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Ask Beyonce 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 hearthe 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 Beyonce 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 Beyonce 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, Beyonce 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 Beyonce, Destiny's Child has sold
more than 33 million records worldwide. When Beyonce
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 Beyonce 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 #1
on the Billboard RandB singles chart.
A year after Michelle Williams joined Destiny's
Child in 2000, the group recorded Survivor, which
debuted at #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 RandB song
("Say My Name") and Best RandB 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,"
Beyonce 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 Beyonce trust those instincts are an
impressive array of musical collaborators, among
them Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Sean Paul, Mark Batson,
Mario Winans, D-Roy and Mr. B, OutKast's Big Boi,
Rich Harrison, Fanatic, Scott Storch, and the
legendary Luther Vandross on "The Closer I Get To
You." Beyonce 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. Beyonce pays tribute to her father on the
hidden bonus track, "Daddy," which was produced by
Beyonce and Mark Batson.
The sexy first single, "Crazy In Love," featuring
Jay-Z, was co-produced by Beyonce and Rich Harrison.
Jay-Z returns the favor for Beyonce's part on his
hit "Bonnie and Clyde 03." With a beat that Beyonce
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 theclub 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 Beyonce'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. |
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