End of Time (song)
Encyclopedia
"End of Time" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles
, taken from her 2011 studio album, 4
. Initially rumored to be titled "Till the End of Time", a demo
of the song leaked
online May 20, 2011, giving rise to speculation that the song was a potential follow-up to the lead single
, "Run the World (Girls)
" (2011) which divided music critics because of the fact that the song samples of Major Lazer
's "Pon de Floor
" (2009) as well as the aggressiveness with which Knowles delivers the lyrical content of the song. However, "Best Thing I Never Had
" was ultimately chosen as the second single off 4. "End of Time" was written by Knowles, Terius Nash
, Shea Taylor, and Dave Taylor
while production was handled by Knowles, The-Dream
, Switch
as well as Diplo.
An uptempo
dance song, "End of Time" exhibits the influence of late Fela Kuti
, as stated by Knowles, in the sense that the bass line of the song was influenced by the multi-instrumentalist musician
and composer
. Also displaying elements Afrobeat
, the song's instrumentation consists of marching band
percussion
, drums, and horns. The high energy level provided by these musical instruments have been noted by music critics to have similarities to several Michael Jackson
's songs, including "Off the Wall
" (1980). "End of Time" has been generally very well received by music critics who have coined it as one of highlights on 4 thanks to the effective melding of its heavy beat
and its lyrical content. Some also noted that boldness of Knowles on "End of Time" and praised how the beat
manages to the song a catchy one.
Following the release of 4, "End of Time" charted at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart
and at number 20 on its R&B Chart
, based solely on downloads. It additionally opened at number 26 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart
in July 2011. "End of Time" charted on the US Billboard
Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number 13 during the same month. The song was part of Knowles' set list
for her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé
, held in Roseland Ballroom
, New York City in August 2011. Critics generally agreed that the song sounds great when Knowles performs it live. Several of her fans swarmed the Target
for a flash mob on July 18, 2011, performing moves to "End of Time".
, Shea Taylor, and Dave Taylor
while production was handled by Knowles, The-Dream
, Switch
as well as Diplo. The song originally leaked as a demo
on May 1, 2011. A private listening party for Knowles' fourth studio album was held on May 12, 2011. Knowles offered a select group of fans a preview of five songs from her fourth studio album as well as the official video for the lead single "Run the World (Girls)
". On that occasion, "End of Time" was one among the five songs previewed. On May 20, 2011, the full demo of the song leaked
online, watermarked
with the tag "internal use only". At that time, it was rumored to be titled "Till the End of Time". Several websites, including MTV News
started reporting that it might serve as a potential follow up to the lead single, "Run the World". However, these speculations were soon overshadowed by the release of an exclusive US promotional single
, "1+1
" on May 25, 2011. In early June 2011, Columbia Records
reported that "1+1" would however not be sent for airplay
, with "Best Thing I Never Had
" favored as the second single from 4, following "Run the World".
. Additionally, in an interview with Billboard
magazine, Knowles spoke more about Fela Kuti, stating that she appreciated his "feel for the soul and heart of his music; it's so sexy, and has a great groove you get lost in," further explaining that his work takes a major inspiration on "End of Time" with drum
s and horns
and "how everything was on the one". Beginning on June 16 to June 27, 2011, the songs from 4 were available to listen to in full each day on Knowles' official website, paired with its accompanying photo spread from the album packaging and an insightful quote. On June 26, 2011, "End of Time" was the tenth song to be chosen. The quote found Knowles elaborating on what motivated the development of "End of Time": "I listened closely to a lot of the rock musicians I saw at music festivals around the world, paying attention to their lyrics, melodies, and the mixture of their different instruments. The instrumentation was just so beautiful. I felt I needed some classics like that.
aka DJ Swivel started working with Knowles at Rock The Mic, initially recording "Party
" to see what kind of a working relationship might form. Six weeks later, he got another call. After just a few days at Rock The Mic, they considered that it was necessary to move to a bigger room, so they decamped to KMA Studios for a week and a half. The project then moved to MSR Studios, where "End of Time" was produced and recorded. Young further elaborated on how they started the process by playing music with the band from Fela:
As stated by Young, this period is accountable for the "Fela influence" in "End of Time". This influence is further illustrated in its instrumentation, which consists of horns and percussion among others. He also explained that "End of Time" started with "[producer] The-Dream, and then [producer] Switch added elements of electronic music
, chopped some vocals in there, created an interesting synth intro sound which is actually a Dream vocal. The bass line is very musical, it’s not just a plain 808
bass
: It's got a vibe to it."
song. The song also contains elements of funk
, Afrobeat
and Latin jazz
. Its instrumentation essentially consists of marching band
percussion, heavy drums, and staccato
horns reminiscent of the B'Day
era. Thanks to these musical instruments and its stomping beat
, a high energy level is maintained throughout the song. As stated by James Dinh of MTV News
, "End of Time" bears resemblance to an older Destiny's Child
cut. Charley Rogulewski of AOL Music further added the song channels Quincy Jones
and Michael Jackson
's "Off the Wall
" (1980) production with horns kicking in midway through the song. Calling it "more like new sound [Knowles] described last year than 'Run the World (Girls)
'", Brad Wete of Entertainment Weekly
added that "End of Time" also has some vibes of Michael Jackson's 1983 single, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
" whose rhythm arrangement is a complex interweaving of drum-machine patterns,work by percussionist Paulinho da Costa
and the horns.
Lyrically, "End of Time" is about a female protagonist professing her everlasting love with both ferocity and passion. The song opens with a "militaristic, almost marching band-style tribal drumbeat" as Knowles sings in an almost distorted fashion, with her vocals layered underneath until a "dramatic explosion" after which Knowles sings: "Come take my hand / I won’t let you go / I’ll be your friend / I will love you so deeply / I will be the one to kiss you at night / I will love you till the end of time." These intro lines also serve as the chorus lines
. Knowles continues her appeal, convincing her lover that she will be there every night as she sings, "till the end of time." Just before the bridge
which features Knowles belting over a horn sequence, her voice is looped in "an uber-fast, aggressive fashion."
Adam Markovitz praised the song, writing that it is "exactly the kind of genre-busting risk that few other current pop stars would even attempt, let alone pull off flawlessly with a no-big-thing shrug." Charley Rogulewski of AOL Music added that "End of Time" picks up on the post-apocalyptic vibe of "Run the World (Girls)" but with more originality and "a two-faced delivery; a brash, marching militia-inspired beat is coupled to sweet lyrics." James Dinh from MTV News
also gave "End of Time" a positive review, saying the song had the "powerhouse professing her everlasting love." He also praised Knowles for keeping the "energy level high" and compared the song to those she produced with Destiny's Child
. Amy Sciarretto from PopCrush called Knowles a "female bad ass, as she fearlessly explores new musical terrain on this track." She said Knowles gets "bolder and even more courageous" on the song as she takes influences from the rawness of world music
. She even went on to praise the singer's vocals, calling them the "most aggressive we’ve ever heard" and said the song was "girl power at it's [sic] finest." Craig Jenkins of Prefix Magazine called "End of Time" the highlight of the album. Joanne Dorken of MTV UK wrote that "the beat builds throughout the song, giving it a memorable sound and it is insanely catchy" before concluding that is "guaranteed to fill a dance floor near you soon."
Erika Ramirez of Billboard
magazine called the song "addictive" and added that it "hits strong from jump with the orchestration." Pitchfork Media
's Ryan Dombal wrote that "End of Time" is perhaps 4s most strident declaration of co-dependence, adding that sounding like "En Vogue remixed by a high school pep band, the song has Beyoncé finding the strength in two as she sings, 'I just wanna be with you/ I just wanna live for you/ I'd never let you go!'" Rolling Stone
s writer Jody Rosen
commended the song for being one of the most adventurous cuts on 4. Claire Suddath of Time
magazine commented that the song "is just screaming to be covered by an earnest high school a capella group and posted to YouTube
." This was somehow echoed by Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound
who wrote that "[...] Beyoncé also makes room on the album for more grandiose tracks that would sound right at home in Broadway musicals
, like the marching band-fueled funk/operatic space ballad 'End of Time'." Ricky Schweitzer of One Thirty BPM
noted that "End of Time" revisits "the kind of girl-power territory" that Knowles found more often with Destiny’s Child. He ,however, added that this time around, the song "is crisper, more tightly wound, and brimming with confidence that feels natural in a way that Beyoncé has never showcased before."
, and at number 20 on the UK R&B Chart
on July 4, 2011. This debut was possible thanks to the 4,488 digital downloads
the song sold during the week 4 was released. Selling 18,222 digital downloads, the song opened at number 26 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart
for the week ending July 2, 2011. "End of Time" also charted on the US Billboard
Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number 13 for the week ending July 16, 2011.
s for several songs from 4, including "End of Time" which had already been shot as of August 3, 2011.
for her performance at 2011 Glastonbury Festival
on June 26, 2011. Wearing a low-cut sequinned gold jacket, she sang the song live in front of more than 175,000 fans. The pre-taped performance was broadcast during the 2011 BET Awards
in the United States later during the same day. Later on August 14, 2011, Knowles performed the song during her 4 Intimate Nights With Beyoncé in Roseland Ballroom
, New York City. Wearing a gold dress, she performed "End of Time" in front of 3,500 and she was backed by her all-female band and her backing singers, called the Mamas. Jason Newman of Rap-Up
noted that the live performance of the song "utilized flamboyant light displays to bring elaborate routines to a smaller stage, though most of the time, Beyoncé viewed the reduced space as advantageous over limiting."
Jon Caramanica of The New York Times
stated that "'End of Time' was the high point, a martial stomp with flamboyant drums, keening vocals and electrifying harmonies." Similarly, Brad Wete felt that "End of Time" was among the several highlights of the show. Jozen Cummings of The Wall Street Journal
commented that "when [Knowles] went up-tempo on songs like 'End of Time', her virtuosic ability to engage in crisp choreography without cracking her huge voice took center stage." Echoing Cummings' sentiments, Mike Wass of Idolator
added that "as great as those two tracks sounded live, 'Countdown' and 'End Of Time' garnered the most applause. Both were accompanied by brilliant dance routines and boast sing-a-long choruses." Joycelyn Vena of MTV News
concluded that "it was [Knowles'] ability to throw a party during faster jams like 'Party', 'Countdown', 'End of Time' and 'Run the World (Girls)' that put on full display her range as a performer, dancing and singing live the entire night." The live performance for "End of Time", which was added on the DVD 4 Live at Roseland, premiered online on November 16, 2011.
, where the deluxe edition of 4 was exclusively available, for a flash mob on July 18, 2011. Led by former American Idol
contestant Todrick Hall who participated in the ninth season
of the reality television
singing competition, the dancers put down their red shopping baskets and started performing moves to "End of Time" as patrons snapped pictures on their cell phones. The dance crew, dressed in red, black, and white, grew in size as the performance carried on in the aisle of the retail store. After having seen the video, Knowles' team showed their appreciation by posting the video on Knowles' official website, writing: "Last time around, it was us surprising the fans in a Target. This time around, it's you surprising us! Wow. We're impressed. Great job!"
.
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...
, taken from her 2011 studio album, 4
4 (Beyoncé Knowles album)
4 is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, released through Columbia Records on June 24, 2011. Three weeks before its scheduled release, 4 leaked in full. The twelve-song set marks the first release by Knowles since separating professionally with father and manager,...
. Initially rumored to be titled "Till the End of Time", a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
of the song leaked
Internet leak
An Internet leak occurs when a party's confidential information is released to the public on the Internet. Various types of information and data can be, and have been, "leaked" to the Internet, the most common being personal information, computer software and source code, and artistic works such...
online May 20, 2011, giving rise to speculation that the song was a potential follow-up to the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
, "Run the World (Girls)
Run the World (Girls)
"Run the World " is a song performed by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Knowles, Nick "Afrojack" van de Wall, Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, David "Switch" Taylor, and Adidja Palmer and produced by Switch, The-Dream, Knowles and Shea Taylor...
" (2011) which divided music critics because of the fact that the song samples of Major Lazer
Major Lazer
Major Lazer is a collaborative musical project from DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch.-Background:Made up of DJs Diplo and Switch, the two were introduced after working with M.I.A.. The duo's first album Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was released on June 16, 2009, on Downtown Records. It was...
's "Pon de Floor
Pon de Floor
"Pon de Floor" is a song by Major Lazer, which is made up of Diplo and Switch. It was released in 2009 by Mad Decent and Downtown Records as the second single from Major Lazer's first studio album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do . The duo wrote the song and produced it with Afrojack, while...
" (2009) as well as the aggressiveness with which Knowles delivers the lyrical content of the song. However, "Best Thing I Never Had
Best Thing I Never Had
"Best Thing I Never Had" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé Knowles for her fourth studio album, 4 . It was released by Columbia Records on June 1, 2011, as the second single from the album. "Best Thing I Never Had" was composed by Patrick "J. Que" Smith, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds,...
" was ultimately chosen as the second single off 4. "End of Time" was written by Knowles, Terius Nash
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, Shea Taylor, and Dave Taylor
Switch (DJ)
Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
while production was handled by Knowles, The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, Switch
Switch (DJ)
Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
as well as Diplo.
An uptempo
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:...
dance song, "End of Time" exhibits the influence of late Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...
, as stated by Knowles, in the sense that the bass line of the song was influenced by the multi-instrumentalist musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Also displaying elements Afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
, the song's instrumentation consists of marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drums, and horns. The high energy level provided by these musical instruments have been noted by music critics to have similarities to several Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's songs, including "Off the Wall
Off the Wall (song)
"Off the Wall" is the third single released from singer Michael Jackson's album Off the Wall.Released on February 2, 1980, the Rod Temperton-composed number became Jackson's third top 10 single from Off the Wall, which eventually spawned four top 10 singles; Jackson was the first person to...
" (1980). "End of Time" has been generally very well received by music critics who have coined it as one of highlights on 4 thanks to the effective melding of its heavy beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
and its lyrical content. Some also noted that boldness of Knowles on "End of Time" and praised how the beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
manages to the song a catchy one.
Following the release of 4, "End of Time" charted at number 62 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 ...
and at number 20 on its R&B Chart
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
, based solely on downloads. It additionally opened at number 26 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart
Gaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
in July 2011. "End of Time" charted on the US 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...
Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number 13 during the same month. The song was part of 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...
for her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé
4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé
4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé was a revue by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. Held in four non-consecutive nights in August 2011, the concerts were part of Knowles' campaign in support of her fourth studio album 4 . Knowles performed to a standing room-only audience at the Roseland...
, held in Roseland Ballroom
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom is a multi-purpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theatre district, on West 52nd Street....
, New York City in August 2011. Critics generally agreed that the song sounds great when Knowles performs it live. Several of her fans swarmed the Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
for a flash mob on July 18, 2011, performing moves to "End of Time".
Background and conception
"End of Time" was written by Knowles, Terius NashThe-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, Shea Taylor, and Dave Taylor
Switch (DJ)
Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
while production was handled by Knowles, The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, Switch
Switch (DJ)
Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
as well as Diplo. The song originally leaked as a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
on May 1, 2011. A private listening party for Knowles' fourth studio album was held on May 12, 2011. Knowles offered a select group of fans a preview of five songs from her fourth studio album as well as the official video for the lead single "Run the World (Girls)
Run the World (Girls)
"Run the World " is a song performed by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Knowles, Nick "Afrojack" van de Wall, Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, David "Switch" Taylor, and Adidja Palmer and produced by Switch, The-Dream, Knowles and Shea Taylor...
". On that occasion, "End of Time" was one among the five songs previewed. On May 20, 2011, the full demo of the song leaked
Internet leak
An Internet leak occurs when a party's confidential information is released to the public on the Internet. Various types of information and data can be, and have been, "leaked" to the Internet, the most common being personal information, computer software and source code, and artistic works such...
online, watermarked
Digital watermarking
Digital watermarking is the process of embedding information into a digital signal which may be used to verify its authenticity or the identity of its owners, in the same manner as paper bearing a watermark for visible identification. In digital watermarking, the signal may be audio, pictures, or...
with the tag "internal use only". At that time, it was rumored to be titled "Till the End of Time". Several websites, including 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...
started reporting that it might serve as a potential follow up to the lead single, "Run the World". However, these speculations were soon overshadowed by the release of an exclusive US promotional single
Promotional recording
A promotional recording, or promo, is an audio or video recording distributed for free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available...
, "1+1
1+1 (song)
"1+1" is a song recorded by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles for her fourth studio album, 4 . Knowles debuted the song on May 25, 2011, on American Idol, and digitally released it as a promotional single in the United States through Columbia Records...
" on May 25, 2011. In early June 2011, 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...
reported that "1+1" would however not be sent for airplay
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...
, with "Best Thing I Never Had
Best Thing I Never Had
"Best Thing I Never Had" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé Knowles for her fourth studio album, 4 . It was released by Columbia Records on June 1, 2011, as the second single from the album. "Best Thing I Never Had" was composed by Patrick "J. Que" Smith, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds,...
" favored as the second single from 4, following "Run the World".
Development
During the private listening party, Knowles explained at the listening event that the bass line for the song was inspired by late Nigerian music legend Fela KutiFela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...
. Additionally, in an interview with 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, Knowles spoke more about Fela Kuti, stating that she appreciated his "feel for the soul and heart of his music; it's so sexy, and has a great groove you get lost in," further explaining that his work takes a major inspiration on "End of Time" with drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s and horns
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
and "how everything was on the one". Beginning on June 16 to June 27, 2011, the songs from 4 were available to listen to in full each day on Knowles' official website, paired with its accompanying photo spread from the album packaging and an insightful quote. On June 26, 2011, "End of Time" was the tenth song to be chosen. The quote found Knowles elaborating on what motivated the development of "End of Time": "I listened closely to a lot of the rock musicians I saw at music festivals around the world, paying attention to their lyrics, melodies, and the mixture of their different instruments. The instrumentation was just so beautiful. I felt I needed some classics like that.
Recording
In May 2010, Jordan YoungJordan Young
Jordan Young is a drummer, and currently plays for Maryland rockers Cinder Road. Jordan started playing just like the rest of them, every sunday with the church band, it wasn't until he joined jam band Injoy in 2005 that he started playing in the club scene. In 2007, he joined the nationally...
aka DJ Swivel started working with Knowles at Rock The Mic, initially recording "Party
Party (song)
"Party" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles featuring American rapper André 3000, taken up form the former's fourth studio album, 4 . The song was composed by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Beyoncé Knowles, André Lauren Benjamin, Dexter Mills, Douglas Davis and Ricky Walters. The...
" to see what kind of a working relationship might form. Six weeks later, he got another call. After just a few days at Rock The Mic, they considered that it was necessary to move to a bigger room, so they decamped to KMA Studios for a week and a half. The project then moved to MSR Studios, where "End of Time" was produced and recorded. Young further elaborated on how they started the process by playing music with the band from Fela:
Near the beginning we did a couple of days with the Fela Kuti band [from the Broadway musical] over at MSR, which involved experimenting with horns, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drums, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s and keysKey (music)In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
. We'd be taking loops, like a section of percussion — congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s for example — and then using them on a completely different record; and that record might be a completely different tempoTempoIn 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:...
or in a different key, so we'd literally be pitching it as we went. I used Elastic Audio [in Pro Tools] to fit and stretch it. Having fun is the best way I can put it; there were no rules.
As stated by Young, this period is accountable for the "Fela influence" in "End of Time". This influence is further illustrated in its instrumentation, which consists of horns and percussion among others. He also explained that "End of Time" started with "[producer] The-Dream, and then [producer] Switch added elements of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, chopped some vocals in there, created an interesting synth intro sound which is actually a Dream vocal. The bass line is very musical, it’s not just a plain 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...
bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
: It's got a vibe to it."
Composition
"End of Time" is an uptempo R&B-danceDance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
song. The song also contains elements of funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, Afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
and Latin jazz
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
. Its instrumentation essentially consists of marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
percussion, heavy drums, and staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
horns reminiscent of the 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...
era. Thanks to these musical instruments and its stomping beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
, a high energy level is maintained throughout the song. As stated by James Dinh of 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...
, "End of Time" bears resemblance to an older Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
cut. Charley Rogulewski of AOL Music further added the song channels Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
and Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "Off the Wall
Off the Wall (song)
"Off the Wall" is the third single released from singer Michael Jackson's album Off the Wall.Released on February 2, 1980, the Rod Temperton-composed number became Jackson's third top 10 single from Off the Wall, which eventually spawned four top 10 singles; Jackson was the first person to...
" (1980) production with horns kicking in midway through the song. Calling it "more like new sound [Knowles] described last year than 'Run the World (Girls)
Run the World (Girls)
"Run the World " is a song performed by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Knowles, Nick "Afrojack" van de Wall, Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, David "Switch" Taylor, and Adidja Palmer and produced by Switch, The-Dream, Knowles and Shea Taylor...
'", Brad Wete 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...
added that "End of Time" also has some vibes of Michael Jackson's 1983 single, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" is a song by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was released on May 8, 1983, by Epic Records as the fourth single from Jackson's sixth studio album Thriller in 1982. It is the first song on Thriller...
" whose rhythm arrangement is a complex interweaving of drum-machine patterns,work by percussionist Paulinho da Costa
Paulinho Da Costa
Paulinho da Costa is a Brazilian percussionist born in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most recorded musicians of modern times. Playing over two hundred percussion instruments, he has participated in thousands of recording sessions, Grammy Award-winning albums, hit songs, soundtracks, radio...
and the horns.
Lyrically, "End of Time" is about a female protagonist professing her everlasting love with both ferocity and passion. The song opens with a "militaristic, almost marching band-style tribal drumbeat" as Knowles sings in an almost distorted fashion, with her vocals layered underneath until a "dramatic explosion" after which Knowles sings: "Come take my hand / I won’t let you go / I’ll be your friend / I will love you so deeply / I will be the one to kiss you at night / I will love you till the end of time." These intro lines also serve as the chorus lines
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
. Knowles continues her appeal, convincing her lover that she will be there every night as she sings, "till the end of time." Just before the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
which features Knowles belting over a horn sequence, her voice is looped in "an uber-fast, aggressive fashion."
Critical reception
Calling "End of Time" a "lovesick battle hymn", Entertainment Weekly'sEntertainment 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...
Adam Markovitz praised the song, writing that it is "exactly the kind of genre-busting risk that few other current pop stars would even attempt, let alone pull off flawlessly with a no-big-thing shrug." Charley Rogulewski of AOL Music added that "End of Time" picks up on the post-apocalyptic vibe of "Run the World (Girls)" but with more originality and "a two-faced delivery; a brash, marching militia-inspired beat is coupled to sweet lyrics." James Dinh from 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...
also gave "End of Time" a positive review, saying the song had the "powerhouse professing her everlasting love." He also praised Knowles for keeping the "energy level high" and compared the song to those she produced with Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
. Amy Sciarretto from PopCrush called Knowles a "female bad ass, as she fearlessly explores new musical terrain on this track." She said Knowles gets "bolder and even more courageous" on the song as she takes influences from the rawness of world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
. She even went on to praise the singer's vocals, calling them the "most aggressive we’ve ever heard" and said the song was "girl power at it's [sic] finest." Craig Jenkins of Prefix Magazine called "End of Time" the highlight of the album. Joanne Dorken of MTV UK wrote that "the beat builds throughout the song, giving it a memorable sound and it is insanely catchy" before concluding that is "guaranteed to fill a dance floor near you soon."
Erika Ramirez 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...
magazine called the song "addictive" and added that it "hits strong from jump with the orchestration." Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's Ryan Dombal wrote that "End of Time" is perhaps 4s most strident declaration of co-dependence, adding that sounding like "En Vogue remixed by a high school pep band, the song has Beyoncé finding the strength in two as she sings, 'I just wanna be with you/ I just wanna live for you/ I'd never let you go!'" 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...
s writer Jody Rosen
Jody Rosen
Jody Rosen is an American journalist and author. He is the music critic for the online magazine Slate, and the author of White Christmas: The Story of an American Song....
commended the song for being one of the most adventurous cuts on 4. Claire Suddath of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine commented that the song "is just screaming to be covered by an earnest high school a capella group and posted to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
." This was somehow echoed by Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound
Consequence of Sound
Consequence of Sound, also known often as CoS, is a Chicago-based music website featuring news, album and concert reviews, and editorials. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook micro-site, which serves as an on-line database for music festival news and rumors...
who wrote that "[...] Beyoncé also makes room on the album for more grandiose tracks that would sound right at home in Broadway musicals
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, like the marching band-fueled funk/operatic space ballad 'End of Time'." Ricky Schweitzer of One Thirty BPM
One Thirty BPM
One Thirty BPM is a New York-based online publication providing reviews, news, media, interviews, features, and more from both the independent and mainstream spheres of the music world...
noted that "End of Time" revisits "the kind of girl-power territory" that Knowles found more often with Destiny’s Child. He ,however, added that this time around, the song "is crisper, more tightly wound, and brimming with confidence that feels natural in a way that Beyoncé has never showcased before."
Chart performance
Without being released as a single, "End of Time" debuted at number 62 on the UK Singles ChartUK 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 ...
, and at number 20 on the UK R&B Chart
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
on July 4, 2011. This debut was possible thanks to the 4,488 digital 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...
the song sold during the week 4 was released. Selling 18,222 digital downloads, the song opened at number 26 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart
Gaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
for the week ending July 2, 2011. "End of Time" also charted on the US 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...
Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number 13 for the week ending July 16, 2011.
Music video
It was reported in early August 2011 that Knowles was filming new music videoMusic 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...
s for several songs from 4, including "End of Time" which had already been shot as of August 3, 2011.
Live performances
"End of Time" was first performed by Knowles in a pink fringe dress at a concert at Palais Nikaïa in Nice, France, on June 20, 2011, in support of her then-upcoming album 4. The song was also part of her set listSet 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...
for her performance at 2011 Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival 2011
The 2011 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts was held from 22–26 June 2011. Tickets for the festival went on sale from 9 am on Sunday 3 October 2010, over 37 weeks before the festival was set to begin, with a deposit of £50 being paid, while the whole cost of a ticket is £195...
on June 26, 2011. Wearing a low-cut sequinned gold jacket, she sang the song live in front of more than 175,000 fans. The pre-taped performance was broadcast during the 2011 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...
in the United States later during the same day. Later on August 14, 2011, Knowles performed the song during her 4 Intimate Nights With Beyoncé in Roseland Ballroom
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom is a multi-purpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theatre district, on West 52nd Street....
, New York City. Wearing a gold dress, she performed "End of Time" in front of 3,500 and she was backed by her all-female band and her backing singers, called the Mamas. Jason Newman of 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...
noted that the live performance of the song "utilized flamboyant light displays to bring elaborate routines to a smaller stage, though most of the time, Beyoncé viewed the reduced space as advantageous over limiting."
Jon Caramanica 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...
stated that "'End of Time' was the high point, a martial stomp with flamboyant drums, keening vocals and electrifying harmonies." Similarly, Brad Wete felt that "End of Time" was among the several highlights of the show. Jozen Cummings of The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
commented that "when [Knowles] went up-tempo on songs like 'End of Time', her virtuosic ability to engage in crisp choreography without cracking her huge voice took center stage." Echoing Cummings' sentiments, Mike Wass of Idolator
Idolator (website)
Idolator is a music blog. Created by the blog network Gawker Media in August 2006, Idolator was later sold to rival blog network Buzz Media, which also owns music blog Stereogum. From the 2007 departure of original head writer Brian Raftery until November 2009, the blog's head writer was Maura...
added that "as great as those two tracks sounded live, 'Countdown' and 'End Of Time' garnered the most applause. Both were accompanied by brilliant dance routines and boast sing-a-long choruses." Joycelyn Vena of 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...
concluded that "it was [Knowles'] ability to throw a party during faster jams like 'Party', 'Countdown', 'End of Time' and 'Run the World (Girls)' that put on full display her range as a performer, dancing and singing live the entire night." The live performance for "End of Time", which was added on the DVD 4 Live at Roseland, premiered online on November 16, 2011.
"End of Time" Flash Mob
Several fans of Knowles swarmed the TargetTarget Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, where the deluxe edition of 4 was exclusively available, for a flash mob on July 18, 2011. Led by former American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant Todrick Hall who participated in the ninth season
American Idol (season 9)
The ninth season of American Idol premiered on January 12, 2010 and concluded on May 26, 2010 on Fox. Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi all returned as judges, and Ellen DeGeneres permanently replaced Paula Abdul as the fourth judge. Idol Gives Back also returned for the season and was...
of the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
singing competition, the dancers put down their red shopping baskets and started performing moves to "End of Time" as patrons snapped pictures on their cell phones. The dance crew, dressed in red, black, and white, grew in size as the performance carried on in the aisle of the retail store. After having seen the video, Knowles' team showed their appreciation by posting the video on Knowles' official website, writing: "Last time around, it was us surprising the fans in a Target. This time around, it's you surprising us! Wow. We're impressed. Great job!"
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from 4 liner notesLiner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
.
- 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...
, songwriterSongwriterA 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... - Alex Asher – tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- Johnny Butler – tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
- Jack Daley – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Serban GheneaSerban GheneaSerban Ghenea is a four-time Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award-winning mixer. He has mixed songs for such artists as Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Jewel, Santana, Ozomatli, Shakira, Jill Scott, R. Kelly, Rod Stewart, and Dave Matthews Band...
– mixerAudio 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... - Cole Kamen-Green – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- John Hanes – mix engineerMix 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"...
- Terius "The-Dream" NashThe-DreamTerius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
– producer, songwriter - Wesley "Diplo" Pentz – additional production, songwriter
- Drew Sayers – tenor, baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
- Phil Seaford – mix engineer assistant
- Chris Soper – engineer assistant
- David "Switch" TaylorSwitch (DJ)Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
– additional production, songwriter - Shea Taylor – songwriter
- Pat ThrallPat ThrallPat Thrall is an American rock guitarist. Thrall is a native of the San Francisco area, and began his recording career in 1972. He played guiatar,vocals and percussion with the group Cookin Mama album: new day , that also had this brother Preston Thrall on percussion.Thrall has worked with former...
– recorder - Nick Videen – tenor, alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
- Pete Wolford – engineer assistant
- Josiah Woodson – trumpet
- Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – vocals recorder
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart Gaon Chart The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts... |
26 |
| UK R&B Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
20 |
| 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 ... |
62 |
| US 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... Bubbling Under Hot 100 |
13 |