ALBUM REVIEW

BEYONCE - LEMONADE

TO an outsider, Beyonce's life looks perfect.

Some argue she is the embodiment of modern-day feminism, and she has it all. But does she?

Lemonade sounds like it will be fizzy pop, devoid of any substance.

So the material on this record- seemingly painful and raw- has taken everyone by surprise.

Mr and Mrs Carter have notoriously kept their private life very private. But there have been rumours of infidelity, fuelled when Beyonce's sister Solange attacked Jay Z in a lift in 2014.

The lyrics on this 'visual' album show a completely different side of Beyonce. And they seem to tell a story- from the shock of finding out about betrayal, to rage, to sadness and finally- to forgiveness.

Although there are lots of collaborations on the album, there isn't a discernible 'hit.'

This is very much a body of work, ranging from heavy metal to country, all combining to tell a story of 'someone' cheating on 'someone else.' With the exception of Formation, they probably couldn't exist on their own.

Hold Up, sampling Can't Get Used to Losing You by Andy Williams, meshes an upbeat track with lines like 'Can't you see there's no other man above you, what a wicked way to treat the girl who loves you.' It's catchy.

But then it goes in to a speaking segment where Beyonce talks about 'wearing her [the other woman's] skin' and teeth and scalp. Graphic and quite difficult listening.

'You remind me of my father' she says, 'a magician, able to exist in two places at once.

'In the tradition of men in my blood, you come home at 3am and lie to me.'

Then 'So what are you gonna say at my funeral now you have killed me?

'Here lies the body of the love of my life, whose heart I broke [...]

'[...]rest in peace my true love, who I took for granted.'

So is this Beyonce finally showing us in to the 'real' her? Would her husband really let her release what sounds like an open letter about his 'betrayal' on his site, Tidal? Is it revenge? Payback?

Or, is it a very clever stunt from a very astute power couple who know exactly how to play us all? Take a listen and decide for yourself.

SAMANTHA HARMAN