Beyoncé is an icon for the majority of women on the planet. She is someone we look up to not just because of her beauty or skill, but because of what she stands for. Being a woman is a strong force, and she never fails to remind us of that. She is a walking, talking embodiment of equality. She utilizes her voice to speak up for all of us, from telling us that we govern the world and that “if you like it, you put a ring on it,” to knowing that “if we were a guy,” things could be different. To put it another way, she provides us with a voice we don’t often recognize.
Here are some of Queen’s most powerful songs, as well as some lyrics that educate us that we are powerful and should be happy to be women, from around the world.
1. Formation
Beyoncé’s “Formation,” which made its big debut at the Super Bowl, made it plain that women need to stick together. She tells us that if we don’t let anything get in the way of our goals, we can achieve great things. We must be proud of who we are and how we got to where we are, regardless of our origin or heritage.
2. Pretty hurts
Beyoncé takes aim at society’s female standards. It’s practically impossible to define “beautiful” because attractiveness is really in the eye of the beholder. Another way women deal with being confident and focusing on what actually matters in life is when they are told they must appear a specific way in order to be valued.
3. Sorry
“I ain’t sorry” reminds us that women often apologize for being too sweet, too nasty, too prudish, or too provocative. Women apologize for everything, and Beyoncé is not one of them. She is the voice of every woman who has been injured, mistreated, undervalued, or misjudged. She inspires us all to rise above our circumstances and be stronger people.