Beyoncé, one of the most prominent celebrities of the 21st century, has maintained her appeal throughout a career spanning nearly two decades. Her solo career has been nearly unrivalled after she left Destiny’s Child, the trio girl-group that brought her to fame. Dangerously in Love, a horn-heavy album released in 2003, was the start of her solo career.
As Queen Bey turns 43, to help you remember her historic journey, we’ve ranked ten of her songs from the start of her career to now.
…Without further delay, let’s dive in!
10. Irreplaceable (2006)
Our list begins with a fan-favorite breakup track that appreciates one’s self-worth, and it’s truly powerful and empowering. Beyoncé’s vocals in this song are amazing. Millions of listeners around the world have taken its lyrics to heart. This track helped her dominate genres like pop, dance, R&B, and even adult contemporary. It has earned a triple platinum milestone and helped establish her as a successful cross-genre artist.
9. Single Ladies (2008)
The memorable chorus and dance moves of this classic song made it an instant hit in pop culture. Beyoncé’s liberating message of female independence and self-love touched every woman on the planet. Jake Nava directed the song’s music video, which was a masterclass in dance and visual storytelling.
Best R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Song of the Year were all awarded to Single Ladies at the Grammy Awards (2009). Between 2008 and 2010, it was recognized as one of the top songs of the same year by several media publications and received numerous other accolades and nominations.
8. Sweet Dreams (2009)
Bey’s next track is a timeless dance anthem. This song—with its powerful bassline and catchy melody—really establishes her as someone who can seamlessly blend pop and house music together. It shows her versatility and eagerness to explore multiple genres. Sweet Dreams was actually leaked onto the Internet eight months before the album, and a year and a few months before it was released as a single (March 2008). The absence of “Turn the Lights On” in the leaked version differentiates it from the official version.
7. Check On It (2006)
Check On It has some energetic rap verses courtesy of Slim Thug, which add to the overall fun and upbeat atmosphere of the song, making it a complete party anthem. This catchy chorus and powerful vocals from Beyoncé made this song an instant hit, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It was played heavily on American radio stations. The song was released as the second single from the album #1. The first single, Stand Up for Love which was released in 2005 from the same album, did not perform well on the charts.
6. Formation (2016)
Next on our list is Formation, which is an unabashed, straightforward statement about black pride and empowerment. You could call it a powerful anthem that sparked important conversations about race, identity, and social justice. “Go ‘y’all haters corny with that Illuminati mess paparazzi/ Catch my fly, and my cocky fresh/ I’m so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress (stylin’)/ I’m so possessive, so I rock my necklace” are some of the powerful lines in the song.
The song’s debut performance, on the eve of his highly anticipated performance at the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, was a significant moment in pop culture. The song and its visual counterpart, a music video, were released in the first week of February 2016.
5. Crazy in Love (2003)
Beyoncé’s first single as a solo artist was Crazy in Love in 2003, which instantly became a classic bop and showcased her incredible musical skills to the world. Her vocals, along with the song’s catchy chorus and upbeat tempo, instantly made this pop song popular with fans around the world and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight weeks.
Grammy-winning producer Rich Harrison played all the instruments on this track. Beyoncé wrote the song’s bridge, and American rapper and the singer’s current husband, Jay-Z, recorded a rap verse at the end of the song’s production.
4. Baby Boy (2003)
Baby Boy performed by Sean Paul is a dancehall-infused pop song that truly shows how versatile Beyoncé has been in her career. From the song’s infectious rhythm to the artist’s sensual vocals, it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for nine weeks. The overall theme of the song is perfectly reflected in its lyrics, “Baby boy you’re on my mind / Fulfill my fantasies / I think about you all the time / I see you in my dreams.”
3. Naughty Girl (2004)
Queen Bey’s song is a disco-influenced dance song that showcases her powerful voice and her vivacious spirit. Its fast melody and catchy tempo made it an instant favorite at parties and clubs. After this, Naughty Girl became the fourth and last single from Columbia Records.
The track is from her album Dangerously in Love (2003). Beyoncé claimed that since she was writing it for herself, it is more intimate than any of her previous albums. Naughty Girl was originally supposed to be the album’s lead single, but Crazy in Love was eventually chosen in the end.
2. Drunk in Love (2013)
Drunk in Love is a provocative, sensual song that features her husband Jay-Z to showcase the passionate side of love. Beyoncé’s voice is raw and strong, with candid lyrics that have once again broken boundaries and sparked excitement amongst her fans.
The pop icon sings, “We’re falling in love all night/The last thing I remember is our beautiful bodies swaying in that club/Dropping in love,” reflecting a laid-back attitude. Before seductively hissing, “Dropping in love.”
1. Break My Soul (2022)
Her most recent song on our list is Break My Soul, an anthem of liberation and self-expression. Which makes Bey’s voice powerful enough to resonate around the world. In this song, her voice sounds energetic and really catchy. The message in this song-resistance and resilience-is really encouraging.
When the song was first released, it was well received by critics, who called it an ode to the Great Resignation and praised the composition and lyrics. It reached number one on four global charts and made the top ten in several countries, including the US and the UK.
Beyoncé turns 43 today, and in honor of her birthday, we look at how, beyond her successes in music, the singer has made a significant impact on popular culture. She’s a trailblazer for women in the music industry who has inspired millions of followers worldwide and broken down barriers based on gender.
Her performances at Coachella in 2018 will go down in history as one of the greatest live performances of all time. She became a fashion icon thanks to her style and fashion sense, which influenced trends and inspired the creativity of designers. Beyoncé has cemented her status in history as a pop icon, even though she still continues to blossom as an artist.
Also read: 10 best Ariana Grande songs to listen to on the singer’s 31st birthday: From 7 Rings to Thank U, Next
