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 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"
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.
Rather Die Young
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're my James Dean
You make me feel like I'm seventeen
You drive too fast, you smoke too much
But that don't mean a thing
'Cause I'm addicted to the rush
'Cause I'd rather die young
I rather not live at all
Than live my life without you
'Cause I'd rather die young
Than live my life without you
I rather not live at all
Than live my life without you
You know I've been in love before
You're the first one I ever seen
That burns like gasoline
So light a match, turn off the lights
I'm holding on to you
'Cause this might be a last night, oh
'Cause I'd rather die young
Than live my life without you
I rather not live at all
Than live my life without you
'Cause I'd rather die young
Than live my life without you
I rather not live at all
Than live my life without you
What I'm telling you
I'm giving you my life, it's in your hands
And what I'm gonna do
Is be a woman and you can be a man
And I wanna say
Nobody understands what we've been through
I rather give up everything
Than to live my, live my life without you
Oh!
Oh!
'Cause I'd rather die young
Than live my life without you
I rather not live at all
Than live my life without you
'Cause I'd rather die young
Than live my life without you
I rather not live at all
Than live my life without you
In "Rather Die Young", Beyoncé sings about her devotion and desire to be with someone even if it means dying young. She compares her lover to the iconic actor James Dean, who was known for his wild and rebellious behavior. Beyoncé explains how her lover makes her feel young again, like she's seventeen years old. She acknowledges his flaws of speeding and smoking, but still finds herself addicted to the rush of being with him.
Beyoncé expresses that she couldn't imagine living her life without this person, and she would rather die young than to live without him. She compares their love to gasoline, as it burns hot and fast. She sings about holding onto him, not wanting to let go because she realizes that this could be their last night together. Beyoncé ends the song by emphasizing that this person holds her life in his hands and that she will be a devoted partner regardless of what they face together.
Overall, "Rather Die Young" showcases the intensity and passion of a mature love, where two people are willing to risk everything for each other and the memory of the love that they share.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy you'll be the death of me
You are the one that will ultimately lead to my downfall.
You're my James Dean
You possess characteristics that resemble those of James Dean, a rebel without a cause.
You make me feel like I'm seventeen
Being around you makes me feel young and carefree like I did when I was seventeen years old.
You drive too fast, you smoke too much
You have reckless behavior such as driving too fast and smoking too much.
But that don't mean a thing
Even with your reckless behavior, it doesn't diminish my feelings for you.
'Cause I'm addicted to the rush
I can't help but be drawn to the excitement and thrill that comes with being with you.
'Cause I'd rather die young
I would rather live a short, exciting life with you than a long, dull life without you.
Than live my life without you
I can't imagine life without you by my side.
You know I've been in love before
I have experienced love in the past.
You're the first one I ever seen
Out of all of my past loves, you are the only one who has ignited a burning desire within me.
That burns like gasoline
My passion for you burns like gasoline, intense and consuming.
So light a match, turn off the lights
Let's fuel this passion and turn off all the distractions.
I'm holding on to you
I am holding onto you tightly because I don't want to let go.
'Cause this might be a last night, oh
This could be our last night together, so let's make it count.
What I'm telling you
I am confessing my love to you.
I'm giving you my life, it's in your hands
I am entrusting you with my heart and life.
And what I'm gonna do
My plan is to be a woman and let you be a man.
Is be a woman and you can be a man
I will embrace my femininity while allowing you to be the masculine figure in our relationship.
And I wanna say
I want to express how I feel.
Nobody understands what we've been through
No one can comprehend the depth of our love and the trials we have overcome together.
I rather give up everything
I would sacrifice everything for you.
Than to live my, live my life without you
I cannot handle the thought of living my life without you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEYONCE KNOWLES, JEFF BHASKER, LUKE STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind