Top 10 Underrated Beyoncé Songs

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VOICE OVER: Lisa Yang WRITTEN BY: Owen Maxwell

Script written by Owen Maxwell

These are the most underrated Bey songs! For this list we're looking Beyoncé Knowles' less appreciated tracks that still have us dangerously in love. We're basing our choices on a mix of contagious melodies, powerhouse performances and timeless lyrics. We've included songs like No Angel, Freakum Dress, Don't Hurt Yourself and more!

Top 10 Underrated Beyoncé Songs

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Some songs are just irreplaceable. Welcome to MsMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Underrated Beyoncé Songs. For this list we're looking Beyoncé Knowles' less appreciated tracks that still have us dangerously in love. We're basing our choices on a mix of contagious melodies, powerhouse performances and timeless lyrics.

#10: "No Angel" Beyoncé (2013)

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After meeting art-pop act Chairlift while on tour, Beyoncé decided to work on 'No Angel' with singer and producer Caroline Polachek. The song's dreamy synth-pop pulls elements of hip-hop and indie music, while incorporating Polachek's own weird vocal techniques. Knowles sings about loving her partner because neither of them are perfect, which is a strong contrast to her typically tough persona. Beyoncé echoes this in her breathy delivery and unusually high vocals, which also show a sense of vulnerability she rarely taps into. Though it's grounded with a strong trap beat, 'No Angel' stands out as one of Knowles' most experimental tracks.

#9: "I Care" 4 (2011)

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For this ballad to one-sided love, Beyoncé belts her heart out to show her partner that she still loves them. Knowles brings so much emotion and raw honesty to 'I Care' that it sounds like she's really crying in her performance. Despite the sad energy of the song, Beyoncé's uplifting soul harmonies show she hasn't given up. The epic drums are also a welcome addition to Knowles' sound, and fit the song's hopeful spirit. While the guitar is also a surprising choice for Bey , she ends up matching it note for note in her unbelievable final solo.

#8: "Green Light" B'Day (2006)

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Despite the beckoning calls from Beyonce in 'Green Light,' the song is really about giving your lover permission to leave. Thanks to The Neptunes' lively production, the track is full of bouncy beats and a contagious R&B energy. The sultry grooves draw from Knowles' sexual frustration, while the horns echo her assertive tone. The booming choruses increase the immediacy of Knowles' message as she shows her partner the green light to breakup. 'Green Light' has all the emotional highs of Beyoncé's best songs, but it's the funky brass that has us coming back again and again.

#7: "Mine" feat. Drake Beyoncé (2013)

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As piano and lush vocals intro 'Mine,' Beyoncé sings softly about the many insecurities she faces in life. The song slowly builds as Bey worries about inner strength, motherhood and even her marriage in the opening verse. Knowles starts to shed these fears when 'Mine' enters its second half, and she talks about facing life and letting go. The mix of drum machines and African beats grow more and more distorted throughout the track to match Beyoncé's own shift in confidence. Interestingly enough, it’s Drake's production team and not his vocals that really make 'Mine' one of Beyoncé's most fierce yet intimate songs.

#6: "Start Over" 4 (2011)

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'Start Over' finds Beyoncé at the end of a relationship, as she tries to rekindle the magic that made it all work. The bright production stays light and sparse, as Knowles delivers one of the strongest vocal performances of her entire career. She pulls back her delivery in a tender verse to admit her own faults in the relationship as well. Just as the song seems to wind down, Bey shouts her way into one last explosive chorus. Beyoncé's unbelievable singing in 'Start Over' is also a testament to how far she can push herself while still being emotionally accessible.

#5: "Why Don't You Love Me" I Am... Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition] (2010)

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Between the grimy bass lines and Beyoncé's growling vocals, 'Why Don't You Love Me' is Bey at her most confident. Knowles names off all of her best qualities angrily, as she insists that her man has to be dumb not to want her. You can hear Beyoncé's frustration grow the farther she gets down her list, and her screams reach a primal peak. The song was so quirky however that it nearly wasn't sent to Knowles, and was eventually only released as a bonus track. Along with its empowering message, 'Why Don't You Love Me' was also a refreshing throwback to Beyoncé's soul roots.

#4: "End Of Time" 4 (2011)

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After being inspired by the free spirit of rock artists and Fela Kuti, Beyoncé wanted to capture that same energy on 'End Of Time.' Knowles promises utter devotion and support for her partner, as she pleads with them to take a chance and join her. The stomping beats set a vicious pace for the song, and provide a strong base for Bey's commanding voice. Beyoncé also sings with a much more upbeat energy to match the song's bouncy bass grooves. 'End of Time' has also become an exciting highlight of Knowles' live shows thanks to its lively and distinct big band sound.

#3: "Don't Hurt Yourself” feat. Jack White Lemonade (2016) When Beyoncé told Jack White she wanted to be in a band with him, both artists went wildly out of their comfort zones. White's bluesy guitars and organs provide a heavy foundation for Knowles to deliver one savage diss track. The booming drum sample from Led Zeppelin's 'When The Levee Breaks' also alludes to 'Lemonade's' themes of cheating and how it slowly destroys a marriage. Despite its rock and hip hop core, the song is full of ambitious edits and vocal techniques from both Knowles and White. This artistic vision lead to a rock Grammy nomination and left fans hungry for a Beyoncé rock band.

#2: "Freakum Dress" B'Day (2006)

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With a feisty backing track and a short temper, Beyoncé takes her fellow women to school on 'Freakum Dress.' While singing about making your man jealous, Knowles even takes the time to lecture her listeners mid-song. Producer Rich Harrison also adds a distinctly abrasive funk aesthetic to the song that sounds like a dark version of the horns from 'Crazy In Love.' The track was so popular that it charted on several Billboard singles charts despite never actually getting released as a single itself. Regardless of its minimal promotion, 'Freakum Dress' has aged gracefully thanks to its in-your-face attitude and fearless writing. Before we get to our top pick, here are a couple honorable mentions: "Ring Off" Beyoncé: Platinum Edition (2014) "Schoolin' Life" 4 [Deluxe Edition] (2011)

#1: "Grown Woman" Beyoncé: Platinum Edition (2014)

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'Grown Woman' was Beyoncé's empowering call to living free as an adult, regardless of gender. The frantic beats and production by Timbaland also incorporate elements of Beyoncé's African heritage. As this aesthetic grows throughout the song, we're even treated to a whole bridge in a foreign tongue. The song's fun energy is filled with Knowles' signature harmonies, horns and most importantly an inspiring message. Hit songwriter The-Dream helps Beyoncé tie all these different elements together for a song that never seems to stop. By putting her own personality on the Afrobeat sounds, Bey makes Grown Woman a timeless song.

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