Tigre, Bunny and Beyonce

Never mind that Destiny Fulfilled is their worst album, mostly stuffed ballads and only one real headspinner. Never mind that Be and Kelly are velvet voiced, and Michelle Williams sounds like a godly L’Trimm. Its chronological relationship narrative is a kind-of amazing cautionary tale of action and consequence. Kicks off with “Lose my Breath” and “Soldier” (for the love of thug intellect; Lil Wayne the street hottie w/a “purple heart” = Rumsfeld-era creepy), woman overextends (“T-shirt”), woman realizes man is a fake faker dogging her out (“Is She the Reason”), her girls got her back as she cries (“Girl”), she dumps him (“Bad Habit”). Then DC screws “Karma” by Lloyd Banks, this year’s consummate playa track, for “If,” the acerbic “sayonara, doggie, I ain’t got time for this” revelation/empowerment vocal pilates number. The Freedom Dance (“free”), the bitter “I gave it all up for you” (“Through with Love,” essentially “Bad Habit” redux but w/Mike Oldfield meets Diwali production). “Love” is rejuvenation. Seven stages of grief, with denouement and rebirth. Moral: Even Kelly Rowland dates down?
* (“Lose My Breath.” With that marching-band dancehall beat, sounds like two hotties making out underneath the bleachers at a pep rally. Video is weird, though… The Warriors plus Le Double Vie de Veronique? Beyonce: “Who am I?”)