20 years after the @beyonce delivered her pop masterpiece ‘B’Day,’ social media editor Elise Brisco and writer Larisha Paul head to The Rolling Stone Studio to discuss the superstar’s sophomore project. #beyoncé
On Beyoncé flexing her acting chops: “I want to say ‘Irreplaceable’ was honestly the video that kind of stuck out the most to me off bat. I feel like there’s not as much narrative in pop videos [these days]. And she was really acting like her and that man they hired to play in this video was just like…they were going through this horrific breakup. And I was like, nobody wants to do a fake breakup for the cameras anymore. Just go and do the stuff, throw the stuff outside, throw the keys, snatch, do all the things. And I think she was just such a. And obviously she was leaning into her acting stuff a little bit more around this time.”
On the influence that B’Day had on Beyoncé’s discography: “It is so foundational to everything that we know and love and understand about Beyoncé now. I think we’ve obviously seen her come into this mastery of a certain kind of craftsmanship and skill and that goes on the production side, on who she’s recruiting and the rooms that she’s working in and how she’s presenting it. Even the visual album stuff we mentioned before, but also just the way that she, the Beyonce, the experience live, all of that, the way she is kind of archiving her career starts with B’Day in a lot of ways. I think for me, it’s like you don’t get “Diva” without B’Day. You don’t get “Don’t Hurt Yourself” without B’Day. You don’t get “Cuff It” without B’Day. Every single album that came after B’Day is rooted in that record so deeply.”
On the ‘B’Day’ song that has stood the test of time: “I think the more time that I’ve spent with ‘B’Day’ throughout my life, “Get Me Bodied” is the most consistent probably out of all of them. I was hearing it at the family cookouts and the family reunions and the block parties. I think especially growing up and being in New York, being in the Bronx specifically, it was just one of those songs you could blast out your car and you’re driving around. You’re in the backseat of someone’s car who’s driving around and you’re just kind of hearing it everywhere. But then I also think it lends itself to community in a very specific way of having this dance break moment.”
⸻
Hosts: Elise Brisco, Larisha Paul
Director of Social & Video: Waiss Aramesh
Executive Producer: Christopher Hwisu Kim
Senior Producer: Viviane Feldman
Producer & Colorist: Mitch Saavedra
Social Video Editor: Sim Tumay
Creative Director: Joe Hutchinson
Executive Music Editor: Christian Hoard
Co-Editors in Chief: Sean Woods, Shirley Halperin
CEO: Julian Holguin
Congrats! 🎉 I’ve been watching your content for a minute because I wanted to see how the experience was from a black man’s perspective. I currently have a Mustang and was planning on trading it in for a Corvette. Now I can’t wait to get mine.
I was 12
I was 15 when this album came out, I will never forget it!
Beyoncé is like Britney Spears. They are not real they don’t produce their own music. They are giving elements to produce their image. I still believe that she is an artist just like Britnay but. She’s fake.
I was 13 in middle school when B'Day dropped. My mother bought the CD, and I wore that album out! You couldn't get me to stop listening to it, I liked how loud and energetic the album is. Now, at 33, I still get that same enjoyful free feeling when I go back to listen.
BTW I'm not listening to the release 😂
We can’t forget about “Flaws & All” it’s such a vulnerable, tender song in the midst of so many heavy hitting tracks. It always felt like her most Virgo song to me, about how even she feels insecure & imperfect it has so many echos of Self Titled & Sandcastles.
B'Day was my favorite album before Cowboy Carter. I have such an attachment to this album and could pontificate over this work as well. The Beyonce Experience still remains as my favorite of her live shows. Such a special moment in my life.
24:28 Made me like the video. Thank you, Larisha Paul. "Cuz you're not listening, you're already deciding who Beyonce is."
PERIOD!!! beyhive where ya at 🐝🐝🐝
One of best albums by Beyonce
I remember when this album first came out, it is everywhere. At that time I was only 12 but still I felt the connection and I knew back then that I am destined to be a beyhive. Everytime I heard it at school (Check on it, irreplaceable) I felt like it is my sister's song that how proud I was back then
0:46 – Bday is not a pop album. It's a hip hop album. It's interesting how narrow people still view hip hop.
Michaela Coel quote from her chewing gum series when she's talking to the Beyonce poster, "And I need the strength you had to make the switch from RnB to hip-hop when they doubted you," continues to prove itself true. People are still not acknowledging that Beyonce sophomore album is hip-hop. Everything Destiny child and debut album were RnB. During interviews from the Bday era Beyonce said she could NOT make the same record again. Which is why her junior album is POP.
I AM solidified her as a Pop Juggernaut. I AM is bubble gum pop. Pussy pink pop.
Beyonce senior album 4 is also Pop, RnB and Hip-Hop. Same with self titled (with Dance/EDM/alternative elements). Same with lemonade (with folk/country elements).
Then lion king the gift is a afrobeat record (with amp piano elements).
Renaissance is a dance/electronic. (With RnB/Hip-Hop/Alternative elements).
Cowboy Carter is a country record.
Shes covered it all but many don't acknowledge her contribution to hip-hop. It's wild how history is constantly rewritten.
This was such a beautiful conversation ladies. ❤
LOUD!!!! 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫 THAT ALBUM CHANGED MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY!!!! I HAVE SOOOOO MANY GREAT FUCKING MEMORIES TO THAT ALBUM TOO!!
Excellent conversation. I revisited B’Day today with the release of the 20th anniversary edition and it just might be my 2nd fav Bey project while Renaissance is and probably always will be my number 1.
I'm so annoyed by the vocal fry by that girl….i can't even listen
Those white boots look extra goofy.
Nothing against these 2, but talking to people that were 8-9 years old when this album dropped is kind of pointless. I feel like they should’ve had women that are currently at least 34+ years of age speak on this.
Damn, I feel old, I can’t believe this album came out 20 years ago, time flies. i’m a 98 baby so I was eight years old when this album came out as well.
okay first and this is well overdue.