For someone who usually likes to do things with a fair amount of hype, Beyonce sure did come like a thief in the night [no shade] with new buzz tracks, Bow Down / I Been On. Released on the star's Tumblr, the tracks hit the net without any warning but unsurprisingly, considering how thirsty people have been for new music from her, it's a tactic that has generated a huge amount of press. A smart move, it seems.
The songs themselves are interesting in that they offer us an insight into the direction Bey might be taking with her new album. I especially like the beat for the second song I Been on, which has already been featured as the backing on the adverts for her 02 concerts in the UK. The weird voice used on it, I'm not feeling so much, but as this is most likely just the song's outro I can't really judge it until I hear the full thing. As for Bow Down, Beyonce has never exactly been humble when playing alter ego Sasha Fierce- see Diva, Upgrade You, Check On It- but the boastfulness here is a little overwhelming. Honestly, I'm not sure I buy into it, but after the hazy, wishy-washy era Beyonce just had, I can totally understand why she's come back stronger and more bolshy.
I'll reserve full judgement on Bow Down / I Been On until I hear them in their entirety, but as of now it looks like Beyonce will be leaving the maturity of 4 behind for a spicier Sasha Fierce type album. This could turn out to be a risky decision, with a worse case scenario being it alienates her older fans while simultaneously failing to connect with the younger demographic- who these songs seems pitched at- who already have a more believable Diva with an attitude in Rihanna. Or, I suppose just as likely, it could turn out to be a genius move that revives Beyonce's sagging album sales.
But the real question is, after hearing these tracks, will YOU be bowing down to "King B" ?
Thoughts?
