Do you remember where you were when Beyoncé released her unannounced self-titled visual album in 2013?
Well, today Queen Bey posted a two-and-a-half minute tribute video on her Instagram to celebrate 10 years since the album’s release that includes behind-the-scenes clips, a reaction video from the night the album was released and snippets of the visual album itself.
Among the moments in the beautiful compilation video that stands out the most is a clip from the music video for the song “Blue”, dedicated to Bey’s oldest daughter, Blue Ivy. As the clip rolls of Beyoncé walking on the beach with the Grammy winner on her hip, her voice plays in the background: “Just because you become a mother it doesn’t mean you lose who you are.”
The “Beyoncé” album was significant for the “Partition” singer as it was her first album released since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy. The last track of the album is titled “Blue,” a gorgeous dedication to her daughter, while many of the album’s other tracks see Bey embracing her sexuality and accepting her body amongst traditional beauty standards.
The album was like a reminder to herself and her fans that motherhood was not her entire identity but rather a new addition to it, and her music over the years has been a balancing act of showcasing herself as a mother and as a beloved entertainer.
Since becoming a mother of three, Bey has opened up about her journey with motherhood in several of her projects including “Lemonade,” “The Gift,” and her films for “Homecoming” and “Renaissance.” She’s shared with the world how difficult it was to deal with a miscarriage, adjusting to her body after giving birth to twins, the public criticizing and even bullying her children and raising children while on tour.
Despite all of the difficulties she’s shown about being a mother, she’s also shown how motherhood has never stopped her passion for music and has even breathed a new life and purpose in her artistry. The self-titled album was the beginning of a new Beyoncé: the mother.