Entertainment
Beyoncé's Music Video Evolution, From Early Aughts Queen To Masterful Storyteller
There’s a reason she’s called the G.O.A.T.
Beyoncé is more than just her hitsongs. From her powerhouse vocals to her influential choreography and culture-shifting lyrics, she’s a masterful storyteller with a strong message to share. Nowhere is that more apparent than in her music videos and visual albums, where all those elements come together. Here, we track some of Beyoncé’s most memorable videos of her solo career, from “Crazy In Love” to “Brown Skin Girl.”
“Crazy In Love” (2003)
Everything about the visual for the lead single of Beyoncé’s debut solo album is iconic: the excessive amount of dance breaks, outfit changes, and a wild scene of her thrashing in a burning car.
“Irreplaceable” (2006)
This is the song and video that made all 12-year-olds act like they were going through a divorce.
“If I Were A Boy” (2008)
This solemn black and white visual is one of Beyoncé’s most dramatic, with a twist at the end that wrecked my young tween heart.
“Single Ladies” (2008)
There’s a reason why Kanye West said Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.
“Telephone” (2008)
It’s surreal to see now two of the world’s biggest pop stars collaborate together in this time-capsule-of-a-video and underrated masterpiece.
“Run The World (Girls)” (2011)
If there’s one thing Beyoncé knows how to do, it’s to make an anthem, and an equally inspiring video with the sticky choreography to match.
“Love On Top” (2011)
Only Beyoncé can make a simple video of her singing in a cavernous warehouse space an exhilarating experience to watch.
“***Flawless” ft. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie(2014)
The beginning of Bey’s declarative feminist period, with a video of an inclusive, underground gritty dance party to match.
Yoncé/Partition (2014)
This double feature will take you on a journey from Chanel Iman, Joan Smalls, and Jourdan Dunn dancing in Brooklyn to Beyoncé’s iconic one-woman burlesque show.
“Formation” (2016)
Beyoncé introduced her Southern Black GothicLemonade era with this reference-filled, culture-shifting visual.
“Hold Up” (2016)
Following the denial stage of grief, Beyoncé finds catharsis for her anger in smashing car windows in a flowing, sun-hued, Oshun-evoking Roberto Cavalli dress.
“Sorry” (2016)
The greatest athlete in the world twerks in front of Beyoncé’s throne, and that’s just in the first half of this video.
“Apesh*t” (2018)
The Carters filming in the Louvre set a new standard for music video locations.
“Brown Skin Girl” (2019)
A visual tribute to the women in Beyoncé’s life, from Naomi Campbell and Lupita Nyong’o to daughters Blue Ivy, Rumi and her mother, Tina Lawson.