What was Beyoncé’s surprise 2013 visual album called?

Beyoncé’s surprise 2013 visual album was titled Beyoncé.

The self-titled fifth studio album was released without advance promotion on December 13, 2013. It appeared on iTunes with a music video for every song, leading Beyoncé and her team to describe the project as a visual album. The unexpected release changed how major artists could launch albums in the digital era.

The record includes “Drunk in Love,” “Partition,” “Flawless” and “Pretty Hurts.” Its themes include sexuality, motherhood, feminism, marriage and artistic self-definition. Jay-Z appears on “Drunk in Love,” while Blue Ivy Carter appears at the end of “Blue.”

The title is often confused with Beyoncé’s broader artistic brand, but the album is formally named Beyoncé. It followed 4 and preceded Lemonade. The project received widespread critical acclaim and won the Grammy for Best Surround Sound Album, among other honors.