Summertime (Beyoncé Knowles song)
Encyclopedia
"Summertime" is a song by American
R&B
singer Beyoncé Knowles
that features American rap artist
P. Diddy
. It was composed by Knowles, Angela Beyincé, Sean Combs
, Steven "Steven J." Jordan
, Adonis Shropshire, Varick "Smitty" Smith, and Mario Winans
. The song was later remixed with rapper Ghostface Killah
. "Summertime" was included on the soundtrack album
for the movie, The Fighting Temptations
(2003), in which Knowles played the leading female role. The song was also released as a B-side to "Crazy in Love" in the United Kingdom and Australia while it was serviced as a 12" Vinyl Single in the United States through Columbia Records
.
"Summertime" is an R&B song which lyrically refers to falling in love. Music critics generally complimented the vocals of Knowles on the song and considered that it could have been included on her debut studio album, Dangerously in Love
(2003). The song charted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart in late 2003. The original version featuring P. Diddy and remix version featuring Ghostface peaked at number thirty-five and at number fifty-one respectively on the chart. Both versions charted for forty consecutive weeks. "Summertime" was a part of Knowles' set list
on her tours, including the Verizon Ladies First Tour
and her first solo tour Dangerously in Love Tour.
.
) and meets Lilly, a single mother who not only possesses an incredible voice but also the ability to warm Darrin's cold heart. Although Gooding's character, Darrin, was in love with Knowles' character, Lilly, the latter did not always feel the same until later on in the film. Near the end of the film, he proposes to her and she accepts. They eventually get married (offscreen) and within eighteen months they had a baby son together, making Darrin a father and also stepfather to Lilly's other son.
of The Fighting Temptations
but not in the movie itself. As a whole, seven tracks featured the vocals of Knowles. The latter has a starring role in the film, along with a choir made up of gospel, R&B and hip-hop recording artists. Faith Evans, Angie Stone, Melba Moore, Rev. Shirley Caesar, The O'Jays, Montell Jordan, T-Bone, and Zane are all seen on the film and perform on the soundtrack.
"Summertime" sees songwriting duties from Knowles, Angela Beyincé, Sean Combs
, Steven "Steven J." Jordan
, Adonis Shropshire, Varick "Smitty" Smith as well as Mario Winans
and utilizes production from Winans alongside P. Diddy. According to Tim Sendra of Allmusic, "Summertime is an R&B
-"sweet love song" with lush sampled strings and acoustic guitars. The lyrics of the song do not reveal the film's plot but it does tell that it has been a year since Darrin and Lilly met and they have gotten closer which could possibly be referring to their marriage. According to Dani Boobyer of the United Kingdom-based website, The Situation, its lyrics make reference to "failing in love in the summer sun."
stating, "A lot of music was written especially for the film. At first I was concerned about the timing of the soundtrack, [because] my solo album was supposed to come out way before the movie. But then the solo album got delayed." While later announcing the release of the soundtrack album in a press release, Knowles said:
"Summertime" was serviced as a 12" Vinyl Single in the United States through Columbia Records
on October 23, 2003. The song also served as the B-side to Knowles' 2003 smash hit debut lead single
"Crazy in Love" in the United Kingdom and Australia. "Summertime" was additionally included on Knowles' 2005 mixtape, Speak My Mind. The song has been referenced in Rochelle Alers
's short-story "Summer Madness" in the anthology Four Degrees of Heat (2004–07).
In a summer issue of Vibe, the song was included on a list of the top songs for a summer playlist. Research director, Laura Checkoway reviewed the remix of the track stating, "Ghost's game is tight." In an Amazon.com
editorial review, Tom Keogh stated that the song "proves a breezy dance number." Tim Sendra of Allmusic wrote that "Summertime" features "a wonderful vocal from Beyoncé." He also considered that it would have made a perfect addition to her debut solo studio album, Dangerously in Love
(2003). Dani Boobyer of The Situation (UK), commented that the song is infectious and that it ends the soundtrack album "on a smooth, laid-back high."
Both the original version featuring P. Diddy and remix version featuring Ghostface charted for forty weeks on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. During the week of August 16, 2003 the remix of the song featuring Ghostface charted and peaked at number fifty-one. During the week of September 20, 2003 the original version of the song charted at number thirty-five.
which also featured Alicia Keys
, Missy Elliott
and Tamia
, Knowles performed "Summertime" in New York
in front of more than 20,000 fans. Shaheem Reid of MTV News
commented that Knowles stepped in the name of love during the breakdown of the song. Knowles also sung "Summertime" on her first solo tour Dangerously in Love Tour at the Wembley Arena
in London, England. Knowles performed the song in a yellow summer-dress that was bedazzled in rhinestones across the upper breast area and around the bottom of the dress. The song, alongside its live version, was included on a live DVD
/CD titled Beyoncé: Live at Wembley. "Summertime" serves as the twelfth track of the live DVD. A performance of the remix of the song was included on the Jay-Z
documentary Fade to Black, which features Knowles performing with Ghostface Killah
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 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...
that features American rap artist
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...
P. Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
. It was composed by Knowles, Angela Beyincé, Sean Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Steven "Steven J." Jordan
Stevie J
--MSGOLDBERG1 23:09, 23 November 2011 Stevie J. is an American musician, singer, record producer and songwriter. This upstate New Yorker is the leader of the Bad Boy Entertainment Hitmen roster of in-house producers and writers during the 90s and thus worked often with the label's owner Sean...
, Adonis Shropshire, Varick "Smitty" Smith, and Mario Winans
Mario Winans
Mario Winans is an American R&B singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Born Mario Brown, he is the son of gospel recording artist Vickie Winans and her first husband, Bishop Ronald Brown. He is also the stepson of his mother's second husband, gospel singer, Pastor Marvin...
. The song was later remixed with rapper Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
. "Summertime" was included on the soundtrack album
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
for the movie, The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations is a 2003 American musical dramedy film produced by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as the film's protagonist as he attempts to revive a church choir in order to enter a gospel competition with the help of a beautiful lounge singer with whom he...
(2003), in which Knowles played the leading female role. The song was also released as a B-side to "Crazy in Love" in the United Kingdom and Australia while it was serviced as a 12" Vinyl Single in the United States through Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
"Summertime" is an R&B song which lyrically refers to falling in love. Music critics generally complimented the vocals of Knowles on the song and considered that it could have been included on her debut studio album, Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love is the debut solo album of American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, released on June 22, 2003, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 to 2003 at several studios, during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny's Child...
(2003). The song charted on the US 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 in late 2003. The original version featuring P. Diddy and remix version featuring Ghostface peaked at number thirty-five and at number fifty-one respectively on the chart. Both versions charted for forty consecutive weeks. "Summertime" was a 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...
on her tours, including the Verizon Ladies First Tour
Verizon Ladies First Tour
-Additional notes:*Elliot and Keys did not perform during the concert at Reliant Stadium. Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams replaced Tamia as the opening act.*Keys did not perform during the concert at the American Airlines Center....
and her first solo tour Dangerously in Love Tour.
Context
The song has two different themes. It primarily talks about the romance and later marriage between the film's two main characters Darrin (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Lilly (played by Knowles), as well as subtly hinting at Knowles' real-life relationship with rapper Jay-ZJay-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...
.
Allusions to the film
Darrin, a shallow New York advertising executive, traveled to a small town in the deep south upon receiving word that his aunt has passed away and left him a sizable inheritance. Once in town, Darrin is informed that he will only receive the money if he successfully leads a local gospel group to victory at an upcoming competition. Reluctant but strapped for cash, Darrin takes on the task of finding the best singers in town and shaping the group up. Along the way, he becomes acclimated to the town with the help of his cousin Lucius (played by Mike EppsMike Epps
Michael Elliot "Mike" Epps is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, singer, and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the sequel-to-the-sequel, Friday After Next, and also starring alongside Ice Cube in All About the Benjamins...
) and meets Lilly, a single mother who not only possesses an incredible voice but also the ability to warm Darrin's cold heart. Although Gooding's character, Darrin, was in love with Knowles' character, Lilly, the latter did not always feel the same until later on in the film. Near the end of the film, he proposes to her and she accepts. They eventually get married (offscreen) and within eighteen months they had a baby son together, making Darrin a father and also stepfather to Lilly's other son.
Background and composition
"Summertime" was the only song which appeared on the soundtrack albumSoundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
of The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations is a 2003 American musical dramedy film produced by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as the film's protagonist as he attempts to revive a church choir in order to enter a gospel competition with the help of a beautiful lounge singer with whom he...
but not in the movie itself. As a whole, seven tracks featured the vocals of Knowles. The latter has a starring role in the film, along with a choir made up of gospel, R&B and hip-hop recording artists. Faith Evans, Angie Stone, Melba Moore, Rev. Shirley Caesar, The O'Jays, Montell Jordan, T-Bone, and Zane are all seen on the film and perform on the soundtrack.
"Summertime" sees songwriting duties from Knowles, Angela Beyincé, Sean Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Steven "Steven J." Jordan
Stevie J
--MSGOLDBERG1 23:09, 23 November 2011 Stevie J. is an American musician, singer, record producer and songwriter. This upstate New Yorker is the leader of the Bad Boy Entertainment Hitmen roster of in-house producers and writers during the 90s and thus worked often with the label's owner Sean...
, Adonis Shropshire, Varick "Smitty" Smith as well as Mario Winans
Mario Winans
Mario Winans is an American R&B singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Born Mario Brown, he is the son of gospel recording artist Vickie Winans and her first husband, Bishop Ronald Brown. He is also the stepson of his mother's second husband, gospel singer, Pastor Marvin...
and utilizes production from Winans alongside P. Diddy. According to Tim Sendra of Allmusic, "Summertime is an 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...
-"sweet love song" with lush sampled strings and acoustic guitars. The lyrics of the song do not reveal the film's plot but it does tell that it has been a year since Darrin and Lilly met and they have gotten closer which could possibly be referring to their marriage. According to Dani Boobyer of the United Kingdom-based website, The Situation, its lyrics make reference to "failing in love in the summer sun."
Release and reception
During a string of soundtrack releases, Knowles commented on the song with BillboardBillboard (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...
stating, "A lot of music was written especially for the film. At first I was concerned about the timing of the soundtrack, [because] my solo album was supposed to come out way before the movie. But then the solo album got delayed." While later announcing the release of the soundtrack album in a press release, Knowles said:
"Once you hear the song ['Fighting Temptation'], and all the music in this film, you can't help but fall in love with it. You'll definitely get emotional. You might become happy or even sad, but your heart will get full. All the songs are touching and spiritual, and that's what the movie itself is like."
"Summertime" was serviced as a 12" Vinyl Single in the United States through Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
on October 23, 2003. The song also served as the B-side to Knowles' 2003 smash hit debut 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...
"Crazy in Love" in the United Kingdom and Australia. "Summertime" was additionally included on Knowles' 2005 mixtape, Speak My Mind. The song has been referenced in Rochelle Alers
Rochelle Alers
Rochelle Alers is an American writer of romance novels. She has also written under the pen names Susan James and Rena McLeary.-Biography:...
's short-story "Summer Madness" in the anthology Four Degrees of Heat (2004–07).
In a summer issue of Vibe, the song was included on a list of the top songs for a summer playlist. Research director, Laura Checkoway reviewed the remix of the track stating, "Ghost's game is tight." In an Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
editorial review, Tom Keogh stated that the song "proves a breezy dance number." Tim Sendra of Allmusic wrote that "Summertime" features "a wonderful vocal from Beyoncé." He also considered that it would have made a perfect addition to her debut solo studio album, Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love is the debut solo album of American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, released on June 22, 2003, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 to 2003 at several studios, during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny's Child...
(2003). Dani Boobyer of The Situation (UK), commented that the song is infectious and that it ends the soundtrack album "on a smooth, laid-back high."
Both the original version featuring P. Diddy and remix version featuring Ghostface charted for forty weeks on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. During the week of August 16, 2003 the remix of the song featuring Ghostface charted and peaked at number fifty-one. During the week of September 20, 2003 the original version of the song charted at number thirty-five.
Live performances
Although Knowles did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list on her tours. During the Verizon Ladies First TourVerizon Ladies First Tour
-Additional notes:*Elliot and Keys did not perform during the concert at Reliant Stadium. Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams replaced Tamia as the opening act.*Keys did not perform during the concert at the American Airlines Center....
which also featured Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
, Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and Tamia
Tamia
Tamia Hill , and known professionally as Tamia, is a four-time Grammy-nominated Canadian R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, model, entrepreneur and philanthropist, as well as an occasional actress.She is best known for her 2000 hit "Stranger In My House" and Fabolous' 2003...
, Knowles performed "Summertime" in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in front of more than 20,000 fans. Shaheem Reid 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...
commented that Knowles stepped in the name of love during the breakdown of the song. Knowles also sung "Summertime" on her first solo tour Dangerously in Love Tour at the Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
in London, England. Knowles performed the song in a yellow summer-dress that was bedazzled in rhinestones across the upper breast area and around the bottom of the dress. The song, alongside its live version, was included on a live DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
/CD titled Beyoncé: Live at Wembley. "Summertime" serves as the twelfth track of the live DVD. A performance of the remix of the song was included on the 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...
documentary Fade to Black, which features Knowles performing with Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
.
Track listing and formats
- US 12" Vinyl Single
- "Summertime" (Album Version featuring P. Diddy) – 3:53
- "Summertime" (Album Version Instrumental) - 3:34
- "Summertime" (A Capella featuring P.Diddy) - 2:59
- "Summertime" (Remix featuring Ghostface Killah) - 4:04
- "Summertime" (Remix Instrumental) - 3:34
- "Summertime" (A Capella featuring Ghostface Killah) - 3:08
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Original feat. P. Diddy | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 35 |
| Remix feat. Ghostface Killah | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 51 |