Rated Run The World?

I've been waiting for Beyonce's new solo material, eagerly, since the release of her I Am... tour DVD last Christmas. I saw said tour twice within 12 months and it was absolutely incredible. There's no doubt that Beyonce is the greatest live performer of our generation, regardless of whether you like her music or not, she is a bloody brilliant entertainer.
With an array of superb singles under her booty (Crazy In Love, Deja Vu, Single Ladies and Sweet Dreams to name a few) I expected something huge from the queen; something so big it would make the Royal Wedding cower in its significance.

Unfortunately, Run The World (Girls) is about as satisfying as having nail varnish remover poured into your eyes. Maybe a bit over-dramatic, but this is a horrendous mess. It's written a bit like an Independent Women Part 3, only when she wrote it she was out of her mind on Es (not literally-lawsuit averted). The song samples Major Lazer's Pon Di Floor, which sounds incredible in a club and no doubt Beyonce's sampler will sound just as exciting and base pounding as the original when it's accompanied by vodka shots. The main issue is that it just doesn't gel, at all. The song is tired and the subject matter is getting boring now. We know you love an independent woman B, but write about something else for Christ's sake! Beyonce's vocals aren't sounding their best here, with the production calling for lots of shouting rather than intricate harmonies and when the song occasionally breaks down to reveal the soul sound we're used to, it sounds nice but feels like a pointless filler to break up an annoyingly repetitive track. Run the world? Run me over more like.

I pray that this is just a mishap, all great artists have them, even Beyonce (apparently). The new album has to offer better than this, otherwise it's going to be a catastrophic musical disaster in the shadow of the brilliant, talent showcase that was I Am... Sasha Fierce.


1.5/5