Beyoncé & Lady GaGa - 'Video Phone'
Time for another special guest review from Kay Smith...
Let's be honest - Beyoncé's got a lot more competition nowadays, hasn't she? Before there was the other two girls, y'know, Kelly and whatsername... the other one, and Madame Knowles took centre stage, and her rare beauty, powerful voice (and father/manager) always ensured that she was the one everyone would be talking about.
Now Beyoncé's faced with fresher talent such as the edgy and beautiful Rihanna; the outrageous and daring Lady GaGa; and big, big voices like Leona Lewis and Jennifer Hudson. Yeah, she's always had some competition from other strong female singers / performers, or 'divas', if we must, but there are more of them around now.
Not that this is a bad thing, and nor am I saying that the hugely talented Beyoncé isn't good enough anymore. In fact, I think stars like Rihanna have made Beyoncé up her game a notch, followed by GaGa, who then stormed in and set the whole 'diva' thing on fire, before shaking up the ashes and chucking them into the wind, while giggling hysterically.
(. See below for details)
Aesthetically, GaGa stole the show as soon as she arrived - the huge shoulders, the sharp metallic stage outfits...and set the standard for the rest of the diva patrol to follow, including Beyoncé herself (remember those hips in that dress?!). OK, we haven't seen her up on stage sporting anything questionable dangling between her legs just yet, but you never know, it could still happen .
So anyway, this brings me to 'Video Phone' - and what exactly is the point of GaGa featuring in this song? I know Beyoncé fans won't like me saying this, but I can't help but think that in this instance it's a case of 'if you can't beat em, join em'.
The song is pretty average if you're being nice about it, but it's repetitive and can come across as monotonous. If you haven't heard it and you want to know what it sounds like, imagine someone saying over and over again "watch me on your video phone, your video phone" and erm, well that's it, really.
GaGa's contribution is small, and her verse lacks the originality of her solo work. Generally, the lyrics are simple yet dripping with innuendo - backed up over a thinly-spread beat and a few orgasmic groans.
When Beyoncé has the right songs, competition is a good thing - her outfits have been braver and more exciting, her videos more dynamic - but as her 'I Am...' album runs out of obvious hit singles to release, the competition gets harder to beat, and you get the impression that she thought: "If the music isn't going to be enough this time, then why not make the lyrics sexy and just rope GaGa in herself?"
Oh, and the video... Rihanna's hairdo? Check. Crotch grabbing? Check. Sex moves? Check. Now I'm no prude (honest), but don't you think it all looks a bit... desperate? For someone as naturally brilliant as Beyoncé (and a better singer than GaGa and Rihanna put together), perhaps she should actually stop trying so hard and do what she does best - singing proper songs.
Download: Out now
CD Released: December 14th
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Music page
(Kay Smith)
Comment number 1.
At 19th Dec 2009, flatknees wrote:well that is a bit confusing. beyonce releases 'video phone' with lady gaga getting involved and lady gaga (about to?) release 'telephone' with beyonce getting involved.
luckily it is easy to tell them apart. video phone is terrible. telephone is not.
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Comment number 2.
At 19th Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:I don't get the point of releasing Video Phone she's already released 5 singles (in the UK) so why does she need to release another.
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Comment number 3.
At 20th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:One thing is for sure .
If I had the job of masterminding a callaboration between Beyonce and Lady Gaga , nurturing their obvious talents and bringing about the best song possible from the loins of these chart topping icons , it would be a tune far , far better than this .
It will obviously be a hit , but for me , the song should be so , so much better !
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Comment number 4.
At 20th Dec 2009, Daniel wrote:Hi Guys.
Incase you missed me, I'm back. And what a better blog to return on than a Beyonce one?
I have to say that despite my desperate love for Beyonce, I really don't like this song and I never have. It was my least favourite from the album and one of the least obvious Single Releases. Hello would have been better.
I'm not sure I understand the presence of Lady Gaga in this song, She's not in the album version and she doesn't improve the single. She also looks at her most unattractive in this video. (Ah, the great GaGa predicament - Is she hot or not?).
The video itself is great, although unsuitable for the epileptic, and Beyonce is looking hot throughout. It's a shame it's not a Silent Movie.
Flatknees, I'm with you on the Telephone thing. It's so much better and I can't wait to see the video - Beyonce should have kept her chart presence by simply featuring in GaGa's track other than releasing this.
I think that's all.
Dannyboy__
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Comment number 5.
At 20th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:Aha , one of my favourite bloggers returns !!!
Woo hoo !!
Dan , add your voice to the Rage V X Factor Debate , and we are doing our top 10 singles of 2009 on Rybak .
Hope you are well , and your time in Yorkshire has been rewarding.
Great to have you back !!!
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Comment number 6.
At 20th Dec 2009, Daniel wrote:Thanks, Spirit.
It's good to be back!
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Comment number 7.
At 20th Dec 2009, ant_in_wales wrote:Anyone know why Reggie was dropped for the biggest Chart Show of the year?
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Comment number 8.
At 21st Dec 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:I didnt listen to Scott's chart show, but I imagine it was a tad better than normal.
This song? Will somebody please knock Beyonce off the Gaga bandwagon. Its embarrassing for a woman of her stature in pop music to be on it.
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Comment number 9.
At 21st Dec 2009, thranjax wrote:"I don't get the point of releasing Video Phone she's already released 5 singles (in the UK) so why does she need to release another."
I know what you mean harry (lol) but even so, I love the idea of an artist like Lady GaGa or even say Elton John walking into their manager or record label office and saying "I've finished the new single" and the manager/label guy putting his head in his hands and sighing, "what, another one? for crying out loud, enough is enough! Stop it with the music already!"
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Comment number 10.
At 21st Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:It's not even of the best track left on the album, Radio and Scared Of Lonely (rubbish title) are better.
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Comment number 11.
At 22nd Dec 2009, Keith Fusco wrote:I heard this for the first time the other day and after about 30 seconds, I just got bored and wanted to turn it off.
You wanna film me on your video phone. You wanna call me on your video phone. You wanna make me breakfast on your videophone etc.
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Comment number 12.
At 22nd Dec 2009, Daniel wrote:I agree, Harry. Radio is a much better track - Maybe that'll be the sixth or seventh single release
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Comment number 13.
At 22nd Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:And after that she could release the rest of the album as singles.
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Comment number 14.
At 22nd Dec 2009, Dave wrote:I bet Jay-Z ain't too happy that Beyonce is dancing around with some bloke in this video! Oh wait....no....wait...no actually I'm right, it is a bloke.
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Comment number 15.
At 23rd Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:Only just listened to Telephone and it's amazing!!!! Best thing from Gaga yet!
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Comment number 16.
At 23rd Dec 2009, flatknees wrote:yea mate its certainly up there with just dance and poker face.. there is a video no?
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Comment number 17.
At 23rd Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:It's being released in february so I'd guess there's going to be a video sometime soon.
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Comment number 18.
At 7th Apr 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Gaga clearly got the better end of the "songs with phone in the title" deal.
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Comment number 19.
At 7th Apr 2010, spirit wrote:Tht's for sure .
When it came to the phone deal ,Beyonce had no signal, whereas Gaga is upwardly mobile . :)
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