he song: It's generally pretty major news when one of the biggest pop stars in the world drops a new song — which is why it was such a surprise when Beyonce unceremoniously posted her new song "Bow Down / I Been On" to her website on Sunday afternoon with virtually no fanfare. (Listen to the song below.) The new track, which is the first song Beyonce has recorded since the birth of daughter Blue Ivy in January 2012, finds Bey in a particularly fierce mood: While she employs a variety of musical styles in the dense, layered song, she also spends the first part of it chanting "bow down, bitches" in an implicit critique of younger pop stars that followed in her path. Should we all show our respect, or does "Bow Down / I Been On" find Beyonce on an off day?
The reaction: Beyonce is taking an "aggressive, in-your-face approach that has some fans in love and others still undecided," says Jocelyn Vena at MTV News. Yes, this is definitely something new for the singer — but did it have to be so slight? asks Aisha Harris at Slate. Though "Bow Down / I Been On" is "a decent filler track, it's fairly underwhelming," and it "will probably only satisfy the most ardent of Beyonce fans — those already inclined to bow down." Then again, "the song amassed over a million streams on Soundcloud in less than 24 hours, which must be some sort of record," says Rich Juzwiak at Gawker — so maybe Sasha Fierce knows what she's doing.
- The last word: He said he was leaving. She ignored him.
- How typeface influences the way we read and think
- WATCH: Australia's army chief demonstrates how you address sex abuse
- Turkey's 'Standing Man': Can a lone protester change history?
- The daily gossip: The 50 Shades of Grey movie finally has a director, and more
- 7 grammar rules you really should pay attention to
- The world is way, way bigger than you
- 32 TV shows to watch in 2013 [Updated]
- Ben Bernanke to Wall Street: It's the beginning of the end
- The FBI has purposefully — and, it says, justifiably — shot 150 Americans since 1993
- Michael Hastings, remembered
- How typeface influences the way we read and think
- Former employees say Bank of America lied to a lot of homeowners
- How immigration reform could save taxpayers nearly $1 trillion
- The last telegram ever is about to be sent
- The last word: He said he was leaving. She ignored him.
- WATCH: Australia's army chief demonstrates how you address sex abuse
- The daily gossip: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have allegedly chosen a baby name, and more
- Can fetuses masturbate?
- What language is your baby speaking?
