"I see music... It's more than just what I hear," the
statement quotes Beyonce as saying by way of explanation for the
large number of videos, which the release says were shot in
Houston, New York City, Paris, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro.
The Texas-born singer, whose given name is Beyonce
Knowles-Carter, is one of the most successful singers in the
world, regularly selling out concert tours and with her albums
hitting the number one sales spots.
She is famed for her energetic stage shows, the anthemic "All
the Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and her promotion of
female empowerment.
"When I'm connected to something, I immediately see a visual or
a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a
memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my
fantasies. And they're all connected to the music," Beyonce says
in the statement from Columbia Records.
So far the album has only been released digitally via iTunes, an
attempt, Columbia, said to allow fans to form their own opinions
without first being subject to music critics.
"I didn't want to release my music the way I've done it,"
Beyonce says in the statement. "I am bored with that. I feel
like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There's so much
that gets between the music, the artist and the fans.
"I felt like I didn't want anybody to give the message when my
record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's
ready and from me to my fans."
Among the artists, songwriters and producers involved with the
album are Beyonce's husband Jay Z, Timbaland and Justin
Timberlake.
The statement said the global iTunes release was also intended
as a "preventative plan" against the album being leaked before
the official release.
Physical copies of the album in CD and DVD format will be
available for sale for the holiday season, the release said.
(Writing by Michael Roddy; editing
by Jeremy Gaunt)
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