Beyoncé built her fourth album around control. 4 is a record about taking charge — of a relationship, of a career, of the conversation about what a pop star can sound like. It opens with a slow burn and closes with three club remixes of the same track, and the whole thing moves from simmer to full heat without ever losing its footing. This is not a quiet record, and it does not pretend to be.
1+1 Through Love on Top
The opener sets the tone. It is patient, built on a steady pulse that lets the tension build before it releases. “I Care” follows with a lighter touch, a ballad that leans on simplicity rather than scale. “I Miss You” keeps the mood soft, a song about distance that never reaches for drama.
“Best Thing I Never Had” is where the record starts to sharpen its edge. It is a breakup song with a sharp, direct melody, one of the strongest tracks here. “Party” follows with a looser, more playful energy, a track that earns its place as a palate cleanser before the album turns serious again.
“Rather Die Young” is a standout. It is urgent, direct, and it carries real weight. “Start Over” is gentler, a track about moving past a mistake that lands with less force. “Love on Top” closes this stretch with a gospel-tinged peak, one of the record’s high points.
Countdown Through Run the World (Girls)
“Countdown” is a highlight, a track that builds from a whisper to a chorus without ever losing its momentum. “End of Time” follows with a driving rhythm and a chorus that demands attention. “I Was Here” is more reflective, a song about presence that feels slightly smaller next to what surrounds it.
“Run the World (Girls)” is the centerpiece. It is a call to arms, a statement of purpose delivered over a beat that refuses to sit still. It is the track that defines the album’s mission, and it succeeds completely.
“Lay Up Under Me” is a slower, more sensual track that never quite matches the fire of what surrounds it. “Schoolin’ Life” is a standout, a song about power and control that carries a sharper edge than the record’s other ballads. “Dance for You” closes this stretch with a six-minute run that stretches out the groove without losing its shape.
The Club Remixes
The final three tracks are the same song, remixed three different ways. The Kaskade version tightens the pulse. The RedTop version adds weight. The Jochen Simms version lets the track breathe longest. None of them change the core of the song, but each offers a different way to hear it.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The record’s best moments are its clearest. “Best Thing I Never Had,” “Rather Die Young,” “Countdown,” “End of Time,” “Run the World (Girls),” and “Schoolin’ Life” are the tracks that justify the album’s existence. They are direct, confident, and unapologetic.
The weaker moments are not failures, but they do not reach the same heights. “I Care,” “Start Over,” and “Lay Up Under Me” are pleasant without being essential. The remixes are a minor indulgence, and a few middle tracks drift, but the peaks are high enough to carry the whole thing.
Here is how the weaker tracks break down:
- “I Care” is pleasant but slight.
- “Start Over” is gentle but forgettable.
- “Lay Up Under Me” is sensual but lacks urgency.
The Verdict
4 is a confident, controlled record. Its ambition is clear from the first track to the last, and its best songs match that ambition step for step. The remixes are a minor indulgence, and a few middle tracks drift, but the peaks are high enough to carry the whole thing.
This is Beyoncé at her most direct, and it rewards attention.
- 1+14:34
- I Care3:59
- I Miss You2:59
- Best Thing I Never Had4:14
- Party4:05
- Rather Die Young3:42
- Start Over3:19
- Love on Top4:27
- Countdown3:33
- End of Time3:44
- I Was Here3:59
- Run the World (Girls)3:56
- Lay Up Under Me4:14
- Schoolin’ Life4:53
- Dance for You6:17
- Run the World (Girls) (Kaskade club remix)5:02
- Run the World (Girls) (RedTop club remix)6:03
- Run the World (Girls) (Jochen Simms club remix)6:17
