UPGRADE U ~ BEYONCE FEAT. JAY-Z

"Upgrade U" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day (2006). The song features additional vocals from Knowles' then-boyfriend and now-husband, hip hop artist Jay-Z. "Upgrade U" was generally well received by music critics who praised the assertiveness of Knowles' while singing about her desire of giving luxuries to her man. Many of them also praised the natural chemistry that Knowles and Jay-Z have in the song. "Upgrade U" started to gain popularity on R&B and hip hop radio stations in the United States. This prompted its debut on US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and later on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart without an official release. After its promotional release, the song peaked at number 11 and at number 59 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the Hot 100 charts respectively.Although Knowles did not perform "Upgrade U" in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list on The Beyoncé Experience (2007), and her worldwide I Am... Tour (2009–11).

BEST THING I NEVER HAD

"Best Thing I Never Had" is a song by American singer Beyoncé Knowles taken from her fourth studio album, 4 (2011). An R&B-pop song, "Best Thing I Never Had" has lyrics about revenge and karma. Not wanting to end up broken-hearted, the female protagonist relates that she feels happy to have parted from her love interest who did not recognize the potential of leading a happy life beside her. Critical reception towards "Best Thing I Never Had" has been generally positive; several music critics noted that its theme and style bear resemblance to Knowles' 2006 single, "Irreplaceable". Knowles' vocals and the lyrical content of the song were also complimented. However, the inclusion of lines, including "showed your ass", were criticized. "Best Thing I Never Had" peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number four on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The accompanying music video for the single was by Diane Martel. In the video, Knowles is seen getting ready for her wedding. She recalls how her ex-love interest who never gave her the attention she deserved. Critics generally praised Knowles as looking stunning in the bridal suite and commended her ability to sing directly to the camera, affirming the subject of the song that she was the best he ever had.

RUN THE WORLD (GIRLS) ~ BEYONCE

"Run the World (Girls)" is a song performed by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. The song's title and lyrics comprise an unapologetically aggressive message towards female empowerment. "Run the World (Girls)" initially divided critics, most of whom complimented the song's sample and Knowles' aggressiveness while others criticized the song's musical direction. Several critics compared "Run the World (Girls)" to other singles released by Knowles with the same theme such as "Independent Women" (2000), "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008), and "Diva" (2009), stating that "Run the World (Girls)" takes a more direct and assertive approach towards female empowerment. Knowles promoted the song with high profile live performances, notably at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards and on the French X Factor. Although her performance at the Billboard Music Awards was well received by critics, it ignited controversy surrounding the production, which bore visual similarities to a performance by Italian pop star Lorella Cuccarini in February 2010 at the 60th Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. The video received general acclaim from critics.

VIDEO PHONE ~ BEYONCE

"Video Phone" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles from her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). The track was released as the eighth single from the album. A remixed version, featuring pop singer Lady Gaga was released later. Musically, the song consists of simple lyrics and hidden innuendos, with Gaga and Beyoncé trading verses with each other, in the remix. The lyrics refer to putting up a show on camera. The song received generally mixed reviews from most of the critics, who noted that Gaga's featured appearance failed to add anything to the tune. A music video was created to accompany the song featuring Gaga. It portrayed her and Knowles in a number of costumes, brandishing colorful guns towards men and paying homage to the film Reservoir Dogs and pinup legend Bettie Page. It received mixed feedback from critics who called it un-interesting, and felt that it did not present anything new. However, they complimented the costumes and the cinematic homage of the video. The video went on to win the BET award for Video of the Year.

BROKEN-HEARTED GIRL ~ BEYONCE

"Broken-Hearted Girl" is a song by American recording artist, Beyoncé Knowles. "Broken-Hearted Girl" later became the album's seventh overall single, and was first released on August 28, 2009. It was, however, never serviced as a single in the United States. An R&B and pop ballad, the song features a moderate tempo as well as uses piano, strings and drums. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Knowles' vocal effort and the song's use of piano. It appeared on several singles charts, and reached the top twenty in Australia, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Germany and Ireland. The accompanying music video for "Broken-Hearted Girl" reminisces on a former relationship, and shows some scenes in reverse. "Broken-Hearted Girl" is a mid-tempo piano-ballad. Knowles sang "Broken-Hearted Girl" on her I Am... Tour. A performance was taped and made available on her live album, I Am... World Tour.

SWEET DREAMS ~ BEYONCE

"Sweet Dreams" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles from her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). "Sweet Dreams", lyrically, describes a beautiful relationship, which the singer believes could be a dream. "Sweet Dreams" received widespread critical acclaim for its "spark", "energy", "dark tone" and "electropop sound", with some critics noting its aural similarities to Michael Jackson's "Beat It". "Sweet Dreams" gained popularity for its electro-pop sound, which is in contrast to her earlier R&B, urban, and funk-tinged releases. The song was nominated for the "Viewers Choice Award" at the 2010 BET Awards. "Sweet Dreams" is an electropop song. The song also draws from the genre of R&B, and incorporates influences from the classic 1980's funk music. It is composed in an "aggressive and exciting" electronic pop arrangement, undulating electro rhythms, and a "swirling synth" groove.

EGO ~ BEYONCE

"Ego" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for the deluxe edition of her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). "Ego" was originally written for singer Chrisette Michele, who turned it down. So, it was proposed to Knowles who used it for the deluxe edition of I Am... Sasha Fierce. In the song, Knowles sings about her love for the "huge ego" of her love interest. "Ego" was generally well received by music critics, many of whom praised the fact that Knowles opted to show some of her vocal limitations in a part of the song. Critics also noted that "Ego" could even have been placed in either disc of I Am.. Sasha Fierce since it combines elements of both sides of Knowles' split musical personality. The remix version of "Ego" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 52nd Grammy Awards. The remix version of the song with Kanye West also received a music video. "Ego" was part of Knowles' set list on her world tour I Am... Tour.

HALO ~ BEYONCE

"Halo" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). A pop power ballad containing R&B undertones, "Halo" is written in a moderate tempo of eighty-four beats per minute in the key of A major. Its instrumentation essentially consists of a piano, and keyboards and synthesizers. The song consists of a piano, and keyboards and synthesizers. The music is further amplified by soul claps and step stomps. Thematically, the lyrics to "Halo" describe a sublime love. he song was also praised for its production as well as Knowles' emotion-filled vocals, which were noted to be reminiscent of Céline Dion's work. "Halo" won "Best Song" at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards, where it was also nominated for Record of the Year. "Halo" has been covered by many artists since its release, including Florence and the Machine in 2009 and Westlife in 2010. It was also shown on the television show Glee, where the song was mashed-up with "Walking on Sunshine", by Katrina and the Waves.

DIVA ~ BEYONCE

"Diva" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. The lyrics of the song deliver messages of independence and female empowerment. The song boasts a beat and bassline similar to that of another Bangladesh production, "A Milli" by American rapper, Lil Wayne, and critics coined "Diva" as a "female companion" to the latter. "Diva" received mixed to positive reviews, with critics having polarized opinions concerning its affiliation with "A Milli". Despite being released to rhythmic and urban radios only in the United States, the song reached number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, topping the Hot Dance Club Play chart, and attaining a high point of number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The accompanying music video for "Diva" was directed by Melina Matsoukas. It shows the singer and backup dancers in a warehouse, and presents a choreography similar to that of her previous single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008). "Diva" is an R&B song composed in a moderate hip hop groove tempo. Although Knowles did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list on the I Am... Tour.

AT LAST ~ BEYONCE

"At Last" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives, starring George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford. n 1960, it was covered by blues singer Etta James in an arrangement that improvised on Warren's melody. James' version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. "At Last" was also covered by Beyoncé Knowles and included on the soundtrack album of the film, Cadillac Records. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack album on December 2, 2008 through Columbia Records. In the film, Knowles portrays Etta James. Beyoncé won critical acclaim for portraying James in "Cadillac Records," and has performed "At Last" several times since the movie was released, including in front of James. She told MTV News: "[Etta James is] one of my heroes, and I always loved her voice, but now knowing what she's been through, she's one of my heroes. I'm not sure if she thought [I would be good] as her. I'm very, very nervous. [...] I actually spoke with her and she told me, 'I loved you from the first time you sung.'" Knowles later told Billboard Magazine: "I realized that Etta James was so unapologetic, bold and strong that playing her was a big risk for me. It gave me the confidence and the push to challenge myself a little more with my music.

SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT) ~ BEYONCE

"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. Single Ladies" is a dance-pop and R&B song with dancehall and bounce influences, and makes lyrical references to marriage. "Single Ladies" received critical acclaim for its smooth production; some critics noted its aural similarities to Knowles' 2007 single "Get Me Bodied". The song was named one of the best singles of 2008 by several media outlets, including Rolling Stone, MTV News and Time magazine. "Single Ladies" has won numerous awards, including Song of the Year at the 52nd Grammy Awards. "Single Ladies" became a commercial success in the United States, as it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), having sold over 4.7 million digital downloads. It was successful internationally; "Single Ladies" reached the top ten on the singles charts of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, and achieved multi-platinum certifications in many of these countries. As of November 2009, "Single Ladies" had sold over 6.1 million copies worldwide. The video won several awards, including Video of the Year at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. The song was promoted by Knowles with live performances on televised shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, at awards ceremonies, and on her worldwide I Am... Tour. "Single Ladies" has been covered by Katy Perry and numerous others, and it has been used in various television shows and other media.

IF I WERE A BOY ~ BEYONCE

"If I Were a Boy" is a pop song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. "If I Were a Boy" is different from her previous songs as the song is not a traditional R&B one. The lyrics of the song are a reference to an expression of sadness about misunderstanding between the genders and an indictment of the male side of relationships. The song stands as the only song on either disc of I Am... Sasha Fierce that Knowles did not co-write. The song fueled controversy in the sense that Jean affirmed that "If I Were a Boy" was her song. After Jean's version of the song was rejected by her record company, Gad took back the song and started marketing them to established artists. In this way, Knowles ended up recording "If I Were a Boy" for I Am... Sasha Fierce. Upon its release, "If I Were a Boy" was generally well-received by music critics who praised Knowles' tormented performance, emotional and passionate vocals and called the song her best work to date. "If I Were a Boy" was covered by American country singer Reba McEntire and a studio version was released as the second single from her 2010 album, All the Women I Am.

GREEN LIGHT ~ BEYONCE

"Green Light" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. The song also finds Knowles using fairly aggressive tone. Written in the key of A minor, "Green Light" samples the "uh-oh-oh-oh-oh" vocals which music critics noted to have a flagrant resemblance to Knowles' own 2003 hit single, "Crazy in Love". "Green Light" was generally well received by music critics who universally praised the beat, bass, groove, and angry tone used by Knowles in the song. The single performed moderately on charts, peaking at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 46 in Ireland. "Green Light" is an R&B-funk song performed with "vivace" tempo. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of A minor with a moderate groove of 132 beats per minute

GET ME BODIED ~ BEYONCE

"Get Me Bodied" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. Knowles took inspiration from her sister (singer Solange) and former Destiny's Child band-mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams during the writing process. "Get Me Bodied" is a moderate R&B, dance-pop, and bounce song with dancehall influences. It also features chants and vocal exclamations in the background. Lyrically, "Get Me Bodied" finds the female protagonist going out one evening in the right dress and the right hair, determined to steam up any dance floor she steps onto and make sure that no one resists her call to 'get her bodied'. The song was generally well-received by contemporary critics who complimented its party sound and the accompanying vocals of Knowles. "Get Me Bodied" was nominated by VH1 Soul VIBE Awards Special for Video of the Year and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) awarded it the best R&B and Hip-Hop song at the 2008 ASCAP Pop Music Awards."Get Me Bodied" was promoted by Knowles with live performances in awards ceremonies, including the 2007 BET Awards. The song was also a part of her set list on The Beyoncé Experience in Los Angeles and her world tour . In April 2011, Knowles re-recorded "Get Me Bodied" for the Let's Move! Flash Workout campaign and released it under the name "Move Your Body". Initially, an instructional video featuring a group of teenagers dancing to the song was released online, but later Knowles also recorded her own version of the exercise routine for distribution to participating schools in early May 2011.

BEAUTIFUL LIAR ~ BEYONCE

"Beautiful Liar" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé and Colombian Latin pop singer Shakira. The song's theme is about female empowerment and lyrically, the song finds the two female protagonists singing about being charmed by the same man, however instead of fighting over him, both ladies agree and realize that he is not worth their time. The single was generally well-received by music critics who praised the fact that Knowles and Shakira managed to come with a beautiful collaboration by "forbidding their vanity or ego from getting in the way of business." "Beautiful Liar" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. The single won an Ivor Novello Awards for Best-Selling British Song in 2008. In April 2011, Billboard magazine listed the song at number four on its list of the 10 All-Female Hit Collaborations. A commercial success, the song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and held the distinction of having the largest upward movement on this particular chart until 2008. "Beautiful Liar" became a chart topper in several European countries including France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Its accompanying music video, which incorporates belly dancing moves, was directed by English director Jake Nava. "Beautiful Liar" was nominated in the category of the Video Of The Year accolade at the 2007 BET Awards. It was awarded the Most Earthshattering Collaboration at the 2007 MTV Video Music Award. The song was a part of Knowles' set list on her world tours as from 2007. Knowles and Shakira, never sang the song live together.

LISTEN ~ BEYONCE

"Listen" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé. "Listen" is one of four compositions written specifically for the Dreamgirls film. In the film, Knowles' character Deena Jones sings the song to assert independence over her controlling husband. The track was released as the lead single from film's soundtrack album on December 5, 2006. "Listen" is an R&B-soul song whose lyrics make reference to tenacity, love, refusal to defer dreams and finally rise towards fame. The song was a critical success. Music critics complimented the strong and emotionally filled vocals of Knowles, and added that the lyrics perfectly elaborate on Deena Jones's life. "Listen" won Best Original Song at the 2007 Annual Critics' Choice Awards. It also garnered nominations in the same category at the 2006 International Press Academy Satellite Award and at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards. It was also nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Song.

IRREPLACEABLE ~ BEYONCE

"Irreplaceable" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day (2006). "Irreplaceable" was originally a country record; it was re-arranged into a mid-tempo pop ballad with R&B influences by making modifications in the vocal arrangements as well as the instrumentation used. During the production and recording sessions, Knowles' and Ne-Yo's vision was to create a record that people could relate to, irrespective of their gender. Lyrically, the song refers to breaking up with an unfaithful man and thematically, it contains a message towards female empowerment. The single was a worldwide commercial success. It became Knowles' fourth number-one in the United States and was B'Day's most successful release. The single remained at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for ten consecutive weeks. Certified multi-platinum, "Irreplaceable" emerged as the best-selling single of 2007 and the twenty-fifth most successful song of the 2000s decade in the United States. The video earned Knowles a Video of the Year award at the 2007 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards, and it was nominated in the same category at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. "Irreplaceable" has been a staple in Knowles' tours and live performances since 2006.

RING THE ALARM ~ BEYONCE

"Ring the Alarm" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day (2006). The song's development was motivated by Knowles' role in the Broadway musical adaptation Dreamgirls (2006). The cover art of "Ring the Alarm" fueled controversy after Knowles used alligators during the photo shoot. The American animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), declared that Knowles posing with a terrified baby alligator was arguably abusive to an animal. "Ring the Alarm" is an R&B song with punk rock influences. It makes use of a blaring siren as its introductory sound, setting an aggressive tone in the song. Lyrically, "Ring the Alarm" features Knowles impersonating a threatened girlfriend who shows her unwillingness to let another woman profit from all the work she did to improve her love interest's life. The lyrics of the song were rumoured to be chronicling Barbadian R&B recording artist Rihanna's relationship with Jay-Z, a suggestion which Knowles refuted in an interview with Seventeen Magazine. Critical reception of the song was generally mixed to positive with several music critics noting that the song was different from Knowles's previous work. While some complimented the distorted, angry and assertive vocals, others were disappointed with the lyrical arrangement. "Ring the Alarm" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards.

DEJA VU ~ BEYONCE FEAT. JAY-Z

"Déjà Vu" is a song by R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, featuring vocals by rapper Jay-Z. "Déjà Vu" derives its genre from contemporary R&B and incorporates 1970s funk elements. Its varied instrumentation includes bass guitar, hi-hat, horns, and the Roland TR-808 drum machine. The song's title and lyrics refer to a woman being constantly reminded of a past lover. The song was released on July 31, 2006, as the album's lead single. It received generally mixed to positive critical reviews. Many critics noted the similarities of "Déjà Vu" with Knowles' "Crazy in Love", which was released in 2003 as the lead single to her debut album, Dangerously in Love. Critics also compared the assertiveness and the sensuality with which Knowles sings the lyrics to those of Tina Turner when she was young. "Déjà Vu" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best R&B Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards, while the remix version was nominated in the category Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. It was recognized as "Best Song" at the 2006 Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards.

CHECK ON IT ~ BEYONCE

"Check on It" is a song performed by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, featuring American rapper Slim Thug. The song was supposed to be featured on the soundtrack album for 2006 film The Pink Panther, in which Knowles co-stars. As it was ultimately not included on its soundtrack album, the song with additional vocals from Slim Thug was featured as a new track on the 2005 Destiny's Child's greatest hits album #1's. "Check on It" derives genres from R&B as well as hip hop and lyrically, the song takes place in a club, where Knowles is letting the male patrons know that they are welcome to come and look at her sexually attractive body when she is dancing. "Check on It" was not originally lined up for an official release as a single from the album #1's. However, it received heavy rotation from US radio stations, following the release of the first single, "Stand Up for Love" (2005), which performed poorly on the charts in the US. The music video for the song was directed by Hype Williams, and was premiered on December 16, 2005. It was shot in pink to brand the relationship with The Pink Panther. "Check on It" won the Best R&B Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, and was also nominated in the award category for Video of the Year at the 2006 BET Awards. Although Knowles did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list on The Beyoncé Experience at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and I Am... Tour.