Beyoncé reissues B'Day on 45th anniversary with Selena and Maluma

On September 4th, her 45th birthday, Beyoncé released the 20th anniversary edition of her second studio album B'Day. The album originally came out on that same date in 2006, also on her birthday, after being recorded in an intense session of just two weeks. At the time it earned her a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album and features classics like "Déjà Vu," "Irreplaceable," and "Ring the Alarm."

The anniversary edition is available digitally as an expanded version with 31 tracks, supplemented by previously released bonus material, remixes, and a selection of unreleased work. Beyoncé explains in her own words what drove her during the recording process: "I wanted the album to be big, percussive, hard, up tempo, and energized, and it was important to me that we used live instrumentation. Hip hop was taking over at the time, but I was fighting to preserve the bridges, melodies, and harmonies that have always been at the heart of R&B. The goal was to blend those two worlds through the art of sampling. I loved the minimalism of a beautiful vocal arrangement over a simple drum loop or a classic guitar like 'Irreplaceable'...but only if that 808 was banging underneath."

The most striking addition is "Irreemplazable (Como La Flor)," a posthumous duet with Texan legend Selena Quintanilla, who passed away in 1995. The track combines Beyoncé's Spanish language version of "Irreplaceable" with Selena's iconic "Como La Flor." Selena's estate granted permission for this collaboration through Parkwood Entertainment, something that is rarely allowed. Beyoncé, herself also from Texas, has previously named Selena as one of the inspirations behind the Spanish language recordings she made during the B'Day era, including her Spanish EP Irreemplazable from 2007.

Also featured for the first time is a collaboration with Colombian singer Maluma. On "Cuerpo (Tumbao)," a reworking of "Get Me Bodied," the two sample Afro Cuban legend Celia Cruz and her song "La Negra Tiene Tumbao." Beyoncé produced the track alongside Edgar Barrera and CASTA, with Ali Alvarez serving as co producer. According to the press release, Beyoncé admires Cruz for her pride in her African roots and her refusal to conform to racism and narrow beauty standards.

The archives have also been thoroughly raided. The B sides "Lost Yo Mind," "Creole," and "Back Up," which didn't make it onto the original album at the time, can finally be heard now. "My First Time" goes back even further: it was originally recorded for her debut album Dangerously in Love from 2003 but was cut from the final tracklist. Another notable unreleased track is "Can I Watch You," produced by Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams. Also included is "Morning Dew (Donk)," which came out on July 4th as the first single from the anniversary project, kicking off a 60 day countdown. In August, a remix featuring JAY Z followed.

All of the original music videos, shot on 35mm film at the time, have been remastered, colorized, and finished in 4K. The video for "Déjà Vu," directed by Sophie Muller and starring JAY Z, was released alongside the album. Those who prefer physical formats can choose from a four LP set on 180 gram blue vinyl with a 60 page booklet and two double sided art prints, a standard double LP, or a CD. The reissue is now available everywhere digitally.