In 2008 Beyonce released what was to become "Her Best Album To Date". Well, me being me, a former fan of Destiny's Child, and Beyonce herself, alas, after her last album B-Day, I found myself not listening to her music at all. But, when I heard those five little words I couldn't help it, I had to hear what this album sounded like. So off I popped to the shops and bought the album, under the pretence that I could give it to my mum for Christmas.

Okay enough babbling! Lets get straight into this.
The album, I am ... Sasha Fierce is split into two halves, Disk One is Beyonce, disk two is her alter ego Sasha.

Here we go .... Disk One

Track One.
If I were a Boy:

I'd roll outta bed in the morning/And throw on what I wanted then go/Drink beer with the guys/And chase after girls/I'd kick it with who I wanted/And I'd never get confronted for it.

The first single off the album, cool video as well, but the song, it's rather repetitive. Whilst the vocal is good and the music itself sets a smooth sombre mood, you soon realise you're listening to the same words in each verse. This song is like Marmite, you either love it or hate, personally ... I love it, Beyonce puts enough emotion into the song where its not over kill, but just right, making you believe her pain. 4 outta 5.


Track Two.
Halo:

Hit me like a ray of sun/Burning through my darkest night/You're the only one that I want/Think I'm addicted to your light.

My foot is tapping and the music has only just begun. Okay, so before Beyonce even sings, I'm somehow thinking of Pussycat dolls, didn't they do a song called Halo on their album? Oh dear. Only joking! This song is brilliant, its believable, the lyrical sample I chose above was the one part of the song (except the chorus) that stood out for me, its a simple summary of what falling in love feels like. Beautiful vocal as well. 5 outta 5.


Track Three.
Disappear:

If I beg and if I cry/Would it change the sky tonight?/Will it give me sunlight?

*Zones out*

Wow. Um. Yeah, this one is pants ... actually I half expected her to start singing something different, I'm reminded of another song by another artist but I just can't put my finger on it. Dang. Oh well, Pants song, if you liked Destiny's Child version of Emotions then you'll like this, but I didn't and I don't. 1 outta 5.


Track Four.
Broken-Hearted Girl

You say you've got the most respect for me/But, sometimes I feel you're not deserving of me/And still, you're in my heart/But you're the only one.

Okay, Piano, nice, nothing to overpowering music wise, bit of violin, good steady vocal, hmm, typical post break up song. Lots of girls will possibly listen to this and go "Oh I can relate" well, yeah actually most of us who have had a bad relationship can relate. Great lyrics, not brilliant, but better than just good, Beyonce is telling her man, I don't want to be broken hearted, I won't play that role, but I still love you. Hmm, listen to this one a couple of times and you'll like it. 4 outta 5.

Track Five.
Ave Maria: You are my heaven on earth/You are my hunger, my thirst/I always hear this voice inside..../Saying Ave Maria.


Ohhhh. Turn this one right up! It's a ballad but it is breathtakingly beautiful! Wow, purely wonderful, gentle vocal yet it fits perfectly with this song. I love how she sings the Ave Maria bit. I feel like I could listen to this song many times and not get fed up with it. By the third verse, you get a feeling that Beyonce will "give it some welly" as my Gran used to say, but she doesn't, and she keeps its amazingly right, she doesn't overpower the simple and beautiful lyrics with her voice. Exceptional song. My favourite so far. 5 outta 5.


Track Six
Smash into You:

I'm in love and I'm racing the Earth/And I'm soaked in your love/And love is right in my path, in my grasp/And me and you belong.

Listen to this about four or five times. At first I want to skip it, and the second time I still want to skip it ... but by the fourth time I'm actually enjoying this. A bit of a let down coming off the back of Ave Maria but still good. Its a light song, not heavy on note runs, its a sort of breezy song, but the lyrics are still powerful. And towards the end of the song, the drums kick it up a notch and Beyonce gives it full force, but instead of killing the song, it actually makes the song more enjoyable. 4 outta 5.


Track Seven.
Satellites:
Take all the rules away/How can we live if we don't change?/We're always on display...let's run and hide.

Don't let the title put you off. When I saw there a song called Satellites on the CD I was a bit taken aback but after listening to it three times now, its starting to grow on me. However I feel this song is more fitting for someone like Diane Vickers off the Xfactor, now she could make this song exceptional, Beyonce however, makes it just ... normal. Good song but not up to the same standard as the others (with the exception of Track Three) 3 outta 5.


Track Eight.
That's Why You're Beautiful:

Diamonds used to be coal/Look young cause they got soul/That's why they're beautiful.

Oh its the little drummer boy song! Okay so it's not really, but honestly if Beyonce wasn't singing, you'd think the same thing! Alas this revelation hasn't helped me. Even with Beyonce singing I still have the Little Drummer Boy in my head. Anyway, you can't really understand what she's singing. 2 outta 5.


Time for Disk Two!

Track One.
Single Ladies (Put a ring on It)


Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it/If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it/Don't be mad once you see that he want it/If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it.

I LOVE IT! Up beat, everyone dance, you won't be able to stop yourself I'm afraid. Ah funny looks off my boyfriend, funny because we've been together three years and accord to "Sasha Fierce" he shoulda put a ring on it by now haha. Okay, I can sum this song up in one word. Bootylicious. 5 outta 5!

Track Two.
Radio.

You're the only one that Papa allowed to hang out in my room/With the door closed we'd be alone/And mama never freaked out when she heard it go BOOM/'Cause she knew we were in the zone.

Okay so I'm on to the second song and I guess I already know that this is going to be the dancey/up beat part of the album with disk one as the ballads. Right, Radio ... Ever heard the song Mickey? The really annoying one? If you have, well, think of this song in the same league as Mickey. Its annoyingly catching, its fun and full of life. You can just imagine a video for this song. Brilliant. 5 outta 5.

Track Three.
Diva:

Since 15 in my stilettos, been struttin in this game/"What's yo age?" That's the question they ask when I hit the stage/I'm a diva, best believe her, you see how she gettin paid?

This song should make you laugh at the very start. Hmm, it's the kinda song I'd expect from someone like Ciara or TLC but coming from Beyonce makes me laugh even more. Its a good song, and I think Beyonce pulls it off quite well, but still, it sounds funny coming from Beyonce. 4 outta 5.

Track Four.
Sweet Dreams:
Every night I rush to my bed/With hopes that maybe I'll get a chance to see you when I close my eyes/I'm going outta my head/Lost in a fairytale.

Somehow I expected this to be a ballad, but its upbeat like the others, bit familiar to Radio. Catchy, great vocal, listen to this a couple of times it's a "grow on you" kind of song. I really want to dance. 5 outta 5.

Track Five.
Video Phone:

You say you like my bag and the color of my nails/You can see that I got it goin' on/I wanna make sure you remember me/So I'ma leave my number on your video phone.

I just looked at the lyrics for this, ha-ha. Again, not the kind of song I'd expect from Beyonce. Its fun, feisty and straight to the point. I think I love Beyonce's alter ego. Catchy lyrics, I think I'm going to spend most of the day going "video phone", like I did when I first heard Womanizer by Britney ha-ha. Great song. 5 outta 5.

Track six.
Hello

Don't need to buy a diamond key to unlock my heart/You shelter my soul/You're my fire when I'm cold/I want you to know.

Oh ... Its a ballad ... Almost. It reminds me a song off one of her previous albums, but I don't remember which one. When I realised this was not an up beat song, I thought it didn't fit in on this side of the album, but after listening to it again, I can see why its on disk two. The repeated Hello is driving me up the wall though. 4 outta 5.

Track Seven.
Ego:

Its too big (big)/Its too wide (wide)/Its too strong (strong)/It won't fit (fit)/Its too much (much)/Its too tough (tough).

Oh My God. Excuse me whilst I roll around the floor laughing. Okay, you have to actually listen to the full song, do not, and I repeat, do not make assumptions with this song after you've heard the first half of the song and chorus. Alas it appears I have a perverted mine ha-ha. Vocally exceptional, the lyrics are funny and fresh and will give you giggle. Exceptionally brilliant song, this one should have 10 outta 5! I love Sasha Fierce!


Track Eight.
Scared Of Lonely:

And I'm scared of being the only shadow I see along the wall/And I'm scared the only heartbeat I hear beating is my own/And I'm scared of being alone.


Hmm, strange to end the album with a ballad, a proper ballad but I can see why. Listen to the lyrics, think of the other songs on this disk. This song is the side of Sasha Fierce we will never see. Beyonce has given her alter ego an insecurity and I love it. The song itself if okay, the vocal is good, together with the understanding that this is Sasha Fierce, makes this song amazing. 5 outta 5.


Overall: Okay, so I started listening to the album as a former fan left cold by the previous album. And I was sceptical of the whole "Her Best Album To Date" thing. But having listened to the album 3 times, I can safely say this is Beyonce's best work to date. She took a risk and split the album in two, she showed her soul on disk one, allowing the true Beyonce to unleash it all. On disk two she freed Sasha Fierce from the confines of her mind and gave freedom to a side we have never seen before. Both CDs rock, making this one outstanding album. I can expect many number ones from this CD and recommend you all go buy it ... or download it, whatever floats your boat! But honestly, you'll not go wrong with this CD.

Exceptional tracks like Ave Maria and Ego, Radio and Single Ladies, make you wonder, could her next album be better? I doubt it. Overall rating of this album, taking into account of the two weak tracks .... I have to give it 5 outta 5. ..