Well I’m a bit surprised that now that the Beyonce album is out that there aren’t like 500 damn posts out on it. I guess everyone is burnt out (and I assume has downloaded it). Well, I bought it only based on the first single and the hope that “Work It Out” might be a bonus cut...oh but what a bonus cut they picked!

After only a few listens, here is my review of “Dangerously In Love”

“Crazy In Love”-Awesome bombastic funky beats and hot singing. Beyonce could have sang the phonebook to this beat and it would have worked. Jay-Z’s rap is pretty good. Samples “Are You My Woman” by Eugene Record. Gotta get that record!

“Naughty Girl” A sexy song that has silky but catchy beat. Beyonce seduces you with her whisper singing and a sample of Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby”.

“Baby Boy”-This one is still whispery and of course we have to have Sean Paul on there. A slight flirt with reggae in the hip hop beats. This one is weak all over, mostly lyrically (“Baby boy you stay on my mind, you are so fine...) and did I mention Sean Paul?

“Hip Hop Star”- Kind of a hot Outkast rock beat to this one. Still the same kind of mid-tempo sexual come on as the two before. A little dangerous and sounds more like hip-hop but still breathy with slight pauses but at least better than “Baby Boy”. Good raps by Sleepy Brown and Big Boi).

“Be With You”-Much better than the “commercial” R&B tracks. This is soulful, honest song and great beat. Uses both “Strawberry Letter 23” (I mean can you go wrong!) and “I’d Rather Be With You” (I’m not sure where this song is from but I think Adina Howard used this sample). Funk and soul with some real good vocals and real heart. So far the album’s winner.

“Me, Myself and I”-Hot slow groove and it doesn’t use samples. This could be about the Destiny’s Child breakup(s) or a bad love relationship. Anyway, the best lyrics so far and hot beat. This one works.

“Yes”-This is a “Let’s Wait A While” type song but how can you wait when this is such a sexy song and Beyonce’s voice is so sexy and strong. The record cracking is kind of annoying and isn’t needed but a great hot groove.

“Signs”-This is yet another Missy produced slow retro soul song by Missy (how much she always does these records for other artists and her records are beat heavy and fast?) Don’t be afraid to work with Timberland and other artists, Missy). This song is very catchy when you hear the chorus when she talks about all the zodiac signs. Not to far from Missy’s “Things You Say” with Whitney and “So Gone” with Monica but I would say better.

“Speechless”-This one will leave you at lost for words when you hear how sexy it is. Kind of biting Aaliyah’s style but not really. Great rock guitar and bass. And she just sings her heart out in this sensual stunner. At the end she wails it and starts singing yes. Yes, indeed. So far the best track off the album.

“That’s How You Like It”-This is the best track featuring someone else off the whole album although Jay-Z neither hampers nor hurts the track. I would even suggest her singing in the chorus kind of sounds like some of Mariah Carey’s better R&B stuff (but this is a much better record than that). A breezy, yet quick, hip-hop beat. It just sways. This is the only other track with a slight dance beat other than “Crazy In Love” through “Hip Hop Star”.

“The Closer I Get To You”-This wasn’t one of my favorites off his album either. Just kind of pedestrian cover without the soul and romance the original had. Great singing but you don’t feel the emotion. An OK R&B cover but nothing great (and don’t release it as a single but there are much better songs on both albums!).

“Dangerously In Love 2”-Don’t make me explain the part 2 cause I don’t get it. Is this the same song that Beyonce did in concert? It’s still very soulful and powerful but it has a quicker beat (I think they added a drum machine). I prefer the scorching live version but this works very well. You still hear her honesty in the song and it’s very effective.

“Beyonce Interlude”-Just her talking about painting someone but the colors weren’t beautiful enough...yeah, you’re starting to sound like Ashanti with that kind of crap! It’s worth a good laugh.

“Gift From Virgo”-Kind of jazzy and funky and a nice closer for the album. She kind of just lets go and it isn’t very structured. She gets loose and it works. Different from the pack of soul numbers and upbeat to midtempo R&B songs but it works

Bonus Track “Just Like My Daddy” (don’t know what it is officially called)-This is the strangest track but man, I’m sure Joe Jackson wishes his “bad” kids would sing a song like this. It’s a different kind of love song, indeed. She defends the man most would credit with breaking up the first real line up of Destiny’s Child (although that stuff never gets mentioned). The song, which is the most pop sounding with piano, light drums, etc., is Beyonce saying she hopes her son and husband (and that’s a strange order, huh?) are both like her daddy! The vocals are great and its a good arrangement but you can’t help but get a little laugh as she sings his praises in this album largely based on love/sex songs, not to mention, its kind of silly (IMHO).

Wow. I really didn’t like it the first time I heard the album but giving it another chance helped. Song by song, there are good one and bad ones (I can go either way with the Luther duet but “Baby Boy”... . I’d love to hear what others think. Please post a review here.

BTW, if you downloaded this album (and I think many did but I waited!), will you still buy it. Is it worth it? I notice a lot of people buy it after they downloaded it and loved it. Also, I've noticed that on Amazon, it is kind of low on the rankings (which means nothing considering the last time I checked, teh number one seller is Michael McDonlad's "Motown") but do you think this album is going to be the one this week hurt most by downloaders? Ther eis a lot of hype but still, its pretty low considering all that! Or does Amazon hardly matter most times?

Talk about burnt out on her. No responses!

VinnyM27 said:

Bootsy's Rubber Band from their Stretchin' Out album...1976...

-SWANG'snotinterested

Hey Vinny, you know u suck don't you? :p LOL I mean thats a damn good, detaild review but when you made that Jody Watly thread you made a very short paragraph describing that LP's atmosphere. Much love tho

Anyway, I'm really happy with this LP. Its not the best commercial LP in the world but its a bit musical at some degree 4 a commercial album. Prince's influence can be hear through the LP(Signs & Speechless) add Isley Bros 2 that list, matta o' fact the result would be so pleasing if that Electric guitar in Speechless were pre4med by Ernie Isley.

This is def not a DC album its sexy and sensual!

I didn't think it was that great (excpet for the cover of closer I get, but that's not her song) I was really disapointed and unimpressed that said I did buy the THICKE album at the same time so Beyonce was never really going to impress
Still it is a boring album and "Naught Girl" SO BAD
She sounds like she is trying to do the new Mariah wisper thing
but ofcourse she won't be burnt to the stake for doing it and aslo she looks like a real tart in that new video (also Mariah dressed like that in LOVERBOY and again evryone had the crosses burning on her porch) double standard

There is nothing original or interesting about it, It seems like having a "LIVE" sound is the new trend for r&b, not original

The only good thing about the album is Luther, he still wipes the floor with any male vocalist, he is the best and doing covers, I wish the alvum had more old school sound like this (like she said) at least she didn't jump on the "ECLECTIC" band wagon, she is pure r&b

I was really hoping for more at least in wasn't Monica's album, even worse
[This message was edited Thu Jun 26 4:08:51 PDT 2003 by twink69]

twink69 said:

I hope its not becoz of the whole so-called The View saga

VinnyM27 said:

Actually I think you did a great job breaking down this album. I would have to agree with 98% of what you said. I'm not to crazy about "Crazy In Love" but the rest I'm with you. I think it's a solid 6.5 out of 10 over all.

I listened to it in the record store...it isn't horrible... will I buy it...nope but if it was a gift...i would listen to it.

I really like "Signs," "Yes," and the hidden track dedicated to her father. I think "Signs" is probably one of the best songs Missy has written for another artist. I especially love Craig Brockman and Nissan Stewart's (Tweet's producers) touch on it as well. I think they're really going places with their production.

The CD is really easy to listen to. I always thought Beyonce was a gifted pop writer (considering Jumpin, Jumpin, Say My Name, Suvivor, Independent Woman, Bills, etc.) She hasn't lost her touch here.


As a singer, she sounded OK on other albums, but on this album it's clear that she has a beautiful, sultry voice. Her vocal instrument is incredible here.

At first I said there's nothing stand out on the CD, although it's good as a whole.

Now fter a few days of playing it, I find that I really love Yes, Hip Hop Star, Signs, That's How I like it. Hell, there's really nothing I'd fast forward through.

I think the next single should be Hip Hop Star.

It's a definitive song for the culture that's in vogue right now and the song could hopefully be embraced and remembered as such ... sort of in the vein as when Madonna's Material Girl capsulized the 80's materialism in a catchy, memorable 4 minutes.

That could really boost Beyonce's career. But maybe I'm thinking of the song too highly.

SynthiaRose said:

Surprisingly, that song didn't do anything for me (which kind of disappointed me because I'm used to Big Boi, Sleepy Brown, or anyone from the Dungeon Family to bring it). I'm really not feeling this track at all, but I'll give it the benefit of a doubt and try to keep an open mind when listening to it. I feel you though. I think this would be the one song to really help her "crossover" into that rock culture venue.
[This message was edited Sat Jun 28 19:36:22 PDT 2003 by okaypimpn]

Harlepolis said:

Ok, I'll dig out that Jody thread some day! It does deserve a better review, you are right. I just thought this album was interesting in the fact that some tracks were terrible or had bad moments ("Baby Boy", the funny lyrics of the "Just Like My Daddy" song, etc) while others were Ok and some mind blowing (can't get enough of "That's How We Like It" altough I'm sure others will find it predictable and Post '96 Mariah Careyesque). The Jody album was overall good but I will get back to it.

okaypimpn said:

Its actualy a rip-off from Diana Ross song, I don't remember the title but it sound so much like a Miss Ross joint.

Baby Boy”-This one is still whispery and of course we have to have Sean Paul on there. A slight flirt with reggae in the hip hop beats. This one is weak all over, mostly lyrically (“Baby boy you stay on my mind, you are so fine...) and did I mention Sean Paul?

WTF IS WRONG WITH SEAN PAUL?? ok he is a little over played but that isn't his fault. Sean Paul is da shiznit & I don't care what anybody says!

ThaHumanBody said:

A little overplayed??? I don't think even a fan of Sean Paul would like this one!