【Romantic comedy Archives】

While most members of the Beyhive are Romantic comedy Archivesimpatiently awaiting the first peek at Blue Ivy's newest twin siblings, please allow us to take a moment to revel in the 14th anniversary of the greatest Beyonce headline of all time, courtesy of the New York Times.

SEE ALSO: People are saying Jay-Z's new album is a response to Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

It's hard to believe there was a time when the world didn't wait on everything Bey does or says with bated breath. This headline is a reminder that even Beyonce had (somewhat) humble beginnings and provides a good laugh at how no one could foresee how she would conquer the world.

The occasion for this now iconic headline was a dual review by music critic Kelefa Sanneh of both Beyonce's debut solo album, Dangerously In Love(released June 24, 2003), and Ashanti's Chapter II(released July 1, 2003).

Sure, this headline debuted 14 years ago. But the Internet remembers.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

For those who may have forgotten: Beyonce's 2003 Dangerously In Lovelaunched Beyonce into the stratosphere from which she was yet to return. The album delivered a string of phenomenal singles like "Me, Myself, and I," "Baby Boy," "Naughty Girl," and, what may still be one of my personal favorite Bey jams of all-time, one those Jay-Z duets, "Crazy in Love."

Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

In hindsight, Dangerously In Lovewas a sneak peek at the music icon that Bey would become. It's a hell of a solo debut album, a showcase for Beyonce's talents that still stands on its own even 14 years later.

But Sanneh's lukewarm review is brief flashback to when Beyonce didn't totally rule the world yet.

Maybe this album is merely a misstep, and maybe Beyoncé has yet to record the brilliant solo album that people expected. Or maybe it's proof that she isn't quite as versatile as she seemed. She's a strong and independent singer, no doubt, but maybe she seems strongest and most independent when she's got a posse behind her.

It's also a window into a simpler time, a time when Jay and Bey were still hush-hush about their burgeoning relationship, "Crazy in Love" aside.

Over the last year or so, [Beyonce] has often been spotted with Jay-Z, and while she's been careful to avoid confirming or denying rumors that the two are a couple, she hasn't exactly quieted speculation by recording a series of duets with him.

That said, the general public didn't necessarily agree with the review, and the record sales have only solidified its place in pop music history. The album debuted at number one on Billboard's top 200 and has sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. alone since its release and it remains Bey's top-selling album of her career to this point..

None of this is to diss on Ashanti, who's continued to produce critically-acclaimed and top-selling albums herself.

Nor is it meant to criticize Sanneh or his work (which is really great!). He was hardly the only critic to have a "meh" take on Beyonce's first solo ride: Rolling Stonegave it 3 out of 5 stars as did VIBE, and British mag NMEgave it 2.5 stars out of 5.

No, this is all a reminder that there was once a time before Beyonce was Queen of the World and we should never, ever forget what those dark, awful times were like before we saw the light.

---

Featured Video For You

---

---

Topics Music Celebrities

• Entertainment
• Deals
• Science
• Games
• Digital Culture
• Life
• Tech
• Social Good

• The Anatomy of Liberal Melancholy
• Reading the First American Novel, Published 226 Years Ago
• Using the Art of Sculpture to Identify Crime Victims
• The Bawdy, Lovely Verse of the Earl of Rochester
• CPU Price Watch: 9900K Incoming, Ryzen Cuts
• William James Hated to Be Photographed
• “She's Not Gone,” a Poem By Philip Levine
• Pottery’s Journey from Utility to Art
• Switch 2 Nintendo Direct: Everything announced
• Why Did the Phrase “Brown Study” Fall Out of Fashion?

• MLB star Sean Doolittle perfectly summarizes why white Americans should listen to black activists
• 'Game of Thrones' sisters Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams got matching tattoos
• Vital campaign #StopTheStack wants chicken parmigiana served correctly
• Subway employee zaps bugs near customers' food
• The NFL Shop temporarily killed the Harambe jersey
• Antonio Brown was fined for twerking, and his response is gold
• Sweet little princess is terrified of Donald Trump
• True love is these German wax figures of Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris
• 7 things we learned from Donald Trump's Dr. Oz appearance
• How was a convicted serial rapist nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

• NYT mini crossword answers for May 9, 2025
• Chaucer Lived and Wrote in Squalor, a New Book Says
• In Aaron Wexler’s Collages, the Tangle of Nature
• Staff Picks: Kathy Acker, Egon Schiele, Elena Ferrante, and More
• How to Squeeze the Most Out of Your iPhone's Battery
• How to Carry a Political Grudge
• Announcing the Winner of Our Windows on the World Contest
• “IMHO”: The Delicate Art of Expressing Opinions Online
• President Trump says semiconductor tariffs are next
• Isidor and Ida Straus Put the Love Back in Valentine’s Day

• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for May 5, 2025
• How Do You Write Down a Dance?
• Staff Picks: Michel Houellebecq, Ben Metcalf, Björk, and More
• Isidor and Ida Straus Put the Love Back in Valentine’s Day
• The Made in America iPhone: How much would it cost?
• Why Do We Say “Wide Awake”?
• Reading the First American Novel, Published 226 Years Ago
• “A Sign,” a Poem by Philip Levine
• 5 Affordable Last
• Using the Art of Sculpture to Identify Crime Victims