Eroticism is a large part of BEYONCÉ, both in sound and in subject matter-the spikily giddy duet with husband JAY-Z “Drunk in Love” and the slow jam “Rocket” are two of the most carnally delightful entries in Beyoncé’s catalog, while the massive “Jealous” examines what happens when desire fuels inner strife. Opening with “Pretty Hurts,” a soaring ballad that dives into the body-image issues that even the most revered women have to endure, even as children, and closing with “Blue,” a swaying ode to her first child (who makes a cameo on the track), BEYONCÉ reveals where the pop star’s mind had wandered after the release of her monogamy reflection 4 two years prior. Years after its release, BEYONCÉ remains a touchstone not just for Beyoncé, but for any marquee artist who wants to break from expectations, with Beyoncé’s forward-thinking, collaborative approach to creating art aiding its of-the-moment yet not-stuck-in-time feel.

Across its 14 tracks, Beyoncé pushes herself artistically and emotionally, opening up about her insecurities, her sexuality, and her happiness over songs that demonstrate the strength and versatility of her voice. Surprise drops became something of a norm not just for pop’s top tier, but for any artist with a devoted fanbase-the month’s advance notice for RENAISSANCE seems almost quaint by comparison.īut BEYONCÉ would have been a career achievement even if it had been released in an old-school way. That this was a visual album-with every song accompanied by a short film-only made Beyoncé’s flex more impressive, changing the game for how artists would handle releasing new music in the digital era. Here was one of music’s biggest stars dispensing with the normal prolonged rollout of a major work, instead simultaneously alerting people to it and releasing it.

When Beyoncé’s self-titled fifth album landed unannounced on the iTunes store in December 2013, the pop world trembled.

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