That Grape Juice’s Top 7: Blazing Beyonce Performances

Published: Tuesday 4th Sep 2018 by Sam

Today marks Beyonce‘s 37th birthday!

For over two decades, music’s reigning diva has dominated with music videos and performances like no other.

The stage, though, has been her undeniable playground of choice to showcase the ferocity she possesses. As such, in celebration Mrs Carter’s anniversary, That Grape Juice are counting down our 7 Top Blazing Beyonce Performances.

Given the sheer volume of superb showings, it wasn’t an easy task whittling down to such a humble number. Still, our picks await after the jump. Let us know if you agree below!

7) Super Bowl 2016

Over the course of her career, Beyonce has made it commonplace to magnetise the masses any and every time she graces the stage.

And Coldplay’s Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2016 was no exception.

Billed as a “guest” alongside Bruno Mars, Bey seized the moment to make a bold statement. She got the world in ‘Formation.’

With the song dropping as a surprise just a day before (alongside its video), its live rendition – which formed part of a dynamite dance-off with Mars – elevated and penetrated its politically charged messaging.

If ever there was a platform to re-affirm one’s authentic wokeness to the world, it was the Bowl and Bey did so in a major way.

6) Baby Boy / Crazy In Love – MTV VMA 2003

Prior to setting sail on her solo journey, Bey had firmly established herself as a stage blazer in Destiny’s Child. However, this 2003 showing introduced the world to Sasha Fierce as we’ve come to know and love her. From the fearless intro, to the choreography, the wind and weave whips, this performance was all sorts of diva.

5) Listen – Oprah Winfrey Show 2006

Though renown for her captivating ability on stage, Mrs Carter is also able to shine with a light and a mic. Case in point this dynamite rendition of ‘Listen’. From our standpoint, there hasn’t been another performance of the track as epic as this – which is mind-blowing given that she had a cold when she delivered it (as she relayed in behind the scenes footage). The climatic end run is a vocal exclamation mark if we’ve ever heard one.

4) Single Ladies – MTV VMA 2009

As one of the star’s signature hits, there have been countless performances of ‘Single Ladies’. However, none can rival the showmanship showcased during this showing. It was clear from the onset that Bey approached this as a competitive sport – almost as if she was duelling with her peers in the audience. Needless to say, she won. The scale, the fierceness, the extras, and the overall air of epic, this was everything.

3) Run The World (Girls) –  Billboard Music Awards 2011

With all the accolades and achievements that are heaped on Beyonce comes a certain degree of expectation. More specifically, expectation of elevation. And oh did Queen B deliver with this explosive rendition of ‘Run The World (Girls)’. The precision required to pull off such an effects-heavy performance still leaves our jaws ajar – especially when considering that not only did the singer smash it, she did so while in the early stages of pregnancy with Blue Ivy.

2) Superbowl Medley

If ever there was a modern-day masterclass in how to command a stage, it was this 2013 ‘Superbowl Medley’. Much hyped, the 13-minute extravaganza exceeded expectation – which was naturally sky-high.

There have been many things written about this career-defining performance (a trend, we’re sure, will continue for years to come). The divadom, the dynamism, the precision, and the strive for performance perfection. It re-affirmed why Bey is a step ahead and a level above the Pop pack.

1) Coachella 2018

With decades of mega-moments under her belt, the question of whether Beyonce can top herself is one that arises oh so often.

And at Coachella this year, the Queen answered with the most emphatic “hell yes” possible.

Boasting a HBCU theme, her show sewed together all that the fans have come to love from the legend-in-waiting. Colossal charisma, slick choreography, endless energy, and a catalogue of classics that few (if any) of her contemporaries can rival.

The spectacle, which also reunited Destiny’s Child, was rendered all the more jaw-dropping when considering that Bey had given birth to twins only 10 months prior.

To watch BeyChella 2018 was to watch a performer at the top of their game — and at the top of “the” game. And in many ways, it has us salivating for what’s to come. Because, given her propensity to up the ante and push the envelope, we’re more than sure this very feature will be comprised of an entirely different performances 5 years down the line.

Long live the Queen!

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Do you agree with our picks?!

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  1. Zion September 4, 2018

    Coachella looked messy in terms of stage set up

    • Bravo!! September 4, 2018

      Stfu!!

    • gina September 4, 2018

      lol messy and predictable.

  2. Seth September 4, 2018

    Just call this blog the Beyonce Juice bc you overhype her too much. I love her but come on…is 37 a milestone? Didn’t even say sh*t that Madonna, Michael and Prince all turned 60

  3. Dre September 4, 2018

    Im surprised you didnt acknowledge any of the times she shut down the BET Awards…I would replace your 5 and 6 with BET Awards – Cater 2 U and BET Awards – Get Me Bodied Melody

    • Whoops ???‍♀️?? September 4, 2018

      Nah. I agree that some performances are missing but that Oprah Listen performance was perfection. It belongs in the top 5.

    • gina September 4, 2018

      Thats because she never shut down the BET awards.

    • Pink Tingz September 4, 2018

      I always remember that performance

  4. Jhud productions September 4, 2018

    Happy Birthday B I t c h

  5. Bam September 4, 2018

    That vmas performance isn’t as epic as I remember it, suppose it and the one with BB/CIL hasnt aged well. Super bowl was best.

  6. pat September 4, 2018

    overhyped performances….she just looked wild in most cases.

    • Bravo!! September 4, 2018

      Stfu!! Who your fav?

  7. China September 4, 2018

    She SHOULD THANK JANET JACKSON for STEALING HER SWAG. BI_TCH.

  8. Anthony September 4, 2018

    I would place the Stevie Wonder tribute at number 2

  9. Jasmine (The Original Princess) September 4, 2018

    How is Everything Is Flop doing?

  10. #TheTruth September 4, 2018

    Both VMAs medleys for the last 2 albums were EPIC.
    Happy birthday Beyoncé, I hope your next album will be packed with big vocals, no rap singing mess !

  11. Whoops ???‍♀️?? September 4, 2018

    So we just gonna ignore Dangerously in Love at the 2004 Grammys and Halo on the I Am World Tour…… ok.

  12. DanYiel Iman September 4, 2018

    What amazes me about Beyoncé is she’s discredited for EVERY THING SHE DOES, yet every other artist is PRAISED FOR DOING DUMB S*** ON THE REGULAR!!??‍♂️

    • The Wig Snatcher September 4, 2018

      …like HOnika Minaj

  13. JOHNVIDAL September 4, 2018

    I remember the time Beyonce tried a My Heart Will Go On or I will always love You type of moment in music history with that basic Listen song. She is just not made to have success with ballads. Pretty much everybody has tried it but failed. Those type of irreplaceable voices only comes once or twice in a lifetime. Britney tried too, do u guys remember that film and song of hers? LOL

    • Francis September 4, 2018

      ”Listen” isn’t ”My Heart Will Go On” or ”I Will Always Love You”, but it’s a pretty good ballad. Those two were probably the last big ballads slaying the charts. We had a few of them after, but none of them touched those two. Celine, Mariah and Whitney will always be the queens of balladry!

      Nowadays, no one cares about a good ballad, unfortunately.

      • The Wig Snatcher September 4, 2018

        Then how did Adele slay down Beyoncé, Taylor, Katy and all the other lessors??? Songs like Hello, Set Fire To the Rain and Someone Like You should ring bells.

    • Selah September 4, 2018

      Shut the hell up. Worry about your wacko favs boring performances and non-existent vocals. At least Beyoncé puts on a show and can still sing 20 years into her career.

    • Rasputia Latimore September 4, 2018

      Shut up b|tch and eat my box. By slays ballads. Be Without You and Dangerously In Love and Irreplaceable are 3 of her best u hater. All these 90s b|tches got some ballads in they catalogue so respect it and love on their music u hating b|tch.

    • Rasputia Latimore September 4, 2018

      Shut up b|tch. People don’t eat dairy cause it give em gas and bloat. U want some vegan milk….get down here and eat my box till I bust a n**. Now that is pure organic juice lol. BTW almondmilk is bad for diabetics and people with lupus. Drink cashew milk instead.

  14. Blessed September 4, 2018

    Happy Birthday Queen Bey & Many More! God Bless You! Truly an inspiration! She has produced iconic performances in all her eras. I love them all! Keep twirling on the haters.

  15. Bravo!! September 4, 2018

    Before all ya lady’s start hating, I would like to ask you where who, and what are your favs doing?

    • gina September 4, 2018

      well my faves are Tina Turner, Janet Jackson & Prince, 3 Legends who slay anything beyonce does onstage.

      • Bravo!! September 4, 2018

        Your fav for this era sweetie!? I do agree with you on the three you named. I think about Gina is an old-school name, so you must be still stuck in the 60s & 80s of your generation. Again, Beyoncé is not my fav, Mary j Blige is my love. Beyonce has been compared to Tina Turner prior before and she tribute Tina Turner. Beyoncé performed with prince because prince saw her greatest. Janet Jackson, of course, paved the way for Beyoncé. Janet ruled the stage, chart, and pave the way for Beyoncé, but now Beyoncé the queen of this era. But sweetie gives me a fav from this era??

      • JOHNVIDAL September 4, 2018

        This era? ADELE released two albums in like 5 years and she literally sat down in Bwyonce´s entire history of success LOL Any questions? 🙂 Look no matter how some of her fans want to mask it, she is not a Whitney-Celine-Mariah or Michael or Madonna type of phenomenon. She´s not. The closest thing in THIS era as you say has been Adele. Bye.

      • Blessed September 4, 2018

        Adele era?? She’s herself would call you a bloody liar and tell you Queen Bey is still in charge. Her impact and longevity still puts her in front of all these girls. Mariah was the highest selling female artist of the 90s but Janet, Whitney, and Madonna all shined.

      • The Wig Snatcher September 4, 2018

        Either one of Adele’s last two albums has outsold Beyoncé’s entire discography (including Destiny’s Child music). Don’t cry racism either because a great vocalist with solidly eargasmic music will always shut down decent vocalists who chase trends and release rap-singing trash and cat tail-pulling shrills over uptempo beats.

      • Whoops ???‍♀️?? September 4, 2018

        Adele slays everybody when it comes to sales but that’s not what this post is even about. We’re talking about live performances. Y’all are flat out lying if you think Adele would be considered an amazing performer in ANY decade. NO ONE raves about an Adele performance. @Wig Snatcher Being a great singer/vocalist doesn’t automatically make you a great performer either. Janet can’t sing a lick and she could literally stand on stage and be more entertaining than Adele. And it’s not like Adele is the best vocalist ever either. She can’t compete with Whitney or Celene. And I’m not convinced she’s a better singer than beyonce either. I have never seen Adele hit a note that Beyoncé hasn’t. But I have seen Beyoncé notes Adele hasn’t. Let alone the fact that Beyoncé can hold a note whilst dancing for hours while Adele just stands there…..

      • JOHNVIDAL September 5, 2018

        No, I wasn´t talking about performers I admit. Obviously Beyonce is a better performer than Adele. Jason Derulo is too. I mean… I couldn´t care less. My point is that the number one bish of the last decade and by far is Adele. You guys were asking for this era and the bish in charge, right? Well, there you have it LMAO

    • Rasputia Latimore September 4, 2018

      Bravo haters don’t deserve attention. Behind is strong and casual supporters are strong. Queen Bey slays every solove album and tour. She is the Serena Williams of music. Hater’s can keep seething and staying mad.

    • Bravo!! September 5, 2018

      First, both woman is great performers vocally, but only one is an “entertainer.” Second, what gets me mad ?? is ya h*** be acting like Beyoncé can’t sing. And before I go any further within this read your reading again, I am and forever will always love Mary J Blige. I’m sure you haters remember all of Beyonce performances because you h*** been watching ever since 2003. like 2004 at the Grammys “Dangerously in Love,” 2011 American idol “1+1” performance. I’m sure you haters watch and those are just a few but I want you h*** to YouTube this, Beyoncé performing “Opera” & I Care | On The Run II. Beyonce can’t help that the world wants to see her dance, sing, and entertain you all in one breathe. And you haters can Blame that on her number one single “Crazy in Love.” I’ll rather see a bad b**** who can sing, dance, and give me ballets vocally than b**** that going to sit or stand in one spot. I don’t feel the need to get into sells but pure sales matter past and present. Beyoncé is the greatest entertainer of this generation, and you better ask Wendy Williams about it, But Wendy said of all time she took it a little far though. Beyoncé is the greatest entertainer of this generation!!

      • JOHNVIDAL September 5, 2018

        Beyonce can sing. Nobody says the opposite. However it is obvious her voice lacks something and doesn´t move people judging by the pure stats and even her own career choices. She herself knows that. Adele´s, despite being technically inferior, posseses something special and has made the world fall in love with it. Beyonce´s has never. Also stop it with the stamina pshit because we all know how much Beyonce has lipped throughout her career while “dancing”, and normally what she does is growling with big echoes. It´s not like she sings tremendous songs night after night.

    • Bravo!! September 5, 2018

      Norah Jones sold million of pure records and they both performed almost the same type of music as Adele. The world fail in love with her as well. Norah Jones first album sold more than 11.1 million in the United States and worldwide 27 million. When Norah Jones drop she did big numbers as Adele, but pure sales. My point Norah Jones was a breath of fresh air and the world fail in love with her as well, but the world will get tired of her boredom.

      • Bravo!! September 5, 2018

        I don’t see Adele being around more than ten years

      • Bravo!! September 6, 2018

        Last, Adele won’t go down as one of the greatest entertainers, but Beyoncé will. Again, Beyoncé will be mention as an iconic figure with the names of James Brown, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Madonna, and Elvis. Just in case one of ya h*** bring in Rihanna, she will be mention but not as one of the greatest entertainers. They will only reference her because of her number ones. Again, Adele will never go down as one of the greatest entertainers.

  16. aJ September 4, 2018

    How is deja vu 2006 bet awards not on here????????

    • Sunshine September 4, 2018

      Okay, that set the tone for the ENTIRE B’Day ERA!

      • Rasputia Latimore September 4, 2018

        I loved Bday era.

  17. Sunshine September 4, 2018

    Beyonce has so many stellar live performances that it’s hard to keep up with them all. I personally would have compiled the list by her best performance from each album era then add her best tribute; nevertheless, this is a solid list (although I feel another ballad could easily be added to the list). Beyonce is truly one of a kind and so deserving of all the praise she receives!

  18. SMH September 4, 2018

    Meh. She has cute performances, but nothing groundbreaking or historic that I can remember. Personally I would choose her 2011 Billboard awards performance as her best.

  19. Dma September 4, 2018

    Beyonce will never be permitted to simply “walk out on a stage” and perform.

    #TheBar

    Haters wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t a fact. ??‍♂️

    • Rasputia Latimore September 4, 2018

      Snoop said of u don’t have hater’s u ain’t doing nothing. Bey has haters because she is Queen B for 2 decades just like Diana Toss was Queen B of the 70s and Michael was King of the 80s and Mariah was Queen B of the 90s. Madonna was queen b of the 80s too l

  20. keke September 4, 2018

    her best performance is when they cut the mike off and turn off the lights.

    • JOHNVIDAL September 4, 2018

      What mike? She often lips.

  21. Molly September 4, 2018

    VMA 2003

  22. Molly September 4, 2018

    Vma 2003 and both superbowls don’t belong here, Deja Vu 2006 , Glastonbury and 2016 VMA medley should be tied for #1

  23. Clayne September 4, 2018

    Ahhhhh she’s amazing. ❤️❤️❤️

  24. i HATE WHYTEE AND BLACK BITCXHEZZZ THEY NOT ISH September 4, 2018

    sEPTEMBER 4, A THIEF WAS BORN IN THE NIGHT….TO STEAL FROM ARTISTS

    • The Wig Snatcher September 4, 2018

      LMGAO…I cannot stand your shady asssssss

  25. Selah September 4, 2018

    Beyoncé has so many epic performances, that it’s hard to choose a top 7 (for me). Your coked out favs could never work a stage like QUEEN Bey. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

  26. KillMonger Was Right (Tyler) September 4, 2018

    The highest grossing performer of our time. Happy bday!

  27. HOWYOULIKEIT September 4, 2018

    VMA 2016 should be in the list

  28. YouFatusankoh September 4, 2018

    I love hem all She is the best

  29. Bravo!! September 5, 2018

    The baby boy performance medley of baby boy/ crazy in love vma 2003 performance mos def should have been in the top 3 videos.

    • Bravo!! September 5, 2018

      I watch that performance three times today..

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