Happy B’Day, Queen! 35 Ways Beyoncé Went Above and Bey-ond

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter. No matter if you like her, she’s on your radar. You have heard her songs, you have seen her dance, and you have probably watched her captivate her audience time and time again. As a member of her audience this past summer, I can attest to being truly mesmerized by everything during the Formation World Tour, whether she was on or off of the stage. On September 4th, we celebrate 35 years since the birth of one of the most iconic women to ever grace this earth. To commemorate this legend, I have broken up her life into five categories, each to be made up of a list of seven items of my personal favorites in no particular order, obviously adding up to 35 items. The categories are as follows: Songs, Music Videos, Performances, Looks, and Moments.

Songs:

1. Halo. A true cliche, I know. But Halo had an impact, ladies. At a time when I did not listen to a lot of music that wasn’t produced by Disney or a Christian artist, hearing Beyoncé’s voice for the first time that I can really remember was extremely special to me. My sister and I memorized every lyric, harmonizing (albeit, terribly) regularly. Besides sisterly bonding, it was my first step into the light.
2. Mine. Singing about her insecurities along with issues in the past, Beyoncé really Did That. Adding Drake in really solidified the fact that she really doesn’t care about my edges.
3. Start Over. I listen to this song a lot. Any time that I’m upset about anything, even unrelated to love, this song reminds me to do exactly what the title says.
4. Sandcastles. As a true Pisces, this song really gets to my emotional side. The way her voice cracks when she sings, “…I scratched out your name, and your face/What is it about you?” had me shook.
5. Ring the Alarm. The alarms, the rage, the jealousy. The beat drop during the lines, “I don’t want you but I want it and I can’t let it go/To know you give it to her like you gave it to me, come on” has to be one of the most masterful compilations of her career.
6. Me, Myself, and I. The opening harmony pretty much solidifies the fact that she’s going to destroy us (and she does). This self-reflective, self-care anthem reminds me to put myself first.
7. Jealous. Perhaps one of the most underrated songs on her self-titled album, Jealous explores the duality of womanhood and even herself. I literally won’t drive while listening to this song for fear of speeding. It’s that serious.

Listen to all of these songs and her entire discography here.

Music Videos:

1. LEMONADE. This is much more than just a music video, but to exclude the most iconic film of the year would be an injustice. Lemonade was released alongside her sixth album of the same name on HBO. There are hundreds of think pieces that would do it so much more justice than I could describe. She so flawlessly sings in Sandcastles, “I made you cry” and that pretty much sums up my viewing experience.
2. Haunted. This is artistry in its purest form. It feels honest and raw, yet coherent and masterful. It is eerie, sexual, creative, and powerful. I remember the first time I watched it so vividly. It sent chills down my spine.
3. Why Don’t You Love Me. The 1960’s housewife spin-off is everything I never knew I needed. The mascara stained tears running down her face with the bold eyeliner, the phone in one hand and a martini in the other? A look. My favorite part is when she dusts off all her Grammy’s before lying down for a rest.
4. Countdown. Filming a video of this caliber is no easy feat, but doing so while pregnant is just one way that Beyoncé shows that she is willing to go above and beyond. The video is so carefree and fun with its bright color scheme and looser dance styles.
5. 7/11. None of your faves could ever film a music video on a GoPro while drunk in her hotel room with a few of her dancers, win Video of the Year at the BET Awards with it, and get nominated five times at the VMAs. None of them.
6. Formation. Technically not a part of Lemonade, this surprise video dropped in February this past year and had me shaking in my boots. The explicit statement of her beliefs aligning with Black Lives Matter, the ties to the South that reflect her heritage, the amazing choreography, just the sheer blackness of it all. I live.
7. Blow. Once again, Beyoncé goes back in time and shows us that she can slay in any decade. This time, it’s the 1980’s with neon outfits and signs. She even dances in roller skates in part of the video. And when Solange makes an appearance with a big, beautiful afro, even for just a second, I truly realized that this is not a family to be played with.

Performances:

1. MTV Music Video Awards, 2006. Ten years ago, Beyoncé performed Ring the Alarm at the VMAs and everything about it was perfect. The dance break was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed considering not only the genius behind the choreography but the fact that no one tripped over those fabulous trench coats.
2. Billboard Music Awards, 2011. One of her strongest performances of her career, Beyoncé performed Run the World (Girls). Dancing perfectly in sync with, like, a thousand other Beyoncé’s is no small feat. Doing so while sounding exactly like the recording and captivating such a large crowd is next to impossible unless you’re her.
3. Stevie Wonder Tribute, 2015. Alongside Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé gave a performance of a lifetime. Covering songs of one of the greatest musicians of all time, Stevie Wonder, she gave the performance of a lifetime that few artists could ever dream of achieving. The only person that could do it better is Stevie himself. Truly magical.
4. Super Bowl Halftime Show, 2013. This is the performance that truly locked me into the Beyhive forever. Fifteen minutes of singing, dancing and doing it for the gods. Bringing Destiny’s Child up on stage was the only way she could have possibly made the perfect performance any better, and thankfully, she did. I cried.
5. MTV Music Video Awards, 2016. There are four MTV VMA performances on this list for a reason, that being that Beyoncé is literally the queen of that show. Now with more VMA than any other artist, she proved exactly why by doing what was basically a shorter version of what one would see at the Formation World Tour with a few tweaks that showed explicit activism as well as raw talent and power. It was not officially her night, but let’s be honest, it was. The ratings were officially attributed to her performance. We knew.
6. Grammys, 2015. Performing a song that is not her own, but rather a hymn, was deeply symbolic of the black community and its ties to the church. In the background were black men, all dressed in white and barefooted like herself. Another performance that was simple in terms of choreography but vocally complex, Beyoncé showed a side of herself rarely seen and it was amazing.
7. MTV Music Video Awards, 2014. When I watched this performance, I literally could not believe what I was seeing. Even rewatching it, I am thrown into my initial feelings of pure joy and awe of the most amazing living performer. That night, she got the Vanguard award, and the performance she gave proved that she deserved that and so much more. I am truly blessed to be living in the age of Beyoncé.

Looks

1. Tom Ford Jersey, 2014.  This burnt orange color compliments her skin tone so flawlessly. Who else could pull off a sequin-covered dress like this? Hint: no one.

2. Menil Collection in Houston, 2016. The Afro-inspired dress appeared this past May as Beyoncé visited an art museum in her hometown. As only she can prove, life really does reflect art.

3. MTV VMA Mosaic Bodysuit, 2014. The mosaic pattern reminded viewers of a stained glass window, which is extremely fitting since she literally took us to church during her 16-minute compilation of her self-titled album.

4. Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show, 2016. Shortly after the release of Formation, Beyoncé found herself performing the song live. In a tribute to the Black Panthers, she wears a style that seems to reflect not only the group but a Michael Jackson-esque look as well.

5. On the Run Tour, 2014. On this particular evening in Paris, France, Beyoncé wore a Versace bodysuit that had an asymmetrical print with an intricate headpiece and dropped the Flawless Remix featuring Nicki Minaj that same night. Legends only.

6. Met Gala, 2015. Arriving fashionably late, Beyoncé stole the show as soon as she arrived. In a translucent dress strategically covered in jewels and 7-inch heels, Queen Bey did it to them! Again.

7. Met Gala, 2016. Beyoncé got a lot of hate for this look. However, this beautiful latex dress with floral and pearl detail paired with a dark eyeshadow look and sleek hair could be done by no one else. I’d love to see them try. Plus, she stuck with the theme this year. Queen of conforming.

Moments:

1. The debut of her solo career. Although Destiny’s Child had not technically disbanded, in 2003, Beyoncé released her first album, Dangerously in Love. Going multi-platinum, the album had four top ten hits and won her five Grammys, really setting the tone for the rest of her career.
2. Serenading the First Couple at the Inaugural Ball, 2009. Covering Etta James’ “At Last”, Beyoncé found herself in the political realm as she sang for First Couple Barack and Michelle Obama. Beyoncé 2020?
3. The reveal of her pregnancy with Blue Ivy, 2011. At the MTV VMAs, Beyoncé wore a stunning orange gown… and held her stomach in such a way as to show her baby bump. Months along in her pregnancy, Beyoncé once again stunned the world. That night, she performed Love on Top and reminded us that she is one of the best live performers ever, effortlessly gliding through the multiple key changes that the song requires. The mic drop she does before unbuttoning her sparkly blazer to once again reveal her baby bump had me screaming at a pitch that only dogs could hear.
4. Addressing a rumor, 2013. After explaining why she used a pre-recorded track at the 2013 Inauguration, Beyoncé sang the national anthem acapella for reporters in the press conference… and completely slayed it. After finishing the song, she smiled and asked them, “any questions?” This was the classiest way to handle the instance while spilling some tea at the same time. Oolong anyone?
5. Dropping a surprise album, 2013. No singles. No promotions. No warning. Just a day like any other on a cold December day in 2013. And then it happened. A body of work so perfect, so complete. Fourteen songs. Seventeen videos. A million tears. The latter were all me. The album had an impact beyond the body of work itself. She revolutionized the game with her fifth consecutive #1 album; more artists put their work out on Fridays and try to surprise their fans. She did that.
6. Dropping another surprise album, 2016. Okay, so this one didn’t have us as in the dark as the self-titled album did. However, after releasing Formation, again with no warning, then performing it, Beyoncé announced that she was going on tour. With just one song to go off of, her fans had no idea what they were signing up for when they bought tickets at an extremely fast pace (myself included). Then in April, she finally released the masterpiece that is LEMONADE and proved that she didn’t need to tell us what to expect because she will completely ruin us anyway.
7. Dropping a new clothing line. As if she weren’t influential enough, Beyoncé ventured out of the music world and into the world of fashion, this time with her own brand called Ivy Park. A fashionable athletic line, the brand aims to inspire confidence and beauty while bettering oneself. Yet another surprise to most people by the Queen herself. I’m “fine”. My wallet is “fine”.

There you have it: 35 ways in which Beyoncé has managed not only to be one of the hardest working and dedicated performers of all time but look and sound the best while doing so. Happiest of birthdays to my favorite artist ever. You are a true icon, mogul, and queen.