Honestly what's a "timeless discography" and to whom? 

 

Acts like MJ are not very common, his recurrent streams, sales and radio success might be the standard but it doesn't mean an artist like Prince doesn't have a timeless discography just because he's not as played and referenced as MJ today. Also timeless to which demographic... Are we looking at a specific demographic like Cher is to gay people or how much Mary J's music means to black people of a certain age?

 

To answer the question, yes... Beyonce has a timeless discography to the people she makes music for.

Nah, I would say everything she has ever done sounds kinda dated already. ST sounds timeless, but I wouldn't say the rest does. 

Yes, especially from 4 onwards. 

Yes! Probably one of the best discographies in pop.

8 hours ago, Cameltoe Chariot said:

Post self-titled? Yes.

 

Before? 

 

Not when 4 is one of her most timeless classic sounding albums.

4 and maybe self titled but thats a MAYBE. 
 

Her fans are so aggressive when you say the opposite though lol like they really believe regresionance is good

A lot of the music released by those in the OP are not timeless and have relied on trends and/or sound dated to the time they were released.

 

And the same goes for Beyoncé, especially when we look at album cuts. Songs like Love on Top, Single Ladies or Crazy in Love that balance timelessness with quality not included, there are always going to be tracks like Hip Hop Star that don't stand the test of time and feel like the moment they were created in.

5 hours ago, Badgalbriel said:

Nah, I would say everything she has ever done sounds kinda dated already. ST sounds timeless, but I wouldn't say the rest does. 

This is a rather absurd thing to say, considering what a student of music Beyoncé is and how much she blends the past and the present often resulting in a work that sounds like neither. For example, Love on Top is clearly referencing the past while having qualities that wouldn't be used in the era it references, yet it certainly does not sound dated to 2011 insofar as what everyone thinks about in terms of that era's sound and style.

 

Other examples like Single Ladies also barely date itself in any way but the fact that it is so tied to the culture of 2009 from the perspective of it as a phenomenon but not as a sonic work. There was nothing that sounded like Single Ladies at the time, and there still is not. (Except Get Me Bodied, her own song from 2006).

It's also early, but I'd assume RENAISSANCE won't sound "dated" as it draws on many references past and present to create a new vibe unlike that of 2022/2023 as a whole.

 

These are clear differences than examples like Halo which very obviously sound like the melodic and production style of the times, following in the very popular Ryan Tedder style of that era.

A lot of her older stuff (barring Sasha Fierce) still sounds fresh today, so it's looking good for her in the long run.

Drag me if im collectively wrong but while I think whitney has some timless songs, I dont think she's made one collective body of work deemed timeless (maybe the Bodygaurd, but it isnt entirely hers?) 

 

So Bey has alreast surpassed Whitney. 

Her caviar discography is aging like fine wine despite the failed attempts by haters here

19 hours ago, Big Bad Wolf said:

Beyonce defiantly has an iconic discography, and she's often compared to legends like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince, Mariah Carey, etc. But how does her discography stack up against theirs?

 

Do you think Beyonce's music will stand the test of time and be perceived as influential as the aforementioned acts?

Dangerously in love was literally dated upon arrival. All of the singles have a great nostalgic sound which is fine. Baby boy less so and trendy for that moment.

 

B'day was a collection of songs that have a lot of FUN and exciting production but most of it is dated. Beautiful liar is meh.

 

I am sasha fierce yet another dated album even her best single ever (my favorite single from her Halo) is not timeless the production is 2000s focused.

 

4 outside of the willow smith tinged nervy lead single this is her first album where there is a timeless element to it. Party, Countdown, I was here, Love on top are timeless gems.

 

Beyonce I mean a game changer but Drunk in love is for the moment. Many songs from the album are timeless. It's giving half and half. The VISUALS are timeless.

 

Lemonade 25% timeless the rest for the moment.

 

Renaissance TBD

 

Other dated songs include Check on it and bonnie and clyde.

 

Dated doesn't mean bad but without checking out Wikipedia here are some of her timeless gems:

 

Me myself and I (possibly)

Irreplaceable (likely)

Flaws and All (YEEEEESS)

Upgrade you (I'm trying to figure. outif this is timeless or if I'm biased)

Resentment (YES MA'AM)

Kitty kat (I'm trying to figure out if this is timeless or if I'm biased)

If I were a boy (Yes)

I was here

Party (MY JAM YESSSS)

Countdown (I say yes but I can see an argument elsewhere)

Love on top

Most of BEYONCE bar Drunk in love (Pretty hurts/Partition come to mind)

I can't think of many songs from. her last two eras that have a timeless appeal.

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 20232 yr by slw84

Yes. Every album besides IASF aged very well. 

 

Bey just lacked global appeal after 2009 which is why her streams aren't so high. 

 

But none of that really matters. Most of her solo music as well as DC has aged fine. 

13 hours ago, Badgalbriel said:

Nah, I would say everything she has ever done sounds kinda dated already. ST sounds timeless, but I wouldn't say the rest does. 

Disagree. The only Bey album that truly sounds dated or overproduced is IASF. And, even then, Halo is a classic. 

 

But Bey's albums by and large have a timeless element to them. I just listened to CIL all the way through the other day and holy f*ck is "Me, Myself and I" such a classic sounding song. 

2 hours ago, slw84 said:

B'day was a collection of songs that have a lot of FUN and exciting production but most of it is dated. Beautiful liar is meh.

You seem to be referencing the re-release, since you brought up Beautiful Liar, and it wouldn't really matter (and doesn't since Beautiful Liar is still part of her discography) but the standard edition is not "a collection of songs that have a fun and exciting production".

 

B'Day is a concept album that tells a linear story of a relationship from giddy, lustful inflation (Déja Vu, Get Me Bodied) to taking the relationship seriously and investing time and money into it (Suga Mama, Upgrade U) to realizing there's another woman and reacting accordingly (Ring the Alarm, Kitty Kat, Freakum Dress) to tossing the man away (Green Light, Irreplaceable) to then reflecting on it (Resentment and then Listen as the bonus song). It's essentially the light-hearted and speculative not personal version of Lemonade.

 

 

Edited November 8, 20232 yr by swissman

Yes. Only a liar would say otherwise.

8 hours ago, swissman said:

You seem to be referencing the re-release, since you brought up Beautiful Liar, and it wouldn't really matter (and doesn't since Beautiful Liar is still part of her discography) but the standard edition is not "a collection of songs that have a fun and exciting production".

 

B'Day is a concept album that tells a linear story of a relationship from giddy, lustful inflation (Déja Vu, Get Me Bodied) to taking the relationship seriously and investing time and money into it (Suga Mama, Upgrade U) to realizing there's another woman and reacting accordingly (Ring the Alarm, Kitty Kat, Freakum Dress) to tossing the man away (Green Light, Irreplaceable) to then reflecting on it (Resentment and then Listen as the bonus song). It's essentially the light-hearted and speculative not personal version of Lemonade.

 

 

That's an interesting take. I know Beyonce was under a time crunch to release the album and this was the one album I purchased with my own money. Bought the walmart edition DVD with hours of interviews and everything. I got the vibe that the reason the album was titled B'day and released on her birthday was because of the opposite but I wouldn't call it timeless although I believe Flaws and all, Resentment, Irreplaceable and a couple tracks like Upgrade U could be considered timeless.

 

 

4 hours ago, slw84 said:

That's an interesting take. I know Beyonce was under a time crunch to release the album and this was the one album I purchased with my own money. Bought the walmart edition DVD with hours of interviews and everything. I got the vibe that the reason the album was titled B'day and released on her birthday was because of the opposite but I wouldn't call it timeless although I believe Flaws and all, Resentment, Irreplaceable and a couple tracks like Upgrade U could be considered timeless.

 

 

I don't think it's a take necessarily. I can't recall if she ever explained it as a linear story, but I don't think it's a coincidence not a single song is out of place in the sequence of the narrative and she did say many times it's the things she wished Deena Jones would have said in Dreamgirls. Since the album ends with Listen as a bonus song (used in the film to show that Deena finally got her voice) it shows that what came before is meant to be that conceptual take on what she wishes Deena could have said/done in her relationship.

 

 

Edited November 8, 20232 yr by swissman

On 11/7/2023 at 8:04 AM, Xtina23 said:

NO.

Lmfao. Beyoncé's music reigns supreme and will certainly outlive other flop artists' failed attempts at creating timeless masterpieces. No one can match the sheer greatness and power of Queen Bey's discography. It's YOUR fave that has no timeless discography, as proven by her awful recurrent streams.