You should know by now that a Beyoncé album release is a whole event.
"Renaissance" is that, of course, and the Grammy winner's eagerly awaited seventh album doesn't disappoint, if social media is to be believed.
The album officially dropped Friday morning. So much to digest, so much to dissect and so much to dance to. Here's what you need to know:
Before we even get into the actual music, the singer had something to say about it leaking days before its scheduled release.
Beyoncé, seen here performing in 2016, just dropped her new album.
"So, the album leaked, and you all actually waited until the proper release time so you all can enjoy it together," she wrote in a statement posted to social media. "I've never seen anything like it. I can't thank y'all enough for your love and protection."
Members of The Hive, as her devoted fan base is known, swarmed social media to ask people to please not share or listen to the leaked files that were out there.
She thanked them for their "unwavering support" and "for being patient."
"I appreciate you for calling out anyone that was trying to sneak into the club early," she wrote. "It means the world to me."
We expected to dance, and "Renaissance" gives us house music and afro-beats and pays homage to jams of the past.
Children of the 1970s will be reminded of house parties their parents used to throw -- complete with the Boone's Farm wine and the couch moved to make room for a dance floor -- with songs like "Summer Renaissance" (which finds her channeling Donna Summer) and "Cuff It" that harken back to the disco and roller-skating rinks.
Beyoncé explains why she created 'Renaissance'.
The latter even features one of the architects of the sound of that era, Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers.
Of course Beyoncé gives it her own interpretation, much like she did on the lead single "Break My Soul," which samples the 1993 hit "Show Me Love" by house music legend Robin S.
Beyoncé pays tribute to her late Uncle Jonny, a gay man, with her latest project.
"He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and the culture that serve as an inspiration for this album," she wrote in a note on her site. "Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long. This is a celebration for you."
In 2019 she talked about him during her and her husband Jay-Z's acceptance speech for Vanguard Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held in Los Angeles.
She called her Uncle Jonny "the most fabulous gay man I've ever known and ever knew" and credited him with helping to raise her and her sister, Solange.
"He lived his truth," she said emotionally. "He was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn't as accepting. Witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences I've ever lived."
The lyrics of "Heated" feature, "Uncle Johnny made my dress/That cheap spandex/She looks a mess."
"The album also features contributions from LGBTQ+ stars Big Freedia, TS Madison and transgender DJ and producer Honey Dijon.
Queen Bey also comes with her brand of empowered sexy, and with this album, she's letting it all hang out.
Sex -- or at the least the suggestion of it -- factors in heavily on this album, with songs including "Heated," "Alien Superstar" and "Pure/Honey."
Only she could drop a track titled "America Has a Problem" and instead of delivering a message about the state of the country, she lets us know she "Can't wait to back it up."
"I'm supplying my man/I'm in demand/As soon as I land," she sings.
We see you dropping bars, Mrs. Carter!
Jay-Z is not the only rapper in the family, something we have known since Beyoncé jumped on Megan the Stallion's "Savage" remix.
Beyoncé cements her ability to go beyond just singing with songs like "Cozy" and "Church Girl," in which she gives us a sample of her ability to spit a little bit.
According to her, this new album is just "Act I" of three recorded over the pandemic.
When Apple launched iTunes in 2003, the way people digest music changed forever. Instead of buying CDs, records, or cassettes, fans were able to pay for their favorite song without having to purchase the full album. When Spotify launched in 2008, it revolutionized the music industry even more, allowing listeners to surf through artist catalogs and create their own playlists without having to buy each track.
But before the 21st century, albums were king. Artists ranging from the Eagles to Britney Spears soared to superstardom thanks to album sales. And before the age of the playlist, greatest hits albums were the only way fans could listen to their favorite songs by an artist all in one place (unless you had the time and patience to make a mixtape). As a result, compilations were gold mines for artists in the 20th century.
Stacker took a look at Recording Industry Association of America record sales data and compiled a list of the 42 bestselling albums of all time, measured by certified units sold. (Note: RIAA only provides record sales in rounded-up millions, hence all the ties.) Only one album of the 21st century was able to sell enough units to make the list, and the album in the #1 spot might surprise you.
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Whitney Houston was a star from the get-go. Her debut self-titled album ruled the Billboard 200 chart for 14 weeks in 1986 and spun off three #1 singles: “How Will I Know,” “Saving All My Love For You,” and “Greatest Love of All.”
“Wide Open Spaces” may be the Chicks’ fourth studio album, however, it’s the one that made them mainstream thanks in part to new lead singer Natalie Maines. The album produced hits like “There’s Your Trouble,” “You Were Mine,” and the title track.
Most soundtracks feature various artists, but Prince recorded all the music for his film “Purple Rain.” In addition to the famous title track, the album also features hits like “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “I Would Die 4 U.” “Purple Rain” is also notable for being Prince’s first #1 album.
“Ten” is Pearl Jam’s debut album, which earned two nominations at the 35th Grammy Awards, including Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. It features some of the band’s most well-known songs, including “Jeremy,” “Alive,” and “Even Flow.”
“Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band Live 1975-85” is a monstrous live album that features 40 tracks recorded from various concerts across a 10-year period. It includes live versions of some of the Boss’ most popular songs, like “Born in the U.S.A.,” “I’m on Fire,” and “Born to Run.”
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The third studio album by the Backstreet Boys, “Millennium” features the singles “I Want It That Way,” “Larger Than Life,” “The One,” and “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely.” The record also garnered the boy band five Grammy nominations.
“Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits” is the first compilation released by the duo, which came out in 1972, two years after Simon & Garfunkel split up. In addition to studio recordings, the album also features four previously unreleased live recordings.
“Bat Out of Hell” is Meat Loaf’s debut album and was developed from a musical called “Neverland.” It was so successful that it spawned two sequel albums: 1993’s “Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell” and 2006’s “Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose.”
“Ropin’ the Wind” is Garth Brooks’ third studio album and his first to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts. It also features three #1 singles: “Shameless,” “What She’s Doing Now,” and “The River.”
Carole King’s sophomore album “Tapestry” won her four Grammy awards in 1972, including Album of the Year. Its lead singles, “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” also spent five weeks atop the Billboard 100 chart, as well as Billboard’s Easy Listening chart.
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“…Baby One More Time” introduced Britney Spears’ music to the world in 1999. It may be a debut, but the collection is the pop star’s bestselling album thanks to singles like “(You Drive Me) Crazy,” “Sometimes,” and of course, “...Baby One More Time.”
The late ’90s were the pinnacle of boy band fame. When the Backstreet Boys released their self-titled album, a compilation of their first two, it shot them to superstardom with such singles as “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”
Adele’s sophomore effort saw the singer adapt more of a blues and country influence to the soulful sound of her debut album, and the change paid off. “21” ended up being the bestselling album in the world for two years in a row, spawning hits like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You.”
“The Beatles 1962-1966,” also known as “The Red Album,” is a compilation of greatest hits ranging from the dates in the title. Those singles include “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Yesterday,” and “Eleanor Rigby.”
Compilation albums were all the rage in the ’60s and ’70s, and Steve Miller Band’s “Greatest Hits 1974-1978” ended up being the group’s bestselling record. The album includes the title track of 1973’s “The Joker,” as well as 13 songs off 1976’s “Fly Like an Eagle” and 1977’s “Book of Dreams.”
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While some artists’ debut albums end up becoming bestsellers, for Santana, that prestigious designation came with their 18th. The Latin rock band was interested in writing more radio-friendly music and enlisted artists like Lauryn Hill, Rob Thomas, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, and CeeLo Green for features. “Supernatural” won nine Grammys in 2000, including Album of the Year.
“The Dark Side of the Moon” is Pink Floyd’s eighth studio album. The concept album is revered as one of the best rock albums of all time and is still highly influential today. In 2013, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for its cultural significance.
Journey’s first “Greatest Hits” compilation is their bestselling album. It features some of the band’s biggest singles, including “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Any Way You Want It.”
Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Legend” may be a compilation, but it’s still the bestselling reggae album of all time. In addition to featuring some of Marley’s biggest hits, it also includes alternate versions of songs like “Buffalo Soldier,” “No Woman, No Cry,” and “Stir It Up.”
- Record label: Atlantic Records / Elektra Records
Metallica’s self-titled album, also known as “The Black Album,” is actually the band’s fifth studio album. Its five singles—“Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True”—are some of Metallica’s best-known songs.
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“Physical Graffiti” is Led Zeppelin’s sixth studio album. When they were done recording the album, it barely covered three sides of an LP, so the band included previously unreleased songs from their “Led Zeppelin III,” “Led Zeppelin IV,” and “Houses of the Holy” sessions to fill a double album.
The Bee Gees’ soundtrack for the film “Saturday Night Fever” is the second-bestselling soundtrack of all time and features the band’s hit “Stayin’ Alive.” In 2012, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for its cultural significance.
“Jagged Little Pill” is Alanis Morissette’s third studio album and her first to be influenced by alternative rock, spawning hit singles like “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket,” and “Ironic.” It was nominated for nine Grammy Awards and won five, including Album of the Year.
“The Beatles 1967-1970,” also known as “The Blue Album,” features some of the band’s biggest songs from that time period. “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “Hey Jude,” “Across the Universe,” and more hits are included on the double LP.
“Greatest Hits” is Elton John’s first compilation album. Though he’d go on to release four more, this first collection is his bestselling. It was released in 1974 and contains singles spanning the years 1970-74 including “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time),” and “Bennie and the Jets.”
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“Born in the U.S.A.” is Bruce Springsteen’s seventh studio album and was praised at the time for being more pop-oriented and radio-friendly than his older work. It features seven Top 10 singles, including “Dancing in the Dark,” “I’m on Fire,” and the album’s title track.
Boston’s self-titled debut album took the rock world by storm in August 1976, thanks to its hit single “More Than a Feeling.” It sold 500,000 copies in just a few weeks and went platinum by November 1976.
“The Bodyguard” soundtrack may technically feature various artists, but it’s Whitney Houston that is synonymous with the album (and who also starred in the film). “The Bodyguard” is the bestselling soundtrack of all time, thanks to hits like “I Will Always Love You” and “I’m Every Woman.”
When “Appetite for Destruction” came out in 1987, it flew under the radar. It wasn’t until the next year, after a subsequent tour and airplay of singles “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Paradise City,” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” that Guns N’ Roses’ freshman effort took off and eventually became the bestselling debut album of all time.
- Record label: Pearl Records, Inc.
“No Fences” is Garth Brooks’ sophomore album and the one that shot him to superstardom. The collection features some of the country icon’s biggest hits, including “The Thunder Rolls” and “Friends in Low Places.”
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Shania Twain’s third album, “Come on Over,” is not only her bestselling album, it’s also the biggest-selling studio album by a female solo artist, according to Guinness World Records. Of the album’s 16 tracks, a whopping 12 were released as singles, including her biggest hit, “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”
For their 11th studio album, Fleetwood Mac sought to make a pop record, and they succeeded. “Rumours” spawned hits like “Dreams” and “Go Your Own Way,” and it took home the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1977.
“Cracked Rear View” is another insanely successful debut album. It topped the Billboard 200 chart five separate times in 1995 and features Hootie & The Blowfish’s biggest single, “Only Wanna Be With You.”
“Double Live” is Garth Brooks’ first live album and comprises songs from his 1996-1998 world tour. The two-disc set is the bestselling live album in history.
Pink Floyd’s 11th studio album, “The Wall,” is their most successful release. The rock opera spent 15 weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart and is considered one of the greatest albums of all time.
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“Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II” is Billy Joel’s first compilation album and features songs from 1973 through 1985. It also includes two previously unreleased tracks, “The Night Is Still Young” and “You’re Only Human (Second Wind).”
The Beatles’ self-titled record, famously known as “The White Album,” is the band’s ninth studio album. The double album is praised for its diversity, incorporating a number of genres including folk, ska, and blues.
Led Zeppelin’s fourth untitled album, commonly referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV,” is the band’s bestselling album. That’s probably because it features their signature song, “Stairway to Heaven.”
“Back in Black” is the seventh album by AC/DC and their first with vocalist Brian Johnson. The band recruited Johnson after their original singer, Bon Scott, died from alcohol poisoning in February 1980.
The Eagles struck gold with their fifth studio album “Hotel California.” It was their first with guitarist Joe Walsh and its title track won Record of the Year at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards.
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Michael Jackson revolutionized pop music with his sixth studio album “Thriller.” Produced by Quincy Jones, the album features seven hit singles: “Beat It,” “The Girl Is Mine,” “Human Nature,” “Billie Jean,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” and “Thriller.” It’s Jackson’s first #1 album and spent a whopping 37 nonconsecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
1976 was a great year for the Eagles. Before releasing “Hotel California” that December, the band released its first compilation album, “Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.” The set features songs off their first four albums and spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was also the first album to be certified platinum by the RIAA (a designation for a million units sold), which it achieved in its first week of release, and has since gone platinum 38 times. In 2017, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for its cultural significance.
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Beyoncé, seen here performing in 2016, just dropped her new album.
Beyoncé explains why she created 'Renaissance'.
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