FEATURE:
Groovelines
Beyoncé (ft. Jay-Z) - Crazy in Love
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IT has been a while since I last put out…
IN THIS PHOTO: Beyoncé in 2003/PHOTO CREDIT: The Face
an instalment of Groovelines! It is a feature that spotlights a single song, and I go a bit in depth with its creation and release. Rather than focusing on an album, I can drill down a track that has made an impact on me. In previous editions, I have featured Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights, Madonna’s Vogue, The Beatles’ Paperback Writer, and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, and now I come to Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love. Released in 2003, it features her now-husband Jay-Z (they married in 2008), and is regarded as one of the best songs of the 2000s (as in the first decade of this century). I know I feature Beyoncé a fair bit on this blog, but I think it is important to feature Crazy in Love, as it is from her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, and many eyes were on her as her band, Destiny’s Child, were sort of in their final phases – their last album, Destiny Fulfilled, was released in 2004. Released as the lead-off single from the album on 18th May, 2003, Crazy in Love is a combination of Beyoncé’s powerful vocal – with Jay-Z adding his brilliant part – and a great sample from The Chi-Lites – their song, Are You My Woman (Tell Me So) is used. I heard the song when it first came out and, whilst I was familiar with Beyoncé and her music, I had heard nothing like Crazy in Love until 2003. From the sassy horns that open it to the thrilling chorus, it is a song that still sounds incredible, and one cannot help but sing along to it!
It is not a shock the song reached the top spot in the U.S. and U.K., as the lyrics can be appreciated by pretty much anyone! I mentioned how you can sing alongside the track, as it is catchy, but one can relate to the lyrics and the spirit of Crazy in Love. Jay-Z’s vocals contrast Beyoncé’s in terms of flow and sound, but the two naturally complement one another perfectly. Dating and in love couples do not necessarily melt together better than anyone else, and it could have been a different experience if the song was quite slushy. The two have worked together through Beyoncé’s solo career and as part of The Carters, and this is the two of them in their finest collaboration. There is modernity in Crazy in Love, but 1970s-inspired Funk and Hip-Hop gives the song this classic edge. The beat of the song is immense, and there is so much punch and physicality running through the track! Working alongside that passion and panache is something sensual, softer and more tender. Recorded at Sony Music Studios (New York City) and mixed at The Hit Factory (New York City), I would be interested to see a breakdown of the song and who played what. Written by Rich Harrison, Beyoncé Knowles, Eugene Record, and Shawn Carter (Jay-Z), I would also be interested in hearing how the song was written and whether Beyoncé and Jay-Z wrote their parts together and then they sent that to Rich Harrison and Eugene Record.
I will end things in a bit as it is one of those classics that will be spun and dissected decades from now. I am a fan of Beyoncé, but I don’t think she ever released anything as epic and utilitarian as Crazy in Love, in the sense that so many people can relate to the song and it is not just restricted to a certain demographic. The track is a summery blast; it is a clarion call and demand for people to head to the dancefloor. I love the song, and I think there are few R&B/Pop songs that can match the dizzying heights of Crazy in Love. The Dangerously in Love album is not exactly defined by Crazy in Love, but it is clear what the jewel of the album is! The confidence Beyoncé had to transition from an established group – even if they were still going and had another album in them by 2003 – and make it solo is amazing. Some would note that she was the standout of Destiny’s Child and it was only a matter of time before she stood alone, but it must have been tricky changing paths. One cannot talk about the '00s without acknowledging the stature and importance of Crazy in Love – not bad for a debut solo single! I listen to Crazy in Love when I need a lift because, even though I have heard it countless times, every spin delivers…
SUCH an incredible thrill!