Beyonce has made a video to explain the reason behind releasing a surprise 'visual album'. Her fifth, self-titled record has 14 songs and 17 videos and is out on iTunes this morning.
The singer says she did not want anyone else telling her fans when her music would be released.
Watch Beyonce explain the visual concept here.
Beyonce gained momentum throughout the 1990s in girl band Destiny's Child, and has since won various awards and film roles in her own right.
A shot from one of the 17 new videos
Her solo debut, 2003's 'Dangerously in Love', reached multi-platinum status. The album spawned a total of four Top Ten singles and garnered the singer five Grammys.
She later released the 'B'day' album in September 2006 and, three months later, turned in an award-winning performance for the film 'Dreamgirls'.
In 2008, the singer released her third studio album, 'I Am...Sasha Fierce', and toured the world in 2010.
Beyonce will play The 02 Dublin on the 8th, 9th and 11th of March next year.
