If I Were A Boy: Iconic in its on way. This song truly was revolutionary for Bey, especially the video. She did a role reversal on gender norms, flipped the script on the cheating, and was serving vocals at the same time. (9/10)
Halo: The BEST ballad on this album. Honestly, I WISH the rest of the “I Am...” sounded like this. The video didn’t quite fit the song in my opinion, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. (10/10)
Disappear: I’m indifferent to this song. It is beautiful; however, it is quite boring. The lyrics: “If I begged and if I cried. Would it change the sky tonight? Would it give me sunlight?” made me emotional, but the song as a whole... pass. (7/10)
Broken-Hearted Girl: A song with potential to have been great, but had to settle with being good. Her saving grace was the song having a nice beat + tempo, but the lyrics being kinda sad clashed with this and it struck a dischord with me. Her “yooooouuuuuuuu” all the way to the end was my favorite part of this song. (7/10)
Ave Maria: Such a beautiful song. I’m glad this song was on the “I Am...” side of this album. Her voice was so ethereal and the light music accompanying her was excellent. (9/10)
Smash Into You: I love this song so much. I get my LIFE at the end when she’s like I’m willing to RRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN and RRRRRUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN... and RRUUU---OHHHH--OOOHHHH--- OOOOHH --- OOOOOHH----OOOOOOOOHHHH! Nice beat and perfect lyrics. (10/10)Â
Satellites: I don’t know what she was thinking when she was recording this song. I had to imagine for a LONG time that she was against this song, but like one person was like “I love this song!” and she kept it. That’s why she never did anything spectacular with this song because it was a no. (5/10)
That’s Why You’re Beautiful: A song I wish was longer! I also wish the chorus was improved because it was far too simple: “Diamonds used to be coal... look young because they got soul... and that’s why they’re beautiful.” Sis... Elevate your wordplay. Other than that, I can’t really critique it. (6/10)
Save The Hero: Tbh... I cried when I heard this song for the first time. It was so beautiful and emotional coming from Bey. It reminded me of an upgraded “I can’t take no more”. She knew this song was fantastic, so I’m glad it made the cut. (10/10)
Telephone: I know this song is on Lady Gaga’s album, but I just wanted to include it here to let y’all know that this was not a good song. I’m glad it thrived and gained a lot of commercial success... but let’s be real... it was because Bey and Gaga were the two biggest artist in this era. Gaga was at her prime in the Fame + Fame Monster era, and Bey was thriving because of how popular her album was (especially since she was promoting.) When the song died down, I was glad. Y’all were craving Telephone Part 2 and I was like... one was enough. Their voices did not work well together and I was like did Bey become a rapper for this song? It could’ve been better, but if I never heard the song, I wouldn’t be sad. (6/10)
Single Ladies: A PHENOMENAL DANCE CRAZE THAT SWEPT THE NATION AND TOOK THE WORLD BY STORM! If the POTUS and FLOTUS is doing the dance and stanning for you, you have made it! Plus, this song led to the Taylor vs Kimye feud and it was entertaining, so I was like this song is just yes! (10/10)
Radio: She had me with Single Ladies and lost me with Radio. It sounds like something a lesser known artist would release as a solo artist would release when they are trying to make it hot with a mixtape. (5/10)
Diva: The original BOW DOWN! When I first watched the video, I wanted her glasses so bad. Her ponytail was honestly perfection and the outfit was so simple... it was iconic! She invented wearing a white shirt with blue jeans and a black jacket. Don’t even get me started on the dance! I still do this dance, regardless of where I am. I love it. (9/10)
Sweet Dreams: Even though this song leaked early and was about to get scrapped from IASF, I’m glad she kept it because I NEEDED this song. I didn’t quite understand the video when I first saw it, but I was stanning for her because that’s my queen. (8/10)
Video Phone: I’m going to just say that this was probably Telephone part 2 because y’all ain’t getting another Bey x Gaga collab. Their voices are WAY too different now and they matured in their own way. Anyway, I liked this song a bit more than Telephone, but not by much. Bey just looked INCREDIBLE in this video, but dancing with Gaga was awkward. Gaga kept up to an extent, but she was TRYING! Bey was just being so damn casual and I was like... this doesn’t look good. (6/10)
Hello: Should’ve been executed better. Had A LOT of potential to do EXTREMELY WELL. There wasn’t a single song that sounded like Hello by Bey in this era. I really like this song! There are a few things I would tweak; however, it is still pleasant to listen to, even in 2016. (8/10)
Ego: A song I had to grow in to... but when I did... LORD KNOWS I STANNED FOR IT! Her hair was EVERYTHING to me. She slayed choreography with a damn chair! She don’t need to beat... she could sing it with piano! I GOT EVERY REASON TO FEEL LIKE I’M THAT BITCH! A LYRIC!!!!! (9/10)
Scared of Lonely: Such a beautiful song and I was like oh my goodness!!! I wish I could relate to this song, but I don’t need anyone to hold me lol. (8/10)
Why Don’t You Love Me? I hated the video when I first saw it because I was like... wtf is this? Then I was like... ok sis I see you with your Grammys and you acknowledging that you can’t cook but you got beauty, class, style, and ass lol (8/10)
Album Total: 150 / 190 --> 79% (so C+)Â
Album Cover: 8/10. This is my LEAST favorite album because it had no flow whatsoever. It sounds like a bunch of random singles thrown together on an album. I’m confused as to how THIS is the album that got her a lot of Grammys like what?
