Beyonce Knowles
Beyonce Knowles
Ask Beyoncé what she wants people to hear when they listen to
Dangerously In Love, her debut solo album, and the
multi-platinum-selling pop/urban recording artist answers, "My
range. I want them to hear all of the musical influences from hip-hop to
rock to jazz, there's even a Shuggie Otis sample. I want them to really
hear the talent. I know that folks love me as a pop star. Now I want
them to understand me as an artist."
That they will. Musically challenging and lyrically honest, Dangerously
In Love is more than just a solo CD from a superstar. It is everything
you'd expect from Beyoncé and more than you could have hoped for.
Another side of someone we've loved for years, Dangerously In Love is
equally divided between seductive mid-tempos, lush ballads and fiery
club bangers, providing a sharp focus on who Beyoncé is right now: as a
performer, as a woman, and as a creative force to be reckoned with. The
vibe is more mature, more playful, more deeply passionate and sexually
aggressive. Dangerously In Love is the sound of a grown woman clearly
staking her claim in the world and, in the process, redefining
expectations of who she is.
A 21-year-old Houston native, Beyoncé Knowles is a founding member and
chief songwriter of Destiny's Child, one of the biggest selling female
acts of all time. With many of the group's hit songs co-written and
co-produced by Beyoncé, Destiny's Child has sold more than 33 million
records worldwide. When Beyoncé won the 2001 ASCAP Pop Songwriter Of
The Year Award, she became the first African-American woman -- and the
second woman ever -- to receive that honor.
Led by founding members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, Destiny's
Child burst on the scene in 1997 with their multi-platinum single,
"No, No, No," from their self-titled album. That success was
dwarfed when Destiny's Child's The Writing's On The Wall was released in
1999. The album would go on to sell more than 10 million copies
worldwide, driven in part by three Top 10 hits: "Jumpin, Jumpin,"
"Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills," which spent
9 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.
A year after Michelle Williams joined Destiny's Child in 2000, the group
recorded Survivor, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album
chart. Survivor was certified double platinum four weeks after its
release and has gone on to sell more than nine million copies worldwide.
In 2001 Destiny's Child took home two Grammy awards: Best R&B song
("Say My Name") and Best R&B performance by a Duo or Group
("Say My Name"). Destiny's Child has won numerous other
awards, among them Billboard Artist of the year, NAACP Image Awards,
American Music Awards, Nickelodeon Kid's Choice and The Sammy Davis Jr.
Award for Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Awards. The group
has toured worldwide and performed at many high profile events including
The Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Concert Special and the Concert For
New York City.
Given the fact that the general public is so familiar with chart-topping
songs such as "Say My Name," "Independent Woman, Part
I" and "Survivor," it's fair to enquire how Dangerously
In Love differs from a Destiny's Child project. "Naturally the
songs on my album are going to share some similarities," Beyoncé
admits. "But this time because I only had to write for myself, my
songs are much more personal. I also wanted beats that were harder and
to be able to collaborate with other people. Basically this record was a
chance for me to grow as a writer and a singer. There are more ballads.
The vocals aren't as precisely produced and because it's just me, there
aren't as many harmonies. The experience was very liberating and
therapeutic. I felt free, because I could go into the studio and talk
about whatever I wanted, but in many ways it was actually harder to be
on my own creatively. I depend so much on Destiny's Child (Kelly Rowland
and Michelle Williams) to tell me if they like something or not. I'm so
critical of myself that it's scary to have to depend on your own
instincts."
Helping Beyoncé trust those instincts are an impressive array of
musical collaborators, among them Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Sean Paul, Mark
Batson, Mario Winans, D-Roy & Mr. B, OutKast's Big Boi, Rich
Harrison, Fanatic, Scott Storch, and the legendary Luther Vandross on
"The Closer I Get To You." Beyoncé shares co-executive
producer credits on Dangerously In Love with her father and manager
Mathew Knowles. She took an active role in all aspects of the album:
from writing and choosing material to producing, mastering and mixing
the tracks. Beyoncé pays tribute to her father on the hidden bonus
track, "Daddy," which was produced by Beyoncé and Mark
Batson.
The sexy first single, "Crazy In Love," featuring Jay-Z, was
co-produced by Beyoncé and Rich Harrison. Jay-Z returns the favor for
Beyoncé's part on his hit "Bonnie & Clyde 03." With a
beat that Beyoncé says is "so hard it makes your heart
hurt!," "Crazy In Love" is about that moment when you
realize you're falling into love and looking crazy but you simply don't
care. The abandon continues on "Speechless," produced by
Fanatic. "As soon as I heard the track it inspired me," she
admits. "It's very sexy, very sensual. The sort of ballad that I've
never done before. This song is definitely a population increaser!"
Laced with an Arabic ambience, fused with a ghetto-fied edge and
encompassing a sample from Donna Summer's "Love to Love You
Baby," "Naughty Girl" is uptempo and party perfect: a
sexy fantasy about having that one night where you lose all your
inhibitions, head to the club and work it like a naughty girl.
"Many of the songs on the album examine aspects of relationships,
and this is one element."
Also sexy is the dancehall-Arabic flavored "Baby Boy,"
featuring the red hot Sean Paul. "I knew Sean had to be on my album
because I love his approach," she says. "'Baby Boy' is another
song about a fantasy and it's one of my favorites."
Such unabashed and upfront emotions might come as a surprise to long
time fans but make no mistake, Dangerously In Love isn't a rejection of
DC's sound. "I love Destiny's Child and I am a member of the
group," she asserts. "We haven't broken up. We're going to
continue to tour and record and be a group. We've recorded a song, 'I
Know,' for "The Fighting Temptations" soundtrack. We all
decided a long time back to explore solo projects and I'm the third
member of the group to release my own record. Things like working apart
keep the fire going and keep the fans eager for you. I'm not trying to
get away from DC or the legacy we have. I just wanted to show a
different approach and the growth I've experienced. "
That growth is evident in Beyoncé's burgeoning acting career. In 2001
she starred in MTV's "Carmen." In 2002 she appeared as Foxy
Cleopatra in "Austin Powers in Goldmember." This year she will
co-star with Cuba Gooding Jr. in "The Fighting Temptations."
She has two more features currently in production and can also be seen
on the small screen in a series of Spike Lee-directed commercials for
Pepsi-Cola. She is also the spokesperson for L'Oreal.
SOurce vh1.com
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