MTV Canada is set to celebrate the release of Beyoncé’s highly-anticipated new album “4” by taking viewers on a journey through the artistic process of the multi-Grammy® Award-winning artist in a half-hour television special entitled “Beyoncé: Year of 4,” premiering on Thursday, June 30th at 9 PM ET on MTV Canada.
“Beyoncé: Year of 4” is the story of Beyoncé’s return as an independent woman navigating her company through the rough waters of the music industry, making a personal album that’s unlike anything she’s ever done. After the much anticipated “I AM…” tour ends, Beyoncé finds herself in dire need of a break. Being a workaholic, and wholly dedicated to her career, she never considered taking a year off, but finally listens to her mother’s advice and disappears from the public’s eye. On her year off, Beyoncé travels the world, spends time with her family and husband, Jay-Z (documented by her with her own camera). She gives herself time to reflect on what she’s accomplished and decide what the next chapter of her life will look like. She refuses to let her meteor-like career pass her by and decides to take control of her business, while making an album that is heartfelt and personal. She returns to the studio where she opens up the range of musical choices and invites artists of all genres and styles to collaborate with her. Drawing from the music she grew up listening to in the 90’s, like Michael Jackson, Prince and Boyz ll Men, she creates a sound that is warm and familiar, yet futuristic and experimental. On “4,” Beyoncé makes a conscious effort to do something completely different without playing to the mainstream expectations of her… and she succeeds.
Even though she feels completely at home at the studio, the process of taking over her company proves to be harder than expected. Having her father by her side all those years, Beyoncé is – for the first time in her life – in charge of all aspects of her business.
Beyoncé discovers that her new found independence might be a difficult challenge, but she won’t give up because she wants to set an example for women all over the world. Women can be the masters of their own universe.
