A Ten Song Guide: Beyoncé's Most Underrated
- Daniela Roux
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Beyoncé, to date, is one of the most prolific living artists we’ve seen. For every critic she’s had, ten fans have risen to defend her name. She’s a woman who has cultivated a mass following and collected nearly every commercial accolade imaginable — from the world’s highest-grossing tours to record-breaking sales, and as of now, the most Grammy wins of any artist in history.
Yet, there’s an underbelly to her discography — a body of work that doesn’t just fall under the radar but often disappears from it altogether. Over the years, some of these tracks have gained virality, earning their long-overdue flowers. But have you ever wondered what else you might be missing? The Mic’s Daniela Roux reports.
Kitty Kat – B’Day
Starting strong, Kitty Kat is one of Beyoncé’s most conceptual R&B records. The artists we know today continually showcase her vocal versatility, but the fact that it was present on her sophomore album was a testament to her potential early on. The song is a smooth anthem, candidly opening up about rejection and self-worth. As always, her tone perfectly balances both heartbreak and empowerment, punctuated by the repeated refrain, “Let’s go!” At her Coachella set in 2019, Beyoncé revisited Kitty Kat and rapped the bridge — a rare decision for her at the time – as she admitted on stage that only a few may know the song. It’s one of the turning points in her catalogue, marking the moment she began to experiment more with form and genre, prioritising her own sonic individuality over commercial gain. Among the commanding tracks on B’Day, Kitty Kat stands out as a breath of fresh air. It is one of the more subtle tracks but an essential piece of her musical evolution.
That’s Why You’re Beautiful – I Am… Sasha Fierce
One of Beyoncé’s most powerful ballads, That’s Why You’re Beautiful feels like the predecessor to All Night from Lemonade. Lyrically, it shares DNA with 1+1, utilising a tender questioning to highlight how engulfed she is with her partner. She is not “wondering why the sky’s blue,” she sings. The lyrics elucidate the type of love that supersedes logic, one in which you become so engrossed that the world around them seems to fade away. The production is majestic, led by a drum that helps carry her spiritual harmonies. Beyoncé’s delivery here is restrained but deeply emotional – another early testament to her ability to sing in parallel worlds, ones of both simplicity and depth. While I Am… Sasha Fierce gave us cultural anthems like Single Ladies and Halo, this hidden gem deserves equal praise. That’s Why You’re Beautiful is a timeless ballad that showcases her ability to make vulnerability sound transcendent.
Smash Into You (Live) – I Am… World Tour
Beyoncé is one of those rare artists who is both a vocalist and performer, and Smash Into You (Live) elucidates the power of her stage presence perfectly. The live version makes an already formidable track more grandiose. The song revolves around a simple hyperbole, “I wanna run and smash into you.” One of her greatest skills is ensuring that the emotional usage of her voice transforms simple ideas into intricate emotional experiences. On stage, one can experience how the studio version of her effortless harmonies and riffs are enhanced by the impromptu performance decisions. This vocality is layered over atmospheric instrumentation that mirrors the intensity of falling in love. It’s one of her most transportive live performances — and a reminder that Beyoncé’s artistry thrives where the spontaneity of performance and the grit of being a vocalist intersect.
Start Over – 4
Off 4, Start Over is a heartbreaking pop track about holding on to a relationship that’s slipping away. Beyoncé is well-known for her raspy growl – a vocal technique that we often tend to see in empowering anthems such as Why Don’t You Love Me or Suga Mama. Yet, she rarely implores it on her sorrowful songs. Other I Care, another punchy heartbreak anthem off of the album, we very rarely hear how her rasp drives the emotion home, as you pick up on the desperation in every syllable. The production, rich with vocal layering and subtle synths, and she softens approaching the bridge. The almost-whispering builds the tension of the song before she erupts into the chorus again. It’s one of the most overlooked songs in her discography — raw, honest, and devastating.
No Angel – BEYONCÉ
No Angel was certainly a turning point in Beyoncé’s artistic innovation. When she released her self-titled album, with no warning or promotion, it revolutionised modern album drops — and this track was one of its boldest experiments. The song opens with her breathy, pitch-shifted vocals — “Baby, put your arms around me, tell me I’m a problem” — affirming the song’s themes of imperfection. The percussion-heavy production and vocal layering can be hypnotic, with echoes establishing a space both sacred and isolated. Like Ghost or Haunted, its sonic construction perfectly encapsulates the themes of intimacy, power, and distance. As she approaches the bridge, her pitchy and towned down vocals transition into a masterful riff, and the fervent voice we are used to belts. I believe, to date, this song is one of her most unique – and that is a bold statement considering how experimental her self-titled album was.
Don’t Hurt Yourself – Lemonade
If there was a song within her discography that epitomised rage, it would be Don’t Hurt Yourself. Jack White’s gritty production and roaring guitar riffs give Beyoncé a perfect landscape to experiment with rock — a genre she commands as fiercely as she does R&B or pop. She spits, snarls, and screams through lyrics of betrayal and reclamation, creating a viscerally emotional experience for any listener (a general theme throughout Lemonade). This song rejects subtlety, its explosive catharsis is a testament to Beyoncé’s ability to alchemise anger into art. As we await Act III, fans suspect she’ll return to this hybrid sound, expanding on the experimentation she began here.
Sandcastles – Lemonade
Where Don’t Hurt Yourself is fury, Sandcastles is grief. This quiet piano ballad exposes the ache that lingers. She explores the raw, realistic aftermath of heartbreak. Beyoncé lets her voice crack and allows imperfection to carry the weight of sincerity. The Beyoncé we knew early on in her career, who prioritised flawless vocals is not seen on this track. The fact that she allows her trembling voice to carry the grievous lyrics illustrates how truly vulnerable this track is. Like Don’t Hurt Yourself, there is no effort to conceal her humanity, she puts it on display and allows all experiencing grief alongside her to have a crutch to rely on. Her quivering delivery of “And your face, what is it about you?” is gutting. The simplicity of the production — just piano and her voice — underscores the honesty of the track. Sandcastles remains one of her most mature and emotionally purgative songs.
FIND YOUR WAY BACK – The Lion King: The Gift
One of Beyoncé’s most underrated projects to date is The Lion King: The Gift, but on this particular album, FIND YOUR WAY BACK is still her most hidden gem. This standout track explores themes of identity, growth, and spirituality in an impeccably established way. In her documentary, Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift, she revealed that this project was conceived during her travels across Africa. This song poignantly reflects that, as the song channels Yoruba lyrics sung by Bankulli (a Nigerian-born producer). This song, much like the other ones off of the track such as BIGGER and SPIRIT, celebrates self-discovery and lineage. It’s cinematic, warm, and deeply reflective, as the lyrics manage to capture the balance between youth and wisdom. The bridge is transcendent – with a production that manages to exalt an already piercing song. Few artists of her scale approach cultural homage with such sincerity and respect and FIND YOUR WAY BACK is one of Beyoncé’s most perfect songs.
VIRGO’S GROOVE – RENAISSANCE
A glittering six-minute disco odyssey. VIRGO’S GROOVE is sensual, confident, and euphoric. Beyoncé’s track embraces pleasure and movement with cheeky vocal playfulness. This song is one that perpetuates escapism. As we transition from PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA into VIRGO’S GROOVE, the seamless movement feels like exhaling after a deep breath. Her vocal range is astonishing here, as she utilises a soft falsetto and swiftly transitions into a sultry alto all while layered over an irresistible bassline. It’s playful but not flippantly so. It is a purposeful celebration of joy and embodiment, and if RENAISSANCE had a love letter to the dance floor, this track is it.
AMEN – Cowboy Carter
The final track on Cowboy Carter can only be described with one word: historic. AMEN serves as both conclusion and reflection — a spiritual parallel of AMERICAN REQUIEM (the album’s opener). With gospel-like harmonies and lyrics that reference blood, legacy, and forgiveness, Beyoncé confronts America’s past while urging a collective rebirth: “Them old ideas are buried here.” The utilisation of a country dialect with a robust tone that showcases resistance. It’s a prayer, a protest, and a prophecy — one that reaffirms her place not just as a performer but as a cultural historian. Her goal has always been to reflect the times, and this track will cement the current political climate of America saliently.
Final Thoughts
As we await Act III — rumoured to be her final instalment — it’s worth remembering how Beyoncé’s artistry transcends genre, expectation, and time. She’s experimented, evolved, and led with quiet conviction. She may be a private celebrity, but she remains a loud artist — one whose music speaks in ways that history will never forget. For now, revisit these ten underrated gems and rediscover the brilliance that sits just beyond the hits. Legends have deep cuts too.
Edited by Daniela Roux
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