New Beyoncé Track Bow Down/I Been On Draws Mixed Reception from Fans and Critics

While Beyoncé has been an unflinching presence in the music scene over the last decade, her castle has been crumbling of late. There was the inauguration lip-synching scandal, then the documentary, which was widely discredited as a publicity stunt.

This didn’t stop her upcoming tour selling out in super-quick time, but when she sings her new song, Bow Down/I Been On, she can expect a mixed reaction from the crowd. The Guardian like it, describing it as a “brilliantly odd first taster from her forthcoming fifth album,” until it reaches the second half (I Been On), which, according to the paper is an “odd Beyoncé rap that's been pitched down so she sounds like a drunk male robot."

Beyonce at the premiere of her HBO documentary

“I know when you were little girls you dreamt of being in my world. Don't forget it, don't forget it, respect that, bow down b******. I took some time to live my life, but don't think I'm just his little wife. Don't get it twisted, get it twisted, this my shit, bow down b******”

It’s certainly true that Bey has taken a different direction in this tune. So often the enforcer of feminine strength, this track seems to promote a mixed messages. She tells her “bitches” to “bow down”, yet enforces that she “took some time to live my life, but don't think I'm just his little wife."

Understandably, some fans are confused or downright angry. Some of her followers reacted angrily on twitter, with one giving her new song a score of 0/1000 Presenter Jameela Jamil said of the new tune: "Beyonce's new track is an ace publicity stunt. It's not bad, but it's not great, and it's so different to anything else she's done so we're all talking about it, trying to figure out her new sound. mass attention. mission accomplished. legend.[sic]"

Beyonce performs at Surprise Oprah

Keyshia Cole unleashed a Twitter tirade against the star, which started with: "Can't stand when people all self righteous when it's convenient it makes them look good. Lmao! But can still talk s*** when convenient 2 FOH"

What do you think of Beyonce's new track? has she reneged on her lifelong goal of gender equality?