BEYONCE : ... Sasha Fierce

Earlier today we had an all-too-brief look at the first disc in Beyonce's two disc 'epic' 'I Am... Sasha Fierce'. Brief because the disc only ran for 24 minutes. The release has been broken down into two discs - the 'Beyonce' disc ('I Am'), where the singer reveals her more personal side and the 'Sasha' disc, where she hits the up-tempo button, exploring the side of her alter-ego, a sassy young plaything called 'Sasha Fierce'. And hell, if Geri Halliwell can have 'Trixie Firecracker', then why not indeed.
So, given the release is broken into two, we thought we'd do the same with the review, so here kids is part two; 'Sasha Fierce'.
This section begins with 'Single Ladies' in all it's stripped-back, bouncy, hand-clappy, pOp minimalism (still can't get THAT image of Justin Timberlake in a leotard out of our heads). 'Radio' takes Beyonce in a slightly different direction, it's pOp at it's heart, but it's got a touch of electro/trance about it's chorus as B sings about being in love with her radio 'cause "it never lets her down". 'Diva' begins with chipmunk-esque vocals before Beyonce does her very best impersonation of Missy Elliot's 'Get UR Freak On', combined with Snoop's 'Drop It Like It's Hot', without a skerrick of a tune. By the time 'Sweet Dreams' pOps on your stereo, the EP is 60% over, but as the song progresses, you realise this has to be a shoo-in for the next single (there's not much else to choose from, though it's rumoured that 'Diva' is next). It all closes with 'Video Phone', where Beyonce sings about taping her on your video phone and playing it back whenever you need a hit. It's a bit breathy, suggestive, writhing and raunchy. But then it's all over - the disc has gone and at just over 17 minutes (disc one is just over 24), you realise there are CD singles that have longer running times and they're just $3.99 each. If 'Sasha Fierce' were a Salada biscuit, she'd be 'bite-sized', and no matter what you topped it with, it'd always leave you hungry for more.

C

Beyonce's 'I Am... Sasha Fierce' is in-store now in both standard and deluxe versions.