Beyoncé appeals to listeners for many reasons. Her up-tempo, danceable tracks are hard to deny. But her lyrics are also a selling point for her catalog—though they might get lost behind some of the production from time to time. If you need a reminder, find four examples of the powerful lyrical content in Beyoncé songs, below.
Videos by American Songwriter
[RELATED: Behind the Musical Marriage of Jay-Z and Beyoncé]
1. How we smart enough to make these millions / Strong enough to bear the children / Then get back to business (“Run the World (Girls)”)
Beyoncé has many women empowerment-centric lyrics in her catalog. Perhaps her most female-forward tune is “Run the World (Girls)”. In the lines above she highlights the many sides of femininity. In decades past, the choice between garnering a career and being a mother was black and white. With this stanza, Beyoncé touts that women can be both bosses and bear children—a dichotomy Beyoncé proves every day.
2. Blue like the soul I crowned / Purple drank and couture gowns / Gold fangs, a shade God made / Blue, black, white, and brown / Paint the town red like cinnamon / Yellow diamonds, limoncello glisterin’ / Rainbow gelato in the streets / Renaissance, yachtin’ in Capri (“Cozy”)
Much of Renaissance is a celebration of identity. In the lines above from “Cozy,” Beyoncé subtly describes the Pride flag. She begins each line with a color, which corresponds to the colors on the flag. Instead of taking the easy route and delivering a simple line about acceptance, Beyoncé leaves clues for members of the LGBTQ+ community to resonate with.
3. I could have another you in a minute / Matter fact he’ll be here in a minute, baby (“Irreplaceable”)
The above line in “Irreplaceable” is one of her most famous. Beyoncé’s bouts of braggadocious attitude will always appeal to us. It gives us the confidence to have similar self-worth. She maintains that confidence in spite of a low moment in this song. We can use this song as a reminder whenever we are in a similar situation.
4. You can taste the dishonesty / It’s all over your breath / As you pass it off so cavalier / But even that’s a test (“Pray You Catch Me”)
“Pray You Catch Me” acts as the curtain opener to Beyoncé’s blockbuster record, Lemonade. The song sets the tone for the rest of the record, revealing the infidelities she will grapple with throughout. This track is one of Beyoncé’s most introspective and somber songs to date.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/PW18/Getty Images for Parkwood Entertainment)
