On Dec. 13, 2013 Giselle Knowles-Carter had the audacity to release her fifth studio album at the stroke of midnight. Fans have been patiently waiting for the release of this new project for the entire year, so it came as a shock to learn that the album dropped so late in 2013.
The peculiar move follows the footsteps of Jay Z and Kanye West, both of whom released new albums in the summer without an official single or an official music video, but Beyoncé took it to the next level. While Hov and Yeezy gave fans a month to prepare for new music, the Queen B released this little gem without any warning. The release proved to be rewarding as the album delivered Beyoncé’s strongest, most personal work to date.
The self-titled album shed new light on Beyoncé as an artist and an individual as she experimented with a sound that differed significantly from her previous projects, in addition to embracing new stories that reflect her private life.
The album opens with “Pretty Hurts,” an uplifting song in the urban pop domain that concerns body image. Midway through the album is “Flawless,” a trap song that encourages women to embrace who they are with the assistance of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk “We Should All Be Feminists.” “Heaven” is an emotional ballad in which Beyoncé expresses the sorrows that came with her miscarriage.
The decision for the album to include a variety of musical genres can be interpreted as a risk on Beyoncé’s part because fans were used to seeing her excel in two particular areas, which are dance or urban contemporary.
Her decision to provide details behind personal struggles also works in her advantage as she establishes a solid connection among fans. It humanizes the artist by showing that underneath her powerhouse status, she has weaknesses too.
The compilation also finds Beyoncé taking charge of her sexuality in a frank yet unapologetic fashion. The song “Rocket,” for example, uses metaphors to describe sexual climax with the neo-soul influence creating a soothing yet sensual tone in the background.
“Blow” is a disco-tinged pop record that finds Beyoncé describing the ways her partner keeps her sexually satisfied, while “Partition” details sexual escapades in the back seat of a car. The album’s mature subject matter not only reflects the confidence she has a woman to be content in her own skin, but also the personal growth she’s experienced throughout the 15 years of her career.
What’s particularly striking about Beyoncé’s new album is its cohesiveness. Compilations usually feature at least one filler song, but with her latest effort you can appreciate each track in its own way. The album draws on a range of different emotions that can fit any given mood.
Beyoncé took a huge risk by releasing an impromptu album for the sake of her fans, but the act symbolizes a middle finger to the music industry. Whether from a business or creative standpoint, she refuses to let anyone put her in a box.
