beyoncé album beyoncé fifth studio album american singer songwriter beyoncé released december columbia_records developed simultaneous audio visual medium beyoncé songs accompanied non linear short films illustrate musical concepts conceived production dark intimate subject material includes feminist themes sex love relationship issues inspired beyoncé desire assert creative freedom album initial recording began new_york beyoncé invited producers songwriters live month extensive touring following year album changed conceived creating visual accompaniment songs resumed recording sessions electronic producer rock musician boots collaboration led experimental material combined rhythm blues electronic soul music period album songs videos composed strict secrecy beyoncé devised unexpected release beyoncé released digitally itunes store prior announcement promotion debuted number billboard earning beyoncé fifth consecutive number album country record sold copies copies worldwide days availability fastest selling album history itunes store reissued november platinum edition extended play new songs received universal acclaim critics praised exploration sexuality production beyoncé vocals sold million copies worldwide november spawned singles drunk love partition pretty hurts flawless background january beyoncé gave birth child blue ivy carter new_york_city months labor announced night residency called presents beyoncé live atlantic city ovation hall residency announced soon wanted set example mothers need halt careers shows beyoncé spent summer new_york cared blue ivy began recording project early beyoncé sang star banner president obama second inauguration headlined super bowl halftime expectation debut new music rumors released self directed autobiographical documentary february entitled life dream march hip hop track entitled bow released beyoncé account bow produced written beyoncé morning chant stuck head feeling angry defensive produced second half uses pitch distortion vocal homage houston hip hop scene guardian described song brilliantly odd commending loud production pitchfork viewed song believed served introduction come bow perceived significant departure beyoncé existing catalogue particularly aggressive nature song atmosphere controversial bow refrain drew mixed reaction questioned lyric aimed women merely moment beyoncé clarified album release elements bow appear track flawless song refrain intended statement female empowerment beyoncé explain intent release bow leaving confusion song fit project portions tracks grown woman standing sun television advertising campaigns time media reported album delayed scrapped story alleging beyoncé scrapped songs favor starting considerable confusion music journalists fans beyoncé engaged extensive touring avoided discussing album release recording recording sessions began summer new_york beyoncé husband jay-z living invited producers songwriters accompany including justin_timberlake dream beyoncé described atmosphere unconventional saying producers day like family like camp weekends jump pool ride ocean grass sunshine safe place spend majority day newborn daughter taking hours record music album opening track pretty hurts written completed sessions project suspended relocated new_york_city oven studios album recorded interview vogue january described beyoncé attention detail obsessive observing studio noting vision boards created inspiration contained potential song titles old album covers pictures performances newly discovered musician boots notable rock band signed publishing deal jay-z nation interview pitchfork album release boots answering questions beyoncé discovered demo work previous project confirming signing june met person time presented material felt beyoncé interested experimental material reluctantly played piano demo haunted believing instrumental disagreed refused ignore saying shit knock harder rap album later meeting played stream consciousness rap called ghost wrote meeting potential record label boots began composing melody reminded hypnotic state guitar resemble work english electronic musician twin subsequently ghost half haunted later described beyoncé visionary room ability find potential songs following sessions boots work eighty percent beyoncé recording new_york_city previously released bow incorporated track flawless composition beyoncé motivated archive footage loss television competition child resulting strength manifested aggressive dominant persona featured song additionally portion talk sampled song beyoncé identified interpretations feminism organic approaches taken writing recording drunk love partition working detail beat drunk love inspired described pure enjoyment jay-z free styled verses track studio similarly bassline partition beyoncé found reminiscent hip hop music early romance jay-z influenced accompany track sexual lyrics took microphone pen paper verse finding initially embarrassed lyrics composing partition rap known opening track beat built justin_timberlake studio songs recorded entirely new_york studios heaven partially recorded california angel composed london berlin sydney demo recorded beyoncé contracted infection vocals felt fit appropriately october album began taking shape standing sun grown woman songs previewed television advertisements beyoncé fit minimalist approach thanksgiving week vocals album edited producers notified submit final cuts beyoncé spent time vocal production previous projects instead focusing album music beyoncé mastered new_york total songs recorded album composition beyoncé fourteen track set seventeen short films video audio track extra videos accompany tracks haunted partition bonus video grown woman lacks equivalent audio counterpart described nme post future album motifs alternative vocals minimalist production streams consciousness critics noted album prominent fusion electronic music soul album dark moody production deemed beyoncé experimental record date subdued ambient effects grooves sneak threatening explode vocal production diverse songs half half sung particular use falsetto beyoncé exercises expansive vocal range unlike previous releases vocal runs increase tension music critics identified album central theme sex having singer age beyoncé expressed restraint felt responsibility role model children recording desired assert creative freedom entirely like previous albums record feminist greater exploration gender issues look black female sexual agency washington_post viewed beyoncé significant black feminism celebrates black female sexuality mainstream music context hip hop shown male perspective album themes include fear loss benefits love darker issues previously music depression album opening track pretty hurts written australian songwriter recording artist neo soul pop song intended self empowerment anthem society obsession harmful standards beauty song includes audio beauty beyoncé contestant frame song context childhood song haunted begins stream consciousness rap called ghost compares privileged lifestyles working class rhythm similar second half sings haunted lover minimalist keyboards gradual building beat cold atmosphere duet husband jay-z beyoncé uses explicit lyrics drunk love celebrate love vocal styles particularly prominent fast second verse chorus sung upper register intended tribute singer fans executed synths marching drum beat blow funk song evokes work janet_jackson particularly accompanied jazz disco elements song piano led electronic groove running metaphor chorus eat middle far minimalist production angel continues album run sexual songs heavy bass beyoncé sings high falsetto object affections means perfect slow jam rocket written justin_timberlake 1990s soul infused style described slippery half minute funk excursion excessive double song features beyoncé adopting slow vocal half known hip hop track partition begins beyoncé rapping rhythm song divided brief interlude camera sound car window launching second half synthesizer finger create bassline reminiscent work short song follows narrative describes sex travelling nightclub songs beyoncé demonstrates expressing aspects personal life keeping album motif self liberation collaboration rapper drake set understated beat lyrics convey singer everyday fears family depression doubts weakness marriage jealous functions similarly contains beat echo sounds examines female perspective suspicion revenge taken granted album explicit commentary gender featuring excerpt speech girls found flawless presents aggressive stance beyoncé refrain bow beat starts finishes excerpt beyoncé performance girl star search child intended draw attention work ethic inspired duet sung lower registers harmonies similar work destiny child album closing tracks heaven blue ballads heaven piano led hymn gospel elements blue built piano melody beyoncé sings love daughter showcasing extent range end blue features blue ivy carter talking visuals artwork music videos including bonus grown woman released album itunes store videos filmed june november beyoncé traveled world tour set locations included roller skating frequented child brazilian beach cyclone island new_york south american church project exclusive surprise online release meant videos shared platforms gained considerable exposure new_york_times identifies choreography lyric like song flawless moment instantly popular fans created effect social networking platforms visual aspect album considered beyoncé june songs completed connect images childhood memories emotions fantasies songs midst composing subsequently motivated shoot visuals convey concepts conceived production directed videos jealous heaven served creative director entire project role concerned beyoncé videos concepts respective directors videos shot outside crew surrounding videos kept small consisting director photography producer beyoncé stylist artist security filming public beyoncé wear ear instead having music played loud order prevent songs heard public videos shot prior preparation singer found enjoyment filming locations resisting urge perfect videos centered beyoncé sexuality noting visuals explicit content exposure body found shooting determined demonstrate sexuality power women especially giving birth designed beyoncé album cover original mock submitted puerto_rico directed video heaven months considered options cover proceed original idea inspired cover eponymous fifth album create bold statement specifically beauty shot beyoncé felt expected font similar boxing match represent contrasted pink font described release reaction beyoncé worked project secrecy sharing details album small circle people shifting deadline finalized week release secrecy imposed beyoncé felt like album releases lost meaning significant exciting event face hype created singles wanted album released unexpectedly july spokesperson beyoncé denied speculation album delayed stating official release date begin date set announced official press release early december beyoncé management company held meetings concerning release executives columbia_records itunes store code lily album december chairman columbia_records told media album released point monumental december album released prior announcement promotion exclusively itunes store beyoncé explained bored music marketed previously wanted release different experience fans album available exclusively december physical copies distributed retailers soon album exclusively available handed forbade retailers album pre order protect itunes reported retailers target amazon refused sell physical copy album according target spokesperson store interested albums released digitally physically simultaneously december videos album screened new_york surprising release caused hilarious honest reaction beyoncé fans shock musicians according data provided twitter release generated million hours rolling_stone wrote beyoncé delivered countless surprises years music world dropped like queen world midnight hour surprise visual album new songs videos dropped itunes warning project celebration basically fact beyoncé hell wants additionally guardian hailed shock release describing major triumph control forbes included beyoncé music industry winners list highlighting unconventional release album music journalists noted album release led artists adopting similar strategies including drake september published case study release strategy album examines difficult planning execution short term long term impact promotion album release beyoncé performed remaining stops north american leg carter world tour december early performed drunk love time 56th annual grammy awards january televised performance brit awards february marking performance ceremony held later month songs album added set list second european leg carter world tour music videos album screened los_angeles film festival june commentary videos directors present ceremony promote album beyoncé embarked headlining stadium tour run tour kicked miami june ended paris september pre recorded performance partition tour broadcast bet awards june singles lead singles released beyoncé impacted contemporary hit radio italy hot adult contemporary radio united_states december following day impacted urban rhythmic stations peaked number billboard hot reached charts world accompanying release lead single drunk love serviced urban radio stations december peaked number billboard hot number hot hip hop songs rhythmic charts drunk love peaked number seven new_zealand number france united_kingdom song certified platinum recording_industry_association_of_america denoting sales million digital copies partition impacted urban radio february album single peaked number billboard hot number hot dance club songs chart april music video fourth single pretty hurts available streaming time magazine official website accompany beyoncé feature world influential people song impacted rhythmic radio june mainstream radio june critical reception release beyoncé received universal acclaim music critics observer praised album hood rat rapping found album overt feminist message particular highlight daily_telegraph applauded beyoncé technically gifted vocalists pop gospel power hip hop flow huge range noted album sexual tone loose song structure distinct features new_york_times described tracks erotic exploits sultry vocals variety turn vulnerable pro feminist noted alert current sound clubs radio trapped noting lack guaranteed hits nme found beyoncé experimental work date particularly dark production complex themes pitchfork_media critic concludes explicit experimental music date exploring sounds ideas margins popular music spin felt beyoncé best album predecessors sound content believed album diva pop different lane albeit subtly andy_kellman allmusic called album career highlight entertaining sexually explicit work substantive respect writer entertainment_weekly found singer strength escape fresh sounds big messages lyrics wrote playing cheap tortured fame emotional album dense substantial difficult self important reviewed album fond confidence displayed beyoncé calling bold expansive body work strongest albums year popmatters praised album honest albeit highly sexual nature observed attempt audience making music makes men want hear women feel like men consequence sound viewed album concerned moving units beyoncé self exploration complicated incredibly intriguing way los times believed album presented desire push creative boundaries particularly praised music similarly blends intimate extravagant enthusiastic review independent found feminist message significant music similar contemporary accolades despite released december publications completed year end lists beyoncé ranked best album year billboard houston_chronicle los_angeles_times spin ranked best album year january billboard named beyoncé second best album 2010s far album ranked lists associated_press hitfix mtv_news digital_spy beyoncé ranked number metacritic best reviewed albums list annual mass critics poll year best music album ranked number robert_christgau poll creator ranked eighteenth year end list publications included beyoncé lists deemed best album year new_york_times accompanying essay remarked sex depicted album convincing recall record married sex commended density suggesting ideals interactive performance absent self possession beyoncé supposedly songs slate compared album michael_jackson thriller calling tour force helped ideas album event grand career defining statement album described sexually explicit madonna included list best albums greatest female artist century finally record sexy soft strange outright releasing warning gave moment listened thing time pitchfork ranked album number list best albums decade writing real shock beyoncé seasoned pro looked headed adult contemporary commercial tie ins instead adventurous means money buy express alternate vision contemporary adulthood fact magazine included album number list best albums decade far writing remembered beyoncé isn surprising release surprising character beyoncé nominated grammy awards ceremony including album year best urban contemporary album best surround sound album drunk love winning mtv_video_music_awards beyoncé presented video vanguard award work visual album performing sixteen minute medley songs won awards drunk love social message pretty hurts album nominated world best album world music awards album year music awards japan received nominations billboard music awards billboard album album drunk love nominated awards beyoncé won category awarded album release strategy won category album year soul train music awards favorite soul album commercial performance day release united_states beyoncé sold units hours total digital copies hours second day album sold units brought day sales total billboard predicted sell digital copies end tracking week december beyoncé debuted number billboard day sales digital copies gave beyoncé fifth consecutive number album making female artist studio albums debut atop chart largest debut sales week female artist highest debut sales week solo career album gave largest sales weeks female female sell copies week person decade score copies weeks beyoncé marks fourth largest sales week album justin_timberlake experience drake second week album remained number selling additional copies days release beyoncé sold copies making best selling album female artist week number sales copies brought album sales million days release positioning eighth best selling album year enter year end based weeks sales availability nielsen soundscan era fourth week sales reached million surpassing total sales beyoncé previous album released sold million total years release following beyoncé performing mtv_video_music_awards sales album increased record sold copies sixth best selling album year december beyoncé sold million copies certified double platinum recording_industry_association_of_america riaa december apple announced beyoncé fastest selling album history itunes store worldwide sold digital copies worldwide days topped itunes store charts countries days release album sold million digital copies worldwide beyoncé debuted number albums_chart december day sales digital copies official_charts_company chief executive noted albums sold digital copies short space time fifth week album climbed new peak number certified platinum british_phonographic_industry bpi february denoting shipments copies november beyoncé sold copies album entered canadian albums_chart number digital copies sold debuted number french albums_chart days sales digital copies peaked number fifth week new_zealand beyoncé debuted number certified gold sales copies later certified platinum album debuted atop netherlands dutch albums_chart giving beyoncé number album country australia beyoncé entered aria albums chart number week sales digital copies album topped chart week beyoncé number album australia spent consecutive weeks number certified platinum australian_recording_industry_association aria shipping copies according days album sold million units worldwide tenth best selling album album went twentieth best selling album november beyoncé sold million copies worldwide shipments million generated billion streams march track listing credits adapted liner notes beyoncé notes signifies producer signifies additional producer signifies vocal producer haunted contains parts ghost haunted presented song audio split separate videos angel stylized angel editions partition contains parts partition presented song audio split separate videos flawless stylized flawless flawless contains parts bow flawless presented song video bow initially previously recorded song entitled bow grown woman presented credits dvd presented credits digital format grown woman written nash produced production sampling credits partition contains french dubbed version film performed flawless contains portions speech written delivered heaven contains portions lord prayer spanish recited credits personnel credits adapted beyoncé website performers musicians technical personnel charts certifications sales release history
Beyoncé (album)