Throwback-Beyoncè-Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Beyoncé’s commitment anthem “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” is from her 2008 third album I Am…Sasha Fierce. The Dream, Christopher Stewart and Thaddis Harrell co-wrote the song with Beyoncé that was inspired by her marriage to Jay-Z. She took on the persona of her alter ego Sasha Fierce and passionately addressed the subject of men reluctant to make their romantic relationships official. The hook that says “If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it ” became a popular saying and connected with worldwide listeners including some who were not in relationships. The video featured Beyoncé and two of her dancers wearing high-cut leotards designed by Tina Lawson who had seen the movies A Chorus Line and All That Jazz.  The intense choreography was accentuated by the movements of their hands that focused on the ring finger. 

The black and white video went viral and several people came up with their own versions of it. Kanye West famously interrupted Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards as she was giving her acceptance speech for winning Best Female Video because he believed the accolade should have gone to Beyoncé who was a contender with “Single Ladies.” Despite the loss, the video still won three awards including Video Of The Year. The clip won several other awards including Best Video at the BET Awards, MOBO Awards and MTV Europe Music Awards. “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” is considered one of the best pop songs ever and the video quickly ascended to iconic status. 

Beyoncé released the Black Is King visual album in 2020 which was a companion piece to The Lion King: The Gift album that she curated for The Lion King. 

 In 2021, Beyoncé was named one of the top touring artists of the decade at the Pollstar Awards and was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Black Music and Entertainment Walk Of Fame. Beyoncé and Jay-Z partnered with Tiffany & Co. and she became the first Black woman to wear the Tiffany Yellow Diamond in an ad for the company’s About Love campaign. They received controversy for using the never-seen Jean-Michel Basquiat painting titled Equals Pi in the ad. A new song from her titled “Be Alive” can be heard in the film King Richard starring Will Smith as the father of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams.