Beyoncé-Lemonade (2016)

Beyoncé-Lemonade (2016)

By: Ghost Writer

A Beyoncé review in this blog? Yes, it might seem like something closer to the end of the world, but given the world currents affairs it seems just right to talk about Beyoncé new surprise record, how is Beyoncé using the quickness of Internet and how the smart girl is capitalizing on sexism and a n racial issues.

Lemonade is a blitzkrieg issued new record by recording pop start Beyoncé, it's unusual for a pop star issuing a record this way, but not for Beyoncé, she seems to enjoy taking everyone by surprise and infiltrate some of her contemporary r&b songs with certain militant messages, but don't despair, Beyoncé is not aiming to become the next Rosa Luxembourg or Emma Goldman, Emma Watson perhaps, with her feminists message and her black lives matter like message very subtly included.

Besides that, Lemonade is a common pop record, musically is daring at just certain specific spots, Pray You Catch Me is contemporary r&b experimentation, Beyoncé tries to surprise a little, but not too much, she is still years behind people like Kelela, FKA Twigs or Erykah Badu, but she didn't waste time when trying to toss some left field song structures, Hold Up is quite intriguing and charismatic, she does a great vocal work using attractive word play which greatly show cases her flow and little instrumentation perfectly backing her and her heartfelt lyrics.

In what might be one of the most striking collaboration of the year, and part if what intrigued me to get into this record is the incursion of current big flame Jack White on Don't Hurt Yourself, a song with a perfect groove and over the top performances by Beyoncé and White himself, and if that wasn't enough, brace yourself for Beyoncé usage of a Led Zeppelin sample on the song, yes, undoubtedly this really sounds like both an artistic and a sonically triumph by B', not that the girl will start to give a run for her money to people by PJ Harvey, Bjork or St. Vincent, but B is really taking a lot of chances here, succeeding and obviously doing things her way without compromising a lot her pop appeal.

But let's not forget this is a Beyoncé record first of all, and she quickly retreats to known territory on Sorry, and while memorable thanks to a quirky melody and heavy beats, she is obviously here close to her comfort zone once again, but bouncing back, thanks to current r&b favorite Thr Weeknd on the powerful and quite suggestive 6 Inches, a somber and dark song with pretty robust production.

Daddy Lessons might be Beyoncé branching into something else on this country flavored theme, but is an exercise that ends up a little awkward sounding and superficial, but Lemonade run of memorable moments continues with James Blake appearing on the despairing Forward, featuring Blake's magnificent production in a short but enigmatic theme that serves as perfect intro to the chilling Freedom, the album's central and most powerful piece featuring this time the ferocious flow of the great Kendrick Lamar, in this heavy messaged song that might sound a little out of place in a pop record, but consider this is no typical pop record, but more of a pop experiment, with typical pop songs like the amusing All Night, reminding you that Beyoncé is still a pop star who besides singing well is after the hits and the money, she is just playing a little with subversion, but just a little, after all, you can look like a rebel without destroying all your pop credentials, equilibrium again, is the key element here.