The 20 songs that chart Beyoncé’s evolution as a music superstar
From solo debut Dangerously In Love to Renaissance, Queen B's constantly been on the come-up
Music Features Songs
“I’m one of one, I’m number one, I’m the only one,” Beyoncé says, with no lies detected, in her new song “Alien Superstar.” As a performer and an artist, she has attained a status many musicians could only hope to achieve. The world all but stops turning when Queen B drops a single, with listeners eagerly anticipating every beat and lyric.
Over the past 25-plus years, Beyoncé has mastered the art of crafting cultural moments, along with the ability to turn a performance into a work of art that’s worth revisiting again and again. With the recent release of her opus, Renaissance, we decided this was the ideal time to track her remarkable evolution as an artist, from the earth-shattering debut “Crazy In Love” to the newest slay, “Summer Renaissance.”
15 Comments
Ok, I know that hyperbole is the language of modern music writing and criticism, but how can anyone write “Can anyone turn being horny into art better than Beyoncé?” and legitimately mean it?Ever heard of Prince? Donna Summer? Marvin Gaye? D’Angelo?I say this as someone who thinks Beyonce is fine, has enjoyed many of her songs (Single Ladies will be stuck in my head until I breathe my last), but writing like this displays a level of incuriousness that I find irritating. There’s no discussion of where it all fits into a bigger picture, just a knee jerk decision that anything produced by Beyonce is the greatest or best because it’s Beyonce.That’s all. Maybe I’m asking too much now. I’m going outside to yell at clouds.
I’m a fan of Beyoncé and I agree, it’s just lazy writing. Or youthful ignorance.
There’s something just so magical about her. She’s power and she’s sex and she’s leadership and she’s love but somehow she’s also silly and human?? I can’t ever get bored of her.
Just commenting before the inevitable hordes of Jezabellies brigade the comments with their cries of “YASS, QUEEN!”
Enjoyed this! Diva worship is a part of queerdom, seeing superstars like Beyonce who always loved their queer fans gave me hope there was somewhere safe out there for me when I was young. Popping in some headphones to feel safe is a really amazing thing, and she’s definitely a better artist the more she recognizes what music can provide, hence the evolution.
The criticisms that Beyonce is incapable of celebrating Black ballroom culture in her latest album is very reductive. She’s giving a thank you to her queer fans and a reminder that queer culture owes so much to Black Ballroom. And how much she was shaped by her Queer uncle.I think it’s fine when people just don’t enjoy her music or have fair critiques of the tracks, but the constant collaboration critique or that she’s too much of a capitalist never seems to be extended to other artists.
This is great. For me, it’s missing DC’s “Say My Name” — the liner notes specifically credit her with the song’s vocal arrangements , which are fantastic. There’s no verses for the other women in the group, this is a Beyonce solo song in all but name.
I think a couple of Destiny’s Child songs (“Survivor” would be another one I’d add) would make more sense than “Apeshit” which…no.Not mad at the slideshow format in this case and good choices across the board. For me “Love on Top” is my all time favorite
I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand the cult of Beyoncé. She’s definitely an amazing musical artist and a master of her genre, but her fans all seem to treat her as this messianic figure who can do no wrong and who’s every pronouncement is writ large upon the world. I don’t get it.And I’d have had “Irreplaceable” on this list ahead of Apeshit.
As with all Divas, your mileage will vary. I’ve always liked her fine (as a gey), but never really loved an album. I lean Solange > Bey.
Solange>B is 100% correct.
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“I’m one of one, I’m number one, I’m the only one,” Beyoncé says, with no lies detected, in her new song “
B is certainly very talented; has a great instrument, thinks about what she wants to say, is a solid musical artist and engaging performer, but…she’s not crushing it in my book.