Beyoncé !! You’ve got to respect someone who takes risk. No matter what you think about “Queen Bey”, she is surprisingly clear about what is important to her in this mammoth release of her Exclusive Visual Album today, Friday the 13th. I was so inspired by her sheer guts, thankful for her boredom with the status quo, I had to write this.
This was also masterfully done with no leaks and 30 minutes preview of all the videos loaded on iTunes. When the industry is as saturated and tough as it is, to make a massive impact, you’ve gotta think way outside the box and have a kick-skunk team. Beyoncé definitely obliterated all the boxes.
“I just want to give my album to the people I love and respect and hope that they feel the same thing I felt when I made the music” Beyoncé Knowles (Mrs. Carter)
So she bucked the system, and rewrote the playbook. No singles, no publicity, no ads, no artwork release, no date release, no promotions…just music, and it’s a lot to take in – 14 new tracks and 17 new videos. The iTunes universe just got slammed with the machine behind a musical visionary – Beyoncé herself.
This is an avalanche in the music world and it is fitting that one who has paid her dues, is again reinventing the game! I’m feel sorry for any artist releasing music in the next few weeks, the avalanche has fallen and the world is getting swamped and hypnotized by the sway of her hips, the beckoning of her fingers and the valley beneath her collar bones…in 17 videos. From the comments on iTunes, some are already whipped!
“I see music,” Beyoncé said in a press release soon after the album hit iTunes store. “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 or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they’re all connected to the music.”
“I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it,” she said, “I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.” concluded Beyoncé.
Per the press release, this was no small feat. The recordings started in the summer of 2012 at a Hamptons retreat. Over a year and a half, Beyoncé collaborated with artists like, JAY Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Drake, The Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Hit-Boy, Ammo, Boots, Detail, Jake Nava, Hype Williams, Terry Richardson, Melina Matsoukas, Jonas Åkerlund, Ricky Saiz, Pierre Debusschere, @lilinternet, Noah “40” Shebib, Francesco Carrozzini, Caroline Polachek, Ed Burke, Bill Kirstein and Todd Tourso. She also featured her daughter, Blue Ivy on the Exclusive Visual Album.
Here is a full track-list and video-list with director credits. The much hyped Beyoncé – Grown Woman track did not make the album, but a video is included as a bonus. It should be noted that some of the lyrics are explicit and but she also has clean versions. Can you imagine the amount of work it took to make this happen in one and a half years?
I hope this does not end up as a just an album release, but becomes an inspiration to everyone who has a dream or a vision. Let’s devour crabby nay-sayers for breakfast and make things happen!
I’m not a crazy fan, I simply respect a woman or person who is so clear about purpose and is willing to risk it all and put it out there…raw and pulsating hot!!
1. Pretty Hurts
2. Haunted
3. Drunk in Love (Featuring JAY Z)
4. Blow/Cherry
5. Angel
6. Yoncé/Partition
7. Jealous
8. Rocket
9. Mine (Featuring Drake)
10. XO
11. Flawless (Featuring Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
12. Superpower (Featuring Frank Ocean)
13. Heaven
14. Blue (Featuring Blue Ivy)
1. Pretty Hurts – directed by Melina Matsoukas
2. Ghost – directed by Pierre Debusschere
3. Haunted – directed by Jonas Åkerlund
4. Drunk in Love – directed by Hype Williams
5. Blow – directed by Hype Williams
6. Angel – directed by @lilinternet
7. Yoncé – directed by Ricky Saiz
8. Partition – directed by Jake Nava
9. Jealous – directed by Beyoncé, Francesco Carrozzini & Todd Tourso
10. Rocket – directed by Beyoncé, Ed Burke & Bill Kirstein
11 .Mine – directed by Pierre Debusschere
12. XO – directed by Terry Richardson
13. ***Flawless – directed by Jake Nava
14. Superpower – directed by Jonas Åkerlund
15. Heaven – directed by Beyoncé & Todd Tourso
16. Blue – directed by Beyoncé, Ed Burke & Bill Kirstein
17. *BONUS VIDEO – Grown Woman – directed by Jake Nava
“When I DARE to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I’m afraid.” Audre Lorde.
Ama Danesi 