Irreplaceable was huge, needless to say, but Deja vu and Ring the Alarm did good on the Hot 100... Girls is flopping waaayyyy harder than those songs. Hopefully the next single will pick the album up to pace.

There's just so many strong female singers who have been around for a lot shorter time who are getting the attention atm like Katy Perry, Adele, Rihanna, Ke$ha, Gaga, TaySwift, Nicki Minaj, etc... so it's hard too standing out when there's all these girls who are all on top and have been in the business a whole lot less time.

I haven't heard the new album yet, but I don't know, she was doing so well just a couple of years ago with IASF, that album was surely fresh and amazing, to me anyway, it made me a hardcore fan and appreciate her older works too.

I do think that those girls might be stealing the spotlight a little bit, specially Rihanna and Nicki, since they can be somehow compared to Bee.

I think Beyoncé's musical style is very defined and particular, and the best example to that is the first single of 4. Just like ayu's music is very characteristic, some people might just get tired/bored of that musical style and look for new fresh things?

I do hope all those people who went to see Bee live will remember what a great artist she is, and support her always :) She totally deserves it!

I really applaud B for releasing an album that goes against the current trends, and then apparently defending it after the apparent lukewarm reception (if those rumours were true!) I really liked this review I read that said "this album is proof she doesn't need to prove herself anymore".

It's funny how the album seemed such a shock at first because it was mostly ballads, but pretty much every B album other than B'day has been ballad heavy.

I like her new singles so I need to try out her album. She's so hot :heart

oh ur right! never knew deja vu and ring the alarm did so well!

Perfection.

Honestly, this album is one big :no for me. I'm really disappointed because I love 'I am...SF' and I can't believe that the same artist sings these songs. It's like, the first half of the album - boring ballads, the second half - boring upbeat tracks/ballads. WTH? There is no one song that stands out.

^ she hasn't proved she can still sell just yet...

She's grown so much... she's experienced so much during her tour around the World, and I'm sure this album reflects all of that.

I am so excited to hear it! I think I'll buy the deluxe edition :)

Can't wait for the four bonus tracks. I really like she separated the bonus tracks from the album, it reinforced than 4 is a completed piece of work. I just prefer the original cover lol

I understand, it wasn't my intention to say that she should make only 'popular' music in order to gain better sales. No, I don't care about the sales or style as long as I like it, enjoy it and as long as I am not bored to death. Sometimes artists produce what they want, but that doesn't mean it's still good. ^^ of course, to each their own, this is only my opinion I guess.

ooo I saw 4 in stores today but they only had deluxe edition, I want the standard one (the cover is more epic!) :(

The bonus tracks are so awesome. I wish they were incorporated into the album. Lay Up Under Me could easily replace Love On Top (lol) and Dance For You could replace Party.

apparently 4 debuted #1 in 13 countries or something!! :D:D

:love

soooo proud!!!!!

I feel silly for being worried.