Deep Dive: Beyoncé Part 1 (Dangerously In Love)

    Beyoncé has famously been quoted that when she submitted her first solo-album into her record label, they listened to it and said it did not have a single hit on it. "They were right," Beyoncé said. "It had 5." It's so hard to imagine that the record that launched one of the most-important pop careers in history was thought of as being lackluster. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the Beyoncé Deep Dive series!

    Upon pressing play on the opening song of Dangerously in Love, you're met with an exciting barrage of horns and a thumping beat. "Crazy in Love" has and will always be that song. The production hasn't aged a day. The horns and real instruments used has made it timeless as it lacks electronic elements that had began seeping into pop music. The only thing that ages it? The lyrics that talk about a pager. 

    Beyoncé is our executive producer here. Which is really cool. She's always been a hands on artist. I was reading some of the background on the album, and Beyoncé talked about the challenges, difficulties, and liberties of recording as a solo act and not as a part of Destiny's Child. She interviewed producers and collaborators, she lived in a hotel for several months, and she took her time on the album instead of rushing as she had said Destiny's Child had done previously. Beyoncé got to express her ideas and be creative in her own way on the album, and it really shows. Dangerously in Love would be the blueprint and lay the groundwork of an illustrious career to follow as Beyoncé has never once had a miss. 

    Donna Summer-sampled "Naughty Girl" follows our bust out opening track. R&B is the dominating genre here. It feels very current (and of the time), but the cool thing about it is that it borrows heavily from the 70s. It's a killer song. Beyoncé's vocals are amazing on the track (as with all the tracks). But! We get a beautiful, seductive falsetto here. That's just heavenly. 

    Everybody and their mamas know Beyoncé can sing. But it's still nice to see her showcase her range and various techniques. She doesn't have to belt on every track to show off her talent. 

    "Baby Boy" still has the coolest instrumentals with elements of Arabic music added into it. It's hard to call it a song you can shake your ass to, but you can definitely dance and vibe to it. Sean Paul shows up here and adds another layer to the song with his verse. "Baby Boy" keeps the fun of the album going. It's sexy. It's fun. 

    "Hip Hop Star" keeps the funk going. The song features half of Outkast, Big Boi, and TLC hitmaker, Sleepy Brown featured on it. The album's features help give both Beyoncé and the album, R&B and hip-hop credibility. Not that Destiny's Child didn't have it, but Beyoncé earned it all on her own here. 

    The instrumentals of this one is very fascinating. The rock-tinge to it makes the performers almost feel like rock stars. 

    "Be With You" is smooth and sultry. Classically inspired. Retro sexy. Beyoncé's vocals take it over the top. Her vocal work has always been top-tier. She puts a lot of hard work into vocals and it always pays off. 

    "Me, Myself and I" has hooks for days. A ballad with a lot to sink your teeth into. Fun to sing along too. It's always been a favorite of mine from her solo work! I'm not a lady, but I feel it and I help Beyoncé sing it out every time. The phone call sample from some guy at the beginning is a nice inclusion that hits home. And of course Beyoncé sounds like an angel here. Also, the vocal layering on the chorus is as hot as a volcano.

    "Yes" has cool record scratches and wonky instrumentals that interestingly bizarre. Beyoncé sings over it so seductively. And again! The vocal layers. It's a slow bop. Just a vibe.

    "Signs" is straight fun. Missy Elliott is always a fun edition. The lyrics are a lot of fun with Beyoncé calling out the astrological signs. It's romantic. It's mysterious. This song is just a lot of fun, but it's also flirtatious. Lots of girl power happening here, and Beyoncé really brought out an A-list of collaborators to help her out with her debut solo project!

    Also, I guess this was the beginning of Beyoncé's love of signs as she still continues this a lot and most recently on RENAISSANCE. 

    

    "Speechless" is funky. A nice throwback. It's a lot like "Yes," so if you're listening along with the review, and you like that vibe. You'll be in love here. The song's like a candle's flame. Very romantic and very hot. You can straight up slow jam to this one. The guitar is a nice and welcomed addition to this point of the record. It just adds another level. And of course Beyoncé's performance is stellar. 

    Jay-Z's back for the breezy and bouncy "That's How You Like It." It's fun. It's a 2003 ringtone. The lyrics are nice also. 

    A ballad featuring 2 vocal powerhouses, Luther Vandross and Beyoncé. What a dream collaboration. They both sound amazing on "The Closer I Get to You." If you're not singing as part of a duet, then you may feel a little lonely. Though with these two, it'd be hard to match their vocal performance!

    "Dangerously in Love 2." A nod to Destiny's Child. It's a great song. The vocal production is godly. The instrumentals are heavenly. Beyoncé gives props to this song quite often. And it's easy to tell why. She gives her all performing it, and you can tell she cares a lot about the song. The lyrics are really relatable. There's an air of desperation and pleading here as the narrator begs to her lover. It's amazing. That second chorus kicks in and you just say "wow." And the chorus of Beyoncés keeps us on our toes. 

    

    We get a cute little spoken interlude here that follows the title track on purpose, I believe. I think this is the part of the record where Beyoncé really bares her soul, so if you've stuck around this long you're in for a real treat. 

    Back to signs, we get "Gift from Virgo." Beyoncé, herself, is a Virgo. So I wonder who this song is referring to? *wink* The attention is all on her voice and the production points to it. It's beautiful in a naked way. 

    Again, we get Beyoncé being personal with us as she dedicates a song to her dad on "Daddy." It's so cute! Not one you listen to often, but it's very endearing for an artist that was once accused of not making her art personal enough by critics. It was recently voted her worst song on her fan subreddit. And... I kinda have to agree. I don't listen to this one that often because... Well, I guess it's meant for her dad and not so much for us? And amongst all the sex jams and sultry offerings it fits like trying to put a square block in a circle hole. 

    "What's It Gonna Be" is so freaking fun. The instrumentals are to die for. It's a lot of fun to sing along to as the lyrics rhyme in fun ways. This song was featured on the Japanese edition of the album, but it should have been on all of them. It gives us a couple more punches. 

    Beyoncé recorded a lot of tracks for this album. Not all of them were featured of course. Some were stuck on various editions. "I Can't Take No More" is on Apple Music though. I just wanted to shout out a couple of tracks on the other editions. This number, though, shows a vulnerability we don't really see from Beyoncé that often. Though even when she's vulnerable, she's still very strong! The drums are great on the track. They really make the song. 

    Dangerously in Love is a great debut offering. Truly solid from bottom to top. The highs are absolute peaks. And this mostly comes from the singles. Though I don't think you can really skip one song if you did a listen through. Maybe "Daddy" because it's not about your dad, it's about hers. Hahaha Though it's still a nice song addition, and it's great to hear an ode to dads because they don't get enough credit! 

    You can't deny that this album gives birth to a solo superstar that wants to make a statement and has a lot to say. It's a shining humble beginning just dripping in ambition. 

Rank: A Rank

Recommendation: When you're feeling crazy and dangerously in love. 

Standouts: 

    The singles! Everybody knows them!

    Dangerously in Love 2

    Be With You

    Hip Hop Star

    Signs