**Before we get into it, I feel legally and morally obligated to notify you all whenever I move, so — I moved! Here’s where I just spent many hours writing this gorgeous newsletter:
It’s too early to tell how I feel about the place, especially because I haven’t even met one of my roommates yet, but there’s something about living with a 21-year old in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York, USA that makes you feel like your bones should be fossilized and put on display for all to see at the American Museum of National History.
A year ago tomorrow, Beyoncé released her seventh solo studio album Renaissance, and this weekend, the pop star is bringing her acclaimed Renaissance World Tour to the greater New York metro area (aka New Jersey). I’m super very deeply excited, so to celebrate I’ve decided to rank my top 10 favorite Beyoncé songs of all time. I’m basically inviting the Beyhive to leak my new address by doing this, so I expect you all to thank me for my incredibly noble service.
“Yes”
As Tokyo Toni once said, “Well, yes!”
“Why Don’t You Love Me”
Making a man wait 4 counts of 8 just to tell him he’s dumb — that’s my mama.
“I Miss You”
Of course the Frank Ocean-written song was going to crack my top 10. Sure, the lyrics can be trite at times, but it’s the emotion she puts behind every word that really sells the song. (Frank’s cover is amazing too, obviously.)
“VIRGO’S GROOVE”
If you’ve never listened to Renaissance for whatever fucked up reason, throw this song on and let yourself revel in the disco grooves for 6 whole blissful minutes. Chef’s kiss!
“PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA”
The vocals still leave me in complete awe a year later. Though most (if not all) of her love songs are about Jay-Z, it’s an extra shame that she dedicated this glittery 70s-inspired ode to that man. I do not want to picture the face he makes when you tell him you have to leave while listening to this song! I do not want to picture his face at all!
“Get Me Bodied”
What can I say, I’m a B’Day girl through and through.
“Blow”
I think we’ve collectively forgotten how impactful this album was when it came out — beyond how it revolutionized the “digital drop” — but I never will. Hearing one of the most popular women in music sing about such mature themes like postpartum depression and getting her coochie ate was an extremely formative experience for me at 16 years old, and I’ll always carry that feeling with me. “Blow” is one of her best songs, it’s one of her best music videos, and it created the path that Renaissance would eventually walk.
“Deja Vu”
God I love this song. I love this song! Bey’s vocals on the bridge are absolutely explosive, the live instrumentation is so bright and crisp, and I don’t hate the Jay-Z verse, either, which is about the highest amount of praise I can give the man. I’ll never forgive him for fumbling the lyrics at Beychella, though.
“Suga Mama”
Another B’Day track. Boo hoo! Go cry about it.
“I Care” / “I Care (Homecoming Live)”
It’s too bad this is only the fourth song on the RWT setlist, because I’m unfortunately going to pass away as soon as the drums come in. This song really explores the depths and the highs of Beyoncé’s vocal prowess, and the live Homecoming version proves her talent is more than just engineering trickery. Despite the song’s massive builds and relentless drum hits, she somehow manages to make her voice the focal point because she’s just that good.
Okayyyy this drained me in a way that has me concerned for my vitals so imma head out. Pray for me that see doesn’t bring out Travis Scott on Sunday.