Gif Credit: lanactrlaltdelrey

Pretty Hurts - UGH. THIS SONG, MAN! This song is just LIFE! A great way to start the album off, it shines light on how being pretty isn't all that you, me, he, she, or they are. Working hard to be so much more than our physical, and then, still being chopped down to how pretty, beautiful, or handsome you are is demeaning and hurtful. It implies that all of one's self-worth is placed in our outer shell, and, according to Beyoncé, as a result of that, our souls shall begin to suffer. I mean, yes, we all like being told we're pretty, but it's not all that we are; we are so much more than pretty

Haunted - BEFORE YOU LISTEN TO THIS SONG, WATCH THE VIDEO, It's just that amazing. Also, if you are a fan of AHS: Coven like we are, you cannot deny that Beyoncé is serving all the Marie Laveau realness/face/POWER throughout this video. The use of echo and pounding bass gives this song a creepy/ravey/dance vibe that is just infectious. This song is mostly about feeling empty and haunted by the things that touch us in both the past and present, from love to moments of insanity, a definite fave.

Drunk In Love (feat. Jay-Z) - Another one of Beyoncé's "third ward trill", hip-hop influencd ditty's that features her husband and King of New York himself, Jay-Z. This song is about love, and all the joys it brings us. The feeling of being completely drunk, so full with love and, ultimately, having that feeling be reciprocated. I love when her southern accent fuses with Jay-Z's Brooklyn accent, they sound like such a lovely pair. I just want to sit in on one of their conversations *heavy sigh*. I really love how they team up together on each others' respective albums, they are quite the formidable pair

Blow - This song has a very disco-esque vibe, and is a song about having great...*cough* sex. Beyoncé manages to turn a funky beat into an upbeat, modern party song with her strong vocals. She really lets her freak side come out with lines like "turn that cherry out", *clutches pearls*, and "I'ma show you how I stroke it", *grasps rosary*. In all seriousness, this is a song that has great potential, and has a small breakdown that reminded me a lot of "Suit & Tie" by Justin Timberlake. It is one of those songs you definitely sing in the mirror with your hairbrush...that is, until your parents walk in on you in the middle of a very raunchy lyric, then you've got some 'splainin to do.

No Angel - This song is about having dirty, raunchy, crazy, wild sex. This song epitomizes "lady in the streets, but a freak in the streets" as Beyoncé lets the listeners, and her lover, know that she doesn't want casual intimate sex, but, instead, wants passionate, crazy relations because she's no angel, and she knows you ain't either *coughs* so don't treat her like one

Partition - Ugh, another great song. I can see myself now just walking down the road bobbing along to this infectious jam. It's about partying and being sexual, but also feeling insecure and hoping that the one you love will accept you for you. Beyoncé dabbles with rapping in this song, and there is a monologue near the end, spoken in French that is just glorious. But uhh..yeah, the sex references in the song and video are quite naughty *giggles*

Jealous - This song speaks directly to me, because it deals with being jealous and making the one you love jealous and, if I must admit it, I'm a jealous girl who hates getting jealous, but loves making someone jealous. This song is really cute, and is applicable to both men and women (and all those who own a freakum dress HELLO *two snaps*). This song is, ultimately, about trying to get your lover to understand and sympathize with your feelings, and honing in on when you want some love and attention. Though asking for confirmation and reassurance is a little embarrassing, it's better than being jealous and flirting with your ex so your current boo thang will notice you.

Rocket - This song is most definitely about sex. No questions asked. But what makes it different from most other songs about sex, is that it establishes a sexual relationship in which the woman (Beyoncé) is calling all the shots. She's the dominant party in this scandalous rendez-vous. I'm sure she's not the first female singer to sing about herself as the dominant party during intercourse, but things like these are so important because it has been ingrained in women to be the pleasure-giver, the more submissive of the two consenting adults. In this song, the woman is demands pleasure through orders and commands. And that is just....WHEW!

Mine (feat. Drake) - I feel as tough this song, specifically, is aimed at all of us ladies and men who reach that point in a relationship where you feel as though you have reached the rocky shores/choppy waters/unnecessarily difficult times. The song talks about troubles in love, but understanding that, even through the petty problems and disputes, the one you love will always be yours, and you, theirs. Wheelchair Jimmy Drake loans his voice to a nice little background vocal and a rap that assures the one he loves that their love will weather any storm coming their way. You will always be mine, I will always be yours.

XO - Such a sweet song, with a nice and fun party vibe, but it's message of feeling overwhelming, everlasting love "before they turn the lights out"(I'm assuming this means death) is what truly captures the song. That blind sense of feeling love, and being loved, is most likely what she was trying to convey with this song.

***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche) - The new feminist anthem (along with Little Mix's Salute) of 2014, don't try and fight it. This song tells women to embrace their "GROWN" attitudes and not fall second fiddle to a man simply because of society's perception of sex and gender and its correlation to your strength/worth. Embrace your power! There is a great speech by Igbo (shoutout to Nigeria) author Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche that encompasses exactly how women should feel about themselves after listening to this song, and her monologue; you should feel beyond powerful and the epitome of flawless.

Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean) - Beyoncé should DEFINITELY do more collaborations with Frank Ocean, their voices together are *kisses fingers* MAGNIFIQUE! This song talks about love, and how the capability to love is a 'superpower', and though we may try to resist, fight, and deny our 'superpower', especially when the world is intent to destroy it, it can never be broken down.

Heaven - This is the saddest song on Beyoncé's album, and I believe it to be about the child she miscarried in 2011. The song speaks on how, though she loved the child with all her heart, and tried so hard to keep it here (on Earth), Heaven needed the baby more than she did and, even though it was hard to experience, she had to realize that it happened for a reason. This is such a tragically beautiful song, and one of the only songs on her album that utilizes only her voice and small accompaniment of instruments, most likely done to convey just how deep into her personal life we are in. This, metaphorically, paints her as the center of this great tragedy. That she felt comfortable enough sharing such information (for the second time) is so heart wrenchingly painful to me, because experiencing loss is such a shared experience, and yet we feel so alone when bad things happen. Yes, we place celebrities on a pedestal (some greater than others), and yes, we deify them to the point where they just seem like objects of entertainment rather than real people but it is through shared experiences like death, disease, illness, etc. that we, once again, realize they are people just like us, and they hurt and experience hurt just like us. At the end of the song, "The Lord's Prayer" (spoken in Spanish) is used as a great conclusion, most likely done to emphasize the influence faith and religion has on Beyoncé

Blue (feat. Blue Ivy) - Let's just acknowledge that this is Blue Ivy Carter's second feature on a song, and she's only 1 (almost 2) year of age. Let that sink in and marinate...a baby is more successful than me *ugly cries*. The song is so sweet, and the video, which was filmed during Beyoncé's time in Brazil, is absolutely gorgeous. It speaks on how, when times get hard and overwhelming, she finds comfort and joy in her precocious and adorable 'road dawg' Blue Ivy. This song is so applicable to life in general; how hard times get, and how we seek solace and happiness in people and things we love. Blue Ivy's little voice is heard calling out to her mother in the end, and, I can't lie, I choked up hearing her speak (I don't....I just...it was too cute, OKAY), it was just so cute. It, also, reminded me of Minnie Ripperton calling out to her wailing infant daughter, Maya Rudolph, on her famed song "Lovin' You"

Extra Bits/Videos
All Videos

Rating
10/10

Reasoning
Though Beyoncé has proven herself time and time again, it is this album that truly solidifies her growth as a woman, mother, wife, daughter, and role model. Her increased sense of strength and power is translated so well into this album, and the fact that she managed to alter the configuration of the internet and the lives of people all around the world in one night is astounding. Congratulations to BeyonSLAY for releasing an absolutely fantastic album that speaks to all people, all across the world.

Surprise!
"Self Titled" Documentary (Part 1)

With Love,
The Girls' Room