Album Retrospective: "4" by Beyoncé

 "4" by Beyoncé album cover
The next album retrospective is "4" by Beyoncé.

4 is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on June 28, 2011, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The album was recorded from March 2010 to May 2011, and was produced by Beyoncé herself, alongside Babyface, Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Kaskade, Brent Kutzle and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, Switch, and The-Dream, among others. The album also features a sole lead guest appearance from André 3000 of Outkast. Following a career hiatus which reignited her creativity, Beyoncé conceived 4 as a record rooted in traditional rhythm and blues that stood apart from contemporary popular music.

4 marked the first Beyoncé album after she had terminated her working relationship with her father and manager Mathew Knowles. She conceived 4 as an intimate album that departed from the commercially oriented music of her past releases. Her collaborations with songwriters and record producers The-Dream, Tricky Stewart and Shea Taylor resulted in a mellower tone that incorporates vocal styles and influences from 1970s and 1980s funk, hip-hop, and soul music. The lyrics are about monogamy, female empowerment, and self-reflection, a result of Beyoncé considering a maturer message to contend artistic credibility.

Beyoncé promoted 4 in mid-2011 through television and festival performances, including a headlining set at the Glastonbury Festival. The album received generally positive reviews by music critics; several publications included it on their year-end lists. In the United States, it became Beyoncé's first album to spend multiple weeks atop the Billboard 200 and has been certified four-times platinum. The album also peaked at number one in Argentina, Croatia, Ireland, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Five of its singles reached the Billboard Hot 100: "Run the World (Girls)", "Best Thing I Never Had", "Party", "Love On Top", and "Countdown". At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards (2013), "Love On Top" won Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Excerpt taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_(Beyonc%C3%A9_album)

Here's my review of each track on the album!

Standard Version

1. 1+1 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

2. I Care 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / ❤️‍🔥

3. I Miss You 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

4. Best Thing I Never Had 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

5. Party featuring André 3000 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

6. Rather Die Young 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

7. Start Over 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / ❤️‍🔥

8. Love On Top 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

9. Countdown 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

10. End of Time 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

11. I Was Here 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

12. Run the World (Girls) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

TMC's Version

13. Dreaming 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

14. Lay Up Under Me 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

15. Schoolin' Life 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / ❤️‍🔥

16. Dance for You 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

17. Party (Remix) featuring J Cole 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 🔥

Album Rating: 🔟 / 🔟

 "4" by Beyoncé album tracklist

What are your overall thoughts on the album? What are your favourite songs from the album? Let me know in the comments section!


Listen to the album here:

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