plit personality for new Beyoncé album
Oct 15, 2008, 08:57 AM | by Chris Willman


Details about Beyoncé’s upcoming album, due in stores Nov. 18, have been hard to come by until now. But yesterday, the singer's father, Matthew Knowles, unveiled the complete tracklisting for members of the press in Hollywood, and even played a few minutes of each song and afforded details about promotional plans. First, it’s a 17-song double-album. However, if the economy has you looking to save a few bucks, you can instead buy a condensed 11-song single-CD version; both editions will go on sale the same day.

The first disc in the deluxe package is on the balladic side, while the second disc focuses on more upbeat, rhythmic material. What’s more, the two discs have separate titles. The first one is dubbed I Am… Beyoncé. Papa Knowles said the name of the second disc will remain a secret for now and revealed in connection with an upcoming promotion; he would only refer to it as “I Am dot-dot-dot.” Rumors suggest that the name of the second disc will be I Am... Sasha, the name Beyoncé has given herself in the past as an alter ego. (If you want to take a wild guess at what kind of promotion Knowles is alluding to, there’s already a contest-laden teaser website, whoissashafierce.com, that may offer some clues.)

Despite rumors of collaborations with Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, there are no guest stars on the new album. Beyoncé’s dad said this was a purposeful choice designed to spotlight the singer's growth without fellow celebs getting in the way. He did, however, allude to plans for a guest on the song "Ego" that fell through. Given the title and playful lyrics (“It’s too big/It’s too wide/It’s too strong/It won’t fit...He’s got a huge ego...I love his big ego”), one could guess this was the track designed for a West cameo, though Knowles demurred when asked what happened with the celebrated rapper.

The two-CD version will sell for about $4 or $5 more than the single-disc version, according to Knowles, who said the less expensive edition is aimed at meeting the demand for CDs priced under $10 these days. Knowles said they expect about a 50/50 split between sales of the two versions.

Two singles are being pushed simultaneously: I Am... Beyoncé's “If I Were a Boy” to top 40 and adult contemporary, and I Am...'s “Single Ladies” to rhythmic formats; “Halo” and “Ego” will be the second singles for those formats, respectively. (Urban adult contemporary radio, meanwhile, is about to be offered a Beyoncé single that isn’t even on her new album: the Etta James cover “At Last,” from the soundtrack of Cadillac Records, which hits stores Dec. 3 with three new Beyoncé tracks.)

Not enough Beyoncé developments for you? All right, here’s more: A video album of clips for every song -- much like the DVD she did for her last album -- will arrive in February, about the same time as a Spanish-language version of the new set (not to mention still another Beyoncé movie, Obsessed). Then she kicks off a 110-date tour in April, starting in Canada before going on to Europe, the States, Mexico, South America, and a week-long stint in Vegas, before wrapping up in Japan, Africa, and Australia. ohmy.gif

As for the new record, Daddy Knowles said 70 songs were recorded over eight months, but only 17 lucky tunes made the cut. Here’s a full listing, along with the individual producers (Beyoncé gets her own producer credit on each number, naturally, as well):

DISC ONE

“If I Were a Boy”
Producer: Toby Gad

“Halo”
Ryan Tedder

“Disappear”
Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, and Ian Dench

“Broken-Hearted Girl”
Stargate

“Ave Maria”
Stargate

“Smash Into You”
C. “Tricky” Stewart and Terius “TheDream” Nash

“Satellites”
Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, and Ian Dench

“That’s Why You’re Beautiful”
Andrew Hey

DISC TWO

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, and Thadius Harrell

“Radio”
Jim Jonsin, D-Town, and Rico Love

“Diva”
Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford and Sean “The Pen” Garret

“Sweet Dreams”
Jim Jonsin, Wayne Wilkins, and Rico Love

“Video Phone”
Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford and Sean “The Pen” Garret

“Hello”
REO

“Ego”
Elvis “BlacElvis” Williams and Harold Lilly

“Scared of Lonely”
Rodney Jerkins

“Why Don’t You Love Me”
a late addition with production credits not listed; a collaboration with the Bama Boyz and Solange
[Edited 10/15/08 14:03pm]

A video clip for every song?! Here we go again.I'm surprised she's not making a video for all seventy songs that were recorded for this album.She's vain enough to do something like that!!

17 songs would fit on 1 disk.....

Looking forward to the videos, not sure if the songs will be as good this time, if I were a boy is just okay

Graycap23 said:

Of course it would.This is just a cheap marketing gimmick.She's trying to make it seem like this is some big,important,groundbreaking project....her own 'SITKOL'.

SoulAlive said:

Her what?????

MikeMatronik said:

SoulAlive said:

When it's gonna be the same ole shit she's been releasing for the past 6 years


She's so hellbent on overexposing herself I wouldn't be suprised in 5 years people will be saying "GET THIS TRICK OFF THE DAMN STAGE!"

Timmy84 said:

Why not her SOTT or LAP or B or T or D or I or OTW

Guess the last ones...shamone!

Graycap23 said:

That's what I was just thinking. The only way they wouldn't is if a few of the songs are more the 7 to 8 minutes long (and we know she wouldn't do anything like that).

So no Prince duet??

"the kids" are gonna buy
both the single disc version
along with the double disc one
along with the spanish one
along with the spanglish one
along with the maxi single
along with the video anthology
along with the Sasha edition Barbie
along with the re-release
along with the Wal-Mart version
along with the Circuit City version
with the extra track on the end
along with the Cadillac Records soundtrack
along with the Cadillac Records bootleg
along with the Cadillac Records official DVD
along with the special edition 2disc
of Cadillac Records
along with the blue ray format
along with the laserdisc format
[Edited 10/15/08 18:00pm]

MikeMatronik said:

Hee-hee, dad gone it!

this is B'Day all over again

I think I will download it
and then wait about a year or so
and stumble upon the
double disc one for $5
in Wal-Mart

Flowers2 said:

yeah,another movie.It will probably include a few more new Beyonce songs on the soundtrack.Face it,Beyonce will be everywhere in the next year

SoulAlive said:

Don't giver her any ideas.

Kinda excited.

Damn, I sure will be glad when "papa" knowles will become "grandpa" knowles and sit his overexposed daughter down for a bit. Shit, i'm tired of her ass. And at the rate she doing with all these damn double discs, music videos of every fuckin song (is that shit really necessary??), touring (she's a damn good entertainer..but actress - that she isn't), movies (like we need to see her non-acting ass on the screen in another movie)...how the hell is her and Jay's marriage going to work? Especially if he touring too. I smell another Madonna and Guy Ritchie part deux coming....especially if she don't get pregnant no time soon, Jay is damn near 40 now, but at the rate B's going, she ain't ready to have no rugrats yet.

missfee said:

missfee said:

What year are you living in exactly?

"Girl, stop workin' so hard and get back in the kitchen! Why aren't you pregnant yet? I want some grandkids before I die!!!"

If Jay and Bey can last 7 years BEFORE marriage with touring, promo, movies etc I'm pretty sure they'll be okay for the next 7 years.

Geez, just get off her back, people! If she wants to work hard there's nothing you can do about it. Don't click on her threads, don't listen to her songs, don't go to her movies, IGNORE it.

purplesweat said:

the year where celebrity couples break up on a regular basis

Flowers2 said:

Except for that one that lasted 7 years...who were they...their names are on the tip of my tounge...ummm...

OH!

BEYONCE AND JAY Z.

purplesweat said:

they haven't been together 7 years.. and I wish them the best.. Beyoncè deserves the best, but as missfree said.. that's gonna be a strain on them..

purplesweat said:

but she's EVERYWHERE

Flowers2 said:

Uh, they have actually.

They started dating in 2001. Got married this April.

Both have huge careers and both have managed til now.

DirtyChris said:

Like Prince releases!

SoulAlive said:

that's how Prince blew through that $100 million WB paid him in 1992

purplesweat said:

And what year are u living in? Obviously u in a fantasy world. I never said I didn't like her, I never said she not talented, that is if u can read. I said she is OVEREXPOSED!!! And no her ass can't act!!! I'm not the only who has noticed and last I checked I can click on any thread I want and give opinion, negative or positive, so if u can't handle it, then oh well that's your damn problem. Its a free fucking country last I checked. U need a reality check.