Put A Record On: Beyoncé Returns Oh So Fierce

Beyoncé Knowles is on her way to world domination. The über-star, multi-Grammy winner is about to release her third album, I Am...Sasha Fierce, and is set to star as Etta James in the new film Cadillac Records. Knowles spent more than a year putting together the new, two-disc album, which, as usual, was made in tight collaboration with her father/producer/manager. I Am...Sasha Fierce shows the Beyoncé we know today: a radiant, sophisticated newlywed, beautifully matured since her early days with Destiny's Child.



Knowles co-wrote many of the songs and the two sides of her album are perfectly illustrated by the first singles: "Ladies Put A Ring On It" is an upbeat party song where Beyoncé invites her unmarried friends to join her for a night out, while "If I Were A Boy" is a calmer, more reflective track, which sees her examining the world from a male perspective.

Beyoncé not only stars in the upcoming Cadillac Records, but is also due to appear in 2009's thriller Obsessed. Her marriage to rapper Jay-Z was widely publicized, but the couple maintains a low profile and avoids excessive press coverage, giving Beyoncé the reputation of a talented and hard working performer who deserves her success and happiness. I Am...Sasha Fierce might be more about "Single Ladies" than "Independent Women," but that is just what Beyoncé Knowles is.

I Am...Sasha Fierce comes out Nov 18. For more information, see www.myspace.com/beyonce.

—David Hellqvist