The new black and white album covers have been revealed for Beyonce's upcoming deluxe "I Am" cd release which is scheduled to drop on November 18th. It appears that Beyonce is continuing with the classic B&W theme she used in her artsy music video.
Check out the tracklisting via Rap Up. This week Beyonce debuted two new music videos for "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies" to promote her album. Fox News is reporting that there is some controversy surrounding the first single called "If I Were A Boy". It appears that the track was written by an up and coming singer named BC Jean who wasn't given writing credit and accused Beyonce Knowles of stealing her song. Listen to the original raspy rendition sung by BC Jean and compare it to the Beyonce track. This is definitely not a good look for the "Queen Bey" if there is any truth to these rumors and accusations. When is stealing ever a good look for anyone?
UPDATE: Beyonce was sued in a previous copyright infringement lawsuit for the song "Baby Boy" which she won.
Stemming from a 2005 case where a relatively unknown songwriter filed a lawsuit against Beyonce Knowles for copyright infringement, a new court decision has turned favorably for the ex-Destiny's Child. Beyonce has won the case and, at the same time, the dignity of 'Baby Boy'.
Jennifer Armour claimed the Grammy-winning single used her material, titled 'Bad Boy', that was sent to several recording studios including Beyonce's label, Columbia Records. Evidence and comparison of the two songs have led to no case that can show their similarities. source
Beyonce If I Were A Boy Music Video
Beyoncé Disc
1. “If I Were a Boy” (Toby Gad and Beyoncé Knowles)
2. “Halo” (Ryan Tedder and Beyoncé Knowles)
3. “Disappear” (Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, Ian Dench, and Beyoncé Knowles)
4. “Broken-Hearted Girl” (Stargate and Beyoncé Knowles)
5. “Ave Maria” (Stargate and Beyoncé Knowles)
6. “Smash Into You” (C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, and Beyoncé Knowles)
7. “Satellites” (Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, Ian Dench, and Beyoncé Knowles)
8. “That’s Why You’re Beautiful” (Andrew Hey and Beyoncé Knowles)
Sasha Disc
1. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” (C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, and Beyoncé Knowles)
2. “Radio” (Jim Jonsin, D-Town, Rico Love, and Beyoncé Knowles)
3. “Diva” (Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Sean Garrett, and Beyoncé Knowles)
4. “Sweet Dreams” (Jim Jonsin, Wayne Wilkins, Rico Love, and Beyoncé Knowles)
5. “Video Phone” (Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Sean Garrett, and Beyoncé Knowles)
6. “Hello” (REO and Beyoncé Knowles)
7. “Ego” (Elvis “BlacElvis” Williams, Harold Lilly, and Beyoncé Knowles)
8. “Scared of Lonely” (Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins)
9. “Why Don’t You Love Me?” (Beyoncé Knowles, Solange Knowles, and Bama Boyz) source
If I Were A Boy - BC Jean (lyrics+Download)
The story behind "If I Were a Boy" is absolutely scandalous. It also explains my question of why this single missed the Grammy deadline of Sept. 30, since it was ready to go at least three weeks ago. The answer: it was held up by endless legal wrangling since, in the long hallowed tradition of the music business, the young woman who wrote the melody and lyrics for "If I Were a Boy" had no idea Beyonce had even recorded her song until a stranger called with the news. By then, it was too late.
BC Jean is a hot, up-and-coming, 21-year-old female singer songwriter from San Diego. Those who've met her says she's smart and "gorgeous." But BC (her initials, legend has it, are for "beautiful child") got a cold dose of reality this summer when it comes to the record business. According to sources, she and her manager/mother have been strong-armed by Beyonce's people and others who saw gold in "If I Were a Boy" and didn't care how they got it.
You can hear BC Jean's version of her own song, written with German pop-factory producer Toby Gad, at www.bcjean.net. It's certainly as good as Beyonce's if not better. It's no wonder that this young woman is now the center of so much attention.
Altogether, I am told, BC Jean wrote and recorded about a dozen songs with Gad for an album the producer was planning to make of his own. When the deal fell apart, Gad whose 300 plus credits are all co-written, never solo â took the songs and started marketing them to big name, established artists. Gad's past "collaborators" include Fergie, on "Big Girls Don't Cry."
Besides Beyonce, Gad brought at least one of the songs to Disney for "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus. But Disney wanted the lyrics changed to be age-appropriate. BC Jean refused. For now, Miley and Gad have been rebuffed.
When I wrote about Beyonce's version of "If I Were a Boy" last week, calls came pouring in from people who knew the real history of this story. BC Jean's mother/manager, Lori Carlson, told me she couldn't comment on the situation. But plenty of people knew the saga of Beyonce's legendary manager/father Mathew Knowles' aggressive pursuit of the publishing rights to the potential hit record. His goal was to get the rights to the song and to put Beyonce's name on the writing credits.
The Carlsons, I'm told, recently came to terms with Beyonce, after enduring the kind of record biz terrors that would curl the hair of the guys from "Hit Men." Now, "If I Were a Boy" is hitting big time. Part of the deal, my sources insist, is that the two singers will duet on BC Jean's debut album once she gets her own recording deal. Right now, managers, publishers and A&R people from all over the industry are falling over themselves trying to sign BC Jean. They should be. She seems to be the real deal, a potential artist with a big career looming in front of her. It's a shame that this is the way she had to find out about the record business. source
Who cares about that other chick Beyonce's version is great. I already forgot the other gurls name.
Posted by: Conrad Haynes | October 19, 2008 at 04:14 PM
how did she steal it when beyonce brought the song from her dumb ass
Posted by: jonathan | October 19, 2008 at 09:25 PM