By A&E Editor: Madison Deadman
Friday, Dec 13, Beyonce surprisingly released a new album via an Instagram post. It quickly shot to No. 1 on iTunes. Many are calling it one of the best kept secrets in music history. She did, however, drop hints here and there throughout the past year. For example, in her Pepsi commercial where she sang, “I’m a grown woman / I can do whatever I want,” which happens to be on the album.
The self-titled album, Beyonce, is a visual album which means every song comes with a music video.
“I see music,” says Beyonce. “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 about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they’re all connected to music.”
She also threw in three extra videos, so all together the album consists of 14 songs and 17 videos. It is only available on iTunes and can only be bought as a whole. Single songs cannot be purchased legally yet.
Nothing like this has been done before, she is not promoting the album whatsoever but really there is a lot of promotion. Every newspaper and station is talking about it and the true Beyonce fans are raving and spreading the word. That is all the promotion she needs.
So many people are downloading music illegally so artists are not able to just drop a CD like they used to. They have to come up with more creative ways to promote themselves and get people talking and intrigued.
The new album features collaborations with rapper Drake and Jay-z along with singers Frank Ocean and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Even her daughter Blue Ivy makes an appearance.
The New York Times sum up the album perfectly: “It’s songs are steamy and sleek, full of erotic exploits and sultry vocals; every so often, for variety, they turn vulnerable, compassionate or pro-feminist. And with both the songs and videos, Beyonce consolidates one of pop’s most finely balanced personas; she is, at once, glamorous, and down-home, carnal and sweet, “Queen Bey” and a diligent trouper, polished and human.”
