December 13, 2013
You might be thinking, what the hell happened that day? Why am I making such a big deal about the week before Christmas? Is it her birthday? Why am I being so specific with the date? Is it Friday the 13th?
It might have been Friday the 13th, but there was no curses involved.
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No advertisements.
No previous singles dropped.
No hints.
Beyoncé released Beyoncé.
This queen released a SELF-PROCLAIMED VISUAL ALBUM. No artist had attempted to secretly drop a fourteen-song visual album before. I know I was shook, to say the least. No one expected her to release anything, and then we were blessed with a full album with perfectly curated videos.
Now, it takes a certain level of star to pull off this stunt. First of all, the fact that her album did not get leaked is a testament to her close-knit circle of friend, family, and coworkers (and, most notably, her legal team). Beyoncé was able to maintain the excitement of releasing a new album, but she did not need the flashy advertisements or catchy singles for people to purchase her new album. This was a musical stunt that had never been performed before — and she pulled it off with grace.
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In a lot of ways, Beyoncé highlighted the elusive nature of Beyoncé as a celebrity. She remains mysterious to the press because she does not need the celebrity culture of the media to advertise her music. Her music stands on its own.
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This was not just any album. Her album delved deeper into her support of feminism, and discussed taboo topics such as sex and sexuality, self-hate, and relationship issues. Beyoncé sways from generic pop and R&B, to music that speaks.
Now let’s talk about Flawless.