Second Chance Saturday: 4

This Saturday posting is now dedicated to the songs, music videos, albums, movies, and anything else that deserves a second chance. Whether it was poorly received by others, not given enough attention, or just wasn’t seen or heard of by many, it’s time that I give it the proper attention and credit it deserves.

And what better way to start this off than with the outstanding woman that is Beyoncé. I know what you’re thinking, “what is there that Beyoncé has done that needs a second chance?” Well besides a couple of her movies (Fighting Temptations, Obsessed…) when it comes to her music, 4 is seriously and mistakenly underrated.

She was away from the game for a couple of years. She took time off for herself, and everyone (myself included) was waiting for the day when she would return. And she did so with such dignity, maturity, and grace. “Run the World (Girls)” is a big song, it should have been given more respect than it actually received! She continued her girl-power demeanor, she showed up and killed it when she performed at both the Billboard Music Awards and Oprah’s finale spectacular. And let’s not forget about the fierceness she brought to the video.

Then we have “Best Thing I Never Had”, a bittersweet anthem that proves Beyoncé still has some angst towards previous flings. In the spirit of “Irreplaceable”, she looked towards a brighter day, a time in her life now when she can laugh about being with the wrong man, and being eternally grateful for the love and life she has now.

Next up was “Countdown”, in the same field with party songs like “Get Me Bodied”, “Freakum Dress”, and “Upgrade U”. She went hard in every way possible. From the beat intertwining 70’ funk and 80’s pop/R&B, she counts down the things that have her all dressed up in love. And could anyone else catch the foreshadowing of “trying to make us 3” lyric…

And then we get to “Love on Top”, my absolute favorite from the album. I was a fan from the second I heard the song on the day the album was released. There was something so beautiful and so pure about it. It brought back the days of Earth, Wind, & Fire, with a touch of 80’s Whitney Houston and “P.Y.T.” Michael Jackson. And when you really listen to the lyrics and her voice, you can just feel how happy she is and what a great man she has in her life. And let us certainly not forget her genius performance at the VMA’s when she (as only Beyoncé can do) announced to the world that she and her hubby Jay-Z were bringing a baby into the world!

With the singles aside, everything about the album is a step up from her previous efforts (which are all outstanding in their own ways). It blends well, they all complement each other so well, and they show us a mature, beautiful woman reaching the age of 30, with all of the great things she’s accomplished in her life.

In a nutshell: we have the beauty and grace in “1+1”, the bitterness and strength in “I Care”, the longing and heart-wrenching in “I Miss You”, the retro and upbeat “Party”, the Chi-lite’s-inspired throwback in “Rather Die Young”, the honesty in “Start Over”, the experimental genius in “End of Time”, the pure and powerful “I Was Here”, the fun jam “Lay Up Under Me”, the funky fierceness in “Schoolin’ Life”, and the sensual seduction in “Dance For You”.

It was shut out from the Grammy’s (minus the one nomination it received for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Party”). It deserved an Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal, Best R&B Vocal, and certainly a Best R&B album nomination, never mind the fact that none of the singles reached the Top 10 on the charts in the US. The album still debuted at #1 the week it was released, but in the year of ADELE, it didn’t match the same kind of success. Nowadays, music is all about the thumping bass, the pop lyrics, the party rocking, and the techno craze that doesn’t seem to be going away all the time. Everything on the radio (while catchy and fun) sounds like one mega song. But then there are gems like ADELE and Beyoncé who release pop music that’s different and original. Sure she has her influences, but Beyoncé stayed true to what SHE wanted to sing and write about. And now that she’s 30, happily married, and a glowing mother now to her baby Blue Ivy (a stage name all on its own), I urge everyone who hasn’t yet given this album a listen to a second chance!!!