Beyoncé is turning her birthday into a full-blown B’Day celebration.
To mark 20 years since the arrival of her sophomore album, the singer has released an expanded digital edition packed with previously unheard music, new collaborations and upgraded versions of the project’s visuals. So there’s plenty of music to carry you through this Labor Day weekend. Hallelujah.
The anniversary collection spans 31 tracks, bringing together the original B’Day album with unreleased songs “Creole,” “Back Up,” “Lost Yo Mind,” and “Can I Watch You,” featuring Pharrell Williams.
It also introduces Beyoncé’s first collaboration with Colombian rapper Maluma. The pair join forces on “Cuerpo Tumbao (Get Me Bodied),” a new interpretation of the B’Day favorite that samples Celia Cruz’s “La Negra Tiene Tumbao.”
Cruz’s inclusion carries special meaning for Beyoncé, who has admired the salsa legend’s celebration of African culture and her determination to push back against racism, colorism, and narrow expectations of beauty.
Beyoncé Honors Selena With a New Duet
One of the album’s biggest surprises is “Irreemplazable (Como La Flor),” a posthumous collaboration with Selena Quintanilla that received the blessing of the late singer’s estate.
Beyoncé has never been shy about Selena’s influence on her career. She has previously credited the Tejano icon with helping inspire her Spanish-language music, including the 2007 EP Irreemplazable.
An Album Built to Make People Move
Looking back on the record, Beyoncé said she wanted its sound to be energetic, percussion-heavy and grounded in live instrumentation. She also recalled working to preserve the melodies and vocal arrangements associated with R&B as hip-hop continued to reshape popular music.
That combination helped make B’Day one of the defining releases of Beyoncé’s early solo career. The album delivered enduring hits including “Irreplaceable,” “Déjà Vu,” “Ring the Alarm,” and “Get Me Bodied.”
Released in 2006, B’Day reached No. 1 and has earned five-times-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Two decades later, Beyoncé invites fans back to the dance floor while revealing a few surprises waiting in the vault.
Fans can also experience the B’Day era with a fresh coat of paint. Music videos originally shot on 35mm film have been recolored and completed in 4K, including an updated version of “Déjà Vu” featuring Jay-Z.
