TOP 10 BEYONCE DEEP CUTS

I love Beyoncé, and I have loved Beyoncé for as long as I can remember. Every song her vocals touch becomes gold and she has more top 10 bops than you can count on both hands. But today my focus turns to her less popular tracks, which happen to be my personal favourites. Let's get into it...

1. Signs feat. Missy Elliott from Dangerously In Love

Aside from the amazing fact that this entire song centres on the individual traits each of the astrological signs Beyoncé has seen in her partners, the production and vibe on this song is incredible. Listen to those synths! And a rewind with a verse from Missy Elliott? What's not to love? Beyoncé's harmonies in this song are also life-affirming.

2. Ring Off from Beyoncé

Gut-wrenching subject matter combined with mama-daughter love and drums that you just can't help but dance to, this song off the self-titled extra tracks gets me every time! How is it simultaneously so sad and uplifting? How Bey?

3. World Wide Woman from B'Day

I've always felt really strongly that World Wide Woman is a super underrated song. The lyrics are kind of weird and nonsensical (I know Beyoncé didn't write these lyrics but what the hell do those references to high-speed cables and the Autobahn mean?) but that's why I love it. Perfect evidence that a beat, a lead synth, and Beyoncé vocals can make a hit no matter the circumstance.

4. Me, Myself, and I from Dangerously In Love

If you listen to this song, you will understand immediately why this made the top 10. So smooth, velvety, and sensual the bass and vocals just suck you in. I also love any song that rejects the notion that women need romantic love to exist!

5. Be With You from Dangerously In Love (can you tell it's an underrated album?)

Beyoncé recycles three sexy 70s songs here (yes, she cares about the environment!) to create a beautiful mashup slow-jam for the ages. The beat is infectious and again those harmonies are stunning. Beyoncé also takes the time to remind us of her vocal range, as if we forgot.

6. Video Phone from I Am... Sasha Fierce

I love that tacky 2006-esque production of a dry beat and looping synth that makes the perfect foundation for any hip hop track (think Laffy Taffy by D4L, or any song off Souljaboytellem.com). Beyoncé wasn't channelling her Southernness at this point in her career enough so it's a highlight for me.

7. Love Drought from Lemonade

While I know that Lemonade in its entirety was critically acclaimed and loved everywhere, I feel like Love Drought didn't get the attention it deserved. The lyrics again are gut-wrenching and powerful, but so so beautiful. 9 times outta 10 I'm in my feelings, but 10 times outta 9 I'm only human. WAAAHHH!! Also, again with that beautiful production. This one definitely needs to be heard through headphones to get the full power of the bass.

8. Party feat. André 3000 from 4

Obviously any collab between Bey and 3 Stacks was gonna be a favourite of mine, but this song is just a showcase of everything I love about her. Harmonies, vocal range, Southern drawl, and an ability to make the most boring and irrelevant lyrics sound like the freshest thing on Earth. Swagu!

9. Countdown from 4

The Caribbean drums, the snare, the countdown (throwback to Get Me Bodied!), and those fun and fiery lyrics. This is a bop through and through and it's enough to make me forget that it's written about Jay-Z!

10. Free from Destiny Fulfilled

This is technically a Destiny's Child track but Beyoncé was lead vocals and I couldn't do this list without having at least one song from the best girl group to ever grace the Earth. This song is smooth, sunny, and empowering. Not only a favourite DC or Beyoncé deep cut, but a favourite of all time. Listen out for Michelle's solo - she is there shunning everyone who ever undermined her talent.