Diva (Beyoncé Knowles song)
Encyclopedia
"Diva" is a song by American R&B
singer Beyoncé Knowles
. The song was written and produced by Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford
, Sean Garrett
, and Knowles for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). It was released as the album's third overall single in the United States alongside the third international single "Halo
". "Diva" is an R&B song, set in a hip hop
groove, and carries a stuttering beat. The lyrics of the song deliver messages of independence and female empowerment. The song boasts a beat and bassline similar to that of another Bangladesh production, "A Milli
" by American rapper
, Lil Wayne
, and critics coined "Diva" as a "female companion" to the latter.
"Diva" received mixed to positive reviews, with critics having polarized opinions concerning its affiliation with "A Milli". Despite being released to rhythmic and urban radios only in the United States, the song reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, topping the Hot Dance Club Play chart, and attaining a high point of number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA). Although it was only officially released in the US, the song appeared on the charts in Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The accompanying music video
for "Diva" was directed by Melina Matsoukas
. It shows the singer and backup dancers in a warehouse, and presents a choreography similar to that of her previous single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
" (2008). Knowles also appears in different Thierry Mugler
couture pieces. The video ranked at number 13 on BET
's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown. Although she did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list
on the I Am... Tour.
gave with Rap-Up
, the song was originally intended to be put it on the track-listing of his own mixtape
. He also had plans to choose a female artist of his choice to contribute vocals to the song. However, he decided to play the song to American R&B
singer Keyshia Cole
. Cole, who liked the beat of "Diva", but not the whole track, eventually declined to record the song. Later she said she would sing the song, however, this time Knowles also wanted the track for her then upcoming album. Ultimately, Bangladesh decided to give Knowles the song and produced another track for Keyshia Cole. About one month after the release of I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008), it was reported that American R&B singer Ciara
, who was at that particular time working on her third studio album, Fantasy Ride
, had remixed "Diva". The remix was supposed to be featured on her Fantasy Ride Mixtape.
"Ego
" was initially planned to be serviced as the second US urban single
, and the third overall US single from I Am... Sasha Fierce, alongside the third worldwide single "Halo
". However, the release of "Ego" was scrapped, and "Diva" was released instead to urban radio while "Halo" was sent for mainstream airplay
on January 20, 2009. On the same date, "Diva" was sent to rhythmic radio
alone. "Ego" was later released as the third urban single and overall fifth single in the US on May 19, 2009. Additionally, in Germany, "Diva" was featured as the B-side to "Halo" single. Upon the release of "Diva", contemporary music critics noted that there are also many similarities between Knowles' "Diva" and the song "A Milli
" by Lil Wayne
, as both feature a similar beat produced by Bangladesh. In an interview with MySpace
, Knowles agreed that "Diva" seems like woman's equivalent to "A Milli". However, she said that it was not consciously. Consequently, the song became to be known as the feminine companion to Lil Wayne's "A Milli".
groove tempo
, in the key of E major
. It carries a "stuttering" beat accompanied by a "slow-rolling, bass-pumping groove". "Diva" marks a change of direction for Knowles because it features the singer rapping over a Roland TR-808
drum machine providing a strong bass, and less instruments than her usual tracks. According to Colin McGuire of PopMatters
, in "Diva", there is a feel of courage and determination, while Adam Mattera of The Observer
noted it could be "a perfect independent women anthem." In terms of sound quality, "Diva" bears resemblance to "Freakum Dress
" and "Ring the Alarm
", both featured on Knowles' second studio album, B'Day
(2006). In the song, the female protagonist speaks and sings about the positive definition of a diva, explaining "diva is a female version of a hustler", and makes frequent references to her millions of dollars, even fanning herself with dollar bills. "Diva" begins with "metallic kick drum", "sly vocal stutters" and Knowles singing with a robotic voice: "I'm a, I'm a, a diva." She then continues: "A diva is the female version of a hustla". According to Nick Levine of Digital Spy
, "Sasha", Knowles' alter ego
also salutes her earning power in the song.
said that "Diva" is a flagrant attempt to write a female version of "A Milli". Leah Greenblat of Entertainment Weekly
magazine said "Diva" can make a very good feminine companion to Lil Wayne's "A Milli" thanks to their similar music instruments and aural similarities." Noting its similarity to "A Milli", Andy Kellman Allmusic picked out "Diva" as one of the three standout tracks from the album, saying that it is the only song on I Am... Sasha Fierce that bears resemblance to "Freakum Dress" and "Ring the Alarm" in terms of audacity. Stacey Anderson of Spin
wrote that "Diva" places a "startling, sexy snarl over window-rattling bass". The Observers Adam Mattera described the song as a potential source of inspiration to drag queen
s, however concluded that the track can also leave many persons confused and bewildered. Mariel Concepcion of Billboard
noted that "Diva" is not really something new, nevertheless it manages to be the "radio-ready dance" track for which Knowles is beloved." Bill Lamb of About.com
wrote that the beat structure allows Knowles to "deconstruct her public image
". Alex Thornton of AllHipHop
noted that Knowles seems to adopt a masculine character on "Diva", and that like many other dance songs, it is "something decent to bounce to at least."
Colin McGuire of PopMatters
picked out the track as a highlight of the album, noting its "Lil Wayne-inspired beat" and describing it as "cheeky", explaining said the song "shows courage and determination" and shows the singer's "impeccable street side...with enough attitude to make it work." Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone
noted Knowles turns out "modal-sounding hooks" over 808 bass on "Diva". The Village Voice
s Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond described "Sasha Fierce" as "suffer no such identity crisis, brassy, big-headed, confrontational, and witty...", further reflected on "diva" with Knowles singing "A diva is the female definition of a hustla". Daniel Brockman of The Phoenix
remarked that the song is "particularly intriguing" as it progresses through "hard-knockish robbery scenarios" which does not resemble Knowles' "squeaky-clean" public image. On the other hand, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian
, reviewed the song negatively, stating: "The sonic trickery on the most experimental track, Diva, isn't interesting enough to distract you from the absence of a tune." Bill Lamb of About.com
ranked the song at number eighty-three on its list of the Top 100 Pop Songs of 2009, writing: "One of the quirkiest songs from Beyonce's phenomenal I Am...Sasha Fierce album. The kinetic energy is positively infectious, and don't forget to check out the video."
chart at number five. On January 3, 2009, the song debuted on the main Billboard Hot 100
chart at number 96, and peaked at number 19 on March 7, 2009, becoming Knowles' sixteenth top twenty single on the Hot 100. "Diva" also charted and reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart on March 28, 2009, giving Knowles her ninth number one on the chart. The song was successful on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs
chart, where it peaked at number three for five consecutive weeks from February 14, 2009 to March 14, 2009. The song received a gold certification by Recording Industry Association of America
on March 12, 2009. As of October 6, 2010, "Diva" had sold 906,000 digital downloads in the US.
Even though the song was only officially released in the US, it still managed to chart in other countries. In Australia, the song debuted at number 47 on March 15, 2009, becoming the fourth single from the I Am… Sasha Fierce to reach the top fifty of the ARIA Singles Chart
.
and peaked at number 40 on April 12, 2009. In New Zealand, "Diva" debuted at number 32 on March 30, 2009 and peaked at number 26 for two non-consecutive weeks on April 6, 2009 and April 27, 2009. On the UK Singles Chart
, "Diva" rose from number 173 to number 73 on the UK Singles Chart
on May 17, 2009 based on downloads alone. The following week, it peaked number 72. In The Netherlands, "Diva" debuted at number 94 on the Mega Single Top 100
and peaked two weeks later at number 73, based on downloads alone.
on November 22, 2008 and was directed by Melina Matsoukas
, who worked with Knowles for several music videos. The music video is thematically similar to the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
" in the sense that the video is in black and white, Knowles dons her alter ego
Sasha Fierce's metal glove and performs choreography with two back-up dancers with more formal leotards. Knowles wears a Gareth Pugh
design in the music video as well as a couple of vintage Thierry Mugler
Haute Couture pieces like a leather bodice and a reptilia inspired gown.
In her 2003 music video for "Crazy in Love" (2003), Knowles' husband (then boyfriend) Jay-Z
throws a lighter on the ground, which ignites a trail of petrol to a car. According to a Daily Mail
s reporter, that particular scene bears resemblance to the climax of "Diva" accompanying music video where Knowles lights a cigar and throws the still lit lighter at a car, prompting it to explode into flames. Knowles had also chosen the same location under a bridge in downtown Los Angeles
. The video for "Diva" premiered on the iTunes Store
on December 23, simultaneously with the video for "Halo". It was also included in Knowles' remix album with videography, Above and Beyoncé.
", before cutting to a parking lot outside of a warehouse. Knowles, wearing a pair of "dangle shades", walks past a car full of mannequin parts into the warehouse. From here, she is accompanied by her two dancers and a variety of high fashion outfits. When she states "Diva's gettin' money..." she waves a fan made of $100 bills. During the bridge to the climax, Knowles dances on a single light and then during the climax, she is seen very glossy in another wardrobe choice dancing in robotic movements to the beat with gold punctuating the black and white scene. In one scene, Knowles is seen dancing robotically in front of a set of gold-tinted mannequins; while in another, she dances against a wall with two large chains hanging from the ceiling. During the last chorus, Knowles is in her last wardrobe change in front of window which is where the paparazzi had taken photos of her. At the end of the song, Knowles walks back out to the parking lot. She lights up a cigar and throws the lighter into the car, letting it explode. As she walks away, the intro to "Video Phone" (a track from I Am... Sasha Fierce) plays. The explosion retains its original fiery colors in contrast with the black and white.
." The writer finished the review calling it "a four-minute art-school film unworthy of her Sasha Fierceness." Jennifer Cady of E! Online commented that the video was "all about being gritty and edgy, like strutting around a downtown L.A. warehouse in crazy designer fashion and chewing bubblegum. Hard-core style." Cady further described the dance in the video as "way easier to learn than 'Single Ladies.'" However, she chose the C-3PO
-inspired mannequins, the lack of Knowles' robot hand and the "obnoxious camera work or car explosion" as the worst parts in the video. Entertainment Weeklys Michael Slezak commented: "The video has the production values of the clearance bin at Family Dollar
, and yet somehow it works." Slezak further described the set as a "a trunk full of mannequins, Cylon-y fringed sunglasses, and angry-lady dancing on display in the accompanying video." The video ranked at number 13 on BET
's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.
as the twelfth track. The performance of "Diva" during her I Am... Tour features Knowles performing the song while being backed up by six dancers (four of which are golden mannequins) while sporting a leopard print glow-in-the-dark leotard, black trenchcoat, leopard print stockings, high heeled boots and leopard-print sunglasses. Eventually, she would remove the trenchcoat.
Germany CD single
UK Remix Promo
Source:
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 Knowles
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...
. The song was written and produced by Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford
Bangladesh (producer)
Shondrae Crawford, better known as Bangladesh or Mr. Bangladesh, is a Grammy Award winning American record producer and disc jockey and rapper, who was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.- Life and career :...
, Sean Garrett
Sean Garrett
Garrett Hamler, better known by his stage name Sean Garrett is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He has produced fifteen number one singles in only seven years of producing music. That number puts him in fifth place on the Billboard list of producers with the most number...
, and Knowles for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). It was released as the album's third overall single in the United States alongside the third international single "Halo
Halo (Beyoncé Knowles song)
"Halo" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce . Columbia Records released the song as the fourth single of the album, to mainstream radio in the United States on January 20, 2009. It was composed by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and...
". "Diva" is an R&B song, set in a hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
groove, and carries a stuttering beat. The lyrics of the song deliver messages of independence and female empowerment. The song boasts a beat and bassline similar to that of another Bangladesh production, "A Milli
A Milli
"A Milli", abbreviated occasionally as "Milli", is the second official single, and the official street single from Lil Wayne's sixth studio album, Tha Carter III.-Background:...
" by American rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, and critics coined "Diva" as a "female companion" to the latter.
"Diva" received mixed to positive reviews, with critics having polarized opinions concerning its affiliation with "A Milli". Despite being released to rhythmic and urban radios only in the United States, the song reached number 19 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...
chart, topping the Hot Dance Club Play chart, and attaining a high point of number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. The song was certified gold 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...
(RIAA). Although it was only officially released in the US, the song appeared on the charts in Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The accompanying music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Diva" was directed by Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas is an American music video director.-Life and career:Matsoukas is of Greek, Jewish, Jamaican and Cuban descent. Both her name and surname are Greek: Μελίνα Ματσούκα. She is a graduate of the American Film Institute and New York University...
. It shows the singer and backup dancers in a warehouse, and presents a choreography similar to that of her previous single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
"Single Ladies " is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles from her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce. It was released by Columbia Records on October 12, 2008 as the album's lead single, and appeared with "If I Were a Boy" as a double A-side single, demonstrating the...
" (2008). Knowles also appears in different Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler is a French fashion designer and creator of several perfumes.-Childhood:Mugler was born in Strasbourg, France on 21 December 1948. His passion led him to focus more on drawing than on school and at the age of 9, he began to study classical dance...
couture pieces. The video ranked at number 13 on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown. Although she did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her 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...
on the I Am... Tour.
Background and release
According to an interview that the composer of "Diva", BangladeshBangladesh (producer)
Shondrae Crawford, better known as Bangladesh or Mr. Bangladesh, is a Grammy Award winning American record producer and disc jockey and rapper, who was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.- Life and career :...
gave with Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
, the song was originally intended to be put it on the track-listing of his own mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
. He also had plans to choose a female artist of his choice to contribute vocals to the song. However, he decided to play the song to American R&B
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 Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
. Cole, who liked the beat of "Diva", but not the whole track, eventually declined to record the song. Later she said she would sing the song, however, this time Knowles also wanted the track for her then upcoming album. Ultimately, Bangladesh decided to give Knowles the song and produced another track for Keyshia Cole. About one month after the release of I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008), it was reported that American R&B singer Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
, who was at that particular time working on her third studio album, Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride is the third studio album by American R&B singer Ciara. It was released on May 3, 2009 in the UK by RCA Records and May 5 in the United States on LaFace Records. The album combines R&B and hip hop sound from her previous albums along with a new pop and dance direction.The album...
, had remixed "Diva". The remix was supposed to be featured on her Fantasy Ride Mixtape.
"Ego
Ego (Beyoncé Knowles song)
"Ego" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for the deluxe edition of her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce . The song was composed by Elvis Williams, Harold Lilly, and Knowles. "Ego" was officially remixed with additional vocals from hip hop artist, Kanye West...
" was initially planned to be serviced as the second US urban single
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
, and the third overall US single from I Am... Sasha Fierce, alongside the third worldwide single "Halo
Halo (Beyoncé Knowles song)
"Halo" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce . Columbia Records released the song as the fourth single of the album, to mainstream radio in the United States on January 20, 2009. It was composed by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and...
". However, the release of "Ego" was scrapped, and "Diva" was released instead to urban radio while "Halo" was sent for mainstream airplay
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...
on January 20, 2009. On the same date, "Diva" was sent to rhythmic radio
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...
alone. "Ego" was later released as the third urban single and overall fifth single in the US on May 19, 2009. Additionally, in Germany, "Diva" was featured as the B-side to "Halo" single. Upon the release of "Diva", contemporary music critics noted that there are also many similarities between Knowles' "Diva" and the song "A Milli
A Milli
"A Milli", abbreviated occasionally as "Milli", is the second official single, and the official street single from Lil Wayne's sixth studio album, Tha Carter III.-Background:...
" by Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, as both feature a similar beat produced by Bangladesh. In an interview with MySpace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, Knowles agreed that "Diva" seems like woman's equivalent to "A Milli". However, she said that it was not consciously. Consequently, the song became to be known as the feminine companion to Lil Wayne's "A Milli".
Composition
"Diva" is an R&B song composed in a moderate hip hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
groove 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:...
, in the key of E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
. It carries a "stuttering" beat accompanied by a "slow-rolling, bass-pumping groove". "Diva" marks a change of direction for Knowles because it features the singer rapping over a Roland TR-808
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
drum machine providing a strong bass, and less instruments than her usual tracks. According to Colin McGuire of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
, in "Diva", there is a feel of courage and determination, while Adam Mattera of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
noted it could be "a perfect independent women anthem." In terms of sound quality, "Diva" bears resemblance to "Freakum Dress
Freakum Dress
"Freakum Dress" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day . It was composed by Knowles, Rich Harrison, and Makeba Riddick. "Freakum Dress" is similar to songs that Destiny's Child used to record in the 1990s. The song draws from the genres from...
" and "Ring the Alarm
Ring the Alarm
"Ring the Alarm" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day . It was composed by Knowles, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, and Sean Garrett...
", both featured on Knowles' second studio 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). In the song, the female protagonist speaks and sings about the positive definition of a diva, explaining "diva is a female version of a hustler", and makes frequent references to her millions of dollars, even fanning herself with dollar bills. "Diva" begins with "metallic kick drum", "sly vocal stutters" and Knowles singing with a robotic voice: "I'm a, I'm a, a diva." She then continues: "A diva is the female version of a hustla". According to Nick Levine of Digital Spy
Digital 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....
, "Sasha", Knowles' alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
also salutes her earning power in the song.
Critical reception
The song received mixed to positive reviews, with critics either praising or criticizing it being a female companion to "A Milli." Matos Michaelangelo of The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
said that "Diva" is a flagrant attempt to write a female version of "A Milli". Leah Greenblat 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 "Diva" can make a very good feminine companion to Lil Wayne's "A Milli" thanks to their similar music instruments and aural similarities." Noting its similarity to "A Milli", Andy Kellman Allmusic picked out "Diva" as one of the three standout tracks from the album, saying that it is the only song on I Am... Sasha Fierce that bears resemblance to "Freakum Dress" and "Ring the Alarm" in terms of audacity. Stacey Anderson of Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
wrote that "Diva" places a "startling, sexy snarl over window-rattling bass". The Observers Adam Mattera described the song as a potential source of inspiration to drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
s, however concluded that the track can also leave many persons confused and bewildered. Mariel Concepcion 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...
noted that "Diva" is not really something new, nevertheless it manages to be the "radio-ready dance" track for which Knowles is beloved." 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....
wrote that the beat structure allows Knowles to "deconstruct her public image
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
". Alex Thornton of AllHipHop
AllHipHop
AllHipHop.com is a hip hop news website. It was founded in 1998. At five million visitors a month, it is the world's most popular hip hop website. Essence magazine has dubbed it "the CNN of hip-hop". In 2006, AllHipHop won the Rising Stars Award from Black Enterprise magazine. In 2007, PC Magazine...
noted that Knowles seems to adopt a masculine character on "Diva", and that like many other dance songs, it is "something decent to bounce to at least."
Colin McGuire of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
picked out the track as a highlight of the album, noting its "Lil Wayne-inspired beat" and describing it as "cheeky", explaining said the song "shows courage and determination" and shows the singer's "impeccable street side...with enough attitude to make it work." Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
noted Knowles turns out "modal-sounding hooks" over 808 bass on "Diva". The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
s Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond described "Sasha Fierce" as "suffer no such identity crisis, brassy, big-headed, confrontational, and witty...", further reflected on "diva" with Knowles singing "A diva is the female definition of a hustla". Daniel Brockman of The Phoenix
The Phoenix (newspaper)
The Phoenix is the name of several alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States by Phoenix Media/Communications Group of Boston, Massachusetts including the Boston Phoenix, the Providence Phoenix, the Portland Phoenix and the now-defunct Worcester Phoenix...
remarked that the song is "particularly intriguing" as it progresses through "hard-knockish robbery scenarios" which does not resemble Knowles' "squeaky-clean" public image. On the other hand, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, reviewed the song negatively, stating: "The sonic trickery on the most experimental track, Diva, isn't interesting enough to distract you from the absence of a tune." 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....
ranked the song at number eighty-three on its list of the Top 100 Pop Songs of 2009, writing: "One of the quirkiest songs from Beyonce's phenomenal I Am...Sasha Fierce album. The kinetic energy is positively infectious, and don't forget to check out the video."
Chart performance
Initially, the song charted on the Billboards Bubbling Under Hot 100 SinglesBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart at number five. On January 3, 2009, the song debuted on the main 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 at number 96, and peaked at number 19 on March 7, 2009, becoming Knowles' sixteenth top twenty single on the Hot 100. "Diva" also charted and reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart on March 28, 2009, giving Knowles her ninth number one on the chart. The song was successful on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart, where it peaked at number three for five consecutive weeks from February 14, 2009 to March 14, 2009. The song received a gold certification by 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...
on March 12, 2009. As of October 6, 2010, "Diva" had sold 906,000 digital downloads in the US.
Even though the song was only officially released in the US, it still managed to chart in other countries. In Australia, the song debuted at number 47 on March 15, 2009, becoming the fourth single from the I Am… Sasha Fierce to reach the top fifty of the ARIA Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
.
and peaked at number 40 on April 12, 2009. In New Zealand, "Diva" debuted at number 32 on March 30, 2009 and peaked at number 26 for two non-consecutive weeks on April 6, 2009 and April 27, 2009. 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 ...
, "Diva" rose from number 173 to number 73 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 ...
on May 17, 2009 based on downloads alone. The following week, it peaked number 72. In The Netherlands, "Diva" debuted at number 94 on the Mega Single Top 100
Mega Single Top 100
The Single Top 100 is a Dutch chart, based on official physical single sales and legal downloads and composed by MegaCharts. It is one of the three official charts, the other two being the Dutch Top 40 and the Mega Top 50. The difference is that these charts also include airplay data.The list is...
and peaked two weeks later at number 73, based on downloads alone.
Background and concept
The music video for "Diva" was shot downtown Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on November 22, 2008 and was directed by Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas is an American music video director.-Life and career:Matsoukas is of Greek, Jewish, Jamaican and Cuban descent. Both her name and surname are Greek: Μελίνα Ματσούκα. She is a graduate of the American Film Institute and New York University...
, who worked with Knowles for several music videos. The music video is thematically similar to the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
"Single Ladies " is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles from her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce. It was released by Columbia Records on October 12, 2008 as the album's lead single, and appeared with "If I Were a Boy" as a double A-side single, demonstrating the...
" in the sense that the video is in black and white, Knowles dons her alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
Sasha Fierce's metal glove and performs choreography with two back-up dancers with more formal leotards. Knowles wears a Gareth Pugh
Gareth Pugh
Gareth Pugh is an English fashion designer. He currently lives and works in Paris.-Career:At 14, Pugh began working as a costume designer for the English National Youth Theatre. He started his fashion education at City of Sunderland College and finished his degree in Fashion Design at Central...
design in the music video as well as a couple of vintage Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler is a French fashion designer and creator of several perfumes.-Childhood:Mugler was born in Strasbourg, France on 21 December 1948. His passion led him to focus more on drawing than on school and at the age of 9, he began to study classical dance...
Haute Couture pieces like a leather bodice and a reptilia inspired gown.
In her 2003 music video for "Crazy in Love" (2003), Knowles' husband (then boyfriend) Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
throws a lighter on the ground, which ignites a trail of petrol to a car. According to a Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
s reporter, that particular scene bears resemblance to the climax of "Diva" accompanying music video where Knowles lights a cigar and throws the still lit lighter at a car, prompting it to explode into flames. Knowles had also chosen the same location under a bridge in downtown Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The video for "Diva" premiered on the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
on December 23, simultaneously with the video for "Halo". It was also included in Knowles' remix album with videography, Above and Beyoncé.
Synopsis
The video begins with a dictionary definition of the word "divaDiva
A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna"....
", before cutting to a parking lot outside of a warehouse. Knowles, wearing a pair of "dangle shades", walks past a car full of mannequin parts into the warehouse. From here, she is accompanied by her two dancers and a variety of high fashion outfits. When she states "Diva's gettin' money..." she waves a fan made of $100 bills. During the bridge to the climax, Knowles dances on a single light and then during the climax, she is seen very glossy in another wardrobe choice dancing in robotic movements to the beat with gold punctuating the black and white scene. In one scene, Knowles is seen dancing robotically in front of a set of gold-tinted mannequins; while in another, she dances against a wall with two large chains hanging from the ceiling. During the last chorus, Knowles is in her last wardrobe change in front of window which is where the paparazzi had taken photos of her. At the end of the song, Knowles walks back out to the parking lot. She lights up a cigar and throws the lighter into the car, letting it explode. As she walks away, the intro to "Video Phone" (a track from I Am... Sasha Fierce) plays. The explosion retains its original fiery colors in contrast with the black and white.
Reception
A writer of Rolling Stone called the video for the song "quite a hot mess" further comparing the dancers with the ones from the video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
"Single Ladies " is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles from her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce. It was released by Columbia Records on October 12, 2008 as the album's lead single, and appeared with "If I Were a Boy" as a double A-side single, demonstrating the...
." The writer finished the review calling it "a four-minute art-school film unworthy of her Sasha Fierceness." Jennifer Cady of E! Online commented that the video was "all about being gritty and edgy, like strutting around a downtown L.A. warehouse in crazy designer fashion and chewing bubblegum. Hard-core style." Cady further described the dance in the video as "way easier to learn than 'Single Ladies.'" However, she chose the C-3PO
C-3PO
C-3PO is a robot character from the Star Wars universe who appears in both the original Star Wars films and the prequel trilogy. He is also a major character in the television show Droids, and appears frequently in the series' "Expanded Universe" of novels, comic books, and video games...
-inspired mannequins, the lack of Knowles' robot hand and the "obnoxious camera work or car explosion" as the worst parts in the video. Entertainment Weeklys Michael Slezak commented: "The video has the production values of the clearance bin at Family Dollar
Family Dollar
Family Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
, and yet somehow it works." Slezak further described the set as a "a trunk full of mannequins, Cylon-y fringed sunglasses, and angry-lady dancing on display in the accompanying video." The video ranked at number 13 on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.
Live performances
Although Knowles did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list on the I Am... Tour. Eventually, the song was included on Knowles' live album, I Am... World TourI 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...
as the twelfth track. The performance of "Diva" during her I Am... Tour features Knowles performing the song while being backed up by six dancers (four of which are golden mannequins) while sporting a leopard print glow-in-the-dark leotard, black trenchcoat, leopard print stockings, high heeled boots and leopard-print sunglasses. Eventually, she would remove the trenchcoat.
Formats and track listings
US Diva (The Remixes)- "Diva" (Maurice Joshua Extended Mojo Remix) – 6:53
- "Diva" (Mr. Mig Extended Club Remix) – 7:09
- "Diva" (Karmatronic Club Remix) – 5:08
- "Diva" (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Club) – 6:45
- "Diva" (Gomi & RasJek Club Mix) – 7:27
- "Diva" (Redtop Club Mix) – 6:34
- "Diva" (DJ Jeff Barringer vs. FingazzFingazz-Biography:John Stary was born in Pomona, CA and has dedicated most of his life to playing and creating music. Growing up appreciating all genres of music gave him the ability to write and produce any style. A self-taught keyboardist, Fingazz played for years in funk bands opening for old school...
Extended Remix) – 7:33 - "Diva" (Maurice Joshua Mojo Dub) – 6:53
- "Diva" (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Dub) – 5:43
- "Diva" (Gomi & RasJek Dub) – 6:56
Germany CD single
- "Halo" – 4:22
- "Diva" – 3:21
UK Remix Promo
- "Diva" (Redtop Club Mix) – 6:34
- "Diva" (Gomi & RasJek Club Mix) – 7:27
- "Diva" (Mr. Miggs Fierce Hustler Mix) – 7:11
- "Diva" (DJ Jeff Barringer vs. FingazzFingazz-Biography:John Stary was born in Pomona, CA and has dedicated most of his life to playing and creating music. Growing up appreciating all genres of music gave him the ability to write and produce any style. A self-taught keyboardist, Fingazz played for years in funk bands opening for old school...
Mix) – 7:33 - "Diva" (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Mix) – 6:45
- "Diva" (Karmatronic Mix) – 5:08
- "Diva" (Maurice Joshua Mojo Mix) – 6:53
- "Diva" (Redtop Edit) – 3:31
- "Diva" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:20
Credits and personnel
- Beyoncé Knowles – 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...
, producerRecord 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...
, writerWritingWriting is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely... - Kory Aaron – producer assistant
- Jim Caruana – recorder
- Shondrae "Bangladesh" CrawfordBangladesh (producer)Shondrae Crawford, better known as Bangladesh or Mr. Bangladesh, is a Grammy Award winning American record producer and disc jockey and rapper, who was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.- Life and career :...
– writer, producer - Sean GarrettSean GarrettGarrett Hamler, better known by his stage name Sean Garrett is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He has produced fifteen number one singles in only seven years of producing music. That number puts him in fifth place on the Billboard list of producers with the most number...
– writer, producer
- Matt Green – mixerMix engineerA mix engineer, also referred to as "mixing engineer", is a person who, once all instruments, voices, and sounds, etc., have been recorded, creates what is called the final version of a song, hence the term "mix engineer"...
assistant - Michael Miller – producer assistant
- Mark "Spike" StentMark StentMark 'Spike' Stent is a British record producer, and audio engineer who has worked with The KLF, Björk, Keane, Depeche Mode, Muse, Erasure, Hard-Fi, Massive Attack, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Marilyn Manson, Pet Shop Boys, Dave Matthews, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, CSS, Beth Orton,...
– mixer - Miles Walker – producer
Source:
Weekly charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA Urban ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... ) |
12 |
| Brazil (Billboard Billboard Brasil Billboard Brasil is a monthly Brazilian magazine launched on October 10, 2009, with a print-run of over 40,000 copies. It is distributed nationwide by Brazil's biggest distributor Dinap... Hot 100 Brasil Hot 100 Airplay Brasil Hot 100 Airplay is the official music singles charts in Brazil. It has been compiled by Crowley Broadcast Analysis and published monthly by Billboard Brasil since the release of the magazine, in October 2009.... ) |
9 |
| Brazil (Billboard Hot Pop Songs Billboard Brasil Billboard Brasil is a monthly Brazilian magazine launched on October 10, 2009, with a print-run of over 40,000 copies. It is distributed nationwide by Brazil's biggest distributor Dinap... ) |
7 |
End-of-year charts
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Urban Singles Chart | 50 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 82 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs | 22 |
| US Radio Songs | 75 |
| US Hot Dance Club Play Songs | 24 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications |
|---|---|
| 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... ) |
Gold |
Chart precession and succession
Radio adds
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States | January 20, 2009 | 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... |
| 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... |
Purchasable release
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | February 3, 2009 | 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 .... es |
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... |