Beautiful Liar
Encyclopedia
"Beautiful Liar" is a song recorded by American R&B
singer Beyoncé
and Colombia
n Latin pop
singer Shakira
. The song was written by Knowles, Amanda Ghost
, Ian Dench
, and Stargate
members Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, and produced by Stargate and Knowles for the re-release of Knowles' second solo album, B'Day
(2006). It was the first single released from the deluxe edition of the album through Columbia Records
on March 14, 2007. A Spanish and English mixed version of the song was produced and titled "Bello Embustero". It was mixed by Gustavo Celis
.
Musically, "Beautiful Liar" is a melding of Shakira's Latin
and Middle East
ern styles with Knowles' contemporary hip hop
and R&B styles. The song's theme is about female empowerment; two female protagonists sing about being charmed by the same man, but instead of fighting over him, both ladies agree that he is not worth their time. The single was generally well-received by music critics, who praised Knowles' and Shakira's collaboration. "Beautiful Liar" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
. The single won an Ivor Novello Awards
for Best-Selling British Song in 2008. In April 2011, Billboard
magazine listed the song at number four on its list of the 10 All-Female Hit Collaborations.
"Beautiful Liar" was commercially successful. It peaked at number three on the United States Billboard Hot 100
chart and experienced the largest upward movement on that chart until 2008. "Beautiful Liar" peaked at number one in several European countries, including France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The song won the Most Earthshattering Collaboration award at the 2007 MTV Video Music Award. Its accompanying music video was directed by Jake Nava
, incorporates belly dancing
moves, and was nominated for the Video Of The Year award at the 2007 BET Awards
. "Beautiful Liar" has been included on Knowles' set list
during her world tours since 2007. Knowles and Shakira have never performed the song together live.
, Amanda Ghost
, Ian Dench
, and Knowles. It was produced by Eriksen and Hermansen using their stage name, Stargate, and Knowles. Eriksen told Sound on Sound
, "This song is very simple. Most of the time we have more chords in a song, because we find it hard writing a great song on just one chord. But if you do it right, you can make it work, and this song is an example." The track had already been written in 2006 and Eriksen and Hermansen played it to their manager, Tyran Smith
, who loved it and said that it would "be perfect for a duet between Shakira and Beyoncé." Eriksen and Hermansen considered this to be impossible, however Smith was devoted to that idea. As they had no lyric or top melody, various writers tried to finish the song. The first three attempts were not satisfactory, and Smith put Eriksen and Hermansen to work together with Ghost and Dench, who wrote a significant part of the lyrics and the melody.
"Beautiful Liar" originally had a Spanish title and different lyrics. Hermansen re-titled it when he heard the line "beautiful liar" in one of the verses. When the production of the song was almost completed, it was presented to Knowles, who liked it. She added to the lyrics and recorded a solo version a few months before the release of the deluxe edition of B'Day
(2006). Knowles confirmed that she would perform a duet with Shakira in an interview with Univision
in December 2006. In an MTV
interview, Knowles said she had met Shakira several times at various awards shows, and that they wanted to collaborate on a song: Knowles said: "We always say how much we respect each other and we want to do a song together, and after a couple of years it finally happened. She's been on tour and it's been difficult, but we did it [be]cause we're both fans of each other and respect each other's work."
When Knowles invited her to record a song for the re-release of Knowles' second album, B'Day
, Shakira was touring and had difficulties matching her schedule with Knowles'. A few months later, Shakira agreed to sing on the track and, at the same time she recorded her vocals, the songwriters and producers added the ethnic strings and percussion break. Knowles and Shakira recorded their vocals in different studios; the engineer was Gustavo Celis
. "Beautiful Liar" was recorded at Sony Music Studios
and Battery Studios in New York City, Elastic Mix Studios and The Hit Factory
in Florida, and Futura Productions in Boston, Massachusetts.
song written in the key of G minor
. The music's time signature
is set in common time
, with a tempo
of 96 beats per minute
. Knowles' vocal range
spans from G3 to B♭5. Bill Lamb of About.com
commented that the song "finds a comfortable blend of Shakira's Latin and Middle Eastern melange with Knowles contemporary hip hop soul. It is all set to a thumping, hypnotic midtempo beat. According to Anna Pickard of The Guardian
, the song opens with groaning noises over the featuring melody. Then, the names of the two singers are heard: "Bee on say, be-on-SAY! Sha kee ra, Sha-ki-RA". The song features Arabic instruments such as Arabic percussion, oud
and ney
. The lyrics of "Beautiful Liar" are about two women who chose not to end a friendship because of a man who has cheated them. Its theme is one of female independence. Knowles told MTV News
that the single is about female empowerment, in keeping with the theme of the album: "... it's about a guy who's kind of playing both of us, and instead of us arguing over the guy we say, 'Forget him. Let's stick together. He's a beautiful liar."
, Top 40
, and Urban
. "Beautiful Liar" was released as a CD Single in Australia on March 14, 2007 and on April 16, 2007 in the United Kingdom where it was released as a digital download
two days earlier. It was released as a maxi single
in Europe on April 20, 2007. The single was later serviced as a digital EP
in the UK and the US on May 20, 2007. Different versions of the song were produced; Puerto Rican
reggaeton
artist Don Omar
recorded verses for one of the song's remixes, but this was not released. In the UK, most radio stations, such as Radio 1
, played an up-beat, dance remix
of "Beautiful Liar" by the Freemasons
, instead of the original mix. Gustavo Celis produced and mixed a Spanish language version, entitled "Bello Embustero". This appeared on some regional releases of the B'Day Deluxe Edition in late May 2007.
awarded "Beautiful Liar" three stars out of five and wrote that it "isn't as ridiculously overblown" as previous collaborations of Mariah Carey
and Whitney Houston
on "When You Believe
" (1998) and Barbra Streisand
and Celine Dion
on "Tell Him
" (1997). However, he added that "it's as calculated as a wannabe page 3 model's decision to have a boob job", and that it would to keep both Knowles' and Shakira's fans happy with its accompanying music video. Ben Sisario of The New York Times
called "Beautiful Liar" a "steamy track". On the other hand, Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly
magazine said "Beautiful Liar" "is a minor letdown; Shakira's voice is too like Beyoncé's for a truly complementary tango."
Bill Lamb of About.com
awarded the single four stars out of five, and wrote, "It's not stunning, but 'Beautiful Liar' does have its charms." Lamb continued, "In contemplating this musical partnership, it's impossible to not hear decades old echoes of the pairing of Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand on "No More Tears" at their popularity peaks back in 1979. Fortunately, Beyonce and Shakira seem to be more successful at putting diva behavior aside to come out with a real collaboration." He further stated that the production team Stargate
, Ghost, and Dench, all managed to make a very good mixture of the differing musical styles of the two female singers. Lamb ranked the song at number 82 on his list of the Top 100 Pop Songs of 2007. He wrote, "Two of the world's biggest female pop stars, Beyonce and Shakira, generate seriously sexy sparks here. The only thing missing was a truly killer chorus to take it over the top."
at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
. The Spanish version of the song was nominated at the 8th Annual Latin Grammy Award
for Record of the Year. In Europe, the single won the Best-Selling British Song at the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards
. "Beautiful Liar" was deemed eligible for the award because British songwriters Amanda Ghost and Ian Dench had worked on it. On April 26, 2011, Gary Trust of Billboard
listed "Beautiful Liar" at the fourth position on his list of the 10 All-Female Hit Collaborations. He called the song a "female-bonding boy-bashing anthem."
best-seller list in March 2007. The song debuted at number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100
; most sales were downloads
. In the following week, the single rose 91 positions to number three after 150,000 download copies were sold; this set a record for the largest upward movement in the history of the US Hot 100, until it was surpassed by Britney Spears
and Kelly Clarkson
. On the Billboard Pop 100
, the single rose from number 77 to number three."Beautiful Liar" was one of the few singles to debut at number one on both the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks
and Hot Digital Songs
charts. In mid-May, the single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales, the fifth single from B'Day to do so. In February 2009, "Beautiful Liar" was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
for sales over 1,000,000 downloads.
Outside the US, "Beautiful Liar" reached number one in 32 countries. In the UK, the Freemasons
remixed version of the song was widely promoted by radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, where it was put on the A-List. Two weeks before the CD release, the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart
at number ten, and became both Knowles' and Shakira's highest debut on the UK Singles Chart on download sales alone, and sold 37,500 units in its first week. After the physical release, the single reached number one, making it Knowles' third UK number one single, and Shakira's second. It remained at number one for three weeks. On June 20, 2007, the single was certified silver in the UK, and sold over 200,000 copies. The song was 2007's twelfth biggest-selling single in the UK. In Australia, the song reached number five, and was the country's 51st best-performing single in 2007. The Australian Recording Industry Association
certified "Beautiful Liar" Platinum because it sold over 70,000 units. The single debuted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart
, and reached number one in Ireland.
The music video for "Beautiful Liar" was directed by Jake Nava, who directed several of Knowles' other videos. It was filmed over two days, during the two-week production of B'Day Anthology Video Album
. Because of a busy schedule, the production team did not have enough time for the choreography. The dance sequences were choreographed spontaneously and the routines were rehearsed in forty minutes. Knowles learned some of the choreography from Shakira, who created most of them and taught Knowles some belly dancing
moves. Knowles originated the idea of playing a lookalike. Knowles once saw a boy dancing, and thought he was performing before a mirror, but she realized he was dancing with another person. The music video premiered on Total Request Live
on February 28, 2007.
The first half of the video features Knowles and Shakira in separate scenes. It begins with the women's faces masked by smoke. As the video progresses they are featured against several different backgrounds, including dawn (Knowles) and dusk (Shakira); sheets blown in the wind; bamboo covered in yellow orchids; a room with blue neon lighting and Avestan
writing on the walls; and a background of stormy weather. Slow dance moves and belly dancing, during a breakdown after the bridge, are featured throughout the video. The women wear matching hairstyles and black outfits for the entirety of the video.
Alex Denney of Yahoo! Music
wrote that the dance moves of Knowles and Shakira in the video were convincing and erotic "without reaching the point of tackiness." He added that the music video "is a real treat for men and women alike. The catchy beat and their lithe, sexy dance just provides an amazing entertaining video." "Beautiful Liar" was nominated for the Video Of The Year award at the 2007 BET Awards
, but another Knowles video, "Irreplaceable
" won it. At the 2007 MTV Video Music Award, it won the Most Earthshattering Collaboration, a new category in the awards show that year. Knowles received the award alone because Shakira was in Canada during the ceremonies.
Neither Knowles nor Shakira performed "Beautiful Liar" on television, or at awards ceremonies. The song was included on Knowles' set list
on her The Beyoncé Experience
and I Am... Tour. On The Beyoncé Experience, Knowles stood in darkness with dry ice
billowing behind her. She wore a green belly dancing outfit. As she began singing the first verse, colored illumination was projected onto the backdrop. Toward the end of the performance, pairs of female dancers, clothed in purple dresses, performed mirrored choreography.
On August 5, 2007, Knowles performed the song at Madison Square Garden
in Manhattan. Knowles wore a belly dancing outfit. A microphone was lowered from the ceiling for "Beautiful Liar," during which Knowles acknowledged Shakira by shaking her hips rapidly. Jon Pareles of The New York Times
praised the performance, stating, "Beyoncé needs no distractions from her singing, which can be airy or brassy, tearful or vicious, rapid-fire with staccato syllables or sustained in curlicued melismas. But she was in constant motion, strutting in costumes [...]".
In Los Angeles, Knowles gave a full-length performance of the song, dressed in a green belly dancing outfit, with several female and male backup dancers, and live instrumentation. When Knowles performed the song in Sunrise, Florida
on June 29, 2009, she wore a glittery gold leotard. As she sang, animated graphics of turntables, faders and other club equipment were projected behind the dancers and musicians. Knowles was accompanied by two drummers, two keyboardists, a percussionist, a horn section, three backup vocalists called the Mamas and a lead guitarist, Bibi McGill. "Beautiful Liar" was included on Knowles' live albums The Beyoncé Experience Live (2007), and the deluxe edition of I Am... World Tour
(2010).
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Latin pop
Latin pop
Latin pop generally refers to pop music that has what may be perceived a Latin American influence...
singer Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
. The song was written by Knowles, Amanda Ghost
Amanda Ghost
Amanda Ghost is a singer and songwriter from Enfield, North London, England. After an initial period in which she performed as a solo artist, she formed a band which performed under her name, and of which she was the lead singer...
, Ian Dench
Ian Dench
Ian Dench is a British songwriter and musician. Dench was the guitarist and principal songwriter for EMF, who scored a major international hit reaching number 1 in the United States with "Unbelievable" in 1991....
, and Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
members Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, and produced by Stargate and Knowles for the re-release of Knowles' second solo album, B'Day
B'Day
B'Day is the second studio album by American R&B recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, released on September 4, 2006 by Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Music and Sony Urban Music. It was released to coincide with Knowles' twenty-fifth birthday. The album was originally planned for a...
(2006). It was the first single released from the deluxe edition of the album through Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
on March 14, 2007. A Spanish and English mixed version of the song was produced and titled "Bello Embustero". It was mixed by Gustavo Celis
Gustavo Celis
Gustavo Celis is an award-winning music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Shakira Gustavo Celis is an award-winning music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Shakira Gustavo Celis is an...
.
Musically, "Beautiful Liar" is a melding of Shakira's Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern styles with Knowles' contemporary hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
and R&B styles. The song's theme is about female empowerment; two female protagonists sing about being charmed by the same man, but instead of fighting over him, both ladies agree that he is not worth their time. The single was generally well-received by music critics, who praised Knowles' and Shakira's collaboration. "Beautiful Liar" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
50th Grammy Awards
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. Kanye West received the most nominations, with eight. Amy Winehouse was the big winner, winning a total of five awards. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters won Album of the Year,...
. The single won an Ivor Novello Awards
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
for Best-Selling British Song in 2008. In April 2011, Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine listed the song at number four on its list of the 10 All-Female Hit Collaborations.
"Beautiful Liar" was commercially successful. It peaked at number three on the United States Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart and experienced the largest upward movement on that chart until 2008. "Beautiful Liar" peaked at number one in several European countries, including France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The song won the Most Earthshattering Collaboration award at the 2007 MTV Video Music Award. Its accompanying music video was directed by Jake Nava
Jake Nava
Jake Nava was born on 17 August and grew up in northern London. He currently lives in eastern London.He graduated from the University of WestministerJake Nava is an English-born music video and film director.-Filmography:MUSIC VIDEOS...
, incorporates belly dancing
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
moves, and was nominated for the Video Of The Year award at the 2007 BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
. "Beautiful Liar" has been included on Knowles' set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
during her world tours since 2007. Knowles and Shakira have never performed the song together live.
Conception and recording
"Beautiful Liar" was written by Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik HermansenStargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, Amanda Ghost
Amanda Ghost
Amanda Ghost is a singer and songwriter from Enfield, North London, England. After an initial period in which she performed as a solo artist, she formed a band which performed under her name, and of which she was the lead singer...
, Ian Dench
Ian Dench
Ian Dench is a British songwriter and musician. Dench was the guitarist and principal songwriter for EMF, who scored a major international hit reaching number 1 in the United States with "Unbelievable" in 1991....
, and Knowles. It was produced by Eriksen and Hermansen using their stage name, Stargate, and Knowles. Eriksen told Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound is an independently-owned monthly music technology magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals...
, "This song is very simple. Most of the time we have more chords in a song, because we find it hard writing a great song on just one chord. But if you do it right, you can make it work, and this song is an example." The track had already been written in 2006 and Eriksen and Hermansen played it to their manager, Tyran Smith
Tyran Smith
Tyran Carl Smith is a former New Zealand rugby league player. He now works as a player agent.-Playing career:During his long career he played in the NSWRL Premiership, Australian Rugby League, Super League and finally the National Rugby League...
, who loved it and said that it would "be perfect for a duet between Shakira and Beyoncé." Eriksen and Hermansen considered this to be impossible, however Smith was devoted to that idea. As they had no lyric or top melody, various writers tried to finish the song. The first three attempts were not satisfactory, and Smith put Eriksen and Hermansen to work together with Ghost and Dench, who wrote a significant part of the lyrics and the melody.
"Beautiful Liar" originally had a Spanish title and different lyrics. Hermansen re-titled it when he heard the line "beautiful liar" in one of the verses. When the production of the song was almost completed, it was presented to Knowles, who liked it. She added to the lyrics and recorded a solo version a few months before the release of the deluxe edition of B'Day
B'Day
B'Day is the second studio album by American R&B recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, released on September 4, 2006 by Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Music and Sony Urban Music. It was released to coincide with Knowles' twenty-fifth birthday. The album was originally planned for a...
(2006). Knowles confirmed that she would perform a duet with Shakira in an interview with Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
in December 2006. In an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
interview, Knowles said she had met Shakira several times at various awards shows, and that they wanted to collaborate on a song: Knowles said: "We always say how much we respect each other and we want to do a song together, and after a couple of years it finally happened. She's been on tour and it's been difficult, but we did it [be]cause we're both fans of each other and respect each other's work."
When Knowles invited her to record a song for the re-release of Knowles' second album, B'Day
B'Day
B'Day is the second studio album by American R&B recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, released on September 4, 2006 by Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Music and Sony Urban Music. It was released to coincide with Knowles' twenty-fifth birthday. The album was originally planned for a...
, Shakira was touring and had difficulties matching her schedule with Knowles'. A few months later, Shakira agreed to sing on the track and, at the same time she recorded her vocals, the songwriters and producers added the ethnic strings and percussion break. Knowles and Shakira recorded their vocals in different studios; the engineer was Gustavo Celis
Gustavo Celis
Gustavo Celis is an award-winning music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Shakira Gustavo Celis is an award-winning music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Shakira Gustavo Celis is an...
. "Beautiful Liar" was recorded at Sony Music Studios
Sony Music Studios
Sony Music Studios was a well-known former music recording and mastering facility in New York City. The music and broadcasting complex was located at 460 W. 54th St., at 10th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan...
and Battery Studios in New York City, Elastic Mix Studios and The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory was a recording studio in New York City famous for its clientele. It was officially closed for business April 1, 2005 whereas other Hit Factory studio locations remained open, such as in Miami, Florida.-History:...
in Florida, and Futura Productions in Boston, Massachusetts.
Music and lyrics
"Beautiful Liar" is a contemporary R&BContemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
song written in the key of G minor
G minor
G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For the harmonic minor scale, the F is raised to F. Its relative major is B-flat major, and its parallel major is G major....
. The music's time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
is set in common time
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
, with a tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of 96 beats per minute
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
. Knowles' vocal range
Vocal range
Vocal range is the measure of the breadth of pitches that a human voice can phonate. Although the study of vocal range has little practical application in terms of speech, it is a topic of study within linguistics, phonetics, and speech and language pathology, particularly in relation to the study...
spans from G3 to B♭5. Bill Lamb of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
commented that the song "finds a comfortable blend of Shakira's Latin and Middle Eastern melange with Knowles contemporary hip hop soul. It is all set to a thumping, hypnotic midtempo beat. According to Anna Pickard of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, the song opens with groaning noises over the featuring melody. Then, the names of the two singers are heard: "Bee on say, be-on-SAY! Sha kee ra, Sha-ki-RA". The song features Arabic instruments such as Arabic percussion, oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
and ney
Ney
The ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
. The lyrics of "Beautiful Liar" are about two women who chose not to end a friendship because of a man who has cheated them. Its theme is one of female independence. Knowles told MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
that the single is about female empowerment, in keeping with the theme of the album: "... it's about a guy who's kind of playing both of us, and instead of us arguing over the guy we say, 'Forget him. Let's stick together. He's a beautiful liar."
Release and reception
"Beautiful Liar" was leaked onto the internet and appeared as an unpaid download in early February 2007. It was officially sent to radio stations in the United States on February 12, 2007 under formats including RhythmicRhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
, Top 40
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
, and Urban
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
. "Beautiful Liar" was released as a CD Single in Australia on March 14, 2007 and on April 16, 2007 in the United Kingdom where it was released as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
two days earlier. It was released as a maxi single
Maxi single
A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:...
in Europe on April 20, 2007. The single was later serviced as a digital EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in the UK and the US on May 20, 2007. Different versions of the song were produced; Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
artist Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
recorded verses for one of the song's remixes, but this was not released. In the UK, most radio stations, such as Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, played an up-beat, dance remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of "Beautiful Liar" by the Freemasons
Freemasons (band)
Freemasons are an English dance band from Brighton, East Sussex, England. The act consists of producers Russell Small and James Wiltshire .-2005-2007: Early Career:Their name is taken from the Brighton pub, Freemasons Tavern, Hove, which they frequently...
, instead of the original mix. Gustavo Celis produced and mixed a Spanish language version, entitled "Bello Embustero". This appeared on some regional releases of the B'Day Deluxe Edition in late May 2007.
Critical reception
Nick Levine of Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
awarded "Beautiful Liar" three stars out of five and wrote that it "isn't as ridiculously overblown" as previous collaborations of Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
and Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
on "When You Believe
When You Believe
"When You Believe" is an Academy Award-winning song by American recording artists Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The song was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz for the 1998 DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt. A version of "When You Believe" was produced as a single with...
" (1998) and Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
and Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
on "Tell Him
Tell Him (Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion song)
"Tell Him" is a duet between Barbra Streisand and Céline Dion. It was released on November 3, 1997 as the first single from Dion's Let's Talk About Love and Streisand's Higher Ground albums....
" (1997). However, he added that "it's as calculated as a wannabe page 3 model's decision to have a boob job", and that it would to keep both Knowles' and Shakira's fans happy with its accompanying music video. Ben Sisario of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called "Beautiful Liar" a "steamy track". On the other hand, Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
magazine said "Beautiful Liar" "is a minor letdown; Shakira's voice is too like Beyoncé's for a truly complementary tango."
Bill Lamb of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
awarded the single four stars out of five, and wrote, "It's not stunning, but 'Beautiful Liar' does have its charms." Lamb continued, "In contemplating this musical partnership, it's impossible to not hear decades old echoes of the pairing of Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand on "No More Tears" at their popularity peaks back in 1979. Fortunately, Beyonce and Shakira seem to be more successful at putting diva behavior aside to come out with a real collaboration." He further stated that the production team Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, Ghost, and Dench, all managed to make a very good mixture of the differing musical styles of the two female singers. Lamb ranked the song at number 82 on his list of the Top 100 Pop Songs of 2007. He wrote, "Two of the world's biggest female pop stars, Beyonce and Shakira, generate seriously sexy sparks here. The only thing missing was a truly killer chorus to take it over the top."
Awards and nominations
"Beautiful Liar" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with VocalsGrammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
50th Grammy Awards
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. Kanye West received the most nominations, with eight. Amy Winehouse was the big winner, winning a total of five awards. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters won Album of the Year,...
. The Spanish version of the song was nominated at the 8th Annual Latin Grammy Award
Latin Grammy Awards of 2007
The 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards took place on November 8, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.The show aired on Univision. Juan Luis Guerra was the nights big winner winning 5 awards including Album of the Year...
for Record of the Year. In Europe, the single won the Best-Selling British Song at the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
. "Beautiful Liar" was deemed eligible for the award because British songwriters Amanda Ghost and Ian Dench had worked on it. On April 26, 2011, Gary Trust of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
listed "Beautiful Liar" at the fourth position on his list of the 10 All-Female Hit Collaborations. He called the song a "female-bonding boy-bashing anthem."
Chart performance
Immediately after its release, "Beautiful Liar" reached number one on the iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
best-seller list in March 2007. The song debuted at number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
; most sales were downloads
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
. In the following week, the single rose 91 positions to number three after 150,000 download copies were sold; this set a record for the largest upward movement in the history of the US Hot 100, until it was surpassed by Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
and Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
. On the Billboard Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
, the single rose from number 77 to number three."Beautiful Liar" was one of the few singles to debut at number one on both the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks
Hot Digital Tracks
The Hot Digital Tracks chart is a song popularity chart that ranks the best selling digital tracks in the United States according to Billboard magazine...
and Hot Digital Songs
Hot Digital Songs
The Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of...
charts. In mid-May, the single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales, the fifth single from B'Day to do so. In February 2009, "Beautiful Liar" was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for sales over 1,000,000 downloads.
Outside the US, "Beautiful Liar" reached number one in 32 countries. In the UK, the Freemasons
Freemasons (band)
Freemasons are an English dance band from Brighton, East Sussex, England. The act consists of producers Russell Small and James Wiltshire .-2005-2007: Early Career:Their name is taken from the Brighton pub, Freemasons Tavern, Hove, which they frequently...
remixed version of the song was widely promoted by radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, where it was put on the A-List. Two weeks before the CD release, the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number ten, and became both Knowles' and Shakira's highest debut on the UK Singles Chart on download sales alone, and sold 37,500 units in its first week. After the physical release, the single reached number one, making it Knowles' third UK number one single, and Shakira's second. It remained at number one for three weeks. On June 20, 2007, the single was certified silver in the UK, and sold over 200,000 copies. The song was 2007's twelfth biggest-selling single in the UK. In Australia, the song reached number five, and was the country's 51st best-performing single in 2007. The Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
certified "Beautiful Liar" Platinum because it sold over 70,000 units. The single debuted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...
, and reached number one in Ireland.
Music video
B'Day Anthology Video Album
B'Day Anthology Video Album is the first video album by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. It features thirteen music videos for songs from her second studio album, B'Day and its deluxe re-release . It was released by Columbia Records exclusively through Wal-Mart stores on April 3, 2007...
. Because of a busy schedule, the production team did not have enough time for the choreography. The dance sequences were choreographed spontaneously and the routines were rehearsed in forty minutes. Knowles learned some of the choreography from Shakira, who created most of them and taught Knowles some belly dancing
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
moves. Knowles originated the idea of playing a lookalike. Knowles once saw a boy dancing, and thought he was performing before a mirror, but she realized he was dancing with another person. The music video premiered on Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
on February 28, 2007.
The first half of the video features Knowles and Shakira in separate scenes. It begins with the women's faces masked by smoke. As the video progresses they are featured against several different backgrounds, including dawn (Knowles) and dusk (Shakira); sheets blown in the wind; bamboo covered in yellow orchids; a room with blue neon lighting and Avestan
Avestan language
Avestan is an East Iranian language known only from its use as the language of Zoroastrian scripture, i.e. the Avesta, from which it derives its name...
writing on the walls; and a background of stormy weather. Slow dance moves and belly dancing, during a breakdown after the bridge, are featured throughout the video. The women wear matching hairstyles and black outfits for the entirety of the video.
Alex Denney of Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
wrote that the dance moves of Knowles and Shakira in the video were convincing and erotic "without reaching the point of tackiness." He added that the music video "is a real treat for men and women alike. The catchy beat and their lithe, sexy dance just provides an amazing entertaining video." "Beautiful Liar" was nominated for the Video Of The Year award at the 2007 BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
, but another Knowles video, "Irreplaceable
Irreplaceable
"Irreplaceable" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day . The song was written by Knowles, Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Espen Lind, Amund Bjørklund, and produced by Stargate and Knowles...
" won it. At the 2007 MTV Video Music Award, it won the Most Earthshattering Collaboration, a new category in the awards show that year. Knowles received the award alone because Shakira was in Canada during the ceremonies.
Live performances
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
on her The Beyoncé Experience
The Beyoncé Experience
The Beyoncé Experience was the second worldwide concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé in support to her second solo album B'Day. According to Vibe, the tour grossed over $18.1 million.-Background:...
and I Am... Tour. On The Beyoncé Experience, Knowles stood in darkness with dry ice
Dry ice
Dry ice, sometimes referred to as "Cardice" or as "card ice" , is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It is used primarily as a cooling agent. Its advantages include lower temperature than that of water ice and not leaving any residue...
billowing behind her. She wore a green belly dancing outfit. As she began singing the first verse, colored illumination was projected onto the backdrop. Toward the end of the performance, pairs of female dancers, clothed in purple dresses, performed mirrored choreography.
On August 5, 2007, Knowles performed the song at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in Manhattan. Knowles wore a belly dancing outfit. A microphone was lowered from the ceiling for "Beautiful Liar," during which Knowles acknowledged Shakira by shaking her hips rapidly. Jon Pareles of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
praised the performance, stating, "Beyoncé needs no distractions from her singing, which can be airy or brassy, tearful or vicious, rapid-fire with staccato syllables or sustained in curlicued melismas. But she was in constant motion, strutting in costumes [...]".
In Los Angeles, Knowles gave a full-length performance of the song, dressed in a green belly dancing outfit, with several female and male backup dancers, and live instrumentation. When Knowles performed the song in Sunrise, Florida
Sunrise, Florida
-Overview:Sunrise is a city in southwestern Broward County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated in 1961 by Norman Johnson – a developer whose World Famous Upside-Down House attracted buyers to what was then a remote area...
on June 29, 2009, she wore a glittery gold leotard. As she sang, animated graphics of turntables, faders and other club equipment were projected behind the dancers and musicians. Knowles was accompanied by two drummers, two keyboardists, a percussionist, a horn section, three backup vocalists called the Mamas and a lead guitarist, Bibi McGill. "Beautiful Liar" was included on Knowles' live albums The Beyoncé Experience Live (2007), and the deluxe edition of I Am... World Tour
I Am... World Tour
I Am... World Tour is a live DVD/CD concert film by American R&B recording artist Beyoncé Knowles who also produced, directed and edited the concert film for her own Parkwood Pictures. The DVD was filmed in presence of more than a million of fans during her worldwide I Am... Tour, running from...
(2010).
Formats and track listings
- US and UK Digital EP
- "Beautiful Liar" (featuring ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
) – 3:21 - "Beautiful Liar (Bello Embustero)" (Spanish Version) - 3:22
- "Beautiful Liar (Spanglish Version)" (featuring Sasha Fierce a.k.a. Beyoncé) - 3:21
- "Beautiful Liar (Instrumental)" - 3:19
- New Zealand and UK Digital Download
- "Beautiful Liar" (featuring ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
) – 3:19
- Australia, New Zealand and UK CD Single
- "Beautiful Liar" (featuring ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
) – 3:19 - "Beautiful Liar (Freemasons Remix Edit)" (featuring ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
) - 3:27
- European Maxi single
- "Beautiful Liar" (featuring ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
) – 3:19 - "Beautiful Liar (Freemasons Remix Edit)" (featuring ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
) - 3:27 - "Irreplaceable (Maurice Joshua Remix Edit)" - 4:03
- "Déjà Vu (Freemasons Radio Mix)" - 3:15
- "Beautiful Liar" (Video) - 3:34
Credits
Credits are taken from B'Day liner notes.Source:- Omar Al-Musfi – Arabic percussion
- Roberto Almodovar – recording engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Jim Caruana – recording engineering
- Gustavo CelisGustavo CelisGustavo Celis is an award-winning music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Shakira Gustavo Celis is an award-winning music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Shakira Gustavo Celis is an...
– recording engineering - Olgui Chirino – vocal production
- Tom Coyne – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Ian DenchIan DenchIan Dench is a British songwriter and musician. Dench was the guitarist and principal songwriter for EMF, who scored a major international hit reaching number 1 in the United States with "Unbelievable" in 1991....
– writingSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer... - Mikkel S. EriksenStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– writing, other instrumentsMulti-instrumentalistA multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony... - Amanda GhostAmanda GhostAmanda Ghost is a singer and songwriter from Enfield, North London, England. After an initial period in which she performed as a solo artist, she formed a band which performed under her name, and of which she was the lead singer...
– writing - Max Gousse – artists and repertoire
- Tor Erik HermansenStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– writing, other instruments - Jean-Marie Horvat – mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Hannah Khoury – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average... - Rob Kinelski – assistant recording engineering
- Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
– writing, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, vocal production - Mathew KnowlesMathew KnowlesMathew Knowles is an American music executive and manager. He is the father and former manager of R&B singer Beyoncé , Knowles also managed Kelly Rowland as well as girl group Destiny's Child . He was also the manager of Solange Knowles.-Manager and producer:Knowles is an alumnus of Fisk...
– artists and repertoire - Colin Miller – assistant mixing
- Naser Musa – oudOudThe oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
- Rudy PerezRudy PérezRudy Pérez is a Cuban American composer, producer and Sound engineer specialized in Latin Ballad whose songs have been very successful. He is considered one of the most outstanding creators in the field of international pop music...
– vocal production - Denaun PorterKon ArtisDenaun Porter , known by his stage name Kon Artis or his alter ego Mr. Porter, is an American rapper and record producer, who is best known for being an original member of the Detroit rap group D12, as well as the co-founder of Runyon Ave. record label...
– programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock... - Boujemaa Razgui – neyNeyThe ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
- Kareem Roustom – violin arrangement, additional string arrangements
- ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
– vocals, additional production, arrangementArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, vocal production, violin arrangement - StargateStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, arrangement, recording engineering, programming - David Stearns – assistant recording engineering
- John Weston – recording engineering, digital editing (strings)
- VisitanteCalle 13 (band)Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar , who calls himself Residente and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez , who calls himself Visitante Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar (born February 23, 1978 in Hato Rey, a subsection of San Juan, Puerto Rico), who calls...
– programming
Weekly charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Pop Songs Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs) The Mainstream Top 40 is an airplay chart from Billboard magazine, and is also known as Pop Songs on billboard.com. It was often mistaken for and confused with the now discontinued Pop 100 Airplay chart... |
4 |
| US Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
3 |
Bello Embustero (Spanish Version)
| Chart (2006–07) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Latin Songs Hot Latin Songs Hot Latin Songs is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. It is often recognized as the most important music chart for Spanish language Latin music in the American music market. It was established by the magazine on September 6, 1986 with La Guirnalda by Rocío Dúrcal being the first song... (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
10 |
| US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
15 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 51 |
| Australian Urban Singles Chart | 9 |
| Austria Top 75 Singles of 2007 | 29 |
| Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders) | 18 |
| Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia) | 29 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 13 |
| French Singles Chart | 27 |
| German Singles Chart | 28 |
| Greek Singles Chart Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... |
17 |
| Hungarian Airplay Chart | 17 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 9 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
37 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 11 |
| UK Singles Chart | 12 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 62 |
| US Pop 100 | 53 |
Certifications
| Region (provider) | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... ) |
Platinum |
| Belgium (IFPI) | Gold |
| Denmark (IFPI) | Platinum |
| Germany (BVMI Bundesverband Musikindustrie The Bundesverband Musikindustrie or simply BVMI represents the music industry in Germany. The association represents the interests of nearly 350 labels and music industry related enterprises.... ) |
Gold |
| New Zealand (RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... ) |
Gold |
| Spain (Promusicae) | 3x Platinum |
| United Kingdom (BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... ) |
Silver |
| United States (RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... ) |
Platinum |
Chart precession and succession
Radio adds
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States | February 12, 2007 | Rhythmic Rhythmic Contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may... |
| Top 40 Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts... |
||
| Urban Urban contemporary Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music... |
||
Purchasable release
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | March 14, 2007 | CD Single | Columbia Records Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| Europe | 14 April 2007 | Digital EP Extended play An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact... |
|
| April 20, 2007 | Maxi Single Maxi single A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:... |
||
| New Zealand | March 5, 2007 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
|
| March 14, 2007 | CD Single | ||
| United Kingdom | April 14, 2007 | Digital download | |
| April 16, 2007 | CD Single | ||
| May 20, 2007 | Digital EP | ||
| United States | May 20, 2007 | Digital EP |