More is always less when the global superstar herself – Beyoncé – is concerned. At this point in time, there’s barely anyone out there in the world who is not acquainted with her name and pizzazz, and rightly so.
Turning back time to the late 1990s, the singer debuted as one of the three members of the music band Destiny’s Child (previously known as Girl’s Tyme). What followed was a grand and golden solo music career that made heads turn. Her solo career took off with the debut of Dangerously Woman in 2003, featuring R&B hits like Crazy in Love, a single that’s still one of her most celebrated songs to date.
She is possibly the one woman artist with the highest number of accolades awarded to her. She has clinched it all, be it the RIAA Top Certified Artist or Billboard’s Top Female Artist. Her song lyrics speak proudly of her identity and blackness. She never shies away from acknowledging political matters of the moment, which also reflects itself in the charity work to which she dedicates her hours and wealth.
Since it’s Beyoncé’s birthday, we have undertaken the responsibility of throwing it back to some of the best songs in her ever-shining collection of bops. They will compel you to put your dancing shoes on and sway along while flaunting your inner diva. Cue the music!
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Beyoncé’s Best Songs That Move Us
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)
Soon to become a party anthem, this Beyoncé track gifted us with this evergreen dance video in 2008 with the resounding echo of hand claps. The repetitive refrain of the lyrics makes it an easy hit and has us following her as she flaunts the titular “ring” throughout the choreography. Regardless of whether you’re actually single, or not, or even a lady, the power of Queen Bey will have you moving in no time and chanting the lyrics of the song along with her.
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*** Flawless (ft. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
Just seeing Adichie’s name alongside Beyoncé in a track should send chills down your spine. This 2013 trap sound-influenced track off Beyoncé’s self-named album dauntingly challenges the societal expectation of women having to be flawless, and then overturns it by going along with Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists speech.
Break My Soul
Sampling club music from Show Me Love by Robin S., this 2022 song demands you to “release ya wiggle”. Throughout the track, Beyoncé attempts to brighten up our day by motivating us through the lows of life. The title hook will make you forget all your worries and bust out all your burdens and sadness, breaking it down on the dance floor.
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Crazy In Love
Of course, the pioneering debut single which led Beyoncé up the hill has to be on this list. Crazy in Love rose up to the charts of Billboard Hot 100 in July 2003. The most memorable trumpet sounds were sampled off Are You My Woman (Tell Me So) by Chi-Lites. If you didn’t dream of being as poised and beautiful as Beyoncé in this video, then you’re probably lying to yourself.
Formation
Formation was a cultural phenomenon, to say the least. In 2016, this particular track released this Black anthem that wasn’t anything basic. It bridges the gap between the self and one’s political stand in society. Shaking the music industry, it tops this music list because it reflects everything a Beyoncé track is supposed to be and goes to prove that no one else can ever come close to performing something like it.
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Special mention: Telephone
A collab for the ages! One can never get tired of blasting this track on the speakers. Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. A genius collaboration that blessed us all with a song that never gets old. Telephone is just as tasteful as it was is in 2009. Even though Beyoncé was a featured artist on this track, the two artists were at par and carried it to the top as the epitome of pop music that it ought to be.
Probably the most significant aspect of her personality that always rises to the occasion is how she has inspired women around the world to be their unapologetic selves, to be confident in their skin, and to celebrate their sexuality. Beyoncé is a symbol of empowerment, especially for women.
However, a thing like that doesn’t happen overnight. She puts herself through the grind and it shows in every single performance that she puts up onstage. Be it the 2018 Coachella (“Beychella”) or the endless original records of music she has released over the year, her evolution, hard work, and indomitable worth ethic deserve all the respect.
If anything, all her songs exude a power unlike any other. They not only ask one to stand up to dance but also to stand up for oneself and one’s community. It’s her musical legacy and it’s a golden page out of history that can’t ever be replaced.
Happy Birthday Queen Bey!
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