On Beyoncé 's the megastar took on the role of her alter ego Sasha Fierce, but on her latest disc 4 she is just herself again. This does not mean that the American now has an unambiguous image. On the contrary, every song on this CD is linked in the booklet to a photo in which Beyoncé always looks different. However, this record is not as diverse as the photos. It is even striking how many songs
… have the same mix of low tempos and quiet instrumentation. The music does have a variety of influences: hip hop, rock and synth pop. It will have to do with the large group of writers and producers who were allowed to work on 4. Ultimately, the contributions are from , Shea Taylor, and forged into a logical sounding R&B record, with a sound that would not have been out of place in the eighties. Songs like Best Thing You Never Had, Party and the single Run The World (Girls), also one of the few dance songs, have the highest hit factor, although there is not really a weak brother on this album. Sasha Fierce is no longer needed to score hits. (JE)more
