Best of Beyoncé

Beyoncé is undoubtedly one of the most successful female singers of our time. From her time with Destiny's Child to her solo career she has always managed to write songs that are catchy and stay popular for years to come. Here are a some of my favorites, in no particular order, from the R&B diva:

10) "Crazy in Love"--(Dangerously in Love, 2003)

Her first song solo this burst onto the scene in the summer of 2003. It was catchy, everyone would sing along and plus everyone knew the "booty" dance. This album really made people pay attention to her as a solo artist even though it somewhat fueled the "diva" rumors about her. Another reason this song is so special to me is my niece (then a year and a half) loved it and she would try to sing along including hitting Beyoncé's infamous high note after the final verse (which basically was my niece just screaming as loud as she could).

9) "Upgrade"-B-day: Special Edition (2007)

Most people know a bit of this song from the "DirecTV" promo with her dancing around in gold. But this song is very catchy causing to dance no matter what you are doing. It features a rap from her now-husband Jay-Z and while people may not like the "message" of the song (where the woman is basically trying to change the man into something appropriate) it doesn't detract from the draw of the song. This song is also special to me because my son loves it and whenever the commercial with it came on he would stop whatever he was doing to watch and dance.

8) "Diva"-I am...Sasha Fierce (2008)

Well I don't care for the album as a whole I do like a couple of the songs on there this being one of them. You have to love the hardcore beat of this song as well as how empowered Beyoncé sounds when she sings it. It is all about being strong and confident in yourself no matter what the critics around you may say or think. It is a song you would play to get yourself hyped up when you have to go somewhere that may have people trying to bring you down.

7) "Naughty Girl"-Dangerously in Love (2003)

Sampling Donna Summers' "Love To Love You Baby" this is a song that just oozes sexuality from the moment it begins. I'm sure there were many a women who did a sexy dance for their man to this song when it first came out. I love just the way it sounds and how it does make you feel sexy whenever you listen to it a wonderful feeling especially when you don't always feel like you look your best.

6) "Single Ladies"-I am... Sasha Fierce (2008)

While I'm sure there are many men who don't like this song (tee hee) it is another empowering song for women about leaving men behind who have no real interest in them past the physical aspect. It is also a way of saying to appreciate what you have because you can only be so disrespectful to someone before they finally get tired of your nonsense and leave you behind. Another song that helped showcase Beyoncé as the powerful woman she is.

5) "My, Myself, & I"-Dangerously in Love (2003)

Another song dealing with relationships talking about a woman who finally gets tired of her deadbeat boyfriend and leaves him in the dust claiming that at the end of the day all she needs is herself to feel good about herself. I like this song because it is somewhat sad but it also hopeful showing women (and young girls) that you don't have to define yourself through someone else you can be great all on your own.

4) "Beautiful Liar"-B-Day: Special Edition (2007)

A duet with Shakira it was the release of this song that helped to make the re-release of B-Day so successful. What's great about this song is unlike most two women/one man song instead of the women bickering and threatening each other back and forth they both realize that they have both been played and that they don't need to fight because it is not going to do any good or change anything about their current situation. I love how it doesn't adhere to the stereotype that women will always blame each other and not the guy; in this song they realize he is nothing but a liar.

3) "Freak 'Em Dress"-B-day: Special Edition (2007)

Love this song. It's just fun about a girl who's mad at her boyfriend so decides to go out looking all sexy, not looking to cheat or anything like that but just to remind him of how good she looks. There's even a reference in the song about another guy looking at her but she knows it's harmless flirting because she plans on going back to her man. It's called a "freak 'em" dress because it is a dress that basically says that she knows she looks good and he needs to realize it before he loses her.

2) "Dangerously in Love 2"-Dangerously in Love (2003)

It is called the "2" because there was a cover of this on the Destiny's Child Survivor CD but this one is more romantic then the first one with more strings and just a general sound of romance. It's about a woman telling her man how much she loves him and how much he means to her and that her world would be duller if he weren't in it. Sure it's sentimental and saccharine sweet and seems to be pining hopes on one guy; but it's still a romantic song no matter how you look at it.

1) "Ring the Alarm"-B-day: Special Edition (2007)

The reason I love this song is because it is so anti-Beyoncé that when I first heard it I didn't even think it was her I thought it was Kelis. It's a very angry song about a wrong woman and how she plans on getting her revenge after being tossed to the side by a man who she put up with a lot from. I'm sure many women understand and can sympathize with this song about giving so much to someone only to get shafted in return. This is by far my favorite song by her because it is a perfect "angry" song to listen to whenever you're mad at your significant other.