Eras Analyzed: Beyonce's 4

[@babyjaybtc]

“One of the decades best albums” being used to describe Beyoncé’s ‘flop’ album really speaks volumes about her career

[@naomi.cannibal]

right… her “flop” is better than some people’s best

[@IrishGuysScarf]

@@naomi.cannibalMost people’s best*

[@Aquaaaaa777]

4 is my top 3 favorite albums by Beyoncé. She really put her all in this album.

[@naomi.cannibal]

Same it’s one of my favorites

[@TCt83067695]

Which are the other two?

[@Aquaaaaa777]

@@TCt83067695 Renaissance and B Day.

[@TCt83067695]

@@Aquaaaaa777 b-day is a really good one too 👍🏾

[@magicmanthegeez330]

@@Aquaaaaa777same but I got self titled over bday.

[@Calm_B4_Storm]

I crack up when people say 4 is a “flop” album because here we are a decade later and it aged beautifully. Vocally, it’s one of her top albums as well. Not to mention, it debuted #1 w/ 310,000 first week sales, is RIAA certified 4X platinum, 1 billion+ streams on Spotify, every single is gold certified or higher, the Elements of 4 project is certified platinum, won 2012 Billboard R&B Album of The Year Award, and won the 2013 Grammy for Love on Top (Best Traditional R&B Performance). Let’s remove the numbers breakdown, so many of the songs on the album are still musically and vocally relevant to this very day. And truthfully speaking, if it wasn’t for 4, albums such as self-titled and Lemonade would not have happened!

[@naomi.cannibal]

Okay yea it’s aged sooooo well

[@datboymediatvmedia7011]

4 times platinum? Where y’all getting y’all info at ?

[@angechrisman1694]

@@datboymediatvmedia7011 It's from chart data and chartmasters too. The sales have been updated

[@ElonNicole]

I knew she won a Grammy for Love On Top. I was like am I tripping lol. This album is amazing!

[@Calm_B4_Storm]

@@datboymediatvmedia7011 all of her album as well as singles certifications are listed on the RIAA website.

[@princejojo2]

I'll never forgive her for not releasing "Schoolin Life" as a single, preferably the first. She sang her entire uterus off on this album.

[@ginanorman4295]

Schoolin Life is everything!

[@deontaedouglas]

Lay Up Under Me is a great song too, On the deluxe edition

[@kacpi4567]

it was never a single bc it was a deluxe song before the 2013 expanded edition came out (the one that's on streaming)

[@brandoniswhoiam]

I can’t believe that Beyoncé invented the number IV.

[@do_cs]

yes she did.

[@naomi.cannibal]

her miiiind

[@emitheorbit1118]

Ikr??? Such a mathematical queen

[@TCt83067695]

Brandon your comment says 4hrs ago 😁

[@nyotaamahogany8864]

Smart idea to make a link between the Roman numeral and that name with a strong etymology.

[@naomi.cannibal]

Correction: Bday sold 541, 000 copies in its first week!

[@Heroliesinyou]

I would love if you do that to Mariah Carey's Daydream era or Christina Aguilera's Stripped. 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@msmishLA]

How is that a flop?

[@dreamgrlarchive]

@@Heroliesinyou omg or even charmbracelet/glitter

[@naomi.cannibal]

@@Heroliesinyou yesssss a mariah era for sure

[@123theprodigy5]

This album marked a transition for Beyoncé, she was entering her 30s, and that could be kind of scary, music wise. I know 30 isn’t old, but when you turn 30, everything changes for the better or for the worst not to mention she stopped working with her father as well.

[@BellesView]

I agree. Some people kept comparing her and Rihanna and said she was aging out of the industry.

[@niccole3542]

Your right.Once a female artist hits 30,most people expect them to flop all the way and never reached their prime again which can be true but women like Beyonce and Adele very well known beyond their music and prove that it is possible for a woman or person in general to thrive in their 30s and even further that.

[@lalasarchive1]

@@BellesView I love Rihanna and Beyonce, but honestly they are not comparable in my opinion, at least in terms of vocal and choreography. I really wish people would stop comparing female artists to eachother it's so toxic and unnecessary.

[@miloseviczarko45]

Not only that, she was going through divorce of her parents back then.

[@123theprodigy5]

@@miloseviczarko45 oh wow, I didn’t know that, I know that her parents divorced but I just didn’t know when they did.

[@massaijoyner936]

I’m going to be honest, this album was ahead of its time. Beyoncé knew what people wanted to listen to and she wanted to change the sound of music. Look at all the artists that are “changing” their sound to their music, this album wasn’t for the critics it was for the fans who love music.

[@naomi.cannibal]

Yeah I do kind of think it was released at the “wrong” time but if anything it shows Bey is gonna give us something when she wants to

[@watchyourmouth6105]

​@@naomi.cannibal Bey released an R&B album when pop was dominating and people didn't know how to take the shift in genres since IASF leaned more pop.

[@ElonNicole]

Very much so ahead of it’s time. She is the standard.

[@kaylac349]

I like a lot of beys discography but I can’t really call myself a beyhive. But it’s crazy to learn that IV was considered a flop cuz that’s the first bey album I was able to actually conceptualize as a kid so for all intents and purposes it was a hit to me. I know run the world is kinda corny but I watched the mv like 100x as a kid 😭

[@naomi.cannibal]

Honestly same like as a kid I really thought everyone loved this album and am surprised to know I was wrong

[@kng001]

Me too this album made me love her hard

[@niccole3542]

I watched that video a lot too and loved the feminist message behind it.

[@Pinkladyisv]

I remember it was definitely treated as a bit of a flop.

[@bertramwinkleofficial]

Run The World is a little corny but it absolutely slaps

[@awabia]

I didn’t realize so many songs got leaked from 4. It makes so much sense that the next album ended up being so private. It worked out for her bc the no promo drop of Beyoncé was iconiccc for her and truly stopped the world

[@naomi.cannibal]

Bey was right- I know exactly where I was when that digital dropped 😭

[@romeokoroma3341]

Please do 2pac’s classic 1995 album me against the world because 2pac’s most introspective effort to date hitting the shelves while he was still in prison, the album helped shift his image from that of gangsta rapper to more of a gangsta poet, setting the stage for 2pac to become one of the most most famous mcs in the world.

[@miloseviczarko45]

Renaissance also got leaked. But not as much as 4.

[@jessicawk]

@@naomi.cannibal sameee, I was about to go to school and saw drunk in love video was out and the entire album

[@Chuu_Vault]

Every era of Beyonce has something that has make it stood out: - DIL was her first solo album and maybe the most well known song of her career. - B'Day was the sophmore realese - I'm Sasha Fierce has the most recognized hits of her career. - 4 a lot of the performances of this era had become some of Beyonce most iconics. - Self titled was the shift in musical direction of Beyonce, and the brith of surprise releases - Lemonade was well.....Lemonade - And Renasisence was the comeback after 6 years without solo music, and Beyonce embracing on current trends with her own spin on it.

[@nippy3674]

the first album is Dangerously in Love (DIL)

[@Chuu_Vault]

@@nippy3674 oh cr*p i misspelled it xd sorry

[@miloseviczarko45]

Lemonade was masterpiece. But I Am Sasha Fierce holds a special place in my heart because that album madw me Beyonce fan.

[@ihavenoname330]

@@miloseviczarko45 agreed! The songs in I'm Sasha Fierce made me a Beyoncé fan and Lemonade is just 🤌🏻

[@HighAsHeckPriestess]

Coming to this comment in 2024 to say that Cowboy Carter woke people up to Black Country, and is just a beautiful follow up to Renaissance

[@Kinglystateof]

4. Was Beyoncé’s most underrated musical undertaking and we saw a shift in her sonic style because RNB inspired it was extremely more international sound she pulled more obscure references and played around with sounds with songs like “schoolin life” and end of time. Vocally there was a vocal breakdown done by the oniel Gerald I think but he explains that a vocalists voice should be treated like a dome. The voice travels along this dome with age. And what we see when Beyoncé approaches her 30s her tone is at its peak Messo Soprano and what we are experiencing now is Beyoncé navigating her heavier tone that’s come as she has entered her 40s that’s definitely important to look into concerning where her voice was at this point. To understand just how much she put into 4 I recommend exploring the vocal break down. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIGxk2Btrdand9E

[@naomi.cannibal]

You went in!! And yes people don’t understand how much went into making this album at alll

[@123theprodigy5]

@@naomi.cannibal this album is underrated, I forgot all about it honestly. it was the first album of her 30s, and that can be kind of challenging when you’re a female singer. I know 30 is an old, but still, you just become more mature and sometimes that can affect your music both positively and negatively. One example of this is Rihanna, her last album came out when she was 28, and once she turned 30,, she hasn’t released music since.

[@elimarshall1497]

@@123theprodigy5 she just released some songs with the new movie wakanda

[@tayloreelizabeth6802]

Correction no dummy she didn’t you’re not even Beyoncé if Beyoncé was next to you she would tell you to you’re face dude

[@angechrisman1694]

@@elimarshall1497 Lift Me up was mid

[@handsomemahlambi]

Also 4 doesn’t sound dated like all the singles the other girls were putting out with that “futuristic” synth that they wanted Beyoncé having influences from an era that is timeless and giving it a live touch was genius bc the songs on the album don’t sound stale

[@daniellower4110]

Countdown is one of my fave B songs too! especially when she does it on the Homecoming live album… she also slays I Care so hard for no reason.. i’m obsessed with the Homecoming album tbh 😩

[@angechrisman1694]

The Homecoming live album is top tier from top to bottom. And so refreshing. When was the last time a live album was able to achieve mainstream commercial success especially in vinyls or was even discussed like a legit album release

[@MouhamadouBDiagne]

I think Beyoncé’s 4 has aged the best out of her albums.

[@bigbootyboy420]

Have you listened to self titled??? So ahead of it’s time and sounds like it could be released this year

[@Ohlalatay13]

let's analyze all her eras. they're so interesting - especially BEYONCÉ, Lemonade & Bday

[@karisima6060]

Yesss!

[@cuban9931]

Yesss same with Rihanna too!

[@bentleysbugattis414]

And Nicki Minaj too

[@juniorsutereo]

Run the world is a bad ass song, and is obviously an anthem. The video is amazing, the wordrobe is fan tastic and the coreography is sooo in the level of Michael Jackson. Had no idea of any of the critics charts whatever, to me is one of her bests.

[@lauraender3922]

I was waiting for someone to say this.

[@SuiteVII]

4 is easily my #1 favorite album of hers if you include songs from the Target exclusive like “Dance for you”, “Schoolin Life” and “Lay up under me”.

[@labelmeposh]

4 is my favorite too and I have all of them second is self titled. I haven't really listened to Lemonade more than once but my favorite song is "Formation"

[@boo4029]

Me too! For me, there’s literally no skip on the album. Till this day, I still listen to Lay Up Under Me, it’s my favourite Beyoncé song of all time. The album is her best work.

[@dynishhh]

this album still won a grammy and went platinum. it’s only considered a flop because of her singles not doing well and her album sold slowly. one of her best albums still.

[@likenoother6561]

I dont understand how people thought this album was odd or even a flop. Almost the entire album is full of hits and her message was pretty clear in most of the songs. Beyonce 2013 IMO was way more of a different album from her than 4.

[@raphael7357]

This album was a massive hit here in Brazil, it was all over the soundtrack of soap operas, mainly '1+1' we are so lucky now for just enjoying the music Also 21:21 never noticed she was using the cases of her previous records with just the prototipe booklet The Florence + The Machine part made me so happy, amazing video/content!!!

[@naomi.cannibal]

I’m glad to know it was more appreciated somewhere lol

[@raphael7357]

@@naomi.cannibal if the people from US don't take it we will happily take it as if it was ours fjrkfkrft ❤

[@TCt83067695]

@@raphael7357 Florence is everything tho 😊

[@cikondlovu6969]

Even here in South Africa, all singles of 4 were huge hits that were played everywhere. Sad that the US market couldn't see the beauty of this project

[@Zoerapss]

Wow shoutout to Brazil for loving everything ❤

[@Everymonthisaugust210]

I've been vibing with Beyonce since Destiny's Child and 4 is hands down my FAVORITE era! It's so experimental for her and I think a lot of the general consumer didn't get it. I tend to love the underrated and misunderstood albums. Most people hated Katy Perry's Witness album but that one again, is my favorite.

[@vijzon3223]

Do you like Pink Friday: RR and Artpop?

[@Everymonthisaugust210]

@@vijzon3223 All of the above, yes

[@dddjjj100]

One amazing song from 4, “I was here” so beautiful. I reallyyyyy appreciated this album. I listened to it a ton when it first came out.

[@girlgreenivy]

4 truly was the album for the fans and I love it for that. She stuck to her guns and gave us the r&b we love to hear from her. I remember at the time many artists were jumping ship to get on the edm/dance trend that was going on and I didn't enjoy that. Some of my other favs at the time really missed and never really recovered from it. Bey doesn't hop on trends she sets them. And I'm glad she took her time because the dance album she gave us this year is amazing and could not have existed or thrived in 2010. I'm still waiting for a live performance of start over though...

[@baethany117]

Four was literally played at every party and event I went to when this album came out, but to be fair I was a sophomore at an HBCU when this dropped. We loved it 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@bravoali]

I’d be fun to see Brandy’s Full Moon to Afrodisiac to Human analysed! 🤔

[@michaeld.williamsiii9026]

Loved The 4 era of Beyoncé’s catalog and the making of documentary. I still listen to the album here and there. She works very hard and is talented, this was a really good breakdown dearest Naomi. Thank you for the video and nostalgia of this, period and time, of Beyoncé’s career/journey.

[@idontgiveaff]

I Care & Rather Die Young will always be my favorite songs off the album. 4 is such a underrated album.

[@atlnikka]

I love rather die young is my jam ❤

[@kalmanta1824]

The Billboard Music Awards performance of Run The World turned me into a full-time stan, it’s kinda surprising, as she was way more commercial successful in the 00s. I guess that speaks for her longevity in the game.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Ohh gosh I remember this era like I said before in the original post this is where my “Beyoncé is overrated” phase started mainly bc 4 was the transition of Beyoncé being a main pop girl to a serious world renowned phenomena so the love and hype surrounding her was at a all time high and it truly reached its peak with self titled and lemonade. I can say as a adult the Beyoncé overrated phase came from a place as a kid of being obsessed of being a walking embodiment of a unpopular opinion, being my own little bell hooks and malcom x and provocatively challenging everyone’s preconceived notions on having a majority vote complex and internalized colorism as to growing up being around adults and other kids telling me I couldn’t pursuit performing arts as a darker skinned black boy bc it was associated with being feminine, upper class and lighter skinned/whiteness so I latched out at people like Beyoncé, Chris brown and others who may have embodied the talent I desired to want but couldn’t have bc of lack of resources and internalized anti blackness of those around people telling me I couldn’t Even doe throughout that phase I loved the album mainly the tracks countdown, start over 1+1, dance with you, best thing I never had, I miss you and most importantly party aka my underrated all time summertime song. I appreciated the fact that Beyoncé experimented with new sounds and she made a album that was cohesive I didn’t like I am Sasha firece or dangerously in love which both felt like playlist albums b’day was the closest she made to making a ALBUM’s album and ironically it was the first album she made without the input of Matthew Knowles I think Beyoncé realized her father was holding her back from repressing her artistry and artistic vision so it was better for her to drop him and it was the best thing she did. It’s pretty clear 4 “underperformed” bc this was Beyoncé beginning transition from top 40 main pop girl to more album/touring driven artist no longer relaying on singles and charts to define who she is as a artist and she did this when the singles era of music was beginning. Even Adele who always been a album driven artist had blockbuster singles like rolling in the deep and someone like you so for Beyoncé she was being ahead of her time. I’m glad it has been revisited as a classic masterpiece bc it is

[@fadingnebulous]

"4" (2011) marked a transition for Beyoncé, as she was entering her 30s and now had to contend with pop stars like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Taylor Swift and Nikki Minaj who were changing the pop landscape, while pushing ahead of contemporaries like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and P!nk who had just released career bests. For me, "4" is my favorite album in her catalogue, behind "Renaissance" (2022); it's certainly one of the best in terms of album flow, while making grand experiments with harmonies, orchestrations and structure, not to mention, it gets better with each listen. There's a reason a great majority of the record was performed during her "Homecoming" set at Coachella. What this album did was set the stage for albums like "Beyoncè," "Lemonade" and "Black Is King," not just visually, but musically. One might argue that if one were to compare her to Michael Jackson, this would be her "Off The Wall," an album that would predict where she would go within the decade while influencing the next generation of R&B singers to come.

[@naomi.cannibal]

This is very well analyzed

[@cheslxy]

4 is my favourite album. Such a body of work that year plus the Roseland Concert was amazing.

[@hesmlurh2467]

Eleven years later, I still fuck with this album like heavy. Its highly appreciated by us the fans but disrespected by the critics, this was Bey's Magnus Opus

[@angechrisman1694]

A really good album but nowhere near her magnum opus tho

[@bootypebble]

I remember this album came out right after I graduated high-school. I remember the leaks. Party was always my favorite from this album. A great era for beyonce fans

[@naomi.cannibal]

Party is such a fun nostalgic one

[@kevinphan234]

I was 11 year olds when 4 was dropped, I loved the album but I wasn’t obsessed like I was with her previous albums but I find that as I gotten older, 4 really stood out to me a lot more than my younger self

[@denine8812]

My favorite Beyonce album by far!!! Never skip a song🥰

[@naomi.cannibal]

it’s a no skips album for sure!!

[@omargomez6325]

One of my top Beyoncé albums. When I first heard it I expect every single to top the charts but I’d didn’t happen. However this still a no skip album I love every song on it

[@jeremycollins8045]

4 is Beyoncé’s most sonically best album. This album showed Beyoncé in a different and creative light way. This album is the stepping stone for her career to do whatever she wants. My favorite Bey albums in order Bday- this album is her best to date still Lemonade- I live for this album she was vulnerable Self titled- this album showcased Beyoncé in a different light and solidified her Dangerously in love- this was her introduction to the world as a solo artist 4- her sonically best album Renaissance- this album is her most creative and still has me in a chokehold I am Sasha fierce- this is where Beyoncés career made her the pop star she is today.

[@Sloppyjoey1]

4 and Renaissance are the only albums I can stand if I'm being honest. I wasn't into the sassy diva pop, but 1+1, Love on top etc are my jams.

[@niccole3542]

4 is such an underrated album and is good of course it isn't my favorite cause that would be her self titled.I could easily see the 80s influence such as the Love on Top video being a homage to New Edition and also We like to party.Both songs are played a lot by my mom who is a New Edition fan and was an 80s kid.Also that is cool to know she listened to Florence and The Machine.Could you please do Brandy's Full moon and its impact on r&b vocals?

[@naomi.cannibal]

Yesss I wish love on top/ end of time should have been the lead single. And yes I’d eventually love to do a brandy vid

[@emeliab3145]

Awesome video! Yes, Beyoncé's 4 Album was such a pivotal moment in her career. I would love to see you do an era of Janet Jackson's next!

[@nicolesherman8974]

What I will say about 4 is that while Countdown is a catchy tune, it was the product of its time (2010s pop/R&B sound).

[@naomi.cannibal]

Yesss very much so! There was a lot of pop/ pop influence on the album looking back. But I think it stood out in that it wasn’t an ALL pop album

[@cd.riscado]

I'm from Brazil and I was shocked when I realized that 4 wasn't big in the US, because the songs from this album was always in the radios from here, and the music videos was always on the tv as well.

[@Louis-bh4xb]

this era was my childhood

[@naomi.cannibal]

Mine too lmaoo

[@thejasontimothyshow]

I remember being on Instagram the moment “BEYONCÉ” dropped. I was in my bed, I opened Instagram and the first post was the 15 second clip of her announcing the album with a caption “Surprise”. I watched every music video, bought the album, and had it on repeat all 2014. It’s one of my favorite albums from her after “B’Day” and “4”. I really enjoyed 4. At that point, I had owned every Beyoncé album except “Dangerously In Love”. “4” had only one song that I didn’t like at the time which was “Rather Die Young”. Now, I fucking love that song. I had no clue critics didn’t like the album. Her performances were incredible that year.

[@galenaking713]

Same.. DIL is the only i don’t have even up to now

[@angechrisman1694]

@@galenaking713 Dangerously in Love is a jam. You missed out something. Me Myself And I, Be With You, Signs with Missy Elliott, Speechless, The Closer I Get to You with Luther Vandross. Who has Lutha on his solo debut ? And before he passed away

[@trendy4tmrw]

4 was always been my personal fav album of Bey’s till Renaissance! I think it captures Black futurism so well and the fashion trends of the time. Countdown and Love on Top forever! Over the years, that album has great songs my aunties play at the bbq. It was truly for us ❤

[@do_cs]

I clicked so quickly. I saw the announcement yesterday and I was so ready

[@kobykurt]

arguably her best album, it’s aging like fine album, not a single skip on it

[@ayeiscam1]

!!!

[@mjay0019]

4 is definitely my personal favorite, I think her best album is lemonade.

[@darkskinnefertiti8018]

4 is my favourite Bey album. She clearly intended it for her day 1 R&B fans🥰

[@JayeKisses]

I’ve never listened to “4” in full but I love “Run The World(Girls)” “Love On Top” & “Countdown” these songs r freaking amazing & I’m so glad she did what she wanted & didn’t listen to the industry standards

[@naomi.cannibal]

check out the rest of the album you’ll enjoy it!!

[@JayeKisses]

@@naomi.cannibal 1 day

[@lauraender3922]

That song is the reason of my success

[@javaniwilliams3058]

I don’t think it was misunderstood, at the time she was competing with Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. This album was more experimental than anything and she thought she had to get similar sounds to them. To me this album was a turning point in to the heights for her success especially with her performance at Glastonbury.

[@user-kg3pn4gk8c]

i feel like 4 was just at the wrong time. she was at her highest with i am sasha fierce proving that she still can keep up in 2008 after being in the industry for decades. but in 2011, nobody was really ready for a rawer, less electronic focused album but it's from 4 onwards that Beyoncé changed her music, be it for the better or worse by focusing on the art rather than the charts

[@indicababy]

4 taught me to listen to an artist's new music without comparing it to anything else. even the artist's own past music

[@naomi.cannibal]

Yes it’s just a dif experience altogether

[@Rayshaughnonline]

So funny because to me 4 always represented Beyoncé’s growth in every direction. I was young when it came out too so I didn’t discover or fully register a lot of her personal life changes in that time until later in my own life, which speaks to how much change and growth was reflected in just the music alone

[@zackwilson8701]

4 is actually my favorite Beyonce album, although Renaissance is definitely challenging that. To me, its Beyonce's most organic, funky, soulful, and creative album on a musical level. It feels so warm, passionate, and joyful. I'm also newly married and generally happy in love, though, so that probably affects the way I connect to it. My favorite songs on the album are Party, Countdown, Love on Top, Dance for You, Schoolin Life, End of Time, Start Over, I Miss You, and I Care (basically all of them 😂). This album to me represents Beyonce's musical rebirth and empowerment, with her finally moving away from her father and a more commerical success. 4 is when Beyonce stopped being basic, and it paved the path for the more thematically complex and ambitious Beyonce and Lemonade. The only let down with 4 was that Bey made the two worse songs its singles: Run the World and Best Thing I Never Had. Anyway, 4 is such a gift and I'm still obsessed with it 💕

[@JustJJr]

Until Renaissance, 4 was my 2nd FAVORITE Beyoncé album. B’Day will always be the epitome of Beyoncé music to me

[@alexandergrande]

I'm sooooo excited for what this series will bring! 4 is definitely one of my fave albums of all time and top 2 from her, I always hated how the era as a whole didn't get the success it fully deserved due to leaks happening

[@user-og3we1of7d]

'love on top' and 'run the world' are literally worldwide hits as in EVERYBODY knows those tracks yet none of the singles reached top 10 on the charts... this era was really wild

[@monst3rtruckbf]

This is def my most replayed Beyoncé album!! It’s all my favorite things and Why Don’t You Love Me is my favorite song of all time by her and 4 def feels like an extension of how much fun she had on that track to me😮 i can never get ready to go out without atleast ONE song come on shuffle😜

[@naomi.cannibal]

I think I play this one, bday and self titled the most

[@ltaylor3033]

it's kinda crazy how even tho the album or song didn't chart well at the time, it has aged alot better than the other edm dance tracks that we're released and has become staples in her discovery. in my opinion, 4 is one of my top 3 albums of hers.

[@angelnumbing]

idk where i would rank it in her discography but 4 is one of my favorite albums of All Time, not just from Beyoncé. it has aged like wine!

[@Boonies]

Omg funny how you post this… I just finished listening to this whole album today 😭

[@dominique9217]

It’s also interesting how Bruno Mars received so much success with 70s/80s style of music but “Love On Top”, “Lay up Under me Tonight” and “Schoolin Life” ddnt receive its flowers for bringing that genre back to the 2010’s. It still dsnt sit right out in my heart!!

[@angechrisman1694]

It's the anti blackness

[@QUEEN-cn4ln]

Oooo clock ittttt

[@hoematica5841]

I always felt like this album era was a prime example of how hard it can be to come back with new music after previously having such a huge success with the last album. 4 is one of my favorite Beyoncé albums specifically because she didn't focus on radio hits and "commercial success" but more tried to move in an independent and experimental direction (which in that case it was a success). I will say "Run The World" was not and still is not one of my favorite Beyoncé songs and I don't think it represents the album as a whole AT ALL however she would have needed to release at least 1 "radio friendly" song to try garner some traction, unfortunately it happened to backfire and I think a lot of people felt like well if this song sets the tone for the album then I won't bother listening to the rest. 4 is actually one of her best bodies of works. It's raw, it's emotional, it's funky and soulful and it feels a little more organic and authentic than some of her more obvious "blockbuster" albums that are successful for other reasons.

[@girlgreenivy]

I'm still holding out that 4 wouldn't have been considered "a flop" if it hadn't leaked. I remember it being rather popular and honestly the first time I heard it being refered to as a flop was when lemonade came out. I think a lot of it is just perception because other top artists would look at those sales and say that's the best of their life.

[@truthmatters7298]

I understood this album completely. It's my third favorite next to bday and Sasha fierce 😍 thanks for this 🐝🐝

[@TommDuarte]

4 is a GREAT album, it aged so beautifully. It's on my top3 of her discography together with B'day and the self titled album.

[@alvinsavage7701]

4 is her best album IMO…The vocals were insane!!!

[@SGEC2010Y1EC]

I also want to say that while the 4 singles (mostly RTW & LOT) didn’t do that well initially they had amazing longevity that eventually made them outperform most 2011 hits in the long run, their long-time appeal had made their streaming figures grow consistently to a large number (RTW iirc is one of her top 10 most viewed videos ever)

[@CajloTime]

I loved this analysis. It definitely helps to understand what kind of artist Beyonce wanted and wants to be, I believe this is the album that truly changed the public and fanbase perception and paved the way to the absolute artistic perfection that her next albums were going to be. I agree that the choice of singles jeopardized the performance the album could've had, but she doesn't want to be a "singles" artist anyway. Oh and the vocals and vocal layering? Just "I Care" alone can outsing the entire music industry, the production work on that song is insane and is truly one of her vocal gems.

[@tiffanycameron3550]

I so love your review and documentary on albums and artists....ur research is very immaculate...plus I love how u incorporate your own personal experiences in the documentary...❤❤

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you so much! And yesss I love talking about music that’s had a personal impact on me

[@tiffanycameron3550]

@@naomi.cannibal it is well recieved and admirable....continue the good works...love your channel btw...👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@peterjamescollins8753]

I love this video! Love the eras idea showing in the round what was going on outside the album and even the artist showing the landscape these eras were in . I love that all the divas after a super successful period have an independent period that fans end up championing ! Lady Gaga Artpop , Katy Perry Witness , Miley Bangerz , Rihanna Anti and the o g Madonna’s Erotica !

[@florescent93]

It just shows you how unreliable mainstream critics are, especially those that are trying to claim to be Beyonce's fans now. This is one of my favorite Bey albums and it had instant classics and, as always, it was Beyonce going head and shoulders above in effort, creativity, artistry than her contemporaries. If you don't like "Party", I can't trust any of your opinions.

[@imhavingashitdaythanks]

My fave Beyonce record! ♥I remember I was in 7th grade when this album came out. It's so weird to find out that it underperformed commercially 'cause people were playing 4 EVERYWHERE for a whole year here in my country. 😭Personally I think Love on Top and Run the World are right up there with her classic hits 'cause I still see people referencing them to this day.

[@colourqueen22]

I was also a teenager when 4 came out so I had no idea that the masses disliked it because every single song on this album was EVERYWHERE ALL THE DAMN TIME lol. One of my personal bests of Beyonce and I'm not even a big fan. I also wished you talked about how this was probably the era that led to Bey going more quiet and not doing interviews anymore because of all the hate she kept receiving. There was the pregnancy scandal aka "material fold" that the whole world was talking about for months and then later on we found out that she wouldn't be talking to us anymore 😂☹

[@naomi.cannibal]

Yesss, but I will say I covered that in a conspiracy video I did a couple months ago! And riiiight we were really in our own world just enjoying the music

[@colourqueen22]

@@naomi.cannibal oooh okay I guess I'll check it out, I'm on a binge of the videos I missed so far 😊 love your work

[@phillinsogood]

POP definitely changed so much since she debuted especially the late 00’s -early 10’s

[@Vonnnne]

1+1, love on top & dance for you are hands down my favorite Beyoncé songs

[@Yocyndie]

I was in 10th grade when this came out! I loved it. The end of time live performance is my favorite.

[@avonnie2019]

The fact that this Album was leaked and still did good!

[@dylonce]

this was a great video! I love 4. my fave beyoncé album changes every single time. like right now it's still renaissance, but 4 is definitely in my top faves for sure. I am glad she took risk that she did because I don't think we would've gotten any of the projects following after that

[@WhimsicalTankTop]

It really is unfortunate that she didn't have any hits on 4 and her self titled album, I really liked love on top and I love best thing I never had I thought they were really good in different ways because they showcased her in a pure pop and pure r&b aspect respectively

[@angechrisman1694]

Drunk in Love was a global hit. It also peaked at number 2 in the US

[@heyflop]

I would say that 4 and ARTPOP have similar intentions, Gaga at that time didn't care about having number ones or even top tens.

[@betrayedbaeuchiha175]

You’re criminally underrated and such a hidden gem of a channel! You’re my favorite Pop Culture channel! ❤❤❤❤

[@Freedomofspeechisgod]

I love bey for doing this. This is what I liked so much about her here. Because it was raw. It was completely her! And the documentary after simply beautiful. ❤

[@missladytesha787]

I hate that her albums keep getting leaked. With it happening with Renaissance as well, I’d be shooting at everyone!

[@angechrisman1694]

That's why she was doing the surprise drops with 2013 self titled, Lemonade, The Carters album "Everything is Love" and Homecoming: the live album up until Renaissance

[@TaVonya]

Loved this album and will always respect the artistry behind the artist. This album came out in my early 20s and still love it to this day! It may be my least favorite Beyoncé album, however, its still a great body of work and something that always makes me wanna sing and reflect! Dope video as always! And love your hair 💖✨🥰

[@1sava]

4 holds a special place in my heart and it’s my favorite album. I had been a fan but really fell in love with Beyoncé the vocalist and the artist while listening to it over and over again. Thank you for making a video about it! ❤❤❤

[@SuperBarbarzkingdom]

Beyoncé broken the internet 😂 with blu ivy’s Announcement 📢 ❤

[@yay1401]

LOVE this series idea!!

[@janiturner227]

This whole album was fireeeeeee. Even when you add in the deluxe edition tracks. The vocals, the videos, the performances. Everything was on point. But this was definitely a turning point in her career. Managing herself, building her company, getting pregnant, taking more artistic risks (which she did with her previous albums but just more on 4) and wanting to build a legacy. Also, Best Thing I Never Had. Had me in literal chains.

[@nathanielplacide4119]

Same I was 15 when it came out, I was just happy to experience my 2nd Beyoncé album roll out. I loved it, and I didn't realize it was deemed a flop, or had low sales until college. 1+1, I miss you, party, rather die young, lay up under me, were my personal favorites. I did know at the time she went against what was popular at the time and I was definitely here for it. I have a strong sense we will be doing the same with Renaissance after the tours, music video, and other roll outs, she's in a weird era right now, I noticed a growing trend of people politically not wanting to like her music, and I feel this album 4 started that trend and people not wanting to jump on the Beyoncé bandwagon because of the huge amounts of praise she receives. She is an artist that will be appreciated decades later. I appreciate her now.

[@TyTalksBack]

4 was the first album rollout I followed. It came out right before my senior year of high school. Because it leaked, Beyoncé released a song everyday on her website leading to the actual release date. I’ll always remember the original tracklisting. The album use to open with 1+1.

[@cheftruvii6146]

Honestly, as a beyhiver since the 90s. I have been around and seen the growth in Beyoncé’s music. Her first three albums were for the radio. She was still breaking out and finding her voice, creating an image for herself. Later in the years Beyoncé took the time to find what SHE likes in music. It was no longer about the awards or radio play but about her being vulnerable with her fans. From 4, BEYONCÈ, Lemonade and now Renaissance we have seen Bey try different sounds and it works. Notice how she doesn’t show up to award shows often. She not on social media constantly speaking on her music. Many artist still have to use social media to their advantage which is okay. Bey has created a space with her fans who understands this. Even Nicki is playing with her sound and makes music for her fans only. 4 was a great album for me. I was entering my senior year in high school. As a writer I was inspired by the music and creativity of it all. Hence why I asked for tickets to the Mrs. Carter world tour as a graduation gift (which was amazing). While 4 may have been a flop on the sales and internet side of things. I believe this album and the rest that followed has a special place in our hearts because we were presented with another side of Bey other than the world.

[@blackken9960]

I'm not really even a Beyonce fan but this album had so many songs I loved and still play today.

[@KodiSwandaOfficial]

I personally really love the album 4 ❤ my favorite song is I Care. The way her voice matches that guitar riff gives me chills every time I hear it

[@cleabric3706]

Not me seeing thus after seeing a clip of her in a nineties show I think it's called smart guy great video, gorgeous

[@naomi.cannibal]

Meant to be!!

[@pe7e]

I didn't like the first two singles from 4 but as an album it's one of my favorites by her. End of Time should have been the lead single it had the same energy as Deja Vu and CIL. Love on Top outlived the album that song gets regular play on the radio and again should have been released prior to the album. Great video!

[@taylorjamestj19]

Absolutely my favorite album. I remember coming home EVERYDAY after school reenacting the music videos lol

[@NickolasSowder]

My favorite Beyoncé album.💅🏻

[@adrianmendoza3656]

4 has so many hits and songs that everyone knows. truly a masterpiece

[@awudusule6662]

This album is my favourite Beyonce album period ❤