Beyonce - BEYONCÉ Album Promoshoot 2013

BEYONCÉ is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Beyoncé, released on December 13, 2013 by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. Described as a visual album, Beyoncé developed a simultaneous audio/visual experience with non-linear short films accompanying its songs to illustrate the stories she had conceived during its composition. Beyoncé's themes were identified as post-feminist and much darker than previous recordings including sex, fear, loss and the insecurities of marriage and motherhood.

The album began production in 2012 in New York where songwriters and producers were gathered in an unconventional setting where they lived and worked with Beyoncé for a month. During extensive touring in 2013, Beyoncé resumed recording in strict secrecy and continually shifted the album's deadline as she began favoring an unexpected release. Beyoncé was drawn to the experimental production of unknown producer Boots, who produced most of the album. Their collaboration created Beyoncé's alternative and electronic rhythm and blues sound that is characterized by minimalist production, loose song structure and emotive vocals.

Beyoncé was released digitally without prior announcement, which led to a hysterical response from fans. It received rave reviews from music critics, who commended its production, themes and Beyoncé's vocals. It was ranked as the best album of 2013 by several publications. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, giving Beyoncé her fifth consecutive number one, and sold 828,773 copies worldwide in three days, becoming the fastest-selling album in iTunes Store history. It spawned four singles—"XO", "Drunk in Love", "Partition" and "Pretty Hurts"—and has sold three million units worldwide.