Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé began performing in local competitions at age 7, eventually forming the group Girl's Tyme in 1990 with help from her parents. Girl's Tyme became Destiny's Child in 1997.
During the hiatus of Destiny's Child in 2003, Beyoncé released her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, which became one of the most successful albums of that year, and signaled her viability as a solo artist. The disbanding of Destiny's Child in 2005 facilitated her continued success: her sophomore solo album B'Day, released in 2006, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Her third solo album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, was released in November 2008, and in 2009 she received 10 Grammy Awards nominations. On January 31, 2010, she won 6 Grammy Awards, breaking the record for most Grammy awards won by a female artist in one night; she previously held the record of five awards with 5 other artists. Following a career hiatus, Beyoncé released her fourth studio album entitled "4" on June 24, 2011, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
2013 - 5th Album - "Beyoncé"
On December 12, 2013, Beyoncé unexpectedly released her fifth and self-titled album in the iTunes Store. Beyoncé called it a "visual album" as it includes 14 songs and 18 videos - with each track having a music video together with additional bonus videos. The album has a list of collaborators including Drake, Frank Ocean and her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter, Blue Ivy.
2015
In February 2015 at the 57th Grammy Awards, Beyoncé won 3 Grammys (and was nominated for 6 Grammy awards) - Best R&B Song for "Drunk in Love", Best R&B Performance and Best Surround Sound Album for Beyoncé.
On April 4th, 2015, Beyoncé surprised her fans with the release of a new single and accompanying video, released exclusively on the streaming service "Tidal" which she co-owns with a number of other big name starts including Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, Jack White, Kanye West, Madonna, Rihanna and Usher. The track, "Die With You" is a stripped down ballad, with Beyoncé sitting at a piano with pigtail braids: the song celebrates the seventh anniversary of her marriage to Jay-Z.
Super Bowl - February 2016
Beyoncé appeared on stage to perform her latest single "Formation", supporting the headline act Coldplay at the much coverted Super Bowl 50 half-time show on February 7, 2016. Also appearing on stage was Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson who performed their hit "Uptown Funk".
2016 - 6th Album - "Lemonade"
"Lemonade" is Beyoncé's a sixth solo album and was released on April 23, 2016 as an exclusive on the music streaming service, Tidal after it premiered on the TV Network, HBO, as a conceptual short film. It was subsequently made available for purchase on Apple's iTunes Store on April 24, 2016. The album has 12 tracks, with contributions from artists such as James Blake and Kendrick Lamar. According to a press release from Tidal which accompanied the release, "Lemonade" is “based on every woman’s journey of self-knowledge and healing”.
2017 - Grammy Awards
At the 59th Grammy Awards on Sun, February 12, 2017, Beyoncé took awards for "Best Urban Contemporary Album" for "Lemonade" and "Best Music Video" for "Formation"
2022 - 7th Album - "RENAISSANCE" (ACT i)
After a 6 year hiatus from music, Beyoncé announced the lead single "BREAK MY SOUL" on June 20, 2022, for her seventh studio album “RENAISSANCE" which is the first installment of a three-part project. "RENAISSANCE" was released on July 29, 2022, and was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to inspire joy in listeners. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the best-rated album of 2022, named the best album of the year by publications such as the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone, which would later place the record at number 71 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. It then was nominated for Album of The Year at the 65 Annual Grammy Award Show and won Best Dance/Electronic Album.
2024 - 8th Album - "COWBOY CARTER" (ACT ii)
2 years after her seventh studio album, "RENAISSANCE", Beyoncé announced her eighth studio album "COWBOY CARTER" also known as “ACT ii” released on March 29, 2024. This serves as the second installment of the three-part project, and as long rumoured, its genre is country. The album was teased through a Verizon ad aired during the Super Bowl LVIII and was preceded with two surprise singles both released on February 10, 2024, "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "16 CARRIAGES".
Miscellaneous
Beyoncé began her acting career in 2001, appearing in the musical film Carmen: A Hip Hopera. In 2006, she starred in the lead role in the film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she earned two Golden Globe nominations.
On April 4, 2008, Beyoncé and Jay-Z were married in a small, private ceremony in New York. On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Beyoncé is sometimes referred to as Jay-Z's wifey and/or, Jay-Z's boo thang.
Beyoncé launched her family's fashion line, House of Deréon, in 2004, and has endorsed such brands as Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani and L'Oréal.
In 2009, Forbes listed Beyoncé fourth on its list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities in the world, third on its list of the top-grossing musicians, and number one on the list of top Best-Paid Celebs Under 30 with over $87 million dollars in earnings between 2008 and 2009.
Beyoncé has attained five Hot 100 number one singles, becoming one of the two female artists—joint with Rihanna—with the most number ones attained within the 2000s, excluding her three Hot 100 number one singles with Destiny's Child.
Control
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way that I hit my damaged pride;
You gave me away...
And I've had enough - I imagine the words I say to you...
I'm finding the strength to follow it through;
I'm ready to change...
We're only friends, we're only friends;
Tonight we'll let the music free our souls...
So let it show, so let it show...
We can't pretend, we can't pretend;
We only find ourselves by losing all
Control...
Control...
Control...
Control...
Control... (Control...)
Control... (Control...)
Control... (Control...)
Control...
I'm opening up - Show me a sign I can't relieve...
These crazy emotions flow through me;
I'm gonna explode, oh!
You take me away from what is my ordinary life;
I won't be afraid of what we might find:
A love I can hold...
I'm letting go, I'm letting go!
We're only friends, we're only friends;
Tonight we'll let the music free our souls...
So let it show, so let it show...
We can't pretend, we can't pretend;
We only find ourselves by losing all
Control...
Nothing ventured, nothing gained...
A new horizon ready to paint;
With every breath, you take it away...
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
I'm letting go, I'm letting go!
We're only friends, we're only friends;
Tonight we'll let the music free our souls...
So let it show, so let it show...
We can't pretend, we can't pretend;
We only find ourselves by losing all
Control...
Control...
Control...
Control...
Control... (Control...)
Control... (Control...)
Control... (Control...)
Control...
Control...
Control...
Control...
The lyrics to Beyoncé's song Control are about letting go of the things that hold us back from living our lives fully. The song is full of energy and determination, as Beyoncé sings about finding the strength to follow through on her desires and take control of her life. The first verse talks about the internal struggles that we all face and the need to let go of our damaged pride in order to make real change. The second verse talks about the desire to break free from the ordinary and find something that truly excites us, even if it's scary at first.
The chorus of the song is all about giving up control and letting the music free our souls. It's about finding ourselves through losing control and experiencing something new and exciting. Beyoncé encourages us to take risks and step out of our comfort zones, reminding us that nothing ventured, nothing gained. The song ends with a series of repetitions of the word "control," emphasizing the power and importance of taking control of our lives.
Overall, Control is a powerful and motivating song about taking control of our lives and finding ourselves through letting go. It's a message that Beyoncé has continued to emphasize throughout her career, inspiring countless fans to find the strength to take risks and pursue their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I gotta give up to quiet the storm that rages inside...
I need to make a sacrifice to calm the intense emotions I feel within me.
The way that I hit my damaged pride;
I hurt myself by continually damaging my self-esteem and self-confidence.
You gave me away...
You betrayed me by disclosing my secrets or exposing my vulnerabilities to others.
And I've had enough - I imagine the words I say to you...
I am tired of being mistreated and start to daydream about confronting you.
I'm finding the strength to follow it through;
I am gaining the courage to stand up for myself and take action.
I'm ready to change...
I am willing to transform myself and my life for the better.
I'm letting go, I'm letting go!
I am releasing my grip on control and surrendering to the moment.
We're only friends, we're only friends;
We can only be platonic friends and nothing more.
Tonight we'll let the music free our souls...
Tonight, we will let the power of music liberate our spirits and set us free.
So let it show, so let it show...
Don't hold back your true feelings and let them be expressed.
We can't pretend, we can't pretend;
We must stop pretending and face reality as it is.
We only find ourselves by losing all Control...
We can only discover our true selves by relinquishing all control and letting life unfold.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained...
If you don't take risks in life, you won't reap any rewards either.
A new horizon ready to paint;
A new chapter in life is about to begin and can be shaped as desired.
With every breath, you take it away...
Every time I breathe, my heart is stolen by you and I become breathless.
Hey!
An exclamation of excitement or enthusiasm.
Control...
A repetition of the title of the song, emphasizing the importance of self-control or the lack thereof.
Contributed by Taylor J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@omhmar
I am a big fan of how B structures her songs. Her music always creates the feeling of completion. Nothing is ever missing. From rhythm to lyric, and story to relevance. I pray that the day will be far from now when this iconic artist ceases to inspire through her music. Her gift. Her purpose. Her life.
@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024
“Her gift”, interesting how an album called “The gift” was released years later. 🤭 She became an icon and shook the world a couple years after this comment. 💙
@patrickgomes4752
Break My Soul making justice for Control after all these years 😍
@blueviolets2106
Literally said the same thing!
@Cryabtit_
@@bookofgloryx NO I don’t want a remake I want her to release the OG in high quality 😭
@kingjustin36
Beyonce is the greatest Singer in the world.... I love her voice such an amazing body and a beautiful voice.... I am one of the biggest fans of her!!!! keep on moving beyoncé... i am waiting for your songs
@joeagger
still one of my fav of her unreleased songs. such a great europop vibe
@thatssoes
Not making this a single was a mistake😞 I can literally see her slaying the music video and live performances in my head
@seosoyeon9930
SAME OMG🙌
@seosoyeon9930
SAME OMG🙌