After growing on me over the course of 2 weeks, I bought Beyonce's cd (I am...Sasha Fierce) on Tuesday! Slightly annoyed that she decided to not only have a double disc, but a standard and deluxe version as well, I shelled out the $19.10 (with tax) and bought it. I don't know if I was more excited to get the cd open and start listening or just look at the pics in the cover booklet...
But that's where it stopped. Yes, Beyonce is well, Beyonce. She is sure to put out some hot songs, have a hotter performance and add a few dances for us girls (and some guys on youtube) to do in the club. However, the cd was somewhat disappointing. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent cd. I actually like it...I can pretty much play it from start to finish without skipping any tracks...that is until you have to insert the 2nd disc...which wouldn't be as annoying if she had put more than 8 songs on each disc (5 songs for the standard). This whole "Sasha Fierce" thing was the biggest gimmick of 2008. The songs on the Sasha Fierce disc are typical Beyonce...just club songs. I think the whole thing was pointless and feel as if I officially got GOT by buying into the whole thing. On the flip side, I am grateful for the "single ladies" video which spawned countless youtube folks to try their hand at it...not to mention myself (I only bothered learning my favorite parts...and by the time I start doing it in the club I've usually had 1 too many drinks).
Feeling lackluster about my Beyonce experience, it made me think back to August when I bought Solange's CD...I have to say that I think Solange put out a great, if not one of the best, R n B/Funk cd's this year! She, in my opinion, beat out Beyonce for 2008.
In other Beyonce related news, has anyone seen Mama Tina lately? She is the real Sasha Fierce...At 54 years old she seems to be getting better with time! Check out a pic of Tina from the Cadillac Records movie premier earlier this week....In the pic with her is blues icon Etta James...who at 70 is also killing the red carper with her fierce swag! They both are simply stunning...and reiterate the good ol' saying: Black Don't Crack!
Solange has become one of my favorite celebrities. Recently I was on her blog and came across a cool post about nail art. This is something that try as I might I have not been able to totally get into...The ghetto-fab nail game isn't my cup of tea, but after seeing some of the nail art she grabbed while in Japan it had me singing a different tune. I think the nails are hot and would be a perfect, fun way to make an outfit pop for a special event.
flashbacks to her first cd that was NOT the business....but after thinking about it...the only reason I was holding back from buying the cd was because it was Solange...not because the cd wasn't good...the cd actually sounded great! I hadAnyways, I went to FYE and bought it (only $7.99...less than buying lunch) and have been listening to it non-stop for over a week! 
It's a well put together cd and definitely something you can play from start to finish, without having to skip anything. I'm honestly so happy for Solange because the shadow Beyonce can cast on anyone is huge...and she has managed to step out and find her own niche...So, go to her myspace page and check it out....and feel free to take the leap and buy it! You won't regret it...