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Album Track Listing			Beyonce: B'Day Release Date: 4 September 2006 Reviewed By: Melisa Tang
1. Deja Vu (ft. Jay-Z) 2. Get Me Bodied 3. Suga Mama 4. Upgrade U (ft. Jay-Z) 5. Ring The Alarm 6. Kitty Kat 7. Freakum Dress 8. Green Light 9. Irreplaceable 10. Resentment 11. Bonus Track: Check On It (ft. Slim Thug) Chamillionaire - The Sound Of Revenge Read Review
				Birthdays come and go, but for one lady, this year’s coming of age would be celebrated worldwide with family, friends and fans alike. That lady is indeed, Beyoncé Knowles.   To celebrate her 25th birthday, Beyoncé made this year extra special by coinciding it with the launch of her brand new album, aptly titled ‘B’Day’.   Having already stormed the UK charts with her No.1 single ‘Déjà vu’ with her beau Jay-Z, it appears Miss Knowles can do no wrong. But, three years after her critically-acclaimed debut solo LP, ‘Dangerously In Love’, does B still have what it takes to keep her R&B/Pop crown?   ‘B’Day’ opens with the Rodney Jerkins-produced ‘Déjà vu’; the instantly recognisable 808 beat and snare drum combination blaring out the stereo as Jay delivers his first verse. Although not quite as catchy as ‘Crazy In Love’ was when it hit the radio waves back in 2003, it is still a club banger, and worthy of the No.1 chart position.   The potential second single from the album is ‘Ring The Alarm’ produced by Swizz Beatz [DMX, Busta Rhymes], a track which displays a much more aggressive Beyoncé as she screams, “Ring the alarm/I been through this too long/But I’ll be damned if I see another chick on your arm!” Another stomper of a single, this is sure to go far in the charts.   The album was put together in a matter of weeks when Beyoncé was meant to be on vacation. So inspired by her character Deena in her forthcoming film ‘Dreamgirls’, B shut herself in the studio, writing, producing and recording tracks with the help of such beatmakers like Swizz, Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins [Destiny’s Child, Brandy], Rich Harrison, The Neptunes [Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg] and Stargate [Ne-Yo]. The result is the best album of her career to date – ‘B’Day’ is full of strong, sassy women’s anthems with the odd ballad to boot.   Whilst Beyoncé never strays too far from familiar territory lyrics-wise, she has dared to step out and experiment with bolder, sassier cuts, like the pulsating beats of ‘Get Me Bodied’ and the bass heavy ‘Freakum Dress’.   A throwback to the Sixties, ‘Suga Mama’ is a bluesy/funk track, and with her sexy Texan drawl, what man could resist having this Southern babe on their arm? Obviously not Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter, for he also appears on the materialistic ‘Upgrade U’, a track about ‘upgrading’ your partner to Cartier wristwatches, Hermes briefcases and BBS cufflinks.   The album wouldn’t be complete without B’s signature ballads, and she slows down the tempo of ‘B’Day’ with ‘Resentment’ and the delectable ‘Irreplaceable’, making sure her man doesn’t get too comfortable by putting him in his place.   With a few extra bonus tracks, Beyoncé certainly doesn’t disappoint her fans, giving them a preview of the ‘Dreamgirls’ soundtrack with the powerful ballad, ‘Listen’, as well as the inclusion of ‘Check On It’ and an extended remix of ‘Get Me Bodied’, where Miss Knowles subtly name-checks her clothesline, House Of Dereon.   At just 25, Beyoncé Knowles has achieved so much more than most would do in a lifetime. The release of her sophomore solo set only adds to her accomplishments, and has further established Beyoncé as the brightest young entertainer this side of the new millennium.     Rating: 5/5   Top Three Tracks: 2) Get Me Bodied 9) Irreplaceable 7) Freakum Dress Return to Latest Reviews or select review by artist or Soundtrack, A-Z. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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