By Matthew Wexler
If your mind is still two-stepping to the memories of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour, we’ve got even better news to share. Soon, you’ll be able to relish in the 35-time Grammy winner’s (no, that’s not a typo) expansive catalog in the comfort of your own home.
Beyoncé — All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track, the most comprehensive study of Beyoncé’s work, breaks coffee tables on October 14. And to say it’s epic would be like calling her performance at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards “good.” We’re talking 528 packed pages that chronicle, song by song, a groundbreaking career from her early days with Destiny’s Child to her most recent album, Cowboy Carter.
Author, composer, and musician Benoît Clerc is no stranger to uncovering the minutiae of our favorite musical artists, having previously written “All the Songs” books about Queen, David Bowie, and ABBA.
1 Minute Critic got our hands on an advance copy, and it’s a stunner. Whether you’re part of the BeyHive, like to show off your pop culture knowledge, or are writing a graduate thesis on Bey Bey, Clerc offers an expansive examination of Beyoncé’s career, track by track, and line by line.
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We randomly flipped open the book and landed on page 414, which unpacks the genesis behind Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé’s “Perfect Duet.” Initially released by Sheeran as a single, the artist wanted to revisit the song and had Beyoncé in mind after the pair had performed together several years prior. Always the multitasker, she gave birth to twins, Sir and Rumi, a month after beginning work on the track, then jumped right back in.
“Rehearsing with her, hearing her sing up close is just a thing to marvel,” Sheeran told People.
And for those still obsessing over her performance in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls, there’s plenty to unpack, including Beyoncé’s take on the single, “Listen,” written especially for her.
“I love the record,” Beyoncé told Billboard. “I think it’s something that’s still relevant now. Everyone has a moment when they decide they’re taking control of their life.”
Beyoncé — All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track (October 14, 2025) is available for pre-order.
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