45 Beyoncé Songs To Use At Your Next Audition
If you're interested in singing one of Beyoncé's songs at an upcoming audition, make sure you check out these recommendations!
This article was written by Stephanie Lexis and Marcus Herndon!
If you're looking to add some of Beyoncé's music to your audition repertoire, you've come to the right place!
Dangerously in Love
During the 2 year hiatus for Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé released Dangerously in Love, a provocative and flirtatious solo debut. Unabashed and bold, Beyoncé fuses pop with R&B and Arabic music with dancehall. Following Dangerously in Love’s critical and commercial success, Beyoncé continued to embark on what would become one of the most successful solo careers in popular music. Actors will find this album ideal for women-led musicals like Six and The Life.
"Crazy in Love" - Six, Moulin Rouge, & Juliet, Hamilton, Bring it On, Lysistrata Jones, The Prom, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Xanadu, Priscilla…, Kinky Boots, Aida, Pretty Woman, Legally Blonde, Beetlejuice, The Life
"Naughty Girl" - Six, Moulin Rouge & Juliet, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, MJ the Musical, RENT (Mimi), Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy), Xanadu, Beetlejuice, Legally Blonde, Kiny Boots, Aida, Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Pretty Woman, The Life
"Baby Boy" - Six, & Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Aida, In the Heights, Legally Blonde, Beetlejuice
"Be With You" - Hamilton (Maria Reynolds), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, MJ the Musical, The Bodyguard, Dream Girls, The Wiz
"Me, Myself and I" - Six, Aida, Hamilton
"Dangerously in Love" - Six, Hamilton, Hadestown, Dream Girls, Pretty Woman, The Bodyguard, Kinky Boots, The Life
B’day
Following the success of Dangerously In Love, Beyoncé’s second album, B’day, was inspired by her role Deena in the musical film Dreamgirls. B’day portrays a more assertive and empowered Beyoncé, singing what she wished Deena had the courage to say in said film. This powerful sophomore release will have you strutting to a fierce blend of R&B, funk, and radio-friendly pop. Actors going in for strong, independent characters will find great audition selections on B’day.
"Ring the Alarm" - Six, Dream Girls, Hamilton, Aida, The Bodyguard, The Life
"Freakum Dress" - Six, Aida, The Life
"Irreplaceable" - Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Dream Girls, 9 to 5, Hamilton, In the Heights, The King’s Wife, Lsystrata Jones, Waitress, Legally Blonde, Sister Act, Priscilla.., Kinky Boots, Pretty Woman, Beetlejuice, The Wedding Singer, The Bodyguard, Brooklyn, Aladdin, The Life, Wicked
"Resentment" - Six, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Mean Girls, MJ the Musical, Dream Girls, Hamilton, The King’s Wife, Ghost, Sister Act, Aida, Memphis, The Bodyguard, Pretty Woman, Violet
I Am...Sasha Fierce
On I Am…Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé unleashes her alter ego, Sasha Fierce. Presented as a double album, the 1st disc I Am… presents a more grounded Beyoncé characterized by R&B ballads and midtempo tracks. On the 2nd disc …Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé thrills with infectious hooks and iconic dances to match. Being one of Beyoncé’s most commercially-pleasing albums, audition cuts from I Am…Sasha Fierce will be perfect for a wide array of jukebox and pop musicals.
"If I Were A Boy" - [NOTE: There are 3 notable recordings of this hit song by Beyoncé, Reba McEntire, and BC Jean. Depending on the show and character for which an actor is auditioning, one musical interpretation will be more suitable than another, which we specify below.]
Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Tina- The Tina Turner Musical (BC Jean), MJ the Musical, Dream Girls, A Strange Loop (BC Jean), 9 to 5 (Reba McEntire), Next to Normal (BC Jean), Footloose (BC Jean), Hamilton, In the Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar (BC Jean), RENT (BC Jean), The King’s Wife (BC Jean), The Wiz, Mean Girls, Heathers (BC Jean), Carrie (BC Jean), Bring it On, Jekyll & Hyde, Lysistrata Jones, The Prom, Spongebob, School of Rock, Bare, Waitress, Be More Chill, Dear Evan Hansen, Shucked (Reba McEntire), Violet (Reba McEntire), Hercules, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Ghost, The Devil Wears Prada, Sister Act, Kinky Boots, Aida, Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Pretty Woman, The Wedding Singer, Bat Out of Hell, The Bodyguard, Brooklyn, Legally Blonde, Beetlejuice (BC Jean), Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Wicked, Spring Awakening
"Halo" - Six, &Juliet, Hamilton, In the Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar, RENT, The Wiz, Bring it On, Lysistrata Jones, The Prom, SpongeBob: The Musical, School of Rock, Hadestown, Be More Chill, Dear Evan Hansen, Shucked, Violet, Hercules, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Ghost, Once On This Island, Sister Act, Xanadu, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots, Aida, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pretty Woman, The Wedding Singer, The Bodyguard, Brooklyn, Legally Blonde, Beetlejuice, Wicked
"Disappear" - Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, MJ the Musical, A Strange Loop, Jesus Christ Superstar, RENT, Mean Girls, Heathers, Carrie, The Prom, Next to Normal, Ghost
"Broken-Hearted Girl" - Six, &Juliet, MJ the Musical, A Strange Loop, 9 to 5, Hamilton, In the Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar, RENT, The King’s Wife, Bring it On, Bare, The Prom, Ghost, Kinky Boots, Pretty Woman, The Bodyguard, The Life
"Ave Maria" - Six, Moulin Rouge (Satine), Hamilton (Eliza), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary), The King’s Wife, Waitress (Jenna), Ghost, Sister Act, Pretty Woman, The Wedding Singer, The Bodyguard, Wicked (Glinda), Spring Awakening (Wendla)
"Smash Into You" - Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton, In The Heights, RENT, The King’s Wife, Bring it On, Ghost
"Satellites" - Six, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton, RENT
"Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Six, &Juliet, Dream Girls, 9 to 5, Hamilton, The Wiz, Hercules, The Devil Wears Prada, Once on this Island, Little Shop of Horrors, Memphis, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Sister Act, Xanadu, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots, Aida, Pretty Woman, The Wedding Singer, Bat Out of Hell, Legally Blonde, The Life
"Sweet Dreams" - Mean Girls, Six, Moulin Rouge, Bring it On, Kinky Boots, Beetlejuice
"Hello" - Six, Hamilton, Pretty Woman, The Color Purple, The Bodyguard, Sister Act
"Scared of Lonely" - Six, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton, RENT, Ghost, The Life, The Color Purple, The Bodyguard, Pretty Women, Brooklyn
"Poison" - Six, &Juliet
4
4 is a goldmine of throwback jams and feminist power anthems. Beyoncé embraces her wide vocal range and agility to deliver high-stamina performances. 4 is a great source of audition songs for musicals set in the 70s to early 90s.
"1 + 1" - Six, Dream Girls, Hamilton, The King’s Wife, MJ The Musical, The Bodyguard, Kinky Boots, Aida
"I Care" - Six, The Color Purple, Jesus Christ Superstar
"Best Thing I Never Had"- Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, MJ the Musical, 9 to 5, Hamilton, The King’s Wife, Bring it On, Lysistrata Jones, The Color Purple, Waitress, Sister Act, Xanadu, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Pretty Woman, Aida, The Bodyguard, The Life, Bat Out of Hell, Legally Blonde
"Rather Die Young" - Six, MJ The Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, Hamilton, The King’s Wife
"Start Over" - Six, &Juliet, Hamilton, Aida, Pretty Woman
"Love On Top" - Six, &Juliet, Tina- The Tina Turner Musical, MJ The Musical, Dream Girls, Hamilton, The Wiz, Hercules, Sister Act, Beetlejuice, Aida, Pretty Woman, The Wedding Singer, The Bodyguard, The Life
"Countdown" - Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton, Hercules, The Bodyguard, Pretty Woman, The Life
"End of Time" - Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, MJ The Musical, In the Heights, Fela!, Once On This Island, Bring it On, The Lion King, Xanadu, Beetlejuice
"I Was Here" - Six, Bare, The King’s Wife, Spring Awakening, Ghost, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
"Run the World (Girls)" - Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton, Mean Girls, Bring it On, Lysistrata Jones, Hercules, Xanadu, Beetlejuice, Legally Blonde, The Life,
Beyoncé (self-titled)
To everyone’s surprise, Beyoncé released her self-titled album completely unannounced on iTunes. Feeling even more bold, Beyoncé’s self-titled album would also be a non-linear short film, having music video accompaniment on all tracks. This was her first foray into more experimental material that fuses R&B with electronic and soul music.
"Pretty Hurts" - Six, &Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Dream Girls, Hamilton, In The Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar, RENT, Mean Girls, Bring It On, Strange Loop, The King’s Wife, Lysistrata Jones, The Prom, Bare, Next to Normal, Waitress, Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Ghost, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots, Aida, Aladdin, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Pretty Woman, The Bodyguard, Legally Blonde, Beetlejuice, Xanadu, The Life, Great Comet
"Drunk In Love" - Six, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton
"Partition" - Six, Moulin Rouge, Beetlejuice, Pretty Woman
"Blue" - Great Comet, Hamilton, Once On This Island, Aida, Kinky Boots, Lion King, The Bodyguard, A Strange Loop, Ghost, Waitress, The Prom
"Flawless"- Six, Moulin Rouge, Bring it On, The Prom, Mean Girls, Xanadu, Beetlejuice
Lemonade
Lemonade is a groundbreaking, earth-shattering album that is dear to her fanbase. Beyoncé’s self-titled album left such an impression on the music industry that the visual aspect of it would carry on to Lemonade. Musically, it’s a smorgasbord of musical genres and interpolations, spanning from rock to hip-hop and country to trap. At its core, Lemonade is a masterpiece created by a Black woman for other Black women.
"Daddy’s Lessons" - Hadestown, Shucked, The Ring of Fire, The Life, Waitress, Hamilton, Violet, Spitfire Grill, Bonnie & Clyde, Bright Star
"Sandcastles" - Six, The Color Purple, RENT, Hamilton, A Strange Loop, Waitress, Sister Act, Pretty Woman, Ghost, Kinky Boots
Renaissance
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Beyoncé was inspired to release a series of albums in 3 acts. Renaissance, the Act I album, provided listeners a means of escape. Inspired by post-1970 ballroom culture, Beyonce’s Act I album pays homage to the Black queer pioneers of disco and house music. Renaissance will serve those auditioning for 70s era musicals.
"Break My Soul" - Six, The Life, A Strange Loop, Xanadu
"Cuff It" - Six, The Wiz, The Lion King, Sister Act, Disaster!, Xanadu
Cowboy Carter
In 2017, many country fans made Beyoncé feel undeserving of performing with The Chicks on the CMAs. Instead of feeling defeated, Beyoncé watered the seeds that her detractors unknowingly planted and made Cowboy Carter. which would top country charts. Although Beyoncé insists this is a “Beyoncé album” instead of a country album, Cowboy Carter is a tapestry of reclaimed Americana. For country and country-adjacent musicals, Cowboy Carter is the American frontier for audition songs!
"Texas Hold 'Em" - Footloose, 9 to 5, The Ring of Fire, Memphis, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Shucked, Violet, SpongeBob, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Debbie Does Dallas, Water For Elephants, Big Fish, Bright Star, Spitfire Grill, Annie Get Your Gun, 110 in the Shade, Big River, Urban Cowboy, Hands on a Hard Body, Ride, Gun and Powder
"Jolene (Beyonce’s Version)" - Six, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Debbie Does Dallas, Waitress, Violet, 9 to 5, Footloose, Shucked, The Ring of Fire, Memphis, The Color Purple, Bright Star, Spitfire Grill, Annie Get Your Gun, 110 in the Shade, Urban Cowboy, Hands on a Hard Body, Gun and Powder
"Daughter" - Spitfire Grill, Water For Elephants, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Bright Star, Bonnie and Clyde, Annie Get Your Gun, 110 in the Shade, Gun and Powder
"II Most Wanted"- The King’s Wife, Waitress, Footloose, RENT, Shucked, Outsiders, Water For Elephants, The Prom, Bright Star, Spitfire Grill, Bonnie and Clyde, 110 in the Shade, Big River, Urban Cowboy, Hands on a Hard Body, The Color Purple, Gun and Powder