Beyoncé/Sasha Fierce

Well, well. Perhaps I should first explain that while I’ve done my fair share of Beyoncé hating, I was definitely a fan up until B’Day. After seeing Beyoncé’s two new videos for upcoming album I Am…, I can say that I’m on my way to fandom again. Judging the songs on their own, If I Were a Boy is clearly the stronger of the two. That being said, it’s not the type of single Beyoncé is known for (a plus, in my opinion) and that’s probably the reason it’s part of a set – placating the fans who can’t understand why a lead Beyoncé single doesn’t knock. So, it would seem that she’s willing to take some risk, but Daddy Knowles isn’t leaving anything to chance. Beyoncé yelling coupled with hand claps will never disappoint in the club, but Single Ladies sounds like B’Day’s old, recycled trash. There’s absolutely nothing special about it, unless you count Super Mario jumping in the background.

My disappointment in Single Ladies aside, I am impressed with the length of time Beyoncé has spent on this effort (a year, easily overshadowing the measly two weeks spent on B’Day) and the two accompanying videos for her singles clearly demonstrate that she’s coming hard. Not even haters can cry foul against If I Were a Boy. The video plays like a mini-movie, Beyoncé looks flawless, and the concept is executed expertly. Single Ladies is what you’d expect from a Beyoncé video, only taken to the next level. The choreography is some of the strongest of her career and the one-shot effect highlights it all too well. The song still sucks, but you can appreciate the artisanship.

If B’Day taught Beyoncé anything, it’s probably that you can’t please all your fans at the same time. After all the backlash she suffered over her single choices and videos, it would appear that she turned inward and tried to create something hot by her standards. The double-disc approach is ambitious, but less risky for an artist like Beyoncé. Especially since she's designating an entire disc to club-knockers. Even though we're sure to have Beyoncé's weave thrashed all up in our faces for the next two years (at the least), she's doing something interesting and I probably won't be sick of her for a few months. If she continues to hone and embrace her own artistry, I Am… can easily become a career-best. Even if she did swipe the double-disc, alter-ego thing from Nelly.