Happy Bey Day! I thought I would celebrate Beyoncé’s 40th birthday the only way I know how: with a special birthday blog post dedicated to the Queen B! As one of her top 1% listeners on Spotify, I owe this post to the world.
Beyoncé the GOAT
I’ve always loved Beyoncé, and that love/standom continues to grow each year. There are endless reasons to love and celebrate her – her art, the feel-good factor from her songs and performances, and her undeniable excellence.
I talk like this cause I can back it up.
Ego
She’s been active since 1997, with her solo career starting in 2003 spanning 6 studio albums and 80 singles. Beyoncé is the first artist in history to have their first 6 studio albums debut at #1. She has sold over 118 million records solo, and a further 60 million with Destiny’s Child. Although I enjoyed some of the singles off her earlier albums, I really started to stan Beyoncé as an artist after the release of ‘I am Sasha Fierce’. That album was a key part of my CD collection. In all honesty, there’s no album of hers that I play that can’t pick me up.
Beyoncé is the most awarded living artist; the first female artist to win 6 Grammy Awards in one night and is the woman with the most Grammy wins of all time. She is also the fist Black woman to have full ownership of an athleisure brand (Ivy Park).
Beyoncé really embodies excellency in music and life, not just in the records that she releases but also her dedication to her craft. Only last week, Jay-Z spoke to ET about some of the reasons why he lovers her: “She’s super detail-oriented, obviously, as you can see from her work. She’s an incredibly hard worker, super talented, very inspiring.”
I dream it, I work hard. I grind ’til I own it, I twirl on them haters.
Formation
Not only is she an incredible singer, I do believe that her passion and dedication is the reason why she’s always at the top of her game.
How you gonna upgrade me? What’s higher than number one?
Upgrade U
The Queen of Visual Albums
Dropping an album with a video for each song is no easy feat, but Beyoncé’s visual albums are nothing short of perfection.
Beyoncé
Self-titled was Beyoncé’s first visual album. She said that she wanted her fans to invest in the whole experience, rather than just get wrapped in the main singles or the hype.
I sneezed on the beat and the beat got sicker.
Yoncé
This album solidified her status as a GOAT, given she dropped it with no promotion or prior announcement. Only Beyoncé could encourage the American music industry to move album release dates from Tuesday to Friday.
And you can say what you want, I’m the sh*t.
Flawless (Remix)
Not only that, Beyoncé has an incredible team around her – or those NDAs must be tight. I’ve never seen any of her music or videos leak ahead of a release.
Lemonade
Lemonade was released during my second year at university and it gave me everything. It honestly got me through my second year exams. I mean Beyoncé in that yellow dress swinging around that bat was everything.
It’s strongly feminist and shines a focus on the Black female experience in a unique way. It’s also a very emotional album, especially given the strong connection of the story to infidelity, widely thought to reflect Jay Z’s rumoured adultery.
You know I give you life. And if you try that sh*t again, you gon’ lose your wife.
Don’t Hurt Yourself
There are so many anthems on this album. I love this album and I ain’t sorry.
Imma keep running because a winner don’t quit on themselves.
Freedom
Black is King
Black is King is known to have taken at least a year to produce. It’s the companion visual album to ‘The Gift’, the soundtrack to the 2019 remake of the Lion King. It’s a powerful statement of African-diaspora pride and creativity, featuring the work of African-American and African artists, dancers, designers and influences. This didn’t come without critique, but Black is King is undeniably Beyoncé’s most elaborate visual album.
For me, it was 10/10 and clearly demonstrated the creativity within Beyoncé’s mind. As an abstract retelling of the Lion King, my favourite Disney movie, what’s not to love.
From the repetitive quotation of ‘who are you’, a key theme in the original story, and also the mirroring of scenes from ‘Hakuna Matata’ and ‘I Just Can’t Wait to Be King’ in ‘Mood 4 Eva’, it’s a cinematic masterpiece. Although an honourable mention goes to the ‘Brown Skin Girl’ video, celebrating dark-skinned women of colour, my favourite video is ‘Already’.
The Queen of Perfomance
In third year at university, I used to watch videos of Beyoncé’s live performances in the living room with my flatmates. I didn’t think perfection was possible, until I watched Beyoncé perform. Her performances and vocals are always so effortless and passionate. I always tell people who think Beyoncé is overrated (which is not possible), to watch her perform.
Her favourite performances of mine are:
- 2011 MTV Music Video Awards – Beyoncé flawlessly performed ‘Love on Top’ and announced her pregnancy
- 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show – this was a great show for OG fans with a medley of her classic hits and an appearance from Destiny’s Child
- 2016 BET Awards – I’ll never forget this powerful performance of Freedom, with Beyoncé strutting around in a pool of water, with a surprise appearance from Kendrick Lamar for his verse
- 2017 Grammys – Whilst pregnant with twins, Beyoncé performed Love Draught and Sandcastles
- Coachella in 2018 – this headline show was so iconic, the festival was renamed Beychella
I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside of me.
Beyoncé at the 2011 MTV Music Video Awards
Beychella
Beychella was Beyoncé’s first post-pregnancy performance following the birth of her twins. Beyoncé was also the first Black women to headline the festival and she left everything on the stage. Beyoncé paid tribute to Black culture focusing on the Historically Black Colleges and Universities experience. It included an all-black marching band and appearances from Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child and Solange.
The performance itself blew my mind, but the release of the Homecoming documentary / concert film really took my appreciation to another level. It includes all the performances but definitely goes above and beyond the music.
I pull up to Coachella, in boots with the ghost feathers, I brought the squad with me.
Before I Let Go
Homecoming is a must watch, covering the 8 months’ worth of rehearsals, Beyoncé’s recovery from giving birth to twins, and how Beyoncé was involved in every aspect of the production of the show.
OTR II
After missing out on her Lemonade tour, I finally got to see Beyoncé perform live in person in 2018, on her second On The Run tour with Jay Z. I was standing, singing along and feeling the vibes. It was an incredible experience at Wembley Stadium, topped off by the news of the joint album ‘Everything is Love’.
So let’s lock this down like it’s supposed to be. The ’03 Bonnie and Clyde: Hov’ and B, holla.
’03 Bonnie & Clyde
My personal Slaylist
Beyoncé has truly blessed us with her catalogue and I will be listening to my Slaylist (Spotfiy playlist with Beyonce songs) all weekend.
I wanted to end this post by picking some of my favourite songs from her catalogue. This is quite a difficult task, so I’ve chosen my favourite song from each of her studio albums:
- Dangerously in Love (2003): Me, Myself and I
- B’Day (2006): Upgrade U
- I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008): Ego
- 4 (2011): I Care
- Beyoncé (2014): Partition
- Lemonade (2016): All Night
Let me know what some of your favourite Beyoncé songs are!
Looking into the future, I’m excited for what else Beyoncé wants to share with the world. Happy birthday B and cheers to many more music-filled Bey Days!
From now on, I’m gonna be my own best friend.
Me, Myself and I