Global superstar Beyoncé has shocked the world by unveiling her self-titled fifth studio album to iTunes without prior warning or any promotion. 

The record, simply entitled 'Beyoncé', is an 'exclusive visual album' and includes an impressive 14 songs along with 17 videos, which is a video for each track on the cut. 

In a press release, the beauty confessed that she is bored with the traditional route of releasing a new album so aimed to do something wildly different and more direct, in order to really connect with her fan base:

"I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it. I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans."

She also confessed to 'seeing music' rather than just hearing it, which inspired her to create a visual album: "I see music. It’s more than just what I hear.  When I’m connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies.  And they’re all connected to the music.”

She has also shared a series of short 30-second teaser clips for the songs included on the tracklisting. The offering is available on iTunes and guests listed on the record include Jay Z, Drake, Frank Ocean and her own daughter Blue Ivy. 

The full tracklisting is as follows:

1. Pretty Hurts
2. Haunted
3. Drunk In Love (feat. Jay Z)
4. Blow
5. No Angel
6. Partition
7. Jealous
8. Rocket
9. Mine (feat. Drake)
10. XO
11. Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche)
12. Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean)
13. Heaven
14. Blue (feat. Blue Ivy)