The singer pulled off one of the best-kept secrets in recent music history
— she had a new album, and it was already available for purchase. There’s a
reason she’s called Queen B. According to Bing, Beyonce is its most-searched
celebrity of 2013. Next in line are Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and
Madonna. Justin Bieber is the first male on the list at No. 6, though he
finished first among British searches. (Frank Micelotta / Invision/AP / December
4, 2013)
Without as much as a hint, Beyonce stealthily released
her new album.
As the
West Coast was tucking into bed Thursday night, the singer rolled out one of
the best-kept secrets in recent music history: the album she’s spent the past
year teasing was now available for purchase on iTunes.
West Coast was tucking into bed Thursday night, the singer rolled out one of
the best-kept secrets in recent music history: the album she’s spent the past
year teasing was now available for purchase on iTunes.
The
self-titled set comes as a “visual album” featuring 14 new tracks and 17 music
videos.
self-titled set comes as a “visual album” featuring 14 new tracks and 17 music
videos.
It’s
currently available as an iTunes exclusive. Manufacturing of physical albums
begins Thursday and a double disc CD/DVD will be available before the holidays,
according to her label.
currently available as an iTunes exclusive. Manufacturing of physical albums
begins Thursday and a double disc CD/DVD will be available before the holidays,
according to her label.
Working
with Jay Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake,
Pharrell Williams, Drake, the Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Miguel, Frank Ocean and Hit
Boy, the singer churned out her most ambitious project to date, without ever
actually saying she was putting out an album any time soon.
with Jay Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake,
Pharrell Williams, Drake, the Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Miguel, Frank Ocean and Hit
Boy, the singer churned out her most ambitious project to date, without ever
actually saying she was putting out an album any time soon.
“I
didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it. I am bored with that. I
feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets
between the music, the artist and the fans,” Beyonce said in a statement
released late Thursday.
didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it. I am bored with that. I
feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets
between the music, the artist and the fans,” Beyonce said in a statement
released late Thursday.
“I
felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming
out,” she added. “I just want this to come out when it’s ready and
from me to my fans.”
felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming
out,” she added. “I just want this to come out when it’s ready and
from me to my fans.”
The
question of when Beyonce would release her follow-up to 2011’s “4,”
and her first record since birthing her first child in 2012, has rattled fans
for the better part of the year.
question of when Beyonce would release her follow-up to 2011’s “4,”
and her first record since birthing her first child in 2012, has rattled fans
for the better part of the year.
For her
part, Beyonce dangled plenty of carrots that new music would be arriving, at
some point.
part, Beyonce dangled plenty of carrots that new music would be arriving, at
some point.
She
toplined the Super Bowl halftime show in Feburary, sang for the president and
launched a sold out world tour, which she’s still on, and little bits of music
were parceled out to fans.
toplined the Super Bowl halftime show in Feburary, sang for the president and
launched a sold out world tour, which she’s still on, and little bits of music
were parceled out to fans.
She
previewed one track, “Grown Woman” in a Pepsi ad, before debuting it on her
Mrs. Carter World Tour, while another single, “Standing on the Sun,” was the
backdrop for an H&M campaign. The video for “Grown Woman” appears
as a bonus cut on the video portion of the album (it’s excluded on the audio
side).
previewed one track, “Grown Woman” in a Pepsi ad, before debuting it on her
Mrs. Carter World Tour, while another single, “Standing on the Sun,” was the
backdrop for an H&M campaign. The video for “Grown Woman” appears
as a bonus cut on the video portion of the album (it’s excluded on the audio
side).
But with
each tease, the singer never revealed as much as an album title, release date
or lead single. Collaborators would drop what little hints they could, but she
continued to remain mum.
each tease, the singer never revealed as much as an album title, release date
or lead single. Collaborators would drop what little hints they could, but she
continued to remain mum.
Beyonce’s
sneak attack is the result of more than a year and a half of work.
sneak attack is the result of more than a year and a half of work.
Recording
began when the singer and her camp of writers and producers lived together in
the Hamptons last summer. And the videos were lensed in places like Houston,
New York City, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney and Paris as she toured.
began when the singer and her camp of writers and producers lived together in
the Hamptons last summer. And the videos were lensed in places like Houston,
New York City, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney and Paris as she toured.
More
impressive than Beyonce keeping the project under wraps — only pictures from
unconfirmed video shoots and a piece of footage from “Grown Woman” managed to
leak — is what she managed to pull off.
impressive than Beyonce keeping the project under wraps — only pictures from
unconfirmed video shoots and a piece of footage from “Grown Woman” managed to
leak — is what she managed to pull off.
The album
is a striking collection of work that shows her torching the veil of her
carefully crafted image.
is a striking collection of work that shows her torching the veil of her
carefully crafted image.
It’s
difficult to digest all she’s weaved together in just one sitting.
difficult to digest all she’s weaved together in just one sitting.
After
chewing on 14 tracks produced by a dreamteam of beatmakers including like
Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Ryan Tedder, Noah “40” Shebib and Hit
Boy, a set of 17 music videos begin unfolding as provocative companion pieces.
Terry Richardson, Jake Nava, Hype Willams and Beyonce herself helped direct the
visuals.
chewing on 14 tracks produced by a dreamteam of beatmakers including like
Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Ryan Tedder, Noah “40” Shebib and Hit
Boy, a set of 17 music videos begin unfolding as provocative companion pieces.
Terry Richardson, Jake Nava, Hype Willams and Beyonce herself helped direct the
visuals.
Songs on
the album jump and dive between genres and are woven together with everything
from spoken word and trap raps to the coos of her daughter Blue Ivy and vintage
Destiny’s Child footage. It’s a lot to consume, but a revelatory look at the
singer who has tirelessly calculated what she chooses to share (and it’s not
always much).
the album jump and dive between genres and are woven together with everything
from spoken word and trap raps to the coos of her daughter Blue Ivy and vintage
Destiny’s Child footage. It’s a lot to consume, but a revelatory look at the
singer who has tirelessly calculated what she chooses to share (and it’s not
always much).
Beyonce
vamps as the trophy wife to her lust filled husband, Jay Z, in the video to
“Drunk In Love,” does a steamy striptease for him in another clip, and references
Monica Lewinsky when singing of a backseat tryst with him in another.
vamps as the trophy wife to her lust filled husband, Jay Z, in the video to
“Drunk In Love,” does a steamy striptease for him in another clip, and references
Monica Lewinsky when singing of a backseat tryst with him in another.
She
shares her insecurities and anger on “Jealously,” revels in her daughter’s glow
on “Blue,” commands her sexuality on “Blow,” fights for her marriage
on “Mine” and dials up her knack for feminist anthems with
“***Flawless,” which is built around the first half of “Bow
Down/I Been On,” a song she dropped in similar surprise fashion earlier
this year.
shares her insecurities and anger on “Jealously,” revels in her daughter’s glow
on “Blue,” commands her sexuality on “Blow,” fights for her marriage
on “Mine” and dials up her knack for feminist anthems with
“***Flawless,” which is built around the first half of “Bow
Down/I Been On,” a song she dropped in similar surprise fashion earlier
this year.
The news
of the album jolted the internet and spread hotly across Twitter and Instagram as listeners
quickly dropped $15.99 on the album no one saw coming, with chatter and OMG-ing
fueling Twitter throughout the night.
of the album jolted the internet and spread hotly across Twitter and Instagram as listeners
quickly dropped $15.99 on the album no one saw coming, with chatter and OMG-ing
fueling Twitter throughout the night.
She
clearly took a clue from Jay Z and collaborator Timberlake, who both sneakily
released details on albums — Jay only giving fans a few days’ notice in
announcing an unprecedented plan of releasing his “Magna Carta Holy
Grail” album for free, via smartphones.
clearly took a clue from Jay Z and collaborator Timberlake, who both sneakily
released details on albums — Jay only giving fans a few days’ notice in
announcing an unprecedented plan of releasing his “Magna Carta Holy
Grail” album for free, via smartphones.
Beyonce
completely bypassed the announcement of details and opted to go straight for
artist-to-fan consumption, releasing the project on her own terms.
completely bypassed the announcement of details and opted to go straight for
artist-to-fan consumption, releasing the project on her own terms.
The move
is stunning, and virtually unheard of, especially considering how the hype
machine — singles, performances, interviews etc. — that propels pop music up
the charts is often treated as equally, if not more important than the work
itself.
is stunning, and virtually unheard of, especially considering how the hype
machine — singles, performances, interviews etc. — that propels pop music up
the charts is often treated as equally, if not more important than the work
itself.
With her
latest work, Beyonce proved she wanted the work to speak for itself — a luxury
rarely afforded to an act of her caliber.
latest work, Beyonce proved she wanted the work to speak for itself — a luxury
rarely afforded to an act of her caliber.
She not
only changed the game with the move — she claimed it.
only changed the game with the move — she claimed it.
