Diva Spotlight: Beyoncé

Yes, it's time; time to talk about Beyoncé. Don't get me wrong, there's a good amount of her stuff that I like, but I am definitely not going to call myself a member of the Beyhive. Whether you're a fan or not, you can't deny that she's inflential and iconic, and has been for three and a half decades.

Here is our fact dump (information current as of November 2025):

-Legal name is Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

-44 years old (she's a Virgo)

-Born in Houston, Texas

-Singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman

-She specializes as a vocalist

-Primary genres include R&B, pop, hip hop, and country

-Has been married to rapper Jay-Z since 2008 and they have three children together

-Has won 755 total awards, making her the most awarded female artist of all time; these include 1 Emmy, 35 Grammys, and 78 current Guinness World Records

-Has released 8 solo studio albums

We'll be focusing solely on Beyoncé's solo catalogue, which will not include her work with Destiny's Child. Also, since she's one of the top selling artists of all time, we'll be looking at how her songs, even the ones that weren't radio singles, have charted and been certified through the years. Okay, here we go!

Dangerously in Love (2003)

Beyoncé's debut hip hop/soul/R&B album was released June 20th, 2003 by Columbia and Music World when she was 21 years old. With a run time of 60:42, the album had five singles released: Crazy in Love (5/18/03); Baby Boy (8/3/03); Me, Myself and I (10/19/03); Naughty Girl (3/14/04); and The Closer I Get to You (6/13/04). Dangerously in Love peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, has been certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2004 Grammy Awards. What a solo debut Bey showed up with, especially including one of the most iconic songs of the decade. I do struggle with R&B some, just not finding it as catchy as other genres, but I was able to appreciate a few songs on here quite a bit. Here's my Top 3:

Track 1: Crazy in Love ft. Jay-Z (written by B. Knowles, S. Carter, R. Harrison, E. Record)

I'm a Millennial Woman, of course I lose it when Crazy in Love comes on. It won Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2004 Grammys, peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA, and is the canonical of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's romantic relationship.

I look and stare so deep in your eyes, I touch on you more and more every time/When you leave, I’m begging you not to go, call your name two, three times in a row/Such a funny thing for me to try to explain, how I’m feeling and my pride is the one to blame/Yeah, ‘cause I know I don’t understand just how your love can do what no else can/Got me looking so crazy right now, your love’s got me looking so crazy right now/Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch got me looking so crazy right now/Got me hoping you page me right now, your kiss got me hoping you save me right now/Looking so crazy in love, got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love

Track 2: Naughty Girl (written by S. Storch, R. Waller, A. Beyince, P. Bellotte, G. Moroder, D. Summer, B. Knowles)

Don't ask me why I never realized this was Beyoncé, I'm feeling dumb enough as it is. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.

I’m feeling sexy, I wanna hear you say my name, boy/If you can reach me, you can feel my burning flame/Feeling kinda n-a-s-t-y, I just might take you home with me/Baby, the minute I feel your energy your vibe has just taken over me, start reeling so crazy, babe/Lately, I feel the funk coming over me/I don’t know what’s gotten into me, the rhythm’s got me feeling so crazy, babe/Tonight, I’ll be your naughty girl/I’m calling all my girls/I see you look me up and down/And I came to party

Track 8: Signs ft. Missy Elliott (written by M. Elliott, C. Brockman, N. Stewart)

I don't know why I love a silly little astrology song, they're just fun for some reason. Also, I love Missy Elliott.

In December, every sign has its own mode/I was in love with a Sagittarius/See the emotions he put me through/From Capricorn to Aquarius/They all got their different minds/The affection of a Virgo/Which sign matches good with mine/I was in love with a Sagittarius, he blew my mind/He also had a flip side, too much like a Gemini/He was freaky like a Taurus, the way he handled me, yeah/Flirtatious like an Aries, which sign is best for me/Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces/Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, oh/Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio/Sagittarius, I love all ya’ll/Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces/Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, oh/Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio/Sagittarius, I love all ya’ll

B'Day (2006)

Beyoncé's sophomore hip hop/funk/R&B album was released September 1st, 2006 by Columbia, Music World, and Sony a few days before her 25th birthday. With a run time of 62:25 on the Deluxe version, the album had six singles released: Déja Vu (6/24/06); Ring the Alarm (9/10/06); Irreplaceable (10/23/06); Get Me Bodied (7/10/07); Beautiful Liar (2/12/07); and Green Light (7/27/07). B'Day peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards. I liked this one more than Dangerously in Love, I must say. There were a lot of fun, nostalgic throwbacks on here, and while the album felt a little long to me I had a pretty good time. Here's this Top 3:

Track 2: Irreplaceable (written by B. Knowles, E. Lind, M. Eriksen, T. Hermanson, A. Björklund, S. Smith)

Maybe it makes me uber basic, but this is probably my favorite Beyoncé song. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA.

To the left, to the left, everything you own in a box to the left/In the closet, that’s my stuff, yes, if I bought, please don’t touch, don’t touch/And keep talking that mess, that’s fine, could you walk and talk at the same time/And it’s my name that’s on that Jag, so remove your bags, let me call you a cab/Standing in the front yard, telling me how I’m such a fool/Talking ‘bout I’ll never, ever find a man like you, you got me twisted/You must not know ‘bout me, you must not know ‘bout me/I could have another you in a minute, matter of fact, he’ll be here in a minute, baby/You must not know ‘bout me, you must not know ‘bout me/I can have another you by tomorrow, so don't you ever for a second get to thinking you’re irreplaceable

Track 6: Upgrade U (written by B. Knowles, M. Riddick, S. Garrett, S. Carter, W. Clarke, C. Reid, S. Knowles)

I don't think I realized this was Beyoncé on her own and not Destiny's Child, oops. It peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.

I hear you be the block, but I’m the lights that keep the streets on/Notice you the type that like to keep them on a leash, though/I’m known to walk alone but I’m alone for a reason/Sending me a drink ain’t appeasing, believe me/Come harder, this won’t be easy/Don’t doubt yourself, trust me, you need me/This ain’t no shoulder with a chip or a ego/But what you think they all mad at me for/You need a real woman in your life, that’s a good look/Taking care of home and still fly, that’s a good look/And I’ma help you build up your account, that’s a good look, better yet, a hood look/Believe me, ladies, that’s a good look/When you’re in them big meetings for the mills, that’s a good look/You take me just to compliment the deal, that’s a good look/Anything you cop, I’ll split the bill, that’s a good look, better yet, a hood look/Believe me, ladies, that’s a good look/Partner, let me upgrade u, Audemars Piguet you/Switch your neck ties to purple labels, upgrade u/I can up, can I up, lemme upgrade u/Partner, let me upgrade u/Partner, let me upgrade u, flip a new page/Introduce you to some new things and upgrade u/I can up, can I up, lemme upgrade u/Partner, let me upgrade u

Track 11: Freakum Dress (written by B. Knowles, R. Harrison, M. Riddick, A. Beyince)

This was another fun one, definitely a girl power anthem type song. It's been certified Gold by the RIAA.

I think I’m ready, been locked up in the house way too long/It’s time to get it, ‘cause once again he’s out doing wrong/And my girls are so real, said it’s been a minute since I had some/He’s been acting up, but he won’t be the only one/‘Cause when he acts wrong, that’s when you put it on/Get him uptight, this is your song/Hold out your back, time to impress/Pull out your freakum dress/Oh, oh, oh, oh, put your freakum dress on/Oh, oh, oh, put your freakum dress on/Oh, oh, oh, oh, put your freakum dress on/Oh, oh, oh, put your freakum dress on/Oh, oh, oh, oh, every woman got one/Oh, oh, oh, shut it down when the time comes/Oh, oh, oh, oh, pull out the big guns/Oh, oh, oh, and put your freakum dress on

I AM...SASHA FIERCE (2008)

Beyoncé's third pop/R&B album was released November 12th, 2008 by Columbia and Music World when she was 27 years old. With a run time of 41:36, the album had nine singles released: If I Were a Boy (10/8/08); Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) (10/8/08); Diva (1/20/09); Halo (1/20/09); Ego (5/19/09); Sweet Dreams (6/2/09); Broken-Hearted Girl (8/28/09); and Video Phone (9/22/09). I AM...SASHA FIERCE peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, has been certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2010 Grammy Awards. There are a lot of influential and iconic moments here, but I still liked B'day better. The album is broken up into two discs: Disc 1 (I AM...) which is a lot of really strong vocal moments from Beyoncé and Disc 2 (SASHA FIERCE) with much more dancey, club-inspired music from her former onstage alter ego Sasha Fierce. Here's my Top 3 this time:

I AM... Track 2: Halo (written by R. Tedder, E. Bogart, B. Knowles-Carter)

This is honestly a beautiful song with some great vocals from Bey. It peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, has been certified 11x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2010 Grammys.

Remember those walls I built, well, baby, they’re tumbling down/And they didn’t even put up a fight, they didn’t even make a sound/I found a way to let you in, but I never really had a doubt/Standing in the light of your halo, I got my angel now/It’s like I’ve been awakened, every rule I had, you breaking/It’s the risk that I’m taking, I ain’t never gonna shut you out/Everywhere I’m looking now, I’m surrounded by your embrace/Baby, I can see your halo, you know you’re my saving grace/You’re everything I need and more, it’s written all over your face/Baby, I can feel your halo, pray it won’t fade away/I can feel your halo, halo, halo/I can see your halo, halo, halo/I can feel your halo, halo, halo/I can see your halo, halo, halo

I AM... Track 5: Ave Maria (written by B. Knowles-Carter, A. Gosein, I. Dench, M. Eriksen, T. Hermansen, F. Schubert, M. Riddick)

As a classical music student and fan, I loved hearing the influence of Schubert's classic piece here. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

She was lost in so many different ways/Out in the darkness with no guide/I know the cost of a losing hand/Never for the grace of God, oh, I/I found heaven on Earth/You are my last, my first/And then I hear this voice inside/Ave Maria

SASHA FIERCE Track 1: Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (written by B. Knowles-Carter, C. Stewart, T. Nash, T. Harrell)

Just because I refused to use this song for my own bouquet toss at my wedding doesn't mean I don't dance when it comes on. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, has been certified 11x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Song of the Year, Best R&B Song, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 2010 Grammys.

Up in the club, we just broke up, I’m doing my own little thing/You decided to dip, and now you wanna trip ‘cause another brother noticed me/I’m up on him, he up on me, don't pay him any attention/‘Cause I cried my tears for three good years, you can’t be mad at me/‘Cause if you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it/If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it/Don’t be mad once you see that he want it/'Cause if you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it

4 (2011)

Beyoncé's fourth R&B album was released June 24th, 2011 by Parkwood and Columbia when she was 29 years old. With a run time of 46:28, the album had seven singles released: Run the World (Girls) (4/21/11); Best Thing I Never Had (6/1/11); Party (8/30/11); Love On Top (9/12/11); Countdown (10/4/11); I Care (3/23/12); and End of Time (4/23/11). 4 peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA. I ended up enjoying this album for the most part. It feels a little more pop than R&B to me, but Beyoncé's vocals on pretty much every song are really quite good. Here's this album's Top 3:

Track 1: Love On Top (written by B. Knowles-Carter, S. Taylor, T. Nash)

This song is a lot of fun, both on its own and to reference from the iconic Vine ("Anything for you, Beyoncé!"). It peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 2013 Grammys.

Honey, honey, I can see the stars all the way from here/Can’t you see the glow on the window pane/I can feel the sun whenever you’re near/Every time you touch me, I just melt away/Now everybody asks me why I’m smiling out from ear to ear/They say love hurts, but I know it’s gonna take a little work/Nothing’s perfect, but it’s worth it after fighting through my tears, and finally, you put me first/Baby, it’s you, you’re the one I love, you’re the one I need/You’re the only one I see, come on, baby, it’s you/You’re the one that gives your all, you’re the one I can always call/When I need, you make everything stop, finally, you put my love on top

Track 3: Schoolin' Life (written by B. Knowles-Carter, S. Taylor, C. McKinney, T. Nash)

I enjoyed this one, and its encouragement to people from different walks of life. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

This is for them twenty-somethings/Time really moves fast, you were just sixteen/This is for them thirty-somethings/That didn’t turn out exactly how your mom and dad wanted you to be/This is for them forty-somethings/Well, raise up your glass and laugh like a motherfucker/This is for them fifty-somethings/Hell, you're halfway there, baby, take it to the head/Mom and dad tried to hide the world/Said the world’s just too big for a little girl/Eyes wide open, can’t you see/I had my first heels by the age of thirteen/Mom and dad tried to hide the boys/I swear that just made ‘em want me more/At fourteen, they asked me what I wanna be/I said, "Baby, twenty-one so I can get me a drink"/I’m not a teacher, baby, but I can teach you something/Not a preacher, but we can pray if you wanna/Ain’t a doctor, but I can make you feel better/But I’m great at writing physical love letters/I’m a freak, all day, all night, ooh/Hot, top, flight, boy, I’m out of sight/And I’m crazy, all day, all night/Who needs a degree when you’re schooling life

Track 9: 1+1 (written by B. Knowles-Carter, C. Stewart, C. Carter, T. Nash)

I liked this little love song a lot. It peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

If I ain’t got nothing, I got you/If I ain’t got something, I don’t give a damn ‘cause I got it with you/I don’t know much about algebra, but I know one plus one equals two/And it’s me and you, that’s all we’ll have when the world is through/‘Cause baby, we ain’t got nothing without love/Darling, you got enough for the both of us/So come on, baby, make love to me/When my days look low, pull me in close and don't let me go/Make love to me so when the world’s at war/Let our love heal us all right now, baby/Make love to me, me, me, me, me/Oh, oh, make love to me

BEYONCÉ (2013)

Beyoncé's fifth electro R&B album was released December 13th, 2013 by Parkwood and Columbia when she was 32 years old. With a run time of 66:35, the album had eight singles released: Blow (12/13/13); Xo (12/16/13); Drunk in Love (12/16/13); Partition (2/25/14); Pretty Hurts (6/10/14); Flawless (Remix) (8/12/14); 7/11 (11/25/14); and Ring Off (11/28/14). BEYONCÉ peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, has been certified 6x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Surround Sound Album at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Shadow dropping this album on iTunes was a MOVE, but this has never been my favorite album to be honest. There's some ok moments on it, but a lot of the songs sound too similar to me. Here's my Top 3 for this album:

Disc 1, Track 2: Haunted (written by B. Knowles-Carter, J. Cruz)

This song makes an appearance on my Halloween playlist, fun fact. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

It’s what you do, it’s what you see/I know if I’m haunting you, you must be haunting me/It’s where we go, it’s where we’ll be/I know if I’m onto you, I’m onto you, onto you, you must be onto me/My haunted lungs, ghost in the sheets/I know if I’m onto you, you must be haunting me/My wicked tongue, where will it be/I know if I’m onto you, onto you, I’m on to you/Onto you, you must be onto me

Disc 1, Track 14: Blue ft. Blue Ivy (written by B. Knowles-Carter, J. Cruz)

This one's my favorite from the album, especially since I first heard it not long after my own daughter was born. Blue Ivy was barely a year old here, which is crazy now seeing how grown she is.

Sometimes these walls seem to cave in on me/When I look in your eyes, I feel alive/Some days, we say words that don’t mean a thing/But when you’re holding me tight, I feel alive/Make it last forever/Come on, baby, won’t you hold on to me, hold on to me/You and I together/Come on baby, won’t you hold on to me, hold on to me, Blue

Disc 2, Track 4: Ring Off (written by M. Caran, B. Knowles-Carter, W. Bean, M. Dean, D. Dixie, A. Amezada, C. Hollis, S. Bishop, C. Hinshaw, G. Earley)

I especially like the music on the intro here. I'm a little surprised it didn't chart higher with it being a single.

Mama, I understand your many sleepless nights/When you sit and you think about Father, or how you tried to be the perfect wife/You used to dress and fix your hair, then you smiled through your tears/In the mirror, you would stare and say a prayer/Like, "I wish he said I’m beautiful/I wish it didn’t hurt at all/I don’t know how I got here/I was once the one who had his heart"/Until you had enough, then you took that ring off, you took that ring off/So tired of the lies and trying, fighting, crying, took that ring off/Oh, now the fun begins, dust yourself off and you love again/You found a new man, now you shine and you’re fine, like it’s my time, you took that ring off

Lemonade (2016)

Beyoncé's sixth art pop/R&B/rock/country/soul album was released April 23rd, 2016 by Parkwood and Columbia when she was 34 years old. With a run time of 45:45, the album had five singles released: Formation (2/6/16); Sorry (5/3/16); Hold Up (5/27/16); Freedom (9/9/16); and All Night (12/2/16). Lemonade peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, has been certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Now this album kicks some serious ass, not going to lie. It's definitely an angrier album, especially given the theory that it was written after Jay-Z cheated on Beyoncé (dumbass), but this is up there with B'day for how much I enjoyed it. Here's the Top 3 for me:

Track 5: 6 Inch ft. The Weeknd (written by D. Schofield, A. Balshe, D. Portner, N. Lennox, B. Weitz, B. Bacharach, H. David, A. Tesfaye, B. Diehl, B. Knowles-Carter, J. Cruz, T. Nash)

I like the beat and the vocal modifications on this one. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Six inch heels, she walked in the club like nobody’s business/Goddamn, she m******d everybody and I was her witness/She works for the money, she works for the money/From the start to the finish/And she worth every dollar, she worth every dollar/And she worth every minute/She work for the money/She work for the money/She work for the money/She work for the money/She stack her money, money everywhere she goes/Her Yamazaki straight from Tokyo/She got them commas and them decimals/She don’t gotta give it up ‘cause she professional

Track 6: Daddy Lessons (written by B. Knowles-Carter, K. Cossom, D. Gordon, A. Delicata)

I love the country influence that permeates this one. It peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Came into this world daddy’s little girl/And Daddy made a soldier out of me/Daddy made me dance, and Daddy held my hand/And Daddy liked his whiskey with his tea/And we rode motorcycles, blackjack, classic vinyl/Tough girl is what I had to be/He said, "Take care of your mother, watch out for your sister"/And oh, that’s when he gave to me/With his gun and his head held high, he told me not to cry/Oh, my daddy said shoot, oh, my daddy said shoot/With his right hand on his rifle, he swore it on the Bible/My daddy said shoot, oh, my daddy said shoot/He held me in his arms and he taught me to be strong/He told me when he’s gone, here’s what you do/When trouble comes in town and men like me come around/Oh, my daddy said shoot, oh my daddy said shoot

Track 8: Sandcastles (written by V. Berry, M. Yussef, M. Mathers, B. Knowles-Carter)

I love the piano here, and the more quiet anger in it makes it so emotional. It peaked at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

We built sandcastles that washed away/I made you cry when I walked away, oh/And although I promised that I couldn’t stay, baby/Every promise don’t work out that way/Oh, babe, every promise don’t work out that way/Dishes smashed on my counter from our last encounter/Pictures snatched out the frame/Bitch, I scratched out your name and your face/What I said about you that I can’t erase, baby/When every promise don’t work out that way/No, no, babe, when every promise don’t work out that way

RENAISSANCE (2022)

Beyoncé's seventh dance/house/pop/R&B album was released July 29th, 2022 by Parkwood and Columbia when she was 40 years old. With a run time of 62:14, the album had four singles released: BREAK MY SOUL (6/20/22); CUFF IT (9/30/22); AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM (5/19/23); and VIRGO'S GROOVE (6/2/23). RENAISSANCE peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards. This album is definitely for somebody, but it's not me. I enjoyed it a tiny bit more than the first time I listened to it in 2022, but it's still just not my vibe. Here's this Top 3:

Track 2: COZY (written by N. Charles, H. Redmond, L. Solomon, M. Dean, D. Giles, T. Gesteelde-Diamant, C. Smith, B. Knowles-Carter, C. Penny, C. Jones)

I've gone back and forth with this one, but I do like the message about being comfortable in your own skin, especially as a woman in my 30s. It peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

Damn, I love the burning of the dagger from the words that you say, fuck yeah/Dancing in the mirror, kiss my scars because I love what they made, ooh, yeah/She’s a god, she’s a hero, she survived all she been through/Confident, damn she lethal, might I suggest you don’t fuck with my sis ‘cause she comfortable/Comfortable in my skin, cozy with who I am/Comfortable in my skin, cozy, cozy/Comfortable in my skin, my feet up above your sins/I love myself, goddamn, cozy/Cozy, I’m so cozy/I love me, they hate me/Because they want me

Track 5: ENERGY ft. BEAM (written by T. Thompson, A. Cresso, J. Douglas, T. Makuria, B. Coney, T. Gesteelde-Diamant, M. Brockett, A. McGrier, A. Pigott, F. Ross, B. Knowles-Carter, C. Hugo, D. Andrews, P. Williams, S. Moore)

I like the beat on this one, it definitely helps make it a groove. It peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

On stage, rocking, I’m stir crazy/Cocoa flow like 1980’s/Come, let’s tell a drop lazy/None of that maybe energy/Energy, energy/Just vibe/Voting out 45, don’t get outta line, yeah/Ooh, pick a side/Only double lines we cross I dollar signs, yeah/Ooh, hold up/Wait, I hear you just got paid, make it rain/Energy/She more Cancún, he more Saint-Tropez/Big wave in the room, the crowd gon’ move/Look around, everybody on mute/Look around, it’s me and my crew/Big energy

Track 6: BREAK MY SOUL (written by T. Gesteelde-Diamant, A. George, F. McFarlane, A. Pigott, F. Ross, B. Knowles-Carter, C. Stewart, S. Carter)

This is the song I've liked most consistently since this album came out. It won Best Dance/Electronic Recording at the 2023 Grammys, peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.

I’m ‘bout to explode, take off this load/Bend it, bust it open, won’t you make it go/Release your wiggle, release your wiggle/Release your anger, release your mind/Release your job, release the time/Release your trade, release the stress/Relase the love, forget the rest/You won’t break my soul, you won’t break my soul/You won’t break my soul, you won’t break my soul/I’m telling everybody, everybody/Everybody, everybody/Now I just fell in love and I just quit my job/I’m gonna find new drive, damn, they work me so damn hard/Work by nine then off past five/And they work my nerves, that’s why I cannot sleep at night/I’m looking for motivation/I’m looking for a new foundation, yeah/And I’m on that new vibration/I’m building my own foundation, yeah/Hold up, oh baby, baby

COWBOY CARTER (2024)

Beyoncé's eighth country/country pop/outlaw country/Americana/western/pop album was released March 29th, 2024 by Parkwood and Columbia when she was 42 years old. With a run time of 78:21, the album has had three singles released: TEXAS HOLD 'EM (2/11/24); 16 CARRIAGES (2/11/24); and II MOST WANTED (4/12/24). COWBOY CARTER peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, has been certified Platinum by the RIAA, and won both Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Ok, there's been A LOT said about this album over the last year and a half, but my two cents is that it's a pretty good album, and I definitely enjoyed it more than I did RENAISSANCE. That being said, I'll repeat what I wrote in my year end post last year: I do not think this is a country album, but more of a country inspired pop album, which is not aa bad thing. Here's our final Top 3 for now:

Track 4: PROTECTOR with Rumi Carter (written by B. Knowles-Carter, R. Beatty, J. Rochon, C. Ochs)

The intro with Beyoncé's daughter Rumi starts melting my heart right away. The rest of the lyrics just leave me in a puddle as a mom.

And there I was, tangled up in marigold/We were listening to the reverent children singing, huh, yeah/Humming low as the garden river flows/While the August light becomes a golden evening, yeah/And I will lead you down that road if you lose your way/Born to be a protector, mhm/Even though I know someday you’re gonna shine on your own/I will be your projector, mhm

Track 7: TEXAS HOLD 'EM (written by B. Knowles-Carter, E. Boland, R. Saadiq, M. Bülow, B. Bates, N. Ferraro)

I know everyone got so sick of this song thanks to TikTok, but it's just so damn catchy I can't help but dance when it comes on. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.

This ain’t Texas, ain’t no hold ‘em/So lay your cards down, down, down, down/So park your Lexus and throw your keys up/Stick around, ‘round, ‘round, ‘round, ‘round/And I’ll be damned if I can’t slow dance with you, come pour some sugar on me, honey, too/It’s a real life boogie and a real life hoedown, don’t be a bitch, come take it to the floor now, whoo/There’s a tornado in my city/Hit the basement, that shit ain’t pretty/Rugged whiskey ‘cause we surviving/Off red cup kisses, sweet redemption passing time, yeah/Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, one step to the right/We heading to the dive bar we always thought was nice/Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, run me to the left/Then spin me in the middle, boy, I can’t read your mind

Track 10: JOLENE (written by D. Parton)

Bey honestly gets respect points for me for adding some updated lyrics to this but still giving all songwriting credit to Dolly. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene/I’m warning you, don’t come for my man/Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene/Don’t take the chance because you think you can/You’re beautiful beyond compare, takes more than beauty and seductive stares/To come between a family and a happy man/Jolene, I’m a woman, too, the games you play are nothing new/So you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene/We’ve been deep in love for twenty years, I raised that man, I raised his kids/I know my man better than he knows himself/I can easily understand why you’re attracted to my man/But you don’t want this smoke, so shoot your shot with someone else, you heard me

I had a great time checking out this ultimate diva's music, and I hope you did, too. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!