Beyoncé's 2003 solo debut,
DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE won , five Grammy Awards, and confirmed her status as one of pop/R&B's premier songwriters, producers
and singers. With hits like "Crazy In Love " and "Baby Boy", Beyoncé shattered sales records, headlined sold-out tours worldwide, and presented the full range of her artistic vision, redefining herself in the process. Now comes the follow-up,
B-DAY, timed for release to coincide with Beyoncé's 25th birthday and nothing short of a celebration and a milestone. Soulfully deep, emotionally expansive, musically far reaching and filled with banging beats, muscular rhythms and lyrics that are grown, smart and just flat out sexy, is the sound of an artist raising the bar.
The album was brought to fruition by Beyoncé, who cowrote
and co-produced the album's 11 songs. This she did wit hthe help of an all-star team which includes Swizz Beatz Rich Harrison, The Neptunes, Sean Garrett, Star Gate, Jay-Z, Solange Knowels, Angela Beyince, Makeeba and Rodney Jerkins. Jerkins, whose past work includes Destiny's Child's "Lose My Breath" (2005), kicks things off with the horndrenched, celebratory first single "Deja Vu". Featuring Jay-Z and bolstered by a sultry video shot by Sophie Muller (Sade, Gwen Stefani) - "Deja VU'd" pulsating groves have made it a bona fide summer jam.
The album's next single is the equally smoldering "Ring The Alarm" produced by Swizz Beatz. Another song that lays it bare is "Sugar Mama" produced by ,Rich Harrison the producer behind "Crazy In Love". Funky and feverish, "Sugar Mama" steams up the room - and the same sexual energy motivates "Green Light" produced by The Neptunes.
Keeping the passion on a low simmer is "Upgrade" produced by Cameron Wallace and featuring Jay-Z. With a sample of Betty Wright's, "Girls Cant Do What The Guys Do" leans back with an old soul, deeply musical vibe. That musicality present throughout B-DAY is just one of the motivations behind Beyoncé's decision to form a 10 piece all female band for her forthcoming tour.
B-DAYis the latest in the singer's incredible multitasking: not only is she preparing the set the world's stages alight with a promo tour, but Beyoncé and her mother,Tina Knowels , have launched a fashion line, House Of Dereon The singer is also upping the ante on her film career, starring as "Deena Jones" in the long awaited cinematic version of the Broadway classic "Dream Girls" due for
release towards the end of the year. Now, with the release of B-DAY Beyoncé invites her fans around the world to celebrate their best years yet...