Déjà Vu (Beyoncé Knowles song)

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“Déjà Vu”
“Déjà Vu” cover
Single by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
from the album B'Day
Released July 31, 2006 (United States)
Format CD single, digital download, maxi single, 12" single
Recorded Sony Music Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre contemporary R&B, funk
Length 4:00
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Beyoncé Knowles, Rodney Jerkins, Delisha Thomas, Makeba, Keli Nicole Price, Shawn Carter
Producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé singles chronology
"Check on It"
(2005)		 "Déjà Vu"
(2006)		 "One Night Only"
(2006)
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Dirt off Your Shoulder/Lying from You"
(2005/2006)		 "Déjà Vu"
(2006)		 "Show Me What You Got"
(2006)

"Déjà Vu" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles featuring American hip hop rapper Jay-Z. The track was produced by American record producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Knowles for her second solo album, B'Day. A combination of contemporary R&B and '70s funk elements, "Déjà Vu"'s live instrumentation is varied; including bass guitar, hi-hat, horn and 808. The song's title and lyrics refer to a woman being constantly reminded of a past lover.

The track was released as the album's lead single in July 2006. Recognized the Best Song at the 2006 Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, however, it received mostly negative reviews from music critics. While it failed to match the success of Knowles' 2003 single, "Crazy in Love", "Déjà Vu" entered the top ten on most charts, topping several of Billboard magazine's component charts and reaching number one in the United Kingdom. The quality of the single's music video displeased fans, thousands of whom petitioned for it to be re-shot.

Contents

[edit] Background and production

Knowles enlisted American record producer-songwriter Rodney Jerkins, whom she had since collaborated with in Destiny's Child, to produce songs for her second solo album, B'Day. In 2005, Jerkins and American composer John Webb began working on "Déjà Vu". Webb said, "Rodney and I came up with the concept of doing an old-school track, a throwback with real bass and horns; that's part of why the title is 'Déjà Vu'."[1] Handling productions in Jerkins' New Jersey-based studio, they first recorded the bass sections; percussion and horns were layered after, as well as the vocals. Some of the productions took in Sony Music Studios in New York City.

"Déjà Vu" also took lyrical contributions from song-writers Delisha Thomas and Keli Nicole Price; Makeba Riddick made her way onto the B'Day production team after co-writing the song.[2] Jerkins recorded a demo version of the song with Riddick on vocals, and presented it to Knowles who later approved.[2] American hip hop rapper and Knowles' long-time boyfriend Jay-Z was not planned to appear as featured guest of the song. However, once Jay-Z heard he track, Knowles saw he was trying to sing along.[3] She asked him if he would like to proceed to the studio and Jay-Z ended up contributing a rap verse.

Knowles approached English production team Freemasons to remix "Déjà Vu". A club mix was produced and is included in the team's debut album Shakedown that was released in 2007.

[edit] Music and lyrics

"Déjà Vu" is a contemporary R&B song, performed in a moderate hip hop groove.[4][5] The song is composed in the key of B major with a tempo set in common time.[4] "Déjà Vu" is influenced by late-'70s funk elements,[6] and soul and hip hop genres.[7] The song is purely instrumental,[8] using a variety of live instrumentation from bass guitar, conga, hi-hat, old-school horn, and 808 instruments and sound system.[1][9][10] Knowles said in an interview: "When I recorded 'Déjà Vu'...I knew that even before I started working on my album, I wanted to add live instruments to all of my songs. It's such a balance [of music on the song], it has live congas, live horns, live bass. It's still young, still new and fresh, but it has the old soul groove."[2]

 

The lyrics of "Déjà Vu" are composed in a verse – pre-chorus (bridge) – hook (chorus) form, and features an extended rap. It is hook-laden, similar to Knowles' 2003 song "Crazy in Love" from her debut album Dangerously in Love.[11] The lyrics detail a woman being constantly reminded of a past lover.[1] "Déjà Vu" contains elements that has similarities to American pop singer Michael Jackson's 1980 single "Off the Wall" from his 1979 album of the same name.[5]

Knowles begins the song mentioning three instruments: bass, hi-hat and 808. The sound of the instruments blends as they are mentioned one after the other. Horns are only audible in the pre-chorus and hook sections. In the first instrument, the bass guitar slides into the main two-bar ostinato. Following the repeated bass slides, Knowles introduces hi-hat and the Roland drum machine 808. After she mentions Jay-Z, the bass glides up for a Meshell-like vibrato-rich fill, giving way to the first rap.[1] Back with a repeating groove, Knowles starts the first verse. The pre-chorus follows, which applies for a more emotional and melodic part "to play something more singing".[1][10] The melody returns to the main groove during the repeated hook. The pattern repeats, setting for the second rap. The third bridge "comes from Jerkins' idea to have the part changes on top, with Webb's main groove on the bottom".[1] It is followed by the main pre-chorus and the hook that is repeated four times. The vocals stop and the instruments fill in the space. Hi-hat and 808 also stop, finalizing the song with the plucked bass and blast of horns.

[edit] Release and reception

"Déjà Vu" was released to radio stations on June 14, 2006, four weeks after Knowles informed Columbia, her record label, that the album was already finished.[12] The track was released as a CD single on July 31, 2006 in the United States.[13] An enhanced CD was released on September 12, containing five tracks and an additional "Déjà Vu" multimedia track.[14] On August 5, a maxi single, featuring the album version of the track and Freemasons club mix, was released in Australia. In the United Kingdom, the digital download became available on August 7. A CD maxi and a 12" single was later released in August 21.[15]

"Déjà Vu" fared poorly among critics, receiving mostly negative feedback. Roger Friedman of Fox News noted the song as "catchy if you hear it enough times" but added that "it lack[ed] a consistent melody".[16] Bill Lamb of About.com commented that it lacked "a sense of true exhilaration".[10] Andy Kellman's review for Allmusic, an online music database, said that it "had the audacity to not be as monstrous as 'Crazy in Love'".[6] Internet-based music publication Pitchfork Media's writer Ryan Dombal compared similarities of the song to "Crazy in Love", claiming that "this time [Knowles] out-bolds the beat".[17] Jody Rosen of the Entertainment Weekly magazine, referred to "Déjà Vu" an "oddly flat" first single from the album.[18] Sasha Frere-jones of The New Yorker magazine deemed the lyrics a confusing view of memory.[19] Chris Richards of The Washington Post, an American newspaper, characterized Knowles in "Déjà Vu" a "love-dazed girlfriend".[20]

There were, however, some positive reviews. The international webzine Popmatters' Mike Joseph believed that it was "fantastic to hear Beyonce singing her lungs out over a full-bodied groove featuring live instruments".[21] Spence D. of IGN, a multimedia news and reviews website, complimented Jerkins' bass-laden groove, saying that it brought the track to "perfection".[22] American newspaper The Village Voice's Tom Breihan compared "Déjà Vu" to American pop singer Christina Aguilera's 2006 single "Ain't No Other Man", calling them two "love songs [that were] so dizzy and emphatic".[23]

"Déjà Vu" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best R&B Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards, while the remix version was nominated for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.[24] The song won at the 2006 MOBO Awards in the UK for Best Song.[25] The following year, it was nominated for Best Collaboration, alongside Knowles' song "Upgrade U" featuring Jay-Z, at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.[26]

[edit] Chart performance

"Déjà Vu" appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, the US' official singles chart, less than a month prior to its physical release. Debuting at number forty-four, the single peaked at number four over a month on the chart.[27][28] The track's Freemasons/M. Joshua remix topped the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, while the album version peaked at number eighteen on the same component chart.[29] "Déjà Vu" also reached the top spot on the Billboard component charts Hot Dance Singles Sales and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, number nine on the Rhythmic Top 40 and number fourteen on the Top 40 Mainstream.[29] On the Billboard 2007 year-ender, "Déjà Vu" reached at number seven on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.[30]

"Déjà Vu" reached the top ten in less than ten European countries.[27] The single reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Knowles' second solo number-one single in the UK.[31] The single reached the top five in Ireland, Norway and Switzerland and entered the top ten in Belgium, Finland, Germany and Portugal. "Déjà Vu" never reached the top ten across countries in the Oceania. The single debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number thirty-eight and on the Australian Singles Chart at number twelve.[32][33] The single eventually peaked at number fifteen and number twelve on these charts, respectively.[27] "Déjà Vu" is the ninety-eighth best-selling single in Australia in 2006.[34] The single reached number eight on the United World Chart, an aggregate chart, and has since accumulated two million+ United World Chart points.[27][35]

[edit] Music video

Fans petitioned for the video to be re-shot, citing many reasons including the "unacceptable interactions" between Knowles and Jay-Z.
Fans petitioned for the video to be re-shot, citing many reasons including the "unacceptable interactions" between Knowles and Jay-Z.[36]

The music video for "Déjà Vu" was filmed by the British director Sophie Muller in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 21, 2006. The collective shot parts of the video at the Maple Leaf Bar in Carrollton, Louisiana.[37] The footage features couture-motivated outfits,[8] vigorous foot works and sexually-themed routines.

The music video simultaneously premiered on July 12, 2006 on Total Request Live (TRL), a television show of the network MTV, and MTV Overdrive, MTV's broadband video channel. The music video reached the top spot on the TRL's countdown, and stayed there for twenty-two days.[38][39] "Déjà Vu" topped the UK TV airplay chart late in July 2006.[40]

Critics were generally positive when reviewing the music video. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine, an online publication, said that it was "more thematic and thought provoking than the videos for 'Baby Boy' and 'Naughty Girl'", Knowles' songs from her debut album, Dangerously in Love.[41] Website Allhiphop.com's Eb Haynes says, "Muller's dramatic depiction of a woman scorned, introduced the world to a vulnerably unhinged, pissed-off Beyoncé."[8] However, fan response was not so warm; more than 2,000 petitioned for a re-shoot of the video because of what they saw as inferior quality. Complaints included "a lack of theme, dizzying editing, over-the-top wardrobe choices and 'unacceptable interactions' between [Knowles and] Jay-Z", while criticizing Knowles' dance moves as "erratic, confusing and alarming at times".[36] The video won at the 2006 MOBO Awards in the UK for Best Video.[25]

[edit] Formats and track listings

Déjà Vu, pt. 1
  1. "Déjà Vu" (Album version) – 4:01
  2. "Déjà Vu" (Freemasons dance remix) – 3:15
CD maxi
  1. "Déjà Vu" (Album version) – 3:58
  2. "Déjà Vu" (Freemasons radio mix) – 3:15
  3. "Déjà Vu" (Freemasons club m) – 8:05
  4. "Déjà Vu" (Maurice's Nusoul m) – 6:01
  5. "Déjà Vu" (Maurice's Nusoul mixshow mix) – 5:58
  6. "Déjà Vu" (Video)

[edit] Credits and personnel

  • Vocals: Beyoncé Knowles, Jay-Z (rap)
  • Recording: Jeff Villanueva, Jim Caruana
    • Assisted by: Rob Kinelski, Jun Ishizeki
  • Mix engineers: Jason Goldstein, Rodney Jerkins, Knowles
  • All music: Jerkins
  • Bass:Jon Jon Webb
  • Horns: Ronald Judge, Allen "Al Geez" Arthur, Aaron "Goody" Goode
    • Horns arrangement: Jerkins

[edit] Charts

Chart (2006)[27][29] Peak
position
Australia Top 40 Singles 12
Austrian Singles Chart 12
Belgian Singles Chart 8
Dutch Top 40 17
Finland Top 20 Singles 6
French Singles Chart 23
German Singles Chart 9
Irish Singles Chart 3
New Zealand Top 40 Singles 15
Norwegian Singles Chart 3
Portuguese Singles Chart 8
Swedish Singles Chart 11
Swiss Singles Chart 3
Chart (2006)[27][29] Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Canadian Digital Singles 8
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 4
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play1 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 18
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 3
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 10
United World Chart 8

1 "Déjà Vu" (Freemasons/M. Joshua Mixes)

Preceded by
"Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
August 28, 2006		 Succeeded by
"SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake
Preceded by
"Shoulder Lean" by Young Dro featuring T.I.		 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one single
September 2, 2006 – September 9, 2006		 Succeeded by
"Pullin' Me Back" by Chingy featuring Tyrese
Preceded by
"A Public Affair" by Jessica Simpson		 Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play
number-one single
October 14, 2006		 Succeeded by
"Is It Love?" by iiO

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Jisi, Chris (December 2006). Jon Jon Webb’s Complete Bass Line: Beyonce's Deja Vu. Bass Player. New Bay Media, LLC. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  2. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem. "Be All You Can, B.", MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-01-07. 
  3. ^ MTV News staff. "For The Record: Quick News On Beyonce, Jay-Z, Mel Gibson, DMX, Audioslave, Fantasia, Britney Spears & More", MTV News, (2006-08-01). Retrieved on 2008-01-07. 
  4. ^ a b Digital Sheet Music: Deja Vu. Musicnotes. Hal Leonard Corporation. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.
  5. ^ a b Joseph, Mike (2007-09-05). Beyoncé: B-Day. Popmatters. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.
  6. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. Album Review: B'Day. Allmusic. Macrovision Company. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  7. ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Beyonce Album Preview: Harder Sound, Aggressive Songs Among B'Day's Gifts", MTV News, (2007-08-30). Retrieved on 2007-12-27. 
  8. ^ a b c Haynes, Eb (2006-09-20). Album Review: B'Day. Allhiphop.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  9. ^ B'Day deluxe edition - CD booklet, Sony Music BMG Entertainment, 2007 
  10. ^ a b c Lamb, Bill. Beyonce featuring Jay-Z - Déjà vu. About.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  11. ^ Zuel, Bernard (2006-09-08). B'Day. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  12. ^ Coniff, Tamara (2006-06-19). Beyonce's little secret. Azcentral.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  13. ^ Deja Vu. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  14. ^ Deja Vu [Enhanced CD Single]. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  15. ^ New Single. Sony BMG UK. Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) (August 10, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
  16. ^ Friedman, Roger. "First Look: Beyonce's New Album 'B'Day'", FOX News, (2006-08-17. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  17. ^ Dombal, Ryan (2006-06-20). Beyonce: "Deja Vu [ft. Jay-Z"]. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  18. ^ Rosen, Jody (2007-09-01). Music Review: B'Day (2006)-Beyonce Knowles. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  19. ^ Frere-jones, Sarah (2006-09-25). Crazy from Love. The New Yorker. CondéNet. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  20. ^ Williams, Chris (2006-09-06). Beyonce's 'B'Day' Is Nothing to Celebrate. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
  21. ^ Joseph, Mike (2006-09-05). Beyonce: B'Day. Popmatters. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  22. ^ D., Spence (2006-09-05). Beyonce - B'Day: Sophomore slump narrowly avoided.. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  23. ^ Breihan, Tom (2006-06-14). Beyonce and Jay-Z's "Deja Vu": Jam of the Summer?. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  24. ^ "49th GRAMMY Nominees Announced", The Recording Academy, (2006-12-07). Retrieved on 2008-01-10. 
  25. ^ a b "Bailey Rae and Beyonce lead Mobos", BBC News, (2006-09-20). Retrieved on 2008-01-10. 
  26. ^ Silverman. "Beyoncé Leads BET Award Nominations", People, (2007-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-06-05. 
  27. ^ a b c d e f Deja Vu Global Chart Positions and Trajectories. αCharts. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  28. ^ Hope, Clover. "Furtado Still No. 1 But Beyonce, Fergie Heat Up", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., (2006-08-03). Retrieved on 2008-05-30. 
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  30. ^ Billboard 2007: The Year in Music - Hot Dance Singles Sales. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
  31. ^ Sexton, Paul. "Beyonce, Snow Patrol Rule U.K. Charts", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., (2006-08-28). Retrieved on 2008-05-30. 
  32. ^ New Zealand Top 40. αCharts. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  33. ^ Australia Singles Top 50. αCharts. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  34. ^ ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2006. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  35. ^ United World Chart: Tracks. United World Chart. Media Traffic (2006-12-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  36. ^ a b MTV News staff. "For The Record: Quick News On Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Haylie Duff, Jet, Metallica, Nick Lachey & More", MTV News, (2006-07-24). Retrieved on 2008-01-08. 
  37. ^ Spera, Keith (2006-06-23). Spare Notes. The Times-Picayune. New OrleansNet LLC.. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
  38. ^ TRL Number Ones. Popfusion. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
  39. ^ Beyoncé Interview Backstage On TRL video. NME. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
  40. ^ "Beyonce video at top of the TV charts", Sony BMG UK, (2006-07-24). Retrieved on 2008-01-11. 
  41. ^ Cinquemani, Sal. "Beyoncé: B'Day", Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-01-07. 
v • d • e
Beyoncé Knowles
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Jay-Z
Studio albums
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"In My Lifetime" · "Dead Presidents" · "Ain't No Nigga" · "Can't Knock the Hustle" · "Feelin' It" · "Who You Wit" · "(Always Be My) Sunshine" · "The City Is Mine" · "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" · "Jigga What, Jigga Who" · "Money, Cash, Hoes" · "Can I Get A..." · "It's Alright" · "Love for Free"  · "Money Ain't a Thang" · "Big Pimpin'" · "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" · "Jigga My Nigga" · "Girl's Best Friend" · "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" · "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" · "Change the Game" · "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" · "Girls, Girls, Girls" · "Jigga That Nigga" · "Song Cry" · "People Talking"  · "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" · "Excuse Me Miss" · "Change Clothes" · "Dirt off Your Shoulder" · "Encore" · "What More Can I Say" · "99 Problems" · "Show Me What You Got" · "Lost One" · "Minority Report"/"Beach Chair" · "Hollywood" · "30 Something" · "Blue Magic" · "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." · "I Know"
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