Snap Judgment: Beyonce's 'I Am ... Sasha Fierce'

In the news release for her new, ambitious, somewhat befuddling double album -- the deluxe edition, with extra tracks, is currently streaming on her MySpace page -- Beyonce Knowles discusses her newly revealed alter ego, Sasha Fierce. "She's the party girl, she's Bootylicious," says the singer-songwriter-movie star-mogulista. "She is but I'm not. She's my alter ego. I'm finally revealing who I am."

The contradiction built into that brief comment says much about Beyonce's artistic predicament. A child talent-show winner molded into a pop star by her notoriously driven father, she is a creature of the stage, like Britney and Christina, the pop stars with whom she might have continued to be lumped if her father-figure husband -- and, more important, her own "rapperly" vocal gifts -- hadn't helped her secure a spot in hip-hop's firmament. Yet because the world of hip-hop soul expects its divas to be "real," she's often criticized for seeming distant within her own performances and refusing to expose herself.

For Beyonce, to say that an identity she is not can also "reveal ... who I am" is not a contradiction. As an artist, she is a role-player first -- a brainy, often showy interpreter instead of a gut singer on ballads, and a brilliantly varied rhythmic innovator on her club hits. "I Am ... Sasha Fierce" shows her further refining both of those tendencies, and it's full of interesting choices. But her misplaced worries about authenticity cause Beyonce to make some unfortunate missteps (mostly into the puddle of excess) that often afflict artists in mid-career.

Her first mistake, noted in other early reviews, was to separate "Beyonce" from "Sasha" and give each lady her own disc. Dispensing with the idea that the one sharing her name is any more genuine makes it clear that Beyonce has accepted standard thinking about what "real" is for a woman.

For T.I. (the other hip hop star who recently tried this schizophrenia thing) real-versus-fake meant thug-versus-pop-star, and ultimately the two were inseparable. But that's the male rapper's version of this struggle -- the ascendant entrepreneur trying to reconcile with the streetwise, marginalized youth still fighting for control of his psyche. (That's also the Jay Z story, so B knows it well.)

Might as well quote B herself (or whoever wrote the lines -- she had many collaborators, as always) to define the split she makes. "My heart used to be cold 'til your hands laid on my soul," she intones in "That's Why You're Beautiful," in which she compares herself to a diamond that finds its sparkle only when bought. This is the "real" Beyonce -- romantic, interdependent, brought to life by love. Her modus operandus is the power ballad.

Then there's Sasha, whose manifesto is the Lil Wayne-inspired "Diva," anchored around the line, "Diva is the female version of a hustla." She is nobody's baby, and if she finds love in the club, she's not necessarily dirtying her apartment with it after closing hours.

Her motif is the club banger -- electro elements optional. When she does go into mid-tempo territory -- say, on the R. Kelly-meets-Rihanna vocal workout "Hello," or on "Ego," in which B shows off the spunk she developed playing Etta James in a movie (much to longtime James supporter Christina Aguilera's chagrin, we're sure )-- Sasha's still all about sonic complexity and challenging singing, rather than the cleaner, more open style of the Beyonce tracks.

The weirdest thing about this split is its racial undertone. The Beyonce ballads fall into that soft-rock zone that incorporates elements of crossover country, Celine-and-Whitney style divadom, and U2-derived guitar hymnody. They're vehemently not R&B, and Beyonce enunciates them in a firmly post-racial style, in the same ballpark as her multi-culti rivals Alicia Keys and Leona Lewis. ("Halo," written by the hip hop world's latest rock crush, Ryan Tedder, was originally intended for Lewis.)

There's also the clear influence of Beyonce's idol, Barbra Streisand. The cowriters on these songs are mostly white, though Babyface, long soul's ambassador to soft rock, makes an appearance. The unrelenting uplift of these tracks conjures thoughts of transcendence, and that universal tone is vehemently not grounded in a "black" sound.

Sasha Fierce, on the other hand, knows where her home is. Enlisting top urban music producers including Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Sean Garrett and Jim Jonsin (who's white, but a veteran of Flo Rida's dirty rap scene), she stars in songs that manically reference the current lingo of the dancefloor and the mixtape.

As a vocalist, Beyonce seems more comfortable in Sasha's stilettos. Her performances on those cuts feel unforced and fun, like she's thinking on her feet. Stretching for deep meaning on the Beyonce ballads, she risks sounding ponderous -- communicating thoughtfulness weighs her down. Still, when she finds the right balance, as on the first single "If I Were a Boy," she can be exquisite -- accessing the timeless quality she's clearly bent on mastering.

So consider "I Am....Sasha Fierce" Beyonce's Obama album. Through it, she is imagining a pop sound that doesn't foreground race, but which still respects its roots in the black community. She's not there yet, but the effort is fascinating, and hopefully she will keep on this path. After all, the Obama that Beyonce invokes with the name of her alter ego is still only a child.

--Ann Powers

Photo: Peter Lindbergh, courtesy MySpace

Comments

[Michael]

This is an excellent review of the album, very clear and unbiased. Excellent job.

[Chanel]

Ms. Powers, mentions that Beyonce falls into standard thinking by giving her alter-ego, Sasha, her own album. I disagree; the separation is merely a way for her to illustrate the dichotomy each woman faces. By naming Sasha, Beyonce can creatively express where she is at that moment. In black culture, and therefore hip-hop women are either Jezebel or Virgin. Beyonce dispels these myths by providing complete portraits of both her personal and public personas. Furthermore, T.I.'s dual personality is not real vs. fake. In fact, it is tradition vs. change. Likewise, Beyonce is the Houston girl who idolized Barbra Streisand. While Sasha is a sex symbol thriving on luxury.
Racial undertones?? Yes, B transcends R&B in a lot of her work. But the Beyonce album is no crossover wannabe; after all, black music is at the heart of all American music. The "black sound" will always be evolving faster than you can review it.
How predictable for you to write, "Sasha... knows where home is." FYI Beyonce was hip-hop before Jay-Z..... Sasha simply speaks to the dance floor. Hip-hop is dance music.
You say lingo, when you should say language. You enlist Obama when you should think simply, Black Woman. Beyonce is an evolution, finally reaching for a feminist approach.

[Anthony]

I agree. You can see her really trying hard to convey those messages in the performance of if i were a boy. If she were comfortable or confident i don't feel she would be having this problem. I love Mrs B. I hope she really does find herself

[CC]

Why must we continue to insist that it may even be possible for there to be substance anywhere in the releases of the so-called "artists" who dominate our society's ring-tone driven, style-saturated, gossip maven-oriented muzak? There are so many reasons not to mention the records released by the Brtineys, Madonnas, Beyonces, and other rank and file image monsters and boy bands of the world. Sure, people want to know what they wore to the latest premiere, but are those people finding any real depth, beauty, or soul in the morass of overproduced studio-created blips and bleeps of audio to which these people attach their names? There is real music out there. Music with soul, integrity, and uncompromising beauty. The reviewer here was smart and thoughtful. Why can't that talent be used to discuss some music that matters?

[NIESHA]

CHANEL, I COULDNT HAVE PUT IT ANY BETTER MYSELF. YOUR COMMENT MADE ME (A BLACK WOMAN) FEEL SO MOVED. READING IT MADE ME EVEN MORE PROUD TO BE A BLACK WOMAN. YOU TELL 'EM GIRL... SHE DOESNT KNOW WHAT THE HELL SHE IS TALKING ABOUT!

[Brooklynn]

LOVE LOVE LOVE HER!!!! READ BELOW.....

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[Renee]

Uhhhh, "I'm finally revealing who I am".
She always revealed herself, expect for her marriage!
But it's understandable, since I'm only interested in her music.
But I'm glad she made 2 disc, do they have diff songs on there? Great...

[Lee]

I see what Bey did the album why she did, but that doesnt mean it works. I think the ballads on the "Bey"-side are kinda forced and it makes her music sound boring. I know she wants to try everything, but that piece needed more work to sound genuine. My opinion.

And the Obama reference is a clear stretch comparison. And I dont agree with the comment about racial undertones. Black people are fans and creators of music in every genre.

To whoever said hip hop is dance music. You are wrong and could probably benefit from more research in making that generalization. Destinys Child was not hip hop and she didnt turn hip hop until Crazy in love...... with her collaborator and husband Jay Z

[Jessica]

I personally like the songs on "I am Beyonce" side much more than the "Sasha Fierce" side and I am a huge Beyonce fan. The "Sasha Fierce" is a good side as well, but it's what we've heard before. The ballads feeling forced I disagree completely with. And I am not saying this because I am a huge Beyonce fan, other than Beyonce I am really into neo-soul/r&b music and I think this is a breathe of fresh air and I am glad she took some notes from her little sister Solange and decided to take a risk. Great album. I look forward to purchasing it.

[mimi]

Great great great review and i am so glad that a lot of journalists are taking their time to analyse this record because this is her first record since becoming a Pop Icon, yes she's always been a pop star but after the immense success of B'day and Dreamgirls she became the Pop Icon of this decade alongside the beloved Britney and the fiery Christina putting ballad singing Mariah to shame.

I personally love both records and find it hard to choose, i love the pop rock tracks on I Am but honestly get hot under the collar listening to songs like Video Phone and Radio.

This is her best record, its her 9th record and third solo record and its amazing to see how much she's grown and changed.

She's talented, calculated, commercial, beautiful and the reason it is no longer strange for black female artists to cross over into pop boundaries.

I am so proud that she is now reffering to herself as being Pop.

[Sue]

That's Why You're Beautifull..one of best songs shes ever done...on the CD...just amazing!

[Moi]

Another lacklustre album from Beyonce. Too many ballads & yet another a rip off for the fans by releasing two. Why not put some quality songs on one album than have two. We don't care who Sasha is, let's hear Beyonce

[Daeveion moore]

OMG BEYONCE OR SHOULD I SAY SASHA WOW IM NOT JUST SAYIN THAT BECAUSE SHE IS MY WIFE LOL BUT BECAUSE SHEZ AMAZING EVERY PERSON GO AND GET THE ALBUM I WILL BE BUING 5I LOVE YOU B

[Chanelle]

i agree wit the chanel above me. this particular article is way off.

[Joe Lee]

i agree with Chanel. thank you.

[destiny]

I totally agree with CC. There is nothing genuine about the artists out now. Everything is manufactored. Why? Because the public (fans) can be so stuck on the glitz n glamour that they don't appreciate the real. How is it I knew Beyonce was putting down the glam to become more "relatable, like every day women" It's all a product of mngmnt. The record comp were feeling people were growing tired of Beyonce so they asked her to tone down her image for this new idea of going with the alter ego thing. Some people will buy Beyonce's products whether its crap or not just because the love "BEYONCE". To me Beyonce needs to realize you don't have to prance around in scampy "stage" clothing for people to appreciate her work. I read the cover of Sports Illustrated that exclaimed, "Beyonce like you never seen her before" Please There are all sorts of photos with her gapped open and her unmentionables peaking out. She's in a leaotard for goodness sake. Im jus saying Alicia gets mad respect and she's always fully clothed. To say she is a feminist is just wrong. Feminist seek to get away from being looked at by men as a piece of meat. Find a video where she isn't.

[destiny]

I totally agree with CC. There is nothing genuine about the artists out now. Everything is manufactored. Why? Because the public (fans) can be so stuck on the glitz n glamour that they don't appreciate the real. How is it I knew Beyonce was putting down the glam to become more "relatable, like every day women" It's all a product of mngmnt. The record comp were feeling people were growing tired of Beyonce so they asked her to tone down her image for this new idea of going with the alter ego thing. Some people will buy Beyonce's products whether its crap or not just because the love "BEYONCE". To me Beyonce needs to realize you don't have to prance around in scampy "stage" clothing for people to appreciate her work. I read the cover of Sports Illustrated that exclaimed, "Beyonce like you never seen her before" Please There are all sorts of photos with her gapped open and her unmentionables peaking out. She's in a leaotard for goodness sake. Im jus saying Alicia gets mad respect and she's always fully clothed. To say she is a feminist is just wrong. Feminist seek to get away from being looked at by men as a piece of meat. Find a video where she isn't.

[SON]

ONE WORD: BAD

[Portia]

ZZZZZ..expressing where she is at the moment???yes, she is expressing her confusion with herself, that she hasn't found herself, that is has gotten lost in fame and fortune and a MAN!!! We give these cds to our youth and say, here, listen to this, which embraces insanity and nasty behavior....wow...There used to be a time where wearing clothes made you popular, now the less you wear the better..and, there used to be a time when having an alter ego meant you were crazy, now it means you're cool???Now, i admit everyone has a different side to them. But she took that to a whole new level..battling herself..oh i'm not me right now i'm SashhhhAAA...okay now i'm not Sasha i'm beyonce....when you start talking about yourself to yourself...you're losing it...slowly but surely..!! Haaaa, the world is messed up. I'll be praying for Bey..because if she can't be herself all the time, there is a problem with that.

[Javier]

To Destiny:

Theres no question that she uses her sexuality to sell some of the music that she has. However, she may be called feminist because she is trying to show that restrictions shouldnt be bestowed upon anyone. Just because you use your sexuality to your advantage doesnt make you a slut or a disgrace to women. After all the suffrage movement was about allowing women to make their OWN choices. And she's made hers and it involves a side of sexuality but also a vulnerable tender side in which she OBVIOUSLY identifies with more. Hence, the difference in names beyonce/sasha.

[A.Renee]

I'm sorry but I only like a four songs on the whole album so to me her album is all hype and no real substance, I mean the album is not all that good... she hasn't even went platinum yet!...very overrated. She can sing, but she ain't no J Hud, Whitney, Etta, or that new girl Jasmine Sullivan...as for Ava Maria she made it into an R&B Ballad because she wouldn't dare attempt the opera version, she does not have the vocals for it...and I know I've sung the Soprano 1 version of Ava Maria and I am not impressed.I have trained and studied music since the age of 10 and B does to much straining and yelling for my taste. Very Commercial and entertaining but her music has no real substance...same topic sung on every CD..because in my opinion she has no real life experience to sing about anything more serious or deeper. HIGHLY OVERRATED!!!

[Mart]

Each of us is free to have his/her own opinion. Pesronally I think, that this album is not at all bad, perhaps, not ideal, but not really bad ( http://rapidqueen.com/?q=Beyonce+I+Am+Sasha+Fierce&filetype=AllFiles ). Beyonce does, what she can, and does is in a good way! so, why should we judge her???