Released: September 1, 2006
Genre: R&B
Label: Columbia ∙ Music World ∙ Sony Urban
Producer: Eduardo Cabra ∙ Darkchild ∙ Sean Garrett ∙ Rich Harrison ∙Nellee Hooper ∙ Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Lil Walt ∙ Ne-Yo ∙ Candice Nelson ∙ The Neptunes ∙ Rudy Pérez ∙ Shakira ∙Stargate ∙ Swizz Beatz ∙ Shea Taylor ∙ Syience ∙The Underdogs ∙ Cameron Wallace
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By 2006, Beyoncé was already crowned our “Queen Bey” being the glamourous superstar we knew she was going to be. After the success of her career with Destiny’s Child and her own solo career, Beyoncé was a busy lady in those years with 2003’s Dangerously In Love, 2004’s Destiny Fulfilled and the films 2002’s Austin Powers in Goldmember, 2006’s Pink Panther & Dreamgirls.
Beyoncé released her second studio album on September 1, 2006 under the name B’Day. Named in honor of & released around the singer’s 25th birthday, the album contained elements of funk, R&B (contemporary) & hip-hop.
The musical stylings and themes of B’Day were feminism, female empowerment and were inspired by Beyoncé’s role in Dreamgirls, a fictional depiction of a 1960s girl group. Beyoncé played Deena Jones, the lead singer of The Dreams, who endures emotional abuse by her husband, who was also the group’s manager. Beyoncé has also stated that she wrote so many of the songs had lyrical content for the album that she wished Deena would’ve said in the film, and now that i’m older it makes so much sense.
B’Day was the first album that really made me appreciate Beyoncé’s solo career at the time. It was the album where I got my membership to the hive because miss mamas had TIME! That era was honestly everything and will always be my favorite.
B’Day debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart selling over 541,000 copies its first week. It became her second consecutive album to debut at number 1 on the chart, which is a feat she holds to this date after 2022’s Renaissance (her seventh studio album).
B’Day was her real first visual album, speaking that the visuals for this album were FIRE! Like always, Queen Bey gave another flawless ass record. The album has been certified 5x platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. B’Day won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you: Beyoncé’s B’Day.
Déjà Vu (featuring Jay-Z)
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Rodney Jerkins ∙ Delisha Thomas ∙ Mekeba Riddick ∙ Keli Nicole Price ∙ Shawn Carter
I LOVEEEEEEEE how the standard edition of the album begins with the immaculate Déjà Vu . It’s nostalgic to hear that beat come on and you hear the AMAZING live instrumentals that were incorporated on the album (bass guitar, hi-hat and horns). Released as the lead single from B’Day, the song lyrically is about the singer being reminded of a lover from the past. It also features her boyfriend at the time Jay-Z, who was the only artist that was featured on the album. Déjà Vu peaked at number 1 on the R&B charts, and 4 on the pop charts respectively. The song was a huge hit on the pop & R&B charts in the UK charts, peaking at number 1 simultaneously. The RIAA has since certified Déjà Vu as Platinum for selling over a million copies/units.
Déjà Vu contains a sample of:
- Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied) by B.T. Express
Get Me Bodied
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kasseem Dean ∙ Sean Garrett ∙ Mekeba Riddick ∙ Angela Beyincé ∙ Solange Knowles
***Get Me Bodied had an extended version of the song that was released as a hidden track on the record so this section will cover the original and extended versions simultaneously.
Get Me Bodied IS A SONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! It is one of my favorite songs from Beyoncé and rightfully so. A R&B song with bounce influences, the song is lyrically about the singer on a mission to go out for an evening on the town with her girls, and has to be “bodied” in the right outfit and her hair done right so she can get her some. It is totally a classic! Get Me Bodied gave Beyoncé another top 10 hit on the R&B charts, while having moderate success on the Hot 100 charts peaking at 46. The song has since been certified platinum by the RIAA. The extended version is everything because of the music video alone! Top Tier!
***Get Me Bodied was sampled for:
- It’s Me Bitches by Swizz Beatz featuring Lil’ Wayne, Jadakiss & R. Kelly
Suga Mama
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Rich Harrison ∙ Mekeba Riddick ∙ Chuck Middleton
Damn, that was so good, I wanna buy him a short-set”
Beyoncé, Suga Mama, 2006
Suga Mama is a song!!!! From a lyrical perspective, the song has her willing to risk it all after getting folded up like a lawn chair honey! She’s talking about credit cards, cars and houses chile. A mess, but I LIVE! The many influences of 1970s funk, jazz, hip hop and rock music makes it a remarkable affair honey honey. Of course the production form Rich Harrison made it to the hall of fame of fire ass SONGS! The music video is perfection too by the way!
***Suga Mama contains a sample of:
- Searching for Soul by Jake Wade and the Soul Searchers
Upgrade U (featuring Jay-Z)
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Solange Knowles ∙ MK ∙ Mekeba Riddick ∙ Sean Garrett ∙ Angela Beyincé ∙ Shawn Carter ∙ Willie Clarke ∙ Clarence Reid
Upgrade U was another hit record from Jay-Z and Queen Bey about the singer’s ability to improve or enhance her man’s livelihood because she got it like that. The platinum selling record gave the duo another top 20 record on the R&B charts, peaking at number 11.
***Upgrade U contains a sample of:
- Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do by Betty Wright
Ring the Alarm
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kasseem Dean ∙ Sean Garrett
Ring the Alarm is a R&B record that reigns supreme for being that aggressive record that showcase that Beyoncé had to let someone know what time it was when it came to her man goddamn it!
Inspired by Beyoncé’s character in the Dreamgirls film, Ring the Alarm gives you emotion, depth and a fiery Knowles like we’ve never really seen before. The song gave the singer another top 5 hit on the R&B charts, and top twenty hit on the pop charts respectively. Ring the Alarm was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
Kitty Kat
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Pharrell Williams ∙ Shawn Carter ∙ Makeba Riddick
How you gon’ neglect this? You is just a hot mess! You can call Tyrone, you ain’t gots to lie, Craig!
Beyoncé, Kitty Kat, 2006
Kitty Kat is a top tier record that’ll reign supreme in being one of Beyoncé’s best songs. From a lyrical perspective, the song talks to how she’s fed up with how her man is treating her and how she isn’t feeling the vibes anymore. Kitty Kat is a metaphor for her coochie, since her man is no where deserving of it anymore and claims he does not want it anymore.
Produced by the Neptunes and Beyoncé, the song was never released as a single, but did receive airplay on R&B radio stations to chart on the R&B charts at 66.
Freakum Dress
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Rich Harrison ∙ Angela Beyincé ∙ Makeba Riddick
Freakum Dress IS A SONG HONEYYYYYY! From a lyrical perspective, the song is about putting on that fire ass dress and going out to make your man jealous since he’s acting tf up. Another top tier record Rich Harrison produced, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA despite not being released as a single.
***Kitty Kat was interpolated for:
- Immature by FLO
Green Light
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Pharrell Williams ∙ Sean Garrett
Green Light is lyrically about the singer breaking up with her lover and giving him the permission to go on about his business cause he’s holding up traffic chile! The funk influenced song was released as sixth overall single from the album, and charted very well internationally!
Irreplaceable
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Shaffer Smith ∙ Mikkel S. Eriksen ∙ Tor Erik Hermansen ∙ Espen Lind ∙ Amund Bjørklund
Irreplaceable will forever be a signature Beyoncé classic, and one of the best female empowerment records of all time! From a lyrical perspective, the blockbuster single was about the relationship that is now over because of the man’s infidelity and the singer said you are not the only man in the world. There’s better chile.
Irreplaceable became Beyoncé’s fourth number 1 hit, and stayed there for 10 consecutive weeks. The song has since been certified 6x platinum by the RIAA, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2008!
***Irreplaceable was sampled for:
I’m Upset by Drake
***Irreplaceable was interpolated for:
- Comfortable by Lil Wayne featuring Babyface
- Open Arms by SZA featuring Travis Scott
Resentment
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Walter Millsap III ∙ Candice Nelson ∙ Curtis Mayfield
Resentment is a song where it’ll always hit home for someone who has been affected infidelity. Originally a song recorded by Victoria Beckham, the song is lyrically detailing the hurt, anger and pain a woman experiences when her man lies and cheats on her.
The Beyoncé version was rearranged by the order of the lyrics, a new chorus and lyrics. Her version is gritty, vulnerable and very remarkable.
***Resentment was originally recorded by Victoria Beckham.
***Resentment contains a sample of:
- Curtis Mayfield’s Think
Encore for the Fans (hidden track)
I wanted to give all of my fans something extra because this album was so special to me. And it came so effortlessly after I finished the film of my life, “Dreamgirls”.
Because I was so inspired by Deena, I wrote songs that were saying all the things I wish she would have said in the film. And I wanted to give you an extra special song that Deena sings.
It’s a pivotal moment when Deena finally does get the strength to stand up for herself and does know who she is and knows what she wants. I’m sure all of you women can relate to the lyrics. This is “Listen”…
Beyoncé, Encore for the Fans, 2006
Listen (from the Motion Picture Dreamgirls) (hidden track)
Written by Henry Krieger ∙ Scott Cutler ∙ Anne Preven ∙ Beyoncé Knowles
Recorded for the Dreamgirls film, the soulful R&B ballad Listen is lyrically referring to the independence Deena felt from getting away from her controlling husband. Definitely one of the most beautiful ballads Beyoncé has ever recorded. The themes of tenacity, love, independence are extremely empowering and uplifting if you’re in that type of similar situation. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy and Golden Globe Awards respectively. Her performance of Listen at the Grammys is top tier!
***Listen was interpolated for:
- SOS by SZA.
Bonus tracks from the Deluxe Edition of B’Day:
Beautiful Liar (with Shakira)
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Amanda Ghost ∙Ian Dench ∙ Mikkel S. Eriksen ∙ Tor Erik Hermansen
Released on the deluxe edition of the album, Beautiful Liar is a duet with Beyoncé & Shakira singing about dealing with the same man, but realize he’s not worth fighting over. The song was a successful hit for the pair, peaking at number 3 on the pop charts and went number one internationally.
Welcome to Hollywood
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Shawn Carter ∙ Reggie Perry ∙ Shaffer Smith
Welcome to Hollywood is a recording that was done from a solo standing to the original version she recorded with Jay-Z for his Kingdom Come album.
***Welcome to Hollywood was originally recorded by Jay-Z titled Hollywood, which also featured Beyoncé.
Flaws and All
Written by Shaffer Smith ∙ Shea Taylor ∙ Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Solange Knowles
Flaws and All is a fucking song! Lyrically, the song is about the singer showing her man some appreciation for loving her unconditionally! Definitely one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.
World Wide Woman
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Makeba Riddick ∙ Angela Beyincé ∙ Lashawn Daniels ∙ Sean Garrett
World Wide Woman was produced by Beyoncé & Rodney Jerkins, and is a song with elements of pop & R&B.
If
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Shaffer Smith ∙ Mikkel S. Eriksen ∙ Tor Erik Hermansen
Produced by Stargate & Beyoncé, If is a song about the singer figuring out that her man doesn’t want her and he’s going to allow his homeboy to taker her away from him.
Check on It featuring Bun B & Slim Thug
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kasseem Dean ∙ Bernard Freeman ∙ Sean Garrett ∙ Angela Beyincé ∙ Stayve Thomas
Originally recorded for the Pink Panther soundtrack, Check On It was eventually included on Destiny’s Child’s #1s compilation and versions of B’Day. Lyrically, the song has the singer in the club dancing and inviting the men in the club to look at her body while she’s dancing. The song peaked at number one on the pop charts!
B’Day was really a moment when it dropped and is still one of her most beloved albums to date. Like it was honestly her first “Self-titled” when you think about it. She recorded a video for EACH song on the album. That was really the beginning of where we started to see how important Beyoncé’s artistry was to pop culture. A top tier album! -MW.
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