By: Lathan “Laytin” Gil
When 2026 started, it was not expected that “2016” would end up becoming a social media trend. People were making it a trend to be nostalgic about things that happened 10 or even 20 years ago. Tiktok filters from 2016 were making a comeback and movies/shows like High School Musical and Hannah Montana were having 20th anniversary reunions and specials.
People also thought in 2026 that Beyoncé would just release ACT III of her new album trilogy, but as always she made an unpredictable move, and on her birthday, Friday, September 4th, released the 20th Anniversary Edition of her second album, B’Day.
She Still Has Us DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE with Her!
B ‘Day (20th Anniversary Edition) has all the tracks from the original deluxe version of the albums: Deja Vu, Freakum Dress, Ring The Alarm, Flaws and All, and Listen, but Beyoncé also includes some new unreleased tracks. Some of those songs have leaked previously, but now officially on all platforms are original songs and partly re-recorded versions of LOST YO MIND, CREOLE, BACK UP, CUERPO (which now features Maluma) plus newly remixed Spanish versions of some songs from the original album, a new remix of IRREEMPLAZABLE (Irreplacable in Spanish) and even features Como La Flor by Selena Quintanilla.
These new tracks have some new flare to them with newly re-recorded sections that are significantly different from those leaked songs.
This album has you in a chokehold from the start. Which is what some people are saying is difference between Beyoncé’s previous efforts like Dangerously In Love, I Am Sasha Fierce, and 4. Taveon McRae ‘29 who is a very big Beyoncé fan at 107.7 The Bronc explains what sets this album apart from all the others. “Beyoncé shouts and she shouts that she’s here and she is ready to stay and she isn’t going anywhere. Her albums also have those types of songs on them, but this album has that consistently, even with the ballads, she’s singing louder than she ever has. It solidified that Beyoncé is here to stay.”
Why is Beyoncé IRREPLACABLE?
Beyoncé still finds a way to become new and constantly evolve. She compares herself to Prince and Madonna saying, “There was a moment in my career where I decided to break away from the pop star formula. Like Prince I want my art to mean something. I want to tell stories and have my work be timeless. Like Madonna I want to evolve and reinvent myself with where I am with music at the time. Giving into the regular pop star formula makes music commercial instead of influential.”
A lot of people say Beyoncé means a lot to them. People claim her music helped them with their own confidence and seeing an artist be as bold and as artistic as Beyoncé have given them the ability to feel the same about themselves. “She is one of the reasons why I listen to music the way I do. I analyze the music. Without her [presence] in music I don’t think I would be able to be as into music as I am now. She let me be able to find a way to relate to a song and to be able to sing, whether I sing good or bad, about sadness, anger, and joy. Without her in music, I doubt that myself or others in our generation and later would be able to do that. She is one of the greatest artists of all time.” Taveon explained.
BEYONCE… The Visionary
Beyoncé is obviously in a league of her own. There is no other artist out today that has the same storytelling capabilities, visual albums, or even tour productions quite like Beyoncé. The last singers, songwriters and artists who were able to do that debuted before 2015. Beyoncé is definitely from another era, “She has something that other artists may look up to but don’t execute. She obviously is a great singer, but she puts immense care into her music. She is hands on with everything she does musically, visually, and performance-wise. She makes sure every minute detail is perfect. Other artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Janet Jackson can say the same, but these newer artists … they don’t. They make songs to get popular, they don’t make music for the love of it and it shows.” is what Taveon gave out about what separates Beyonce from other artists.
You Have The GREEN LIGHT to Listen!
B’Day was already notorious for being a great body of work but the newly added deluxe tracks give the album some new life. Fans claim that it gives the album even more replayability than it already had, and that it gives a new layer to the story Beyoncé is telling.
Beyoncé even said this album is about venting frustration, whether it’s to a loved one, a friend, a coworker, or a boss, and the audience definitely agrees, “There is so much more replayability. Songs like LOST YO MIND and MORNING DEW I always find myself listening to again.”
So while we patiently wait for ACT III, listen to B’Day (20th Anniversary Edition) if you want some of the Old Bey but also some new little goodies!
You can listen to this album on all platforms, but Beyoncé is always getting played on 107.7 The Bronc. Make sure to listen here and follow Beyond The Mic to get all updates about all the news about new music drops and more!