For the last two weeks, I’ve been attempting to blog about Beyonce’s twin set of new videos, but much to my chagrin, the embeddable versions keep getting pulled from the Internets. (The Crafty Ms. Knowles must want us all to pay for viewing privilege over at iTunes; apparently, when she sings "If you ain’t gettin’ money, then you ain’t got nothin’ for me," she means it.)But today (finally!), I’ve found said videos living legally (I think?) at YahooMusic. So, YAHOO! Let’s discuss which is better: My favorite song from I Am…Sasha Fierce, or the best song from I Am…Sasha Fierce. And no, those are not one and the same.
First, my favorite, "Diva," a track that’s already No. 64 on the Top 100 Most Played list on my iTunes, because in all honestly, I have a mental illness that makes me hit the repeat button on this track, then annoy friends and loved ones by randomly (and sometimes inappropriately) asking (in my best Beyonce drawl): "Where yo BOSS at?" The video has the production values of the clearance bin at Family Dollar, and yet somehow it works. Ever since I first heard the hypnotic chorus — "Diva is a female version of a hustler. Of a hustler. Of a, of a hustler." — I fully expected to see a trunk full of mannequins, Cylon-y fringed sunglasses, and angry-lady dancing on display in the accompanying video. (Good thing B provides the dictionary definition of "Diva," too, since her own take on the word is beautiful nonsense.) Where yo BOSS at, people?
Then, there’s "Halo," an absolutely glorious and perfectly produced track that should be as big a hit as "Irreplaceable" and "Crazy in Love." Still, it’s a little odd to me that the highest-quality track from …Sasha Fierce gets a video that’s lit so aggressively, I can barely make out whether B’s paying homage to Flashdance or trying to give me a seizure. Still, I’m not mad at Solange’s sister. Once that chorus kicks in for the final time, with its sweeping strings and percussion and B’s glorious vocal, my innards turn to processed maple syrup, and I lose the ability to constructively criticize. Does this woman ever make a musical misstep? (I smell pancakes!)
Anyhow, check out the videos for "Diva" and "Halo" for yourself, then vote in our handy poll about which you like best!
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Halo is pop-ballad perfection.
I am sick of this overatted self-absorbed twit. Her music sucks and so does her videos.
I read somewhere that “Halo” was written for Leona Lewis. That would have been interesting to here.
Since I’ve often logged in chastising you, Michael, for overhyping your girl Beyonce Knowles, I will concede that I’ve liked the first two songs from this CD. I can already sense overexposure kicking in, though. As for your question ‘does she ever make a musical misstep’ well I think you know my answer to that one, lol! YES! Still, MAYBE I might download/buy my first ever Miss Jay Z CD this time around. We’ll see….
Slezak we are twin souls!! I have had Diva on repeat since I picked up the CD in November! After the perfection of the stripped down Single Ladies video, I find there is just too much going on in the Diva video. I prefer Halo — mostly just for her gorgeous co-star — Michael Ealy.
Funny I love Beyonce but I’m not a fan of either of these songs. And I’m sorry but I still think it sounds like she used Alvin and the Chipmunks on the chorus of Diva. Hate that song.
Halo is something special. Grammy SOTY nominee?
Diva just seems to be pandering to the hip hop audience. Like, Oh we have to make sure and put a “street” song on here.It just seems kind of weak. I felt the same way about that Destiny’s Child “Soldier” song. Ugh- anyway. Halo is very pretty and you don’t hear as many love songs like that from female artists lately. Leona Lewis could have done a good job too.
the Haters will be coming soon.
Halo & Diva are both very fabulous songs.
Halo is without a doubt one of the best Beyonce songs ever. Diva has the better video though. I pity those who are too proud to like Halo, really.
I kinda lika Halo as a song, but Diva is horrible. I have tried to like it as people, especially Slezak, keep saying it’s so great, but it sucks something awful. Halo is just okay. Could care less about either video. The first two singles were way better. What frustrates me is that this crap will get played when music by good artists with killer hooks gets ignored.
The lyrics still are kinda cheesey, but my fave song off the “I Am…Sasha Fierce” set is “Radio”. A few weesk before the disc came out, & I was over “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies” a friend sent me both “Diva” and “Radio”, and assumed I’d love “Diva”. It was cute the first few times, but then simply became as annoying as “Single Ladies”, then the weekend after the disc dropped and the DJ at the local gay bar dropped “Diva” before the lights came up I knew that the song was going to be inescapable. Oh and Mike, the videos were released on iTunes as EXCLUSIVES, which is prolly why they been so hard to embed!
Halo is just more enjoyable to listen to. Diva is migraine inducing. Also, is it me or does it seem like Beyonce’s been phoning in her videos lately.
Oh and the only real question I got is which rapper is going to be featured on the “Diva” Remix if NOT Mr. Carter?
I like the Diva video best, although I absolutely love the song Halo. Slezak, for many reasons, I wish we worked together. Your “Where yo boss at” would be a perfect compliment to the “you had me a-at hellOW” I keep randomly singing in my office.
To Ed: Beyonce did not phone in her first two videos (“Single Ladies” in particular), IMHO. I have had “Halo” on repeat whenever I listen to the CD. The music, the melody, the lyrics – it’s a dream. “Diva” would be my favorite song were it not for the annoying snare drum. I much prefer “Video Phone” to “Diva.”
Beyone scares me. A sista with no dance skills flinging herself around in a leotard. Yes, Slezak, a gay mans dream.
Both songs are great, but both videos just plain suck.
I’m really confused. I thought a ho was a female version of a hustler?
“Diva” is the female version of “A Milli” by Lil’ Wayne. That’s all it really is listen to both and you’ll understand.
I totally agree with you Sam. The first time I heard “Diva” I thought.. gee someone has been spending time with Lil Wayne in the studio. I must give Ms. Knowles-Carter her props, I Am Sasha Fierce is absolutely a hot album.. definitely great for workouts.
Halo is very good and a real song. A remarkably familiar yet fresh pop ballad with just enough electro R&B clunkiness to make it charming. And her headvoice trills/yodels are especially hooky and a nice complement to her normal, somewhat forced method of singing.
But with “boy” and “halo”, Beyonce is pushing REAL songs at us. These are melodic gems, with real choruses, bridges, etc. With any luck she is heralding a return to real songwriting over the production gymnastics that most music today still relies on.
Speaking of which, Diva is more of a novelty tune that will not hold up more than a few months. But I guess it fits in today’s music scene. That is to say it’s constructed first as a ringtone, then filled in for clubs, then radio and iPods afterwards.
I don’t know about that MultiPass. “Halo” is a bit overproduced if you ask me, though I think it is designed to allow Beyonce’s vocals to florish over the music.
Diva is the better video but Halo is the better song. Halo’s video is just a bit cheesy for my liking.
Just throwing this out there…since January is a stale month for new music, I really hope everyone reading this item on Beyonce has checked out her fellow Destiny Child member, Michelle Williams “Unexpected” disc that dropped in early October. Seriously great R&B/pop/dance effort that has been overlooked in favor of Beyonce’s “I Am…Sasha Fierce”. Michelle’s latest dance remixes for “The Greatest” aren’t that ‘great’ per say, but I highly recommend the “Hello Heartbreak” Remix EP! One of the most overlooked songs of 2008, IMO.
Love both of them. Diva video is HOTT!
Correction:
*Sasha Fierce vs. Beyonce
I love both songs and both videos. Beyonce proves that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a good video which is a good idea since MTV and VH1 rarely play music videos now.
The Halo video fits the song perfectly and the Diva video was totally unexpected. Great job Queen B.
The dance parts of the Diva video look like they were rehearsing for Single Ladies in a warehouse. Same leotard, same two chicks flanking her, same jerky movements. I’m not saying it’s bad dancing – I’ve just seen it before, in Single Ladies, done better and more originally.
“Halo” is the better song, and “Diva” is the better video. “Halo” is one of my favorite songs of the year, but that video is boredom concentrated. I’m really turned off by Beyonce’s dancing style, but the “Diva” video is pretty cool and weird…but still, in a cool way.