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Sunday Selection: Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" vs. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" 
Published Sunday, October 12, 2008 9:00 AM
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By Nia B

Two words, she’s back! And if all the other chicks in the game didn’t put their music out prior to now, it’s a wrap. You will be overshadowed by the sights and sounds of Mrs. Carter. This week we were graced with two highly anticipated singles by Beyoncé, “If I Were a Boy” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” I must admit both of them are FIRE. As we watch her continue to blossom into one of the most talented and successful icons of our generation, you have to admit – Beyoncé just gets better with time.

First up: “If I Were a Boy” is one of the best ballads I’ve heard in a while. As usual Beyoncé has transformed words on paper into music that women everywhere can connect with. It has no boundaries and is simply easy listening. The overall theme of the song touches upon if a man could relate to woman’s overall understanding, things would be different. But since that doesn’t typically happen, women have to accept and get over the painful notion that they won’t live the fairytale lives they are sold as little girls.


If I Were A Boy - Beyonce

One might say that the title, the concept and video for “If I Were A Boy” bears a similarity to the song “Like a Boy” by R&B sensation Ciara, but after listening to it thoroughly and then watching the video – there is NO comparison. And I’m sure someone somewhere is saying, ‘Beyoncé stole the idea from Ciara,’ and I’ll admit I was guilty of thinking that at first. But let’s be frank here, even if Bey did bite it – so what. Beyoncé did it better. No disrespect to Ciara, but Beyoncé’s version is more mature and the concept is better presented and timeless. Ten years from now on Urban, Urban AC, Jazz, and Adult Contemporary radio stations this song will still be a hit while Ciara’s “Like a Boy” will be a mere memory on the shelves collecting dust.

Second, in “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” I think Beyoncé is throwing up her middle finger to the last guy who let her fall through the cracks and didn’t realize her value and worth. This is another classic anthem for the ladies, and I’m sure it will blast in the clubs and on the radio while the chorus will serve as a chant that motivates women to high tail it to the dance floor.


Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce

If I had to choose which one of these songs I enjoyed more it would be, “If I Were A Boy” even though “Singe Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” is my jam too. Which one grabs you? Let me know.

Until next time, y’all enjoy this week’s Sunday Selections – “If I Were A Boy” and Single Ladies (Put A Ring on It).


Poll Answers

Comments

 

Davy da prince said:

Beyonce Is back!!!! But she still the most over-rated artist eva.!!!!
October 12, 2008 9:23 AM
 

chocolaterain said:

Beyonce is lookin as hot as ever...damn! I like the video...

and no Beyonce IS NOT overrated. Who has as much talent as her pound for pound??? she can sing,dance,sell records,mad beautiful...

I think she's already a legend of our era
October 12, 2008 9:33 AM
 

DontDieDontKillAnyone said:

Neither. Check out her sister's latest album instead
October 12, 2008 9:34 AM
 

chocolaterain said:

It is very similar to Ciara's song. Im sure therell be a controversy between their respective fans. But Beys version is good too

Ciara - Like A Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRuUJR4LPI
October 12, 2008 9:36 AM
 

MissDallasTx214 said:

lol @ Davy da prince... I think she's rushing this album to compete with Michelle, just like she did Latoya....Bey know she wrong, lol, I kinda like Single Ladies but If I Were a Boy is not wassup, CiCi already did that and she did it better!!!!!

"can't b gettin mad, whatu mad, can't handle dat".....
October 12, 2008 9:43 AM
 

Eve--L said:

I'm liking both of these tracks - good to see B is back!
October 12, 2008 9:50 AM
 

MissDallasTx214 said:

@ chocolaterain, I agree Beyonce aint overrated because she can actually sing....Rihanna is overrated to me. She can't sing for shit, she's just a pretty face.
October 12, 2008 9:51 AM
 

Davy da prince said:

chocolaterain said:
Beyonce is lookin as hot as ever...damn! I like the video...

and no Beyonce IS NOT overrated. Who has as much talent as her pound for pound??? she can sing,dance,sell records,mad beautiful...

I think she's already a legend of our era.
------------------------------------------------------------
(In Plies voice) Number one fan!!!!
October 12, 2008 9:52 AM
 

Davy da prince said:

@ Miss dallas
                    Beyonce is talented but i just think she's hasnt achieved that legendary status that people like putting her at. Rihaana is wayyyyy over rated.
October 12, 2008 10:05 AM
 

Neven said:

I don't have audio today witch sucks
October 12, 2008 10:10 AM
 

vega_diamond said:

that video is pretty good. it tells a story and shows it in another perspective, then switches to the other perspective..... if it wasnt a man bashing song id give it 5 out of 5...... buuuuut thats against the male code of ethics to back a manhater song...lol


http://www.myspace.com/starrscream
October 12, 2008 10:45 AM
 

Tommy K. said:

Damn B, can Michelle get some shine??? I don't even know what her single is...

As for the tracks they are both kool. Beyonce is reaching and bitting on that "If I were a boy" but she still did it up. "Put a Ring on It" is kool too. It would have been funny if Jay had a verse on the end lol.
October 12, 2008 10:50 AM
 

bigpook811 said:

what's good peeps, now i must admit, i'm a lil confused at the end of the song. when dude was like '' it's not like i'm sleeping with him '', does that mean dude was homothug or was he sleeping with another woman.
October 12, 2008 11:27 AM
 

Katalyst said:

"if a man could relate to woman’s overall understanding, things would be different."
Lmao
A man would never be able to relate to a womans understanding!
At best a woman can only hope a man is patient enough to tolerate that Bullish. Woman by nature are very complex creatures and with all of the hormones and cycles they go thru a man couldn't possibly understand them.
What ladies can get however is respect for being different, period.
I like B, but we as a music genre have regressed from the days of Motown, the days when a singer actually put their heart and soul into their music.
To further shed light on my point Aretha Franklin didnt ask for just a little bit of understanding, She ask for a little bit of R. E. S. P. E. C. T!!!!! Damn YO, we aint gone be calln Beyonce the queen 10 years from now.
So while the world is screamin change on the political side of things, Im screamn change on the music side.
Let me end by saying B should be looked at as a good lookn female with a voice, but not an artist with real artistic integrity.
Imma pass on B and check Michelle out.  
   
October 12, 2008 11:42 AM
 

Lilhd47 said:

if i were a boy is way better than the ring song...but she makes a good point to many babys mommas running around back in the day as soon as they was humpin they got married no matter what we dont do that any more.

hers is WAY better than ciaras but ciara's new song with t-pain is my shit

AND THAT MIKE JONES "CUTTY BUDDY" HAS BEEN STUCK IN MY HEAD FOR THREE WEEKS!!!!!! houston got it on lock

this coming from a guy in rainy tacoma wa
October 12, 2008 11:45 AM
 

Katalyst said:

Oh snap I just check the vid out and I guess im just havn an enlightening morning cause I be damn if she didnt play the role of the very thing that persecutes and keeps the BLACK MAN down, THE POLICE!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
If yall cant see the devil in the details turn the lights on.
October 12, 2008 11:51 AM
 

DJ TEKNISION said:

THESE SONG ARE JUST OK NOTHING SPECIAL, BUT IT IS GOING TO SELL CAUSE ITS BEYONCE.  SHE IS THE JANET JACKSON OF TODAYS GENERATION. LET'S JUST HOPE SHE HAS THE SHELVE LIFE OF JANET JACKSON, WHICH I DOUBT BECAUSE OF THE MICROWAVE LANDSCAPE MUSIC IS TODAY.

http://djteknision.podOmatic.com
MIXES 4 EVERYONE!!!
October 12, 2008 11:55 AM
 

Bhudda Flii said:

she is getting WAY too old for this bubble gum music... step it up bey... u ain't a teeny bopper anymore... you push'n thirty girl!!
October 12, 2008 12:04 PM
 

Chicago2London said:

@ BHUDDA FLII I CONCURR
October 12, 2008 12:15 PM
 

realone said:

I think "Single Ladies(Put a ring on it)" is crap. "If I Were a Boy" sounds better. I think if it was some other artist that put out "Single Ladies" people would be saying it was wack but because it is Beyonce she gets a pass. It sounds like something she has already done too, like "Get me bodied" a bit.
October 12, 2008 12:17 PM
 

tha clear said:

The same thing that has happened to Usher is happening to Bey. They are out growing their core audience and need to do Grown folks music now. This is bubble gum ish. I bett Rhi Rhi turned down these songs.
October 12, 2008 1:26 PM
 

T-ROC said:

The first song IS WACK. i agree with everyone Beyonce is WAY overrated. the second song we heard it before, am SURE!!!
sounds no different.

@ Nia B

You sure you not on Beyonce payroll? am just saying!!
October 12, 2008 1:31 PM
 

Mightydog said:

T-ROC said:
The first song IS WACK. i agree with everyone Beyonce is WAY overrated. the second song we heard it before, am SURE!!!
sounds no different.

@ Nia B

You sure you not on Beyonce payroll? am just saying!!
October 12, 2008 1:31 PM--------------
---------------------------------------
Cosign, the video was great but the song boring I would NOT play it or turn it up when it comes on. Ciara's was better, way better.
October 12, 2008 2:58 PM
 

Intelligence said:

I agree. the video ok but that if I were a boy has scarred me... I like some of her music but this just confirms that she is not on it all the time... She takes risk I give her that but I am not a fan of B... Rihanna come on now.. her vocals don't compare to B... she's a pretty girl. Beyonce is an entertainer Rihanna is a singer
October 12, 2008 3:35 PM
 

Gemini205 said:

If I Were A Boy-I like rock and alternative music, so I see what sounds she was going for with this. I applaud her for trying something new. I'm not feeling it though. It doesn't move me.

Single Ladies-Get Me Bodied is the ish, and this sounds like a weak sequel of the song. It only makes me want to hear the original.

LOL@ T-Roc: I was thinking the same thing when I read this review. It was very stannish and also bashing towards Ciara. It sould've been a little more neutral. But anyway, I actually like Ciara's song and video better. The boy/girl dance she did in the video was a nice touch in interpreting the song. But I digress, to each their own as far which version you like the best.
October 12, 2008 4:30 PM
 

poe said:

October 12, 2008 6:10 PM
 

SPATE Magazine All Day said:

Good stuff, love Beyonce

http://www.spatemag.com
SPATE MAGAZINE WAS HERE
October 12, 2008 6:13 PM
 

chocolate1 said:

Bhudda Flii said:
she is getting WAY too old for this bubble gum music... step it up bey... u ain't a teeny bopper anymore... you push'n thirty girl!!
---------------------------------------
co-sign.
October 12, 2008 6:28 PM
 

BrieNoel said:

i don't know i like ciara and beyonce both but its funny cause when ciara first started with the back bend beyonce did it copied. I see some jealousy from b's side cause she always has loved the spot light. but shes a incredible artist.
October 13, 2008 1:31 AM
 

W1sdumK1d said:

Ri can't sing worth shit, I like these songs B did she comes out with something different everytime. And she can't compete with Michelle, her album is already out, which is good by the way. B is a legend in her own making biggest female group of all time/solo artist. People r never satistfied, when she did bring her voice out, people said she tried to be like J. Hudd. Let her do her thing. If men pushin' 40 can stay doing club music, then why can't she?
October 13, 2008 9:14 AM
 

bombshell said:

To each is own but...it's obvious the person that wrote this blog is bias. I don't hear anything in these songs that put her above the rest - or is so much better than what she has done in the past. Especially considering both songs sound like something she or another artist has already released. You see how hard they went in worshipping Beyonce. I'm don't see what's so special or timeless about the song or video.  Yes - I agree that Beyonce is extremely overrated. There are other artists out that can sing as good as her (and better), dance as good as her (and better)...there are much better writers and producers out there than Beyonce.

Say what you want, but Beyonce copied. I guess which song is better is a matter of opinion because it's definitely not fact. The concept of Ciara and Beyonce's song is the same. Same script different voice.  

Beyonce is always borrowing other artists ideas and her fans always come to her rescue so this post is not surprising. She does something another artist do and it's "oh...so what". Another artist do something that similar to another artists and they are quickly called out.
October 13, 2008 11:37 AM
 

Nia B said:

I just expressed my opinion y'all.

I am not a Beyonce worshiper! And no I am not on her payroll...
LOL...That's funny.

Just like you all are writing what you like and dislike, I did the same.

I like Ciara, she does her thing. And I stated, no disrespect.

Artist borrow concepts from each other all the time. Its nothing new. 80%, if not more...of the Hip-Hop music you hear today is sampled.

It is what it is.

Thanks for the feedback everybody!

Live in Chicago,

Nia B
October 13, 2008 12:35 PM
 

Killuminati 187 said:

Beyonce > Ciara.
October 13, 2008 1:03 PM
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