Marking her birthday on September 3, 2026, the voluminous remastered B’DAY arrived as an expanded digital edition boasting 31 tracks alongside the original songs from 2006. Originally launched on September 4, 2006, the sophomore coming-of-age record introduced a 25-year-old artist determined to steer her career as a singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist. B’Day arrived in the summer of 2006 and was a Number One success, and the album has since been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA, with its initial release including the hits “Irreplaceable,” “Déjà Vu,” and Ring the Alarm.
Remastering a Milestone on a Birthday Release
Recorded during an intense two-week session, the project relied heavily on live instrumentation. I wanted the album to be big, percussive, hard, up-tempo, and energized, and it was important to me that we used live instrumentation,
Beyoncé said in a statement reflecting on the 20-year milestone, per a release. “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 anniversary package also revamps the visual components of the era. Accompanying videos originally shot on 35mm have been recolored and finished in 4K, including the Sophie Muller-directed video for “Déjà Vu” featuring JAY-Z, also out today. Images, shot on location in New Orleans, and never seen before, are also included. New Orleans, where Beyoncé’s family has deep roots, was working on rebuilding following the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, and the Big Easy’s resilience and fortitude served as inspiration for Beyoncé who wanted to contribute in her own way to the city’s revitalization.
Collaborations with Maluma and Selena Quintanilla
The celebratory reissue places significant emphasis on Spanish-language recordings and cultural tributes. Among the most notable additions is Irreemplazable,
the Spanish version of “Irreplaceable,which Bey mashed up with Selena's iconic 1992 track,
Como La Flor.” Beyoncé was granted approval from Selena’s estate for the duet, and she has previously credited Selena as an influence on her Spanish-language recordings and for inspiring her Spanish EP, Irreemplazable, released in 2007. In the 2000s, Bey told MTV Tr3s about a brief encounter she had with the Dreaming of You
singer at The Galleria mall in Houston before she and her Destiny’s Child bandmates made it in the biz, a moment later immortalized on Netflix’s 2021 series, Selena.
The album also features a first-time collaboration with Maluma on Cuerpo Tumbao (Get Me Bodied),
which contains a sample from Celia Cruz’s La Negra Tiene Tumbao.
A press release notes that Beyoncé has long admired Cruz’s pride in her African culture; her refusal to bend in the wake of racism, colorism and the narrow definition of beauty.
Fan Division and the Widow’s Defense Over the Selena Sample
While the tribute resonated with many listeners who praised the cross-generational homage, the inclusion of the Selena sample triggered a sharp divide among fans on social media. Some critics voiced immediate frustration over reworking the classic track, with one person writing, Girl bye. We did not need this. Leave Selena alone.
Another added, This mix is a mess let's be real… I feel disrespected just for listening to it. How u gonna do Selena like that with this trash.
Supporters countered by highlighting Beyoncé’s lifelong admiration for the late Tejano star. Selena’s widow, Chris Pérez, stepped forward to defend the creative choice, sharing an Instagram post celebrating the sample. In a comment underneath his post, Chris slammed the criticism about her creative choice, writing:
“Say what you want. Shout out to Beyoncé for showing respect to an ICON. Some of you can be a bit much at times. I understand your opinion. BUT, you’re used to hearing the original version of ‘Como La Flor’ performed by the original, baddest, most iconic singer/performer…Selena.”
In my opinion, nobody will ever, CAN ever, top Selena's performance. But, dammit…can't you just appreciate that another iconic/amazing artist (Beyoncé) chose to highlight Selena in this way? ESPECIALLY in today's musical climate? All love.
Unreleased Tracks and the Rollout
The expanded edition also rescues several vault cuts from obscurity. Listeners gain access to previously unreleased songs including “Creole,” “Back Up,” “Lost Yo Mind,” and Can I Watch You
featuring Pharrell Williams alongside the original tracks from 2006. The star first teased the anniversary project with the release of Morning Dew (Donk)
on July 4, kicking off the 60-day countdown to the album’s highly anticipated unveiling.
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