How’s It Feel To Win It?

Remember when Solange Knowles, little sister to the one with mega-stage presence and plenty of numero uno hits, released a potentially suicide inducing album circa 2003? Neither does virtually anyone else. However, it did happen. After this and getting knocked up at a fairly young age, Solange seemed to disappear — except for the occasional writing credit for the Marcia of the family, Beyonce, and other individuals associated with the Houston-based Knowles Mafia.

Color me not just surprised — but VERY surprised — when I say that I really like… like REALLY like… the Freemasons’ remix of Solange’s song (from her upcoming album?!?!) “I Decided,” aptly titled “I Decided Part 2.” Hell seriously must have frozen over for someone to give this girl another chance.

The song in tow with its video almost borders on brilliance. The remix by the Freemasons, more so than the original Neptunes’ edit, fits the fusion of social and cultural identities expressed by video director, Melina — set to technicolor pop art. While “I Decided” is merely a Supremes-influenced story of one’s love, the song’s remixed production values combined with the video’s images elevates it to another level. The song and video together express the evolution of civil liberties set to ANY pop song (spanning from the ’60s to the present) because “I Decided Part 2″ sounds like an orgy of the decades. The Freemasons’ sounds, along with the glamour and glitter of the video, pay homage to not just musical influence, but to social influence for racial equality and the expression of cultural identity.

“I Decided Part 2″ falls short due to the fact that while images of racial equality and injustices abound toward the beginning, they become much more muted as the video progresses. On one hand, the theme becomes more subtle simply due to the fact that Jim Crow did not have a place in the ’90s. Therefore, images of marches and rallies are going to be fewer and farther between. Instead, for example, we get the artwork of Keith Haring which is infused with a message of social justice. Eventually, however, we jump to the future where the pop art style of the video is gone and it feels as if Solange is simply being Jan Brady and competing with Big Sis.

This video could have received the ultimate gold star if Solange and the director kept up with images of race, culture, and (gasp) Solange’s personal feelings associated with being African American in today’s society. With the images that preceded the shallow outer space scenes, it could have brought Solange to a place that her sister has never been — it could have shown her as someone truly having, believing, and wanting to deliver a message to people.

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