By KATHERINE MOBILIA
STAFF WRITER
Queen Bey has struck again. Beyoncé’s newest, self-titled album, Beyoncé, is not only a collection of captivating and cutting-edge songs, it is an open book that tells the story of Beyoncé and her journey through marriage, fame and motherhood. Aside from 14 songs that break the barriers of what an audience would expect from a Beyoncé album, the album also features 18 music videos, one for each song, giving Beyoncé fans the perfect window into her mesmerizing life.
Beyoncé is considered a “surprise” album, not only because it is visually astonishing and unexpectedly edgy, but also because the singer released the album without any notification or promotion. Regardless, the album sold more than one million copies in less than a week, causing it to reach platinum status quickly. Along with earning extremely high ratings and boasting numerous songs that hit number one on the Billboard Charts, Beyoncé showcases that Beyoncé is not just a world renowned singer, but an icon.
Each song on this album comes from a unique place. Many of these songs, such as “Partition” and “Drunk in Love,” are extremely sexual, containing provocative lyrics and seductive rhythms and beats that enchant the audience without fail. Both of the aforementioned songs feature Beyoncé’s equally impressive husband, Jay Z, either in the music video or in the song itself, creating a realistic, sexy dynamic that listeners simply cannot resist. By the same token, songs such as “Pretty Hurts” depict Beyoncé’s inner struggle with fame and an empowering message against perfection and unattainable expectations. Arguably one of the most touching themes in the album is represented by “Blue,” named after Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy. This song, along with its music video, showcases Beyoncé’s undying love for her daughter and features Blue, creating a heartfelt, natural, mother-daughter connection that melts the hearts of the audience.
Beyoncé is a musical genius who not only produced an unbelievable album, but also gave the world a gift that most artists never have and never will. She showed the public that she is a human being, complete with raw emotions and feelings about her relationships, her life, and the world around her. While Beyoncé features famous artists like Drake and Jay Z, that is not what defines this album. What defines it is the relentless honesty and passion that has captured the hearts of Beyoncé fans from the very start. Beyoncé is a visual album that has done nothing less than turn the music industry, as well as Beyoncé fans, upside down, but do we expect anything less from the Queen Bey herself?
