction from an artist who usually puts out good music. Let us vent. "smile"

Now I've seen Beyonce on numerous shows being interviewed regarding the album and she says that she was speaking in the voice of her character and she wrote songs in accordance with the role. Okay, that still doesn't explain why after hearing this album, nothing is left with you and you feel very empty. I stated in my title that even if this was a soundtrack, it would be a bad album. That is my feeling. Because to this day I still listen to the Waiting to Exhale and Bodyguard soundtracks and it's timeless. Those albums voiced the character and it was still done with quality. This is supposed to be her album and not a soundtrack, and therefore, very dissappointing.

For all of you that love the album, you have spoke and now I will.

I believe she needs to mature in the songwriting department. The songs are trifling and written as if a teenager wrote them. The hooks and lyrics are juvenile and doesn't resonate with someone who has been in the music business for as many years as she has. Also, how many more sexed up songs is Beyonce going to put out. Enough already. We are all sexual beings but that's not all we are. Beyonce would do herself and all the rest of her fans a favor by showing more depth.

I am a New Yorker and have been here my whole life and "us New Yorkers" were discussing this album and are trying to figure out if this is the only thing that goes on with Creoles in Texas. We are confused that she hasn't grown up. I was speaking to women I work with and also hanging out with guys in the barbershop where my brother gets his hair cut and no one is liking this album. These are her fans. People are saying that she's trying something different. This is not different, it's tasteless and shallow and an insult to all of us who love music and have loved her music thus far.

I don't want to keep beating a dead horse. My brother says that this album will go platinum just on her name alone and I was very sad to hear that. Maybe she needs Destiny's Child or maybe she needs her dad to continue to direct her career again but this album is certainly not something I would buy and am not buying.

For those of you who want to hear it, subscribe to Real Rhapsody and for under $10.00 a month you can hear many albums for free without having to waste your money and write reviews like "Refund" which surely, if I had bought it, I would be asking for one too.

Sorry, can't write anything good about it!

Most disappointing album of 2006 so far. The warning sign was there, even before the album officially hit the streets. In the time leading up to its release, the album cover art was here on Amazon and I could only think: "Beyonce is easily one of the ten most naturally beautiful singers today...why put her on the cover sporting the same eerie expression as a blow-up doll?" (I don't think this was supposed to be intentionally experimental, like a Bjork album cover.) It would prove prophetic, since actually listening to the album confirms the worst: it SOUNDS just as synthetic and soulless, too. In essence, "B'Day" is the musical equivalent of a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced movie: Millions of dollars thrown into production without any ideas laid down as a foundation. And if the album has a musical cousin, it would be any one of the last few Michael Jackson albums, with the same, shrill feel to their songs. (Just remember the annoying "Scream" as point of reference.) It would have been enough at the very least for "B'Day" to repeat the formula that made "Dangerously in Love" successful. Maybe the bar was raised with the release of Christina Aguilera's "Back to Basics," an album that is light on its feet, bursting with life, and, above all, sexy and FUN. But then again...so was "Dangerously." Who sucked all the life out of the Beyonce of "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy" and replaced her here with a human jackhammer without an ounce of sublety or nuance? The plodding beats behind her are annoying enough (and present throughout) -- does she have to impersonate them, too? Beyonce has a VOICE, and she actually used it in "Dangerously." "B'Day" just turns it into another instrument and chops it up in the mix. Any song can serve as an example, but the worst and most tone-deaf is "Ring the Alarm." Expressing anger can be healthy, but buying the album and having to listen to this song more than once is similar to listening to your best friend b*tch and moan over and over about the same bad relationship. Spend two extra dollars for Christina's new double album to get twice the quantity AND quality AND feel good about life. Or even spend two dollars less for the other ex-Destiny's Child, Letoya, and at least have your low expectations exceeded AND own a sexy album cover.

I am a Beyonce fan. Not a Beyonce apologist like many seem to be. I guess for some as long as she shows up, they will swear its good. because basicaly thats all she did on here was show up- maybe. while many singers have to hide their voice behind production, Beyonce doesnt have to. which makes her over produced songs even worse. ssorry, but this CD was a major dissapointment. It is the worst CD she has been associated with.

Not a bad album, just don't listen to this expecting her to pick up where her last one left off. This CD goes in such a different, harder, edgier route that it can throw off the listeners ears quite easily. Like a few others on here mentioned it may take some to "get used" to this new style for Beyonce but if you do manage to do that then this will be an enjoyable album. In my opinion, "Irreplaceable" should be her next single, easily the catchiest song on there.

Beyonce has three things going for her--she is a beautiful young woman, she is rich, and she has a talented and successful boyfriend. However, that does not make a good album. A good voice, good production, good song writing, and good executive production creates a good, or even a satisfactory album. "B-Day" has none of the above.

Beyonce's vocals consist mostly of high pitched wails, that speed up into semi-raps during the choruses. Her wail is most annoying on the album's opening song and single "Deja Vu", which also features one of Jay-Z's weaker verses. The second track gets no better: a clunky beat and the same old wail.

"Supermama" is a shallow song with a faux-soul beat, and "Upgrade U" is indistinguishable from any other Beyonce girl-power song. However, the CD sinks the even lower with "Ring the Alarm." The beat sounds as if it had potential, but sloppy drums ruin any good that could have been made with it. And, AGAIN, with the wail. Making an 'angry' song was risky for Beyonce, and I must say that the risk did not pay off.

"Kitty Kat" is flat, and it sounds as if she doesn't even care about the song from the way she sings it. Let's not even talk about the stupidity of "Freakum Dress", as it is yet another unlistenable song. "Green Light" actually has an interesting instrumental to it, but Beyonce's annoying repetition of the word "go" ruin the song. "Irreplacable" is catchy, but in the purposely sever your neck way. This is not only A reason that I turn off the radio, but THE reason.

The album comes to an end with "Resentment", a song in which Beyonce tries to get deep over a guitar heavy instrumental. Much like every other song on this album, it doesn't work for her. This album falls flat in a way that Dangerously in Love (her first album, and a bad one in it's own right) never was able to.

Please, Beyonce. Let this be your last album, and start doing silent music videos.

1/10

I am truly dissapointed! I was always a B fan since she was w/DC but this girl has gone crazy! All B does is scream throughout this whole album.

1. Deja Vu 8/10 This song is OK. I actually liked this song until i saw the video for it. Why is B acting like a "video hoe" in her own video? Where's the class she used to have?

2. Get Me Bodied 7/10 This song is just Ok. I mean, just b/c it's done by Swiss Beats doesn't automatically make it a hit. It's Ok.

3. Suga Mama 9/10 This is my favorite song on the album. Even though I'm not too thrilled with the lyrics (minus 1 point)the song itself is funky and different for B.

4. Ugrade U 9/10 I actually really like this song too but minus another point b/c the song is with and about Jay Z AGAIN for the 50th time!

5. Ring the Alarm 7/10 This song is Ok even though B is bitin' off Kelis's style. But again it's something different for B, and different is Ok as long as we are going in the right direction.

6. Kitty Kat 1/10 Now what the heck is this?! The only reason why I have to give this song a 1 is b/c the beat is nice. But this song is really the worst on the whole album. What is B talking/singing about? Corny!

7. Freakum Dress 2/10 Another one that is just terrible! Why? Freakum dress? How old are we now? Corny!

8. Green Light 3/10 The only thing I like about this song is the chorus . But it sounds too much like Crazy In Love.

9. Irreplaceable 8/10 Now this song is nice. The words are Ok and appropriate and the beat is nice.

10. Resentment 7/10 This song is also nice but B oversings it.

Bonus Tracks Forget it! Terrible! And why the dumb remix! Plus B again oversings that theme song from Dreamgirls.(and why do they continue to give B acting roles in major movies? Her acting is TERRIBLE!)

Like I said-disappointed. B can really sing. She is beautiful on the outside and from what I've heard she is also beautiful on the inside. So why? Why act like a slut? Even in most of the pictures for this album, B looks like a prostitute! In a recent interview w/Sway (from MTV) B says that she is now a woman in response to her "sluttiness" in the video for Deja Vu. Is this what being a woman is about?! I mean, come on! It's a shame on how many people are going to sweat this album just b/c it's Beyonce (and Jay Z). There are artists that are really taking the time to put out good music and won't get the recognition they deserve but this girl (B) rushes and takes 2 weeks and puts out trash just like she did with the last DC album. And people continue to swallow this crap (which is probably why she feels she can get away with it). Speaking of good music-want to hear some GOOD music? Buy Kelis Was Here! Now that's an EXCELLENT cd!

Bday is such a disappointment. Intially when I listened to the cd I thought ok its not as catchy as Dangerously in Love it is just going to have to grow on me, but that was not the case. I have given this cd several chances but it is just not working. First, it is only ten songs with a bonus track that doesn't help the Cd out at all. Second, the songs seem a little off even on the "ballad" Resentment the quality of her voice is awful. I don't even know what the direction of this cd is it just seems all over the place. To sum it up I can tell that this cd was made in two weeks the quality just sucks I wish I would have saved my money!!

I hate to say this because I LOVE Ms. Beyonce. I have seen her live twice - she is gorgeous, her voice is amazing, her presence is electrifying - I dare say mesmerizing ; she is the ULTIMATE performer.

That's the good news. The bad news is: B'Day sucks. And not just a little bit. She doesn't need to release anymore singles - the album's best offerings are already on the radio. The 3 stars really represent 2 stars for the album and a bonus star because it's Beyonce.

This album disappointed me on many different levels. From the ridiculous darn-near-naked shots in the CD case to the overly simplistic songs. The music on B'Day is banal and hackneyed. In an MTV interview she said that it took 2 weeks to make the album. On the CD she says that it came "so effortlessly". NOTE-TO-B: 2 weeks isn't long enough, sweetheart and you get out what you put in - no effort = whack record.

I say all of this and yet I adore this girl as an artist and I will wait for her 3rd album, because this one didn't cut it. The lyrics are disappointing and the beats are average. This pales in comparison to Dangerously in Love by leaps and bounds. It lacks the sophistication of the last Destiny's Child project and simply fails to showcase Beyonce for the star that she truly is. There are worse CDs out there - but really a star of her caliber should be more discerning about releases. Lyrics like "You must not know 'bout me" and "Stick out your butt...put your freakum dress on" are beyond tired. Whether she was inspired by the Dreamgirls character Deena or not, is of little concern when the CD is a virtual flop. "Deja Vu" (something that grew on me after seeing her perform) and "Ring the Alarm" save the album and "Upgrade You" is fun to listen to - although all of the ridiculous materialistic references are annoying and disappointing. These things do not a diva make.

I hope that Beyonce realizes that this was not representative of her best work or her extraordinary talent. Thankfully for fans, she can do better. Luckily for her, her fans will forgive her for the transgression of this abysmal, lackluster project.

Here's to hoping that the 3rd time is a charm!