On this day in 1981, Beyoncé
Knowles was born, gracing the world with a talent that would define a
generation of R&B and pop music. Regarded as one of the most powerful women
in music today, her career continues to entertain and empower fans all over the
world.
Getting her start with Destiny’s
Child in the late 1990s, Beyoncé released four successful albums before
breaking out on her own in the early 2000s. Over the last 15 years, she has
been able to translate that success into a prolific solo career, releasing six solo
studio albums and collaborating with the biggest names in music. Her most recent
album, a collaboration between her and husband Jay-Z
under the name The Carters called ‘Everything Is Love,’ debuted at number one upon
its release earlier this year.
Not only has Beyoncé been a powerful force in music, but her
music has had a powerful force on culture. Throughout her career, the singer
has made it a point to release songs with empowering themes, especially when it
comes to women’s rights and black culture.
In honor of Beyoncé’s 37th birthday, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of her most memorable
singles. Here are nine that have left a lasting impact on music and culture as
a whole.
1.
“Crazy In Love”: One of her first singles as a
solo artist, “Crazy In Love” cemented Beyoncé as a force in pop music. The
upbeat love song gave her her first solo number one in the US, outdoing her
previous collaborative single with future husband Jay-Z, “03 Bonnie &
Clyde.” It would also lead her debut album, ‘Dangerously In Love,’ to the
number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. (video)
2.
“03 Bonnie & Clyde”: Speaking of “Bonnie
& Clyde,” This track became the first non-Destiny’s Child track for Beyoncé
to chart in the US and the start of a beautiful relationship between her and
Jay-Z. Not only would they get married six years later, but the two would
continue to collaborate, including on a full album as The Carters earlier this
year. (video)
3.
“Irreplaceable”: A break-up song for the ages, “Irreplaceable”
is as much about empowerment as it is about the kiss-off. After all, she is a
strong women who can find herself another man easily. The song was another huge
hit for the singer, hitting that number one spot in even more countries,
proving that with her second album she was here to stay. (video)
4.
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”: By 2008, Beyoncé
was already known as a powerful woman in the music industry and hasn’t shied
away from it in her music. But when she released “Single Ladies” that year, something
had clicked within the cultural consciousness that really made a connection. The
song ended up becoming her most well-known solo single by far and an anthem for
women everywhere. “Single Ladies” went multi-platinum in multiple countries
while the video sparked a dance craze that swept the world. (video)
5.
“Halo”: A true ballad, “Halo” showed a bit of
vulnerability from the singer. It didn’t all have to be about asserting dominance,
but being able to admit that a significant other can be your “saving grace.” Upon
its release, the song was everywhere on pop and adult contemporary radio,
becoming one of her biggest hits as well. (video)
6.
“Run the World (Girls)”: Picking up where “Single
Ladies” left off, “Run The World” makes an even more blatant, bold statement
for female empowerment. The song’s chant-like delivery made it more of a
rallying cry, perhaps something you would hear at a political march. People are
still putting the song’s title and message on t-shirts as an empowerment
slogan, so its impact has lasted far beyond its time on the charts. (video)
7.
“Formation”: “Formation” isn’t as memorable as
its cultural impact. From the moment she stepped out with her dancers as a
guest at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2016, stealing the show with her
provocative and attention grabbing performance, the world knew there was
something at work. The boldness of the song mirrored the boldness of her last
album, ‘Lemonade,’ which focused on her identity as a black woman and went in a
much more political direction than anything she had released previously. (video)
8.
“Survivor”:
Before hitting it big on her own, Beyoncé was serving up the empowerment anthems
with her group Destiny’s Child. The title track and lead single from their
third studio album, “Survivor” showed a level of confidence and strength in
their lyrics that became a defining mantra for the group. (video)
9.
“Independent Women, Part I”: Originally written
for the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ film in 2000, “Independent Women, Part I” became
more than a soundtrack smash. The song’s chorus proudly states that the ladies
of Destiny’s Child do not need to depend on anyone else for their success. Many
found that message to be empowering, as it became one of the group’s longest-charting
hits. (video)
Through her work with Destiny’s Child and her solo career, Beyoncé
has been a tremendous force in the music industry for more than two decades. She
has been able to inspire women of all races and creeds with her inimitable
voice and empowering music. With a work ethic that pushes the boundaries of
what pop music can be, Beyoncé’s music will continues to inspire more
generations.
---
Find music from Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child and more
influential artists at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s favorite new independent
record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres
that range from R&B and Hip-Hop to rock, pop, dance, jazz and everything in
between. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs,
cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or
online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all
the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.
No comments:
Post a Comment