Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes is a remix and video album by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on June 16, 2009 through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment exclusively to Walmart and J&R, although it was later made available through other retailers. Consisting of two discs, the album features music videos and dance remixes of singles from her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes peaked at number thirty-five on the US Billboard 200, and received generally favorable reviews from music critics. It also appeared on US Billboard component charts, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Dance/Electronic Albums. The remix version of "Ego" included on the album, featuring Kanye West, was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards (2010).

Background and content

Above and Beyoncé comprises two discs. The first contains the music videos of six of the singles from her 2008 studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce: "If I Were a Boy", "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", "Diva", "Halo", Broken-Hearted Girl" and "Ego". It also features a "fan exclusive" cut of the "Ego" video and behind-the-scenes footage of the shooting of the videos. The second disc hosts electronica dance remixes of the songs, as well as of the album's sixth single, "Sweet Dreams". A mix of "Ego" with a rap verse from Kanye West closes the album.

Release and artwork

On June 15, 2009, the behind-the-scenes footage was broadcast on BET's Access Granted. The remix video for "Ego" premiered afterwards. The cover art of Above and Beyoncé was previewed by People magazine in May 2009. The album was originally released exclusively to Walmart and J&R, on June 16, 2009. The dance mixes only were made available via MP3 format through Amazon Music the same day, and the whole album was released to the online store on November 3, 2009. The iTunes Store began selling the remixes on February 1, 2010.

Critical reception

AllMusic's Andy Kellman called the album "a nice set for devoted fans who haven't already shelled out for all the mixes", and awarded it three out of five stars. In 2011, Maura Gavaghan, writing for MTV, said: "The creative title of this video album alone is a reason for every devoted fan... to buy a copy". She added that the dance remixes of the songs make a "dance party in a neatly packaged DVD set".

Commercial performance

Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes debuted at number thirty-six on the US Billboard 200 chart dated July 4, 2009, selling 14,000 copies that week. It later peaked at number thirty-five, spending fourteen weeks on the chart. On the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes debuted and peaked at number twenty-three, spending forty-three weeks on the chart. Among the US Dance/Electronic Albums, the album debuted at number two, placing below Lady Gaga's debut studio album The Fame (2008). It spent a total of forty-eight weeks on the chart, including twenty-four weeks in the top ten. Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes was ranked at number nine on the year-end US Dance/Electronic Albums for 2009, and at number twenty-one for 2010.

Track listing

Video Collection

Dance Mixes

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic and Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes's liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history