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.
Stop Sign
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You feel good feeling low
I like my colours vivid
And you paint your colors gone
I like to see the world and you like your week in tone
But I've been taining behind while you refused to go
'Cause you're such a burden
'Cause even though I'm hurting
It still feels like it's time I'm growing
When I thought that we'd grow up and grow together the same time
Guess I passed you by at that old "Stop" sign
At that old "Stop" sign
You like to sleep all day and I like my minutes
I like trips to the movies you watch TV all night long
I like to go out dancing and you go out just to hang
And I've been right beside you losing me and doing the same
'Cause you're such a burden
But you're the weight above my shoulders
'Cause even though I'm hurting
It still feels like it's time I'm growing
When I thought that we'd grow up and grow together the same time
Guess I passed you by at that old "Stop" sign
At that old "Stop" sign
I looked around and baby you were gone
Where did I lost you honey
I even slow down thought you'd fall low
But you took your own roads honey
'Cause I've been traveling traveling traveling
No lead to find you
I'm making this trip alone
And I've been staying behind while you refused to go
'Cause you're such a burden
But you're the weight above my shoulders
'Cause even though I'm hurting
It still feels like it's time I'm growing
When I thought that we'd grow up and grow together the same time
Guess I passed you by at that old "Stop" sign
At that old "Stop" sign
In Beyoncé's song "Stop Sign," she talks about feeling disconnected from her partner who seems content with a lifestyle she doesn't identify with. Beyoncé's lyrics convey her frustration with how her partner lives a different life than she does. She enjoys being high, loves vivid colors, and enjoys seeing the world, whereas her partner is content feeling low, living in monochrome tones, and staying in one place. The term "burden" is used to describe her partner, emphasizing how it feels like their opposing worlds clash and weigh her down. Despite the pain and frustration she feels, she acknowledges that it's time for her to grow and move forward.
The chorus emphasizes how Beyoncé's partner seems to be holding her back from moving forward in life as they are carrying too heavy a burden. She thought that they would grow together, but she feels like she may have missed something while waiting for her partner to catch up. The metaphorical "Stop Sign" represents a point in their relationship where one party chooses to take a different path than the other. Beyoncé tries to slow down, thinking that her partner would follow her lead, but they choose to take a separate road. Beyoncé feels lost, but she accepts that she will have to move forward without her partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to feel so high and
I enjoy being happy and content
You feel good feeling low
You find comfort in negative emotions
I like my colours vivid
I prefer bright and bold colors
And you paint your colors gone
You tend to lean towards dull, muted colors
I like to see the world and you like your week in tone
I appreciate adventure and exploration while you prefer a routine and consistency
But I've been taining behind while you refused to go
I have been held back while you have chosen to remain stagnant
'Cause you're such a burden
I view you as a weight or obstacle in my life
But you're the weight above my shoulders
You are a responsibility or duty that I must carry
'Cause even though I'm hurting
Despite the pain that you cause me
It still feels like it's time I'm growing
I feel like I need to evolve and move forward in my life
When I thought that we'd grow up and grow together the same time
I assumed that we would both mature and develop at the same pace
Guess I passed you by at that old "Stop" sign
I left you behind when you chose not to progress
You like to sleep all day and I like my minutes
You prefer to rest while I value each moment of productivity
I like trips to the movies you watch TV all night long
I enjoy going out to do things while you prefer to stay in and watch TV
I like to go out dancing and you go out just to hang
I enjoy going out to socialize and dance while you prefer to simply spend time with others
And I've been right beside you losing me and doing the same
I have been trying to keep up with your behavior but have lost sight of myself in the process
I looked around and baby you were gone
I realized that you had moved on without me
Where did I lost you honey
When did you move away from me?
I even slow down thought you'd fall low
I purposely slowed down thinking that you would eventually progress with me
But you took your own roads honey
Instead, you chose to pave your own path
'Cause you're such a burden
You continue to hinder my growth and progress
But you're the weight above my shoulders
I am responsible for carrying the consequences of your actions
'Cause even though I'm hurting
Despite the emotional pain that you caused me
It still feels like it's time I'm growing
I feel like I need to evolve and continue progressing in my own life journey
When I thought that we'd grow up and grow together the same time
I had hoped that we would continue to develop alongside each other
Guess I passed you by at that old "Stop" sign
But I realized that you had chosen to remain stagnant and I had moved on from that point
Contributed by Christopher K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fake Nayme
'Cause you're such a burden
But you're the weight above my shoulder
'Cause even though I'm hurting
It still feels like it's time I'm growing
Cause when I thought that we'd grow up and grow together the same time
Guess I passed you by at that old "Stop" sign
At that old "Stop" sign
Sums up my last relationship perfectly
Rose Petal
this song is so beautiful it should have made the album a secret gem
SteveRJ
It's the bonus track on the B-Ware album
All the unreleased joints
Daniel Kennie
I swear this is her BEST song! don't know why it's not on ANY album, no deluxe edition or ANYTHING...smh lol
SteveRJ
Yes it is, it's on the B-Ware Album
Eriq7001
This song..was one of the 72 songs she recorded for the I Am Sasha Fierce Cd. Beautiful ballad but like most artists
..you gotta cut the songs down. I would to see her perform Stop Sign Live.
Mimi Brown
I love this song, it applies to all kind of relationships
Moise Mensah
True. I used it when I grew apart from two former friends.
Moise Mensah
First comment of 2020. Honestly, the theme of growing apart had never felt so truer, especially in this day and age. This haunting song sums it up fittingly.
Fake Nayme
'Cause you're such a burden
But you're the weight above my shoulder
'Cause even though I'm hurting
It still feels like it's time I'm growing
Cause when I thought that we'd grow up and grow together the same time
Guess I passed you by at that old "Stop" sign
At that old "Stop" sign
Sums up my last relationship perfectly
scott knowles
I can't believe I'm just now hearing this, such a beautiful song! 😍