September 01, 2006 @ 10:10 am

Beyoncé on New Album and New Movie

by: Alexis Jeffries

"She can do the bounciest songs, then also give a sense of raw emotion and sexual energy,” VIBE's Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith told USA Today about the Houston-bred superstar's range of productivity and ability. left Knowles is also preparing for the long-awaited December premiere of Dreamgirls, where she stars as girl group-front woman Deena Jones. In a USA Today article, Knowles said that her role as Deena in the film allowed her to make a more powerful album that was unlike her typical style. "The movie inspired something else that's not in me. I went into the writing process saying to the producers, 'I don't want to do Dangerously in Love,” Knowles said to the newspaper, referring to her 2003 solo debut. “I wanted to do different things, to be innovative and kick really hard beats. I think I would have been scared to take that risk if I hadn't done (Dreamgirls). I would have made a love album, because that's where I am in my life." Smith said she feels Knowles' acting aptitude is only a small reflection of what she offers in her music, and that her ability to draw creatively from other performers without imitating them is a solid display of Knowles’ ever-improving acting chops. “There is an unabashed attention to showmanship,” Smith said. “She's so modern and yet completely old-school. You can tell she's not just sponging off old film clips of Tina Turner and Diana Ross. My guess is that she has studied these people.” The highly-anticipated B’Day features production from D.C. producer Rich Harrison and Knowles’ long-time boyfriend Jay-Z. She said she plans on launching a world wide tour in the spring, as well as continuing to grow her clothing like, House of Dereon, beside her mother Tina Knowles. Her main focus at the moment, however, is the September 5 album release date, the day after her 25th birthday. “About half of (B'Day) is fun, though, so it's a great balance. It taps every emotion, all the things women go through," Knowles said. Have a news tip? Email us.