Just when we thought she couldn't get more perfect, Beyoncé steps up her game and surprises her fans with a new "visual album" just after midnight of Dec. 13, on the east coast. She dropped a brand new 14-track self-titled album on iTunes without any pre-promotion. Each song also comes with a music video and a download of "BEYONCé" will also score you three additional videos. The question of when Queen B would release her follow-up to 2011's "4," and her first record since birthing her first child in 2012, was one of the major subjects this year, and this unexpected album might be the best stint ever.
The album features songs like "Drunk In Love," a new collaboration with husband Jay Z; "Mine," featuring Drake; Superpower, with Frank Ocean; and "Blue," a song with her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. "XO" also appears on the track list. Besides the previous artists mentioned, other collaborators on the album are Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, The-Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Miguel and Hit Boy. Directors featured on the music videos include Detail, Jake Nava, Hype Williams, Terry Richardson, Melina Matsoukas, Jonas Åkerlund, Ricky Saiz, Pierre Debusschere, @lilinternet, Francesco Carrozzini, Ed Burke, Bill Kirstein and Todd Tourso. "I see music," Beyonce said in a video announcing the album on her Facebook page, dubbed "Self-Titled, Part 1."
"It's more than just what I hear. When I'm connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they're all connected to the music." She also said that she wanted to have a more direct connection to her fans, and that's why she released the album when she felt it was ready for everyone's enjoyment. "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."
Beyoncé went on, "There's so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. 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." Manufacturing of physical albums begins Thursday and a double disc CD/DVD will be available tentatively for Saturday, Dec. 21, making that the best Christmas gift this year. Though an official single didn't precede the set, two tracks are expected to be announced as the lead singles for different formats next week. Click HERE to buy the album on iTunes, and scroll down for the track list.
- Tracklist
- 1. Pretty Hurts
2. Haunted
3. Drunk In Love (feat. Jay Z)
4. Blow
5. No Angel
6. Partition
7. Jealous
8. Rocket
9. Mine (feat. Drake)
10. XO
11. Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche)
12. Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean)
13. Heaven
14. Blue (feat. Blue Ivy)
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