The most iconic photos of Beyoncé Knowles on the web.

A sneak peak of Beyonce’s new video “Sweet Dreams” just surfaced along with her commentary on the song. “It’s very rare to find an up-tempo song that means something,” she notes, “that’s not just about going to a club or partying or being a sexy girl.”  Given that a lot of Bey’s up-tempo songs do follow a sort of “I am woman, watch me dance” formula, “Sweet Dreams” seems like an unlikely choice for her next single. The decision is smart however given that she has already released five power ballads and independent woman anthems off of I Am Sasha Fierce.

The video promises to be “flashy” and the leaked visuals definitely confirm that. One particular ensemble resembles what Marilyn Monroe might look like in gladiator get-up—a look Beyoncé can definitely pull off. This is Bey’s first time working with director Andria Petty, but they seem to share a vision for this project.

The song itself is about a relationship, a good one at that, presumably her marriage to Mr Shawn Carter. “This relationship is just so wonderful that it kind of scares me, its kind of too good to be true,” she says before adding, “I can say that I am a fulfilled happy woman.”  So much for being a single lady.

-Lukas Brekke-Miesner

Beyoncé unleashed Sasha Fierce at her recent GIANT cover shoot and luckily we had our cameras rolling to catch it all! Watch it below:

For more of Sasha, click here to see our red hot EXCLUSIVE photos here!

And for more Beyoncé, read an exerpt from our coverstory here!

The Renaissance woman is a marvel. But despite a life in the spotlight and the drives of obsessed fans, few people genuinely know Beyoncé Giselle Knowles. The words of those loved her best and longest, we present Sasha Fierce, Jay-Z’s bride, a dynamic musician, a skillful actress and an n adored daughter. The icon.

“You have to understand,” Jay-Z told me in 2003,before Beyoncé was his wife, when they were still getting to know each other, while they were negotiating their relationship with the public.” I don’t even like for people to know what my girl looks like…. and now I’m in a relationship with Michael Jackson!”

At the time, it wasn’t clear if Jay had a case of the love goggles. Sure, led by Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child hit the stratosphere in 2001, picking up Grammys, breaking Billboard records and churning out fun, girl-power R&B dance hits. (They wouldn’t be named bestselling girl group of all time until 2005, after they’d reunited in 2004 to record Destiny Fulfilled). But MJ? The greatest of all time? This was at a point when you couldn’t read an article on the group without Beyoncé being described as “bootylicious.” – DREAM HAMPTON

For more of Miss Sasha and Beyonce, click here to watch our EXCLUSIVE On The Set video here!

Click here to see more of Beyoncé’s “fierce” photos in GIANT’s exclusive photo gallery!

FOR THE FULL STORY, CHECK OUT THE NEW DECEMBER/JANUARY ISSUE OF GIANT ON NEWSSTANDS NOW!