Beyoncé’s most recent album was released with no previous hype. No advertisements. No press coverage. No singles. Beyoncé’s 5th studio album features 14 tracks along with 18 video components. The subjects tackled in the album were extremely varied. She covered insecurity, feminism, motherhood, death, and sex all with the originality that has made her stand out in the business.
The album has roots in classic hip hop and features a darker sound than is normally associated with Beyoncé’s music. The sixth track of the album, “Partition,” exemplifies the definitive song structure of the album. The song has a heavy beat, but is fairly minimalistic as far as the use of electronic music is concerned.
The album has sparked some controversy as to whether or not it empowers women or degrades them. In “Pretty Hurts,” Beyoncé discusses the harm done when young girls are taught only to be concerned with their appearance, yet later in the album, in “Flawless,” her lyrics express her as better than other women and she tells the listener to “Bow Down.”
Whether or not one is a fan of her message, Beyoncé’s talent is out of the question. The album stands as a testament to the future of the music industry. The wide spread success of the album was remarkable, and could only have been achieved by her.