It has to be mentioned at some point that Beyonce Knowles B'Day record from last year is an absolute classic. Small, sharp, fast, aggressive and setting the bar very high for all challengers in the female pop and R&B realm. Beyonce continues to get better, progressive and interesting. More and more I read of her seemingly becoming a studio rat, in on sessions constantly and of course working, working, working. Hell, she made a video for EVERY song off B'Day. On the album she sings and stretches out her vocals in magnificently interesting ways, changing her phrasing and pitch on every song. She rides enormously difficult beats by Swizz Beatz like its nothing. These productions should be impossible to sing R&B over but Beyonce hits them head on like the best of MCs. She smokes and drinks, she dates a former drug dealer/gangster, she lives in New York and exists in a world of high fashion, style and art. She is becoming a serious artist. She's funky as fuck. Listening to her catalog presents a very evolving view of post feminist thought. In her lyrics she is constantly exploring the notion of traditional female roles with that of the power that come with a successful career. She throws disses at Kelis (over a Pharell beat no less). She jacks Amerie's signature vocal line on another song. She coos 'deliver me from the work of inequity' at the beginning of Jay Z's American Gangster record! She's a good dancer, but will try extremely difficult moves with a smile on her face. She'll take what she wants. To paraphrase one of her significant other's lines She will not lose.

In a video, visually referencing Sweet Charity (directed by Bob Fosse (one of the greatest) and written by Fellini (one of the greatest) for the artsy fartsy taking notes.) Get Me Bodied! Oh yeah, and I love Solange Knowles, her little sister, who's chewing gum throughout....and the way Beyonce sings "wall" on this song brings me great joy.

BEYONCE GET ME BODIED