10 Most Empowering Beyoncé Songs

1. Pretty Hurts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Spe7yQ6EFw In the video for Pretty Hurts, every ounce of perfection we have come to expect from Beyoncé is radically stripped away in a jarring aesthetic move. Coming from an artist who has established each angle of herself as a good one, the message becomes apparent quickly and powerfully; to kill yourself for perfection is no life at all. Beyoncé may be the most competitive working artist to date because she has no peer but herself, constantly attempting (and succeeding) to one-up her prior efforts. Delving into some of the most haunting and disturbing imagery of her entire career, this is Beyoncé where you've never seen her go before, deep inside the pain she deals with as an icon and a symbol, while reminding the listener that she has insecurities and dreams like any of us. The heart of Pretty Hurts lies in the uplifting anthem within the chorus declaring it is the soul that needs the surgery rather than cheekbones or waistlines. Scouring fashion mags for perfection is a damaging pursuit which Beyoncé brings to the forefront of her self-titled album. It takes true strength to step outside of that mold and say no to objectification for the sake of glorification. Beyoncé is just as human as you or I and deserves the respective allowance to be less than perfect from time to time - no trophy or crown should hold such prestige over our humanity. Devotion to an unobtainable standard is the injustice Beyoncé directly confronts and dismantles with such grace as only she can. In the final moments of the song, Beyoncé begs us to stop and ask ourselves something simple, "Are you happy with yourself?" if the answer isn't readily apparent, you might want to play this one again for the soul.