• Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Sep 5, 2006
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 722 Ratings

User score distribution:

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  1. Mar 19, 2021
    0
    It's still a career high, but B'Day could have been released at any point in the last three-and-a-half years and, in a year which has given us tracks like Justin Timberlake's 'SexyBack', it already sounds stale.
  2. Sep 16, 2020
    1
    Este álbum no se merece tener tan buenas criticas porque es un álbum normal sus letras y mensajes repetitivos y nada innovador sus melodías y sonidos igual.
  3. Aug 29, 2020
    3
    Carece de mensajes y letra, sonidos y ritmos muy parecidos casi lo mismo cre que podria haber echo algo mejor
  4. Nov 11, 2015
    0
    a clear copy of which she had already been doing since his time of the group with their backs, dancing scolding wig and fan, nothing innovative to deserve a green note, all I see is too bright and little content.
  5. Dec 15, 2013
    0
    Incorporating elements of Candomblé in his music, Beyoncé makes another major disaster, poorly produced songs and lackluster lyrics, B'Day souounds like an album that Janet Jackson could do when were with diarrhea.
  6. database
    Nov 11, 2007
    0
    Garbage. if beyonce weighed three hundred pounds, and was not good looking, we wouldn't even be having this conversation
  7. laurenC
    Apr 10, 2007
    1
    Definately her worst album yet. I liked her other ones but this one just didn't cut it. Is she trying to be Thalia now or what?
  8. SofiaG
    Mar 25, 2007
    1
    B'day is the first cd I have ever purchased that I actually GAVE AWAY because it was so horrible! Besides maybe TWO songs (and that is reaching) on this cd, the rest is garbage garbage garbage. And what was with that un-dance-able 'Ring the Alarm' crap? Dare I say that Beyonce has sold out? She cares more about money and her bling bling bullshi* than her MUSIC. I loved B'day is the first cd I have ever purchased that I actually GAVE AWAY because it was so horrible! Besides maybe TWO songs (and that is reaching) on this cd, the rest is garbage garbage garbage. And what was with that un-dance-able 'Ring the Alarm' crap? Dare I say that Beyonce has sold out? She cares more about money and her bling bling bullshi* than her MUSIC. I loved loved loved her first cd! I played that cd out so much - she had passion and had something to sing about! B'day's songs are half-assed. I mean, if you have nothing of value to sing about AT LEAST have some dope beats to make up for it. She is great to look at, but there are hundreds of other fine ass women with just as much talent out there! As a young woman, i was SO inpired by her past music. Independent Woman made a STRONG statement: a woman doesn't NEED a man to get what she wants. Dangerously In Love was moving. Yes, B, we all know u are swimming in money and material shit. Who cares? Is that what defines YOU? Is that what is important to YOU? If it is, thats sad. Expand
  9. ValuableMusic
    Nov 9, 2006
    2
    This effort, like her pathetically trite others, scream "throw this from your driver's-side window." Someone in the Beyonce camp needs to explain that Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige never intended their music to be melded, further commercialized, overproduced, repackaged, and vomited into the public eye. Beyonce needs to stick with her acting which, while incapable and This effort, like her pathetically trite others, scream "throw this from your driver's-side window." Someone in the Beyonce camp needs to explain that Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige never intended their music to be melded, further commercialized, overproduced, repackaged, and vomited into the public eye. Beyonce needs to stick with her acting which, while incapable and ever-shallow, at least allows her audience to choose to entreat her. Essentially, Beyonce productions (they're not albums at all) mean only that folks who appreciate valuable, substantive expression must be constantly primed to turn the radio dial right when she hits the first extended Whitney-pitch (intro of every song). Expand
  10. PRock
    Oct 11, 2006
    2
    Agree with Terry O: She has a great voice, but the lyrics suck. And why is she always writing about Sex? Right now her intellect or lack-of-intellect is hurting her.
  11. reds
    Oct 10, 2006
    1
    i find it rather irritating that beyonce has done to her sophomore album.... its like so... over rated, and its not even good....
  12. TerryO
    Oct 7, 2006
    3
    Ok. I'm a hater for saying this, I know, die hard Beyonce fans (get real). But like it or not, Beyonce has not shown any maturity on this album (not as an artist or as a woman). Just nymphomania, materialism, and a lack of personal maturity. Just because she did something different and challenged herself, does not automatically make it a good thing. What did she accomplish here? What Ok. I'm a hater for saying this, I know, die hard Beyonce fans (get real). But like it or not, Beyonce has not shown any maturity on this album (not as an artist or as a woman). Just nymphomania, materialism, and a lack of personal maturity. Just because she did something different and challenged herself, does not automatically make it a good thing. What did she accomplish here? What about the quality of music. Really listen to it. Yeah, it rhymes good, but is there anything meaningful here. Read on before you comment and call me a hater. Do not get me wrong now, I really like Beyonce overall (besides the latest lyrics that have no depth, the overexposure and immense hype). I think she has a great voice, and a great on-stage presence. I always have liked her, although I'm not a die-hard fan. I like the album overall, and I give the album 2 1/2 out of 5 stars, but I'm way too real to ignore the facts surrounding this latest project. Now, if I was the average music consumer, I would absolutely love this album, but I am not. I don't just look at how hot the beats are and whats hot right now. I look at the whole picture. Being a person interested in the music business, there is more to music than beats and melodies. What do the lyrics say? What does this music say about her as a person, verses who she wants us to believe she is? Because she's showing us 2 different people. In interviews,she leads us to believe, she is this wholesome woman, who has a good head on her shoulders, which she probably is, but her music reflect this woman who has compromised her morals and sense for her man and the materialistic things he has to offer her. Which one is it? Why spend your own money on something if a man with more money can buy it for you, right B, compromise your so-called christianity, regardless of your young fans who are listening and watching? I would not like my young daughter to look up to Beyonce. Lets get real. This album is average (good, but nothing beyond that). Because its Beyonce, its getting all of this hype (and the hype is never over her vocals, believe that). And with the hype, I expected more. You notice her album sales went down 70 percent after the first week. That's huge! After the hype boiled down, it all relied on word of mouth, which resulted in a horrendous decrease in sales. There's a reason for that, so apparently, it ain't just me! Now, you guys are talking about progression? Try, digression. You don't go from singing songs that mean something and stand for something, like Dangerously In Love, Independent Women, Survivor, Me Myself & I, and Happy Face to "Kitty Kat" and "Upgrade U". How do you tell your man that you are going to miss the house on the coast, the chinchilla coats, vvs stones and mention nothing about missing him(Ring the Alarm)? Now if Beyonce is a Christian girl, she would carry herself as such. If you look at her thank you's, she doesn't even mention God (like she used to). But always claims to be a Christian, but is cursing in her music now and talking about sex like some sex-crazed maniac. She is going downhill musically. She has not matured lyrically--vocally, yes. Her vocabulary is that of a 10 year old (she didn't go to high school beyond half of the 9th grade--what does that say about her character?). All she talks about is her body and the material things her and Jay have. That is not growth. She is too old to be talking about the things she talks about. There's more to life than looks and things B. Again, I do like her overall, but she's just a singer, nothing spectacular. We need to stop putting her on a pedestal--thats all I'm saying. She is average, lyrically. Now vocally and in other ways, she is above average. However, she has too many hands in the pot, and no one objective to tell her this. Lets not forget that the majority of her solo success was in songs that were collaborations. I personally like music that makes me feel something. Yeah, I like to bop my head and dance, and that's all this album is good for. For all the hype, you would expect more from this so-called amazing artist. Get Off Her Tits People!! She's a mediocre artist. Again, I like Beyonce's voice, and her songs that say something, but this latest project, is just sad. I guarantee, if Ashanti came out with the same tracks, it would not be as hyped up. Its insanity! 700,000 pre-order sales. I guarantee most of them hadn't listened to it first. You all may say "I'm thinking too much about it, its just music". But its not just music. Music is supposed to have a life of its own. What kind of life would this music have? Meaningless, shallowness (for an artist of her caliber). I am an aspiring artist myself, so its hard to see the real music getting ignored for half-ass music. It sold 650,000+ its first week, b/c of the hype. Again, went down 70% after the first week. Why do you think that is? You figure it out... Expand
  13. KatieG
    Oct 3, 2006
    0
    May I give this a double ZERO!!! Horrible album, all that damn screaming, and for what??? Please get a creative side of your own and stop bitting off Janet... I saw you "try" a re-create her rhythm nation routine at the '06 VMA, booo and now you're using the same sound on that ring the alram crap as Janet did on her velvet rope album... Move around and stop swinging on Jay May I give this a double ZERO!!! Horrible album, all that damn screaming, and for what??? Please get a creative side of your own and stop bitting off Janet... I saw you "try" a re-create her rhythm nation routine at the '06 VMA, booo and now you're using the same sound on that ring the alram crap as Janet did on her velvet rope album... Move around and stop swinging on Jay Z's nutts and do something yourself. PS... you fired your dad just like Janet did around the same age.... do your own thing girl and stop bittin' Expand
  14. PostmanP
    Sep 25, 2006
    0
    Trash.
  15. jeff
    Sep 25, 2006
    0
    its sad that this album got good reviews.. since when did syncopated beats and tuneless melodies become music?
  16. Emmanuel
    Sep 21, 2006
    0
    horrible i want my 10.99 back
  17. JamarO
    Sep 20, 2006
    2
    Weak album. Boring, rushed, and definitely forgettable. I think Beyonce is under the impression the public will lap up anything she puts out, and in some ways she is right. Still doesnt change the fact that the album is barely listenable the whole way through, even though it is short. Even 10 minutes of this is too much.
  18. RandyB
    Sep 17, 2006
    2
    Coming from a AAA star like Beyonce, the album as a whole is rather weak. There are a few good songs, but this album is very forgettable.
  19. despor
    Sep 17, 2006
    0
    This album is bad, no good songs and way to rushed. Dont bother getting it when there are far better cd's out that you can get.
  20. KrisL
    Sep 17, 2006
    1
    Apart from a couple of catchy singles, Beyonce's first album was overrated, and this one is even worse. One word comes to mind: uninspired. The fact that it was written and recorded in two weeks is blatantly obvious. Recycling "what worked" the first time does not equal artistic growth. It just shows laziness and a lack of creativity. Screaming and flailing your way through tracks Apart from a couple of catchy singles, Beyonce's first album was overrated, and this one is even worse. One word comes to mind: uninspired. The fact that it was written and recorded in two weeks is blatantly obvious. Recycling "what worked" the first time does not equal artistic growth. It just shows laziness and a lack of creativity. Screaming and flailing your way through tracks doesn't convey emotional depth, it just makes you sound shrill and annoys the listener. Expand
  21. keishad
    Sep 16, 2006
    0
    This was a waste of money, there is nothing impressive about this album. My buddys bought the cd before me and told me it was garbage, next time i will listen to them and save my money for something that is worth it.
  22. PhoebeM
    Sep 16, 2006
    1
    Far from the maturity of Dangerously in Love, this incredible vocalist appears to have regressed to the days when shouting through a song and wailing incomprehensibly were acceptable. Beyonce needs to learn fast that she is mistaken. Most of the tracks, with the exception of singles Deja Vu and Ring the Alarm, and down-beat potential single Irreplaceable, are impossible to understand, Far from the maturity of Dangerously in Love, this incredible vocalist appears to have regressed to the days when shouting through a song and wailing incomprehensibly were acceptable. Beyonce needs to learn fast that she is mistaken. Most of the tracks, with the exception of singles Deja Vu and Ring the Alarm, and down-beat potential single Irreplaceable, are impossible to understand, with Beyonce alternately mumbling and screaming her words to no good effect. Most of the songs, even with the lyrics on screen to read from, are nonsensical and pointless at best, silly lyrics with bad vocals over alternately dull and migraine inducing repetitive beats. Her vocals, then, are sub-par too. She knocked this album up in a matter of a few weeks, and it shows. Songs like Ring the Alarm, Suga Mamma, Freakum Dress and the like could easily have been performed by a vocalist of Ashanti or Britney's calibre, and while Beyonce would of course sound better singing them than they would, the fact remains that she is wasting the incredible voice that she was so gifted to have. In the days when her contemporaries are producing major release double disc albums, Beyonce's ten sub-par tunes just aren't going to cut it. Expand
  23. tarajih
    Sep 16, 2006
    0
    awful pathtic and horrible
  24. JennyC
    Sep 16, 2006
    1
    This album is such a disappointment! If you want a Beyonce album, buy Dangerously In Love instead! Don't waste your money on this garbage! There is not one good song, sad.
  25. danielles
    Sep 15, 2006
    3
    The album seems rushed, and a far cry from the Dangerously in Love. I don't see any growth in this album. The songs lack the maturity of her debut album.
  26. GalrothP
    Sep 15, 2006
    0
    In the history of her carreer I have yet to hear such garbage!!
  27. RamesesP
    Sep 15, 2006
    0
    Garbage.. this album sucks..WTF happend to beyonce, she used to be good!!!!!!!!!
  28. ElrondR
    Sep 15, 2006
    0
    Weak.. this album is horrid and shouldnt be purchased.
  29. tatianah
    Sep 15, 2006
    1
    Horrends work.. This album was made in 2 weeks but sounds like it was made in 2 days.. terrible work
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Whereas Beyoncé's debut was accomplished in its diversity, albeit a sure sign of a new solo artist trying to find her voice, B'Day sounds like the album "Crazy In Love" initially forecasted.
  2. Blender
    80
    B'Day never cools down, and swaety up-tempo numbers prove the best platform for Beyonce's rapperly phrasing and pipe-flaunting fireballs. [Sep 2006, p.138]
  3. Apart from a few pop-R&B space-fillers, there's not much to dislike about B'Day.