Beyoncé’s self-titled album was released in 2013 without advance single promotion.
Beyoncé arrived unexpectedly on December 13, 2013, through the iTunes Store. Beyoncé described the project as a visual album because every song was accompanied by a music video, creating a unified audiovisual presentation.
The album’s songs include “Pretty Hurts,” “Drunk in Love,” “Partition,” and “Flawless.” Its surprise release changed expectations for how major pop albums could be announced and marketed.
The album is often confused with Beyoncé’s 2003 debut, Dangerously in Love, because both titles are associated closely with her name. The 2013 record is commonly referred to as the “visual album,” while its official title is simply Beyoncé.