She’s one of one, she’s number one, she’s the only one. In honour of Beyoncé’s Renaissance world tour date at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Rowan Davies pinpoints five tracks that highlight the reasons Queen Bey is considered one of the greatest performers of all time.

DEJA VU 

Infatuation must start somewhere. For me, this song birthed obsession. The gentle build-up of the bass and hi-hat, followed by a tsunami of brass funk, still sends shivers down the spines of fans. Beyoncé’s persona in Deja Vu marries music with performance as homage is paid to her influences, amalgamating the swag of Prince, the energy of Tina Turner and the presence of Michael Jackson. The lead single from 2006’s B’Day transcends genre, immensely blending musicalities of pop, r’n’b, soul, and rap that forms a snapshot of Beyoncé’s career past, present, and future. 

ME, MYSELF & I

At just 22 years old, Beyoncé had already projected a certain maturity through her musical output. Arguably, Beyoncé’s third single as a solo artist is the evolutionary epicentre of the female empowerment anthem. Starkly contrasting to her more buoyant work, Me, Myself & I sees Beyoncé taking a chilled r’n’b approach through soft vocal riffs and powerful lyricism vowing to “be (her) own best friend”. The track’s liquid instrumentation indulges listeners in nostalgia reminiscent of early 00s r’n’b – a subtle reminder of Beyoncé’s roots as a solo artist. 

FORMATION

If Me, Myself & I was the conception of Beyoncé’s female intuition, Formation is her feminist magnum opus, with the musical agency of synth, bass and brass band teasing her 2018 Coachella performance. An expression of relentless Black excellence, Formation and Lemonade came at a time where America’s political climate was at its most heated. The rise of the Trump administration and the early days of #MeToo ushered in the pop megastar’s most personal work to date, and one which pushed itself to the forefront of the era’s pop culture, reflecting Beyoncé’s unmatched ability to control and maintain her influential relevancy.  

CUFF IT

The absence of solo work between 2016’sLemonade and 2022’s Renaissance left fans starved- and the comeback did not disappoint. Her latest venture, Renaissance, taps into the unapologetic queerness that dominated house music in the late 80s and early 90s thanks to Black, trans trailblazers. The high production value and respectful attention to detail has lured in a new generation of listeners with this particular single’s skyrocketing success on TikTok making Cuff It Beyoncé’s longest-charting single to date. Through the merging of a groovy melody and a bouncy beat that interpolates traditional disco and dance sounds, Cuff It provides deep sonic hypnosis, enticing us to “feel like falling in love”.

PARTITION

If you’re unsure why music is now notoriously released on a Friday, look no further than Beyoncé’s 2013 self-titled album. The unexpected record drop saw a shift in music release, and with it, a new Beyoncé emerged. Filled with tracks that displayed a reimagined sexuality, accompanied with heavy bass and trap components, Partition stands in its own distinct lane, building from a smooth, sensual introduction and finishing on a celestial climax: “the kinda girl you like is right here with me”. Its hyper-erotic feel and lyrics of incredible self-awareness have made it a staple among fans, creeping its way into every tour setlist since its debut. 

With Beyoncé, there appears to be no limit with where she can take her art. As one of the most powerful women in music, her career has defied artistic boundaries again and again, proving that she is more than just a vocalist. Her repertoire of creative integrity is an evolving continuum that corresponds with shifts in culture and social attitudes, cementing her iconography into the history books forever. 

Beyoncé, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wed 17 May

Tickets: £50-£170 (sold out). Info: here

words ROWAN DAVIES