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.
Fake Your Way to the Top
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thirteen years of solid gold platters
Rising cost and cocktail chatter
Fat deejays, stereophonic sound
The game of hits goes 'round and around
But you can fake your way to the top
CURTIS
Try that part baby
LORRELL
'Round and around!
JAMES EARLY
Fake your way to the top
DEENA
'Round and around!
CURTIS (Spoken)
You fit right in there sweetheart!
JAMES EARLY
You can fake your way to the top
EFFIE
'Round and around!
CURTIS (Spoken)
I knew you'd have it baby!
JAMES EARLY
And it's always real, so real
DREAMETTES
Always so real
JAMES EARLY
Yeah, when you're comin' down!
ANNOUNCER (Spoken)
Ladies and Gentleman, the wildest man in show business, James "Thunder" Early!
JAMES EARLY
Oh, Help me Jesus
DREAMETTES
Help me, Jesus!
JAMES EARLY
Help me, help me Jesus
DREAMETTES
Help me, Jesus!
JAMES EARLY
Help me, help me Jesus
DREAMETTES
Help me, Jesus!
JAMES EARLY
Help me Jesus
Up, back up, back up
DREAMETTES
All the way up...
JAMES EARLY
Yeah, number one
I know what's happenin'
DREAMETTES
Doo, doot, doo doo
JAMES EARLY
I been around
Workin' my way
DREAMETTES
Doo, doot, doo doo
JAMES EARLY
Through every town
I make my livin'
DREAMETTES
Doo, doot, doo doo
JAMES EARLY
Off of my sound
DREAMETTES
Doo, doot, doo doo
JAMES EARLY
And the game of hits
Here we go
Goes 'round, and around, and a
DREAMETTES
'Round and around and 'round and around
and 'round and around
JAMES EARLY
You can fake your way to the top
DREAMETTES
'Round and around!
JAMES EARLY (Spoken)
Blow your horn!
(Sung) Fake your way to the top
Don'tcha know I made my way to the top
Yes I did
And it's always real, so real
DREAMETTES
Always so real... Ooh!
JAMES EARLY
OH!
DREAMETTES
Help me, Jesus!
JAMES EARLY
Help me, help me Jesus
DREAMETTES
Help me, Jesus!
JAMES EARLY
Help me, help me Jesus
DREAMETTES
Help me, Jesus!
ALL
Fake my way to the top!
In "Fake Your Way to the Top," the characters are acknowledging the reality of the music business – in many cases, the way to the top is to "fake it." This is exemplified by James Early's mention of "fat deejays, stereophonic sound," indicating that being physically attractive or having a great voice isn't always enough. He then repeats the phrase "the game of hits goes 'round and around," suggesting that there's a cyclical nature to making it big in the industry. The Dreamettes chime in, repeating the line "round and around" as a sort of chorus to this idea.
Despite the cynicism expressed in the song, there's also a sense of determination – the characters seem to believe that they can succeed by any means necessary. In the final verse, James Early declares that he made his way to the top, insisting that it's "always real, so real" even as the Dreamettes repeat the line "always so real" with a hint of skepticism.
Overall, "Fake Your Way to the Top" is a commentary on the sometimes harsh realities of the entertainment industry, where talent and hard work don't necessarily guarantee success.
Line by Line Meaning
Thirteen years of solid gold platters
James Early has been successful in the music industry for thirteen years and has a lot of hit records
Rising cost and cocktail chatter
The costs of making music are increasing and people talk about it at social events
Fat deejays, stereophonic sound
Radio DJs are overweight and the new technology of stereo sound is being used
The game of hits goes 'round and around
The music industry is always looking for the next big hit song
But you can fake your way to the top
It's possible to become successful by pretending or faking it
'Round and around,
The cycle of trying to make hit songs never stops
Try that part baby
Sing that part again
Fake your way to the top
Keep pretending to be successful to achieve success
I knew you'd have it baby!
I knew you could sing well
And it's always real, so real
Despite faking it, it still feels real
Always so real
It always feels genuine
Oh, Help me Jesus
A plea for divine help
Help me, help me Jesus
Repeated cry for help from a higher power
Up, back up, back up
Step back or move away
Yeah, number one
Achieving the top spot in the music industry
I know what's happenin'
Understanding the inner workings of the music industry
Doo, doot, doo doo
Vocal sound effects
I been around
Having experience in the music industry
Through every town
Having traveled to many places while performing
I make my livin'
Earning a living from being a musician
Off of my sound
Making money based on musical talent and output
Here we go
Beginning a new attempt at success
Goes 'round, and around, and a
The cycle of making music and trying to achieve success never stops
'Round and around and 'round and around and 'round and around
Repeating the idea that the cycle continues
(Spoken) Blow your horn! (Sung) Fake your way to the top
A call to action to continue putting in effort to achieve success
Don'tcha know I made my way to the top
Acknowledging one's own successful career journey
OH!
Expressing strong emotion or excitement
Help me, Jesus!
Another plea for divine assistance
ALL Fake my way to the top!
Everyone is participating in the process of pretending to be successful to achieve success
Writer(s): EYEN TOM LEE, KRIEGER HENRY D
Contributed by Sebastian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
josiah
on CUFF IT
I feel like fallin' in love (fallin' love)
I'm in the mood to fuck somethin' up (tonight, I'm fuckin' somethin' up, baby)
I need some drink in my cup (I need a drink)
Hey (pour me a drink)
I'm in the mood to fuck somethin' up (I'm in the mood to fuck somethin' up)
I wanna go missin'
I need a prescription
I wanna go higher, can I sit on top of you? (Ooh-la-la-la, la-la-la)
I wanna go where nobody's been (wanna go where nobody's been)
Have you ever had fun like this? (Have you ever had fun? Yeah)
We gon' fuck up the night, black lights
Spaceships fly (spaceships fly)
Yeah, unapologetic when we fuck up the night
Fuck up the night
We gettin' fucked up tonight
We gon' fuck up the night
Bet you you'll see far
Bet you you'll see stars
Bet you you'll elevate
Bet you you'll meet God
'Cause I feel like fallin' in love
I'm in the mood to fuck somethin' up
'Cause we gon' fuck up the night
What's in these four walls?
You sexy, my love (turn it up)
Don't miss this roll-call
Is you here or what? (Roll it up)
Yeah, show up, show up (show up, show up)
Po' up, po' up (po' up, po' up)
Uh, you Mr. Nasty, I'll clean it up
Go where nobody's been (wanna go where nobody's been)
Have you ever had fun like this? (Have you ever had fun? Yeah)
I wanna go missin'
I need a prescription
I wanna go higher, can I sit on top of you?
We gon' fuck up the night (funk it up, funk it up)
Black lights
Spaceships fly (spaceships fly)
Yeah, unapologetic when we fuck up the night (funk it up, funk it up)
Fuck up tonight
We gettin' fucked up tonight
We gon' fuck up the night
Bet you you'll see far
Bet you you'll see stars
Bet you you'll elevate
Bet you you'll meet God
'Cause I feel like fallin' in love
I'm in the mood to fuck somethin' up
We gon' fuck up the night
Hypersonic, sex erotic
On my body, boy, you got it
Hit them 'draulics, while I ride it
Got me actin' hella thotty
So excited, so exotic
I'm a seasoned professional
Squeeze it, don't let it go
Tease it, no self control
I got time today (I got time today, I got time)
Oh, I (I got time today, I got time)
I can't wait 'to come out and play
Ooh, yeah you
Come and cuff it, cuff it, cuff it, cuff it, baby
While I buss it, buss it, buss it, for you baby, ayy
Oh, baby
Anywhere, any time
I don't mind, I don't mind
Yeah (I don't mind)
For you (all for you)
I'm backin' the truck up, huh (back that truck up)
For you (all for you, for you)
A bitch'll get fucked up, huh (I fucked her up)
For you (all for you)
I'm puttin' my cup up, huh (put my cup up, yeah)
For you (all for you, you)
'Cause we gon' fuck up the night
Take flight (woo), blindin' lights (yeah)
Fuck it up, fuck it up, fuck it up
(Unapologetic when we fuck up the night)
Bet you you'll see stars (night)
Bet you you'll go far (night)
Bet you you'll levitate (night)
Bet you you'll meet God (party people, roll up)
Ooh (yeah)
We gon' fuck up the night (huh, yeah)
Spaceships fly
Fuck it up, fuck it up