Overall score: 8.37
High score: 10 (supaspaz, Ace Reject, Marq, EmRiNavy, Subomie, @michael, Pop, waryofothers, 4Real, JakeKills, Venus, J. YONCÉ, Superpower, Seffers, MWB, jqnetto, that G.U.Y., Kool_Aid_King, Toysoldier99, Jdella11, thatsmydemi, Great Username, I'mRihannaFan, Icing, Black Pearl, Яeo., Vespertine, Nonchalant, Stevie, Ice Cream Skies, downbywednesday, Fantasea, Element, Sparky Polastri, Penk, Shapes, madonnas, HausofCarlos, Scandal & Media, LoseMyBreath, KLatz, V3$$3L., Giselle, genetic fail)
Low score: 2 (Optimus)
Listen to "***Flawless" From “Independent Women Pt. 1” to “Run the World (Girls),” Beyoncé has spent much of her career promoting a sort of pop feminism of girl power and female self-sufficiency. On “***Flawless,” she graduates to her master’s thesis, using an excerpt from a TED talk by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as the basis for a militant we-
can-have-it-all anthem. No longer is it enough to simply accept oneself; women must recognize their inherent value from birth and claim their rightful station in life. Despite the song’s highly gendered message, its staccato beats and aggressive assertions of perfection clearly resonated with ATRL: “***Flawless” was a top five contender, falling from fourth to sixth in the final two votes.
ATRL says...: "Beyoncé is bringing us to church with those background vocals she's serving during Chimananda's perfectly-utilized feminist speech,"
JakeKills wrote. "Just IMAGINE the mess that would be made if Lady Gaga tried inserting a speech in the middle of a song. Yikes!"
Stevie thought the triptych approach "comes off a bit disjointed, but ends up working out because each part is indeed, flawless."
madonnas was glad Beyoncé extended the "Bow Down" snippet into a full track, while
adrianbeane said it "works well as an interlude because of its great lyrics, but there was no need to turn it into a copy-paste song."
August was smitten by "one of the most unexpected features in recent years.
helloDer said the song "gave me so much more respect for Bey."
lovesong was surprised by "the trap beat and the aggression...something I had never seen from Beyoncé. It's like 'Diva''s improved cousin."
Best bit: the motivational chants of “I woke up like dis! I woke up like dis!,” which will hopefully be the most enduringly classic moment in this entire rate
