A - Birthday Cake would NOT be an interlude, and would have a different collaborator.
B - You Da One would NOT have followed We Found Love so quickly, which originally made it flop the most.
C - The album as a whole would get release in early January, 2012. Non-busy week gets her her first #1 album.
Singles:
1.
We Found Love (September 2011)
Would have smashed just the same. Everything the same.
2.
Cockiness (November 2011,
Urban-only)
Would have a crazy, colorful, S&M-esque video. Would peak in the top 40 on the Hot 100.
3.
You Da One (December 2011)
Would have a soft, nature-themed What's My Name-esque music video. Would peak in the top 3 on the Hot 100.
4.
Where Have You Been (March 2012)
Would have Rihanna running through the jungle in a cheetah dress for the video. Same Hot 100 peak (#5).
5.
Talk That Talk (June 2012)
Would be a summer smash featuring an iconic rap from a different collaborator. Would peak in the top 10 on the BBHot 100.
6.
Birthday Cake (July 2012, mostly urban)
Would have a different collaborator, one that would make the song more urban and have less pop appeal.
Would have a school-y prom ****ty music video. A peak in the top 20 on the BBHot 100, this time being a summer hit.
Could easily perform alongside TTT and supplement its' success, while being a big summer hit.
7.
Drunk On Love (September 2012)
Would be the perfect fall-welcoming lovesick anthem. Could've followed Wide Awake's ballad success.
A video with a lot of grayscale and animation. A peak easily in the top 10 on the BBHot 100.
I think about this so often. This is my favorite work by her and it's so sad to see it go under-appreciated in my eyes
Explanation:
1. Roc Me Out sounds too much like Rude Boy to actually be a good smash.
2. Jay-Z's long rant on TTT makes it hard to listen to and gross at some parts.
3. Her collab with Chris Brown was too much backlash. She could've just done the Oprah interview instead.
4. Do Ya Thang is a fan fave. It NEV-AH would've smashed. No way ever, tho.
5. Drunk On Love samples 'The XX' which is an indie band, would gain pseudo-hipsters
And to promote xx's new album.
