Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes

Above and Beyoncé
Video / EP by Beyoncé
Released June 16, 2009
Recorded 2008–2009
Genre R&B, electronica, dance
Length 51:10 (video collection)
50:04 (dance mixes)
Label Columbia
Director Jake Nava, Beyoncé, Sophie Muller, Melina Matsoukas, Philip Andelman, Ed Burke
Beyoncé chronology

I Am... Sasha Fierce
(2008)		 Above and Beyoncé
(2009)		 I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas
(2009)

Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes is a remix and video album by American R&B singer Beyoncé. Consisting of two discs, the album features music videos on one disc and dance remixes on the other. It was initially released on June 16, 2009 through Wal-Mart stores and J&R exclusively, although it was later made available through other retailers. Above and Beyoncé peaked at number thirty-five on the Billboard 200, and was received positively by Andy Kellman of Allmusic, who rated it three out of five stars. It also appeared on Billboard‍‍ '​‍s component charts, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Dance/Electronic Albums. The remix version of "Ego" including on the album was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 52nd Grammy Awards.


Background and release

Above and Beyoncé comprises two discs. The first contains the music videos of six of the singles from her 2008 studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce: "If I Were a Boy", "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", "Diva", "Halo", Broken-Hearted Girl" and "Ego". It also features a "fan exclusive" cut of the "Ego" video and behind-the-scenes footage of the shooting of the videos. The second disc hosts electronica dance remixes of the songs,[1][2] as well as of the album's sixth single, "Sweet Dreams". A mix of "Ego" with a rap verse from Kanye West closes the album. On June 15, 2009, the behind-the-scenes footage was broadcast on BET's Access Granted.[3][4] The alternative "Ego" video premiered afterwards.[4]

The cover art of Above and Beyoncé was previewed by People magazine in May 2009.[5] The album was originally released exclusively to Wal-Mart stores and J&R, on June 16, 2009.[6] The dance mixes only were made available via MP3 format through Amazon.com on June 16,[7] and the whole album was released to the online store on November 3, 2009.[8] The iTunes Store began selling the remixes on February 1, 2010.[9]

Reception

Allmusic's Andy Kellman called the album "a nice set for devoted fans who haven't already shelled out for all the mixes", and awarded it three out of five stars.[10] In 2011, Maura Gavaghan writing for MTV, said that "The creative title of this video album alone is a reason for every devoted fan... to buy a copy".[11] She added that the dance remixes of the songs make a "dance party in a neatly packaged DVD set".[11] Above and Beyoncé debuted at number thirty-six on the Billboard 200 chart dated July 4, 2009,[12] selling 14,000 copies that week.[13] It later peaked at number thirty-five, spending fourteen weeks on the chart.[14][15] On the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Above and Beyoncé debuted[16] and peaked at number twenty-three, lasting forty-three weeks in the chart.[17] Among the Dance/Electronic Albums, the album debuted at number two, placing below Lady Gaga's The Fame.[18] It spent a total of forty-eight weeks on the component chart, including twenty-four weeks in the top ten.[19] Above and Beyoncé was ranked at number nine on the year-end Dance/Electronic Albums Chart for 2009,[20] and number twenty-one on the 2010 chart.[21]

Track listing

Disc one: Video Collection
No. TitleWriter(s)Director(s)[22] Length
1. "If I Were a Boy"  Toby Gad, BC JeanJake Nava 5:06
2. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"  Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, Thaddis Harrell, BeyoncéJake Nava 3:19
3. "Diva"  Beyoncé, Shondrae Crawford, Sean GarrettMelina Matsoukas 4:06
4. "Halo"  Beyoncé, Ryan Tedder, E. Kidd BogartPhilip Andelman 3:45
5. "Broken-Hearted Girl"  Kenneth Edmonds, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, BeyoncéSophie Muller 4:40
6. "Ego" (Remix featuring Kanye West)Elvis Williams, Harold Lilly, BeyoncéBeyoncé, Frank Gatson Jr. 4:53
7. "Ego" (Fan exclusive)Williams, Lilly, BeyoncéBeyoncé, Frank Gatson Jr. 3:57
8. "Behind the Scenes: The Videos"   Ed Burke 19:02
Disc two: Dance Mixes
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)[22][23] Length
1. "If I Were a Boy" (Maurice Joshua Mojo UK Remix)Gad, JeanToby Gad, Beyoncé, Maurice Joshua* 6:29
2. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Remix – Club Version)Stewart, Nash, Harrell, BeyoncéTricky Stewart, The-Dream, Beyoncé, DJ Escape*, Tony Coluccio* 6:57
3. "Diva" (Karmatronic Club Remix)Beyoncé, Crawford, GarrettBangladesh, Sean Garrett, Beyoncé, Achilles Sparta*, Peter Krajezar* 5:08
4. "Halo" (Dave Audé Club Remix)Beyoncé, Tedder, BogartRyan Tedder, Beyoncé, Dave Audé* 8:55
5. "Broken-Hearted Girl" (Catalyst Remix)Edmonds, Eriksen, Hermansen, BeyoncéStarGate, Beyoncé, James Cruz* 4:46
6. "Ego" (OK DAC Remix)Williams, Lilly, BeyoncéBlac Elvis, Harold Lilly, Beyoncé, OK DAC* 6:29
7. "Sweet Dreams" (Harlan Pepper & AG III Remix)Beyoncé, James Scheffer, Wayne Wilkins, Rico LoveJim Jonsin, Wayne Wilkins, Rico Love, Beyoncé, Peterson & Alan Gordan* 6:43
8. "Ego" (Remix featuring Kanye West)Williams, Lilly, BeyoncéBlac Elvis, Harold Lilly, Beyoncé 4:44

Digital download version EP

(*) denotes remix and additional production

Credits

Credits for Above and Beyoncé's', adapted from Allmusic and CD's liner notes.[22][24]

  • Kory Aaron – assistance
  • Damien Alexander – artists and repertoire
  • Phillip Andelman – direction
  • Dave Audé – production, remixing
  • Babyface – writing
  • Christian Baker – assistance
  • Bangladesh – writing
  • Tim Blacksmith – management
  • Evan Bogart – writing
  • Ed Burke – direction
  • Domenic Capello – mixing
  • Jim Caruana – engineering, vocal engineering
  • Fusako Chubachi – art direction
  • Tony Coluccio – remixing
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • James Cruz – mastering
  • Kim Dellara – executive production
  • DJ Escape – remixing
  • The-Dream – writing
  • Mikkel Storleer Eriksen – engineering, instrumentation, writing
  • Jens Gad – drums
  • Toby Gad – arrangement, engineering, production, instrumentation, writing
  • Tim Gant – keyboards
  • Sean Garrett – writing
  • Alan Gordon – engineering
  • Matt Green – assistance
  • Kuk Harrell – engineering, writing
  • Matt Hennessy – engineering
  • Ty Hunter – stylist
  • Jim Jonsin – production
  • Maurice Joshua – remixing
  • Grant Jue – production
  • Chris Kantrowitz – executive production
  • Anthony Kilhoffer – vocal engineering
  • Kimberly Kimble – hair stylist
  • Juli Knapp – artists and repertoire
  • Beyoncé – executive production, production, writing, vocals vocal production
  • Mathew Knowles – executive production
  • Tina Knowles – creative consultant
  • Melissa Larsen – production
  • Harold Lilly – production, writing
  • Peter Lindbergh – photography
  • Rico Love – producer, writing, vocals, vocal production
  • Philip Margiziotis – horn
  • Melina Matsoukas – direction
  • Jake McKim – artists and repertoire
  • Michael Paul Miller – assistance
  • Sophie Muller – director
  • Jake Nava – director
  • Jeff Pantaleo – executive production
  • Dave Pensado – mixing
  • James Scheffer – writing
  • Hagai Shaham – production
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • Christopher "Tricky" Stewart – writing
  • Ryan Tedder – arrangement, engineering, instrumentation, production, writing
  • Francesca Tolot – make-up
  • Lidell Townsell – keyboards
  • Jennifer Turner – marketing
  • Randy Urbanski – assistance
  • Miles Walker – engineering
  • Wayne Wilkins – production, writing
  • Elvis Williams – writing
  • Dontae Winslow – trumpet
  • John Winter – production
  • Andrew Wuepper – assistance

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[14] 35
US Dance/Electronic Albums[14] 2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[14] 23

Year-end charts

Chart Position
US Dance/Electronic Albums (2009)[20] 9
US Dance/Electronic Albums (2010)[21] 21

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[7] June 16, 2009 Digital download (dance mixes only) Columbia Records
United States[nb 1][6] CD/DVD
Japan[25][26] Sony Music Japan
Germany[27][28] June 18, 2009 Sony Music
Canada[29] August 18, 2009
Canada[30] November 3, 2009
United Kingdom[31][32] RCA Records
United States[nb 2][8] Columbia Records
Austria[33] February 1, 2010 Digital download (dance mixes only) Sony Music
Canada[34]
Switzerland[35]
United States[9] Columbia Records

Notes

  1. ↑ Only at Wal-Mart and J&R Music New York
  2. ↑ Available to all retailers

References

  1. ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson (May 20, 2009). "Beyonce Knew The Perfect Person To Remix 'Ego': Kanye West!". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  2. ↑ Cline, Georgette (May 27, 2010). "Beyoncé Goes Above & Beyond with Dance Album". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Beyoncé". Access Granted. June 15, 2009. Black Entertainment Television. BET Networks.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "'Ego' Remix Video Premieres on Special BET Access Granted!" (Press release). Beyoncé's Official Website. June 15, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  5. ↑ Orloff, Brian (May 20, 2009). "First Look: Beyoncé's New DVD Cover Revealed!". People. Time Inc. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Beyoncé to Release Above And Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes!" (Press release). Beyoncé's Official Website. May 26, 2009. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Above And Beyoncé Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Above & Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Above and Beyoncé – Dance Mixes". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  10. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Gavaghan, Maura (October 31, 2011). "Must-Have Items To Be A True Beyonce Stan". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on 30 March 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Dancing Diva". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media) 121 (26): 53. July 4, 2009. ISSN 0006-2510.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 29 March 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011. Note: To interpret the number of weeks in the chart, the user must navigate the visualizer, which can be launched on the left of the screen.
  16. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on 30 March 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Beyoncé: Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Beyoncé: Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2011. Note: To interpret the number of weeks in the chart's top ten, the user must navigate the visualizer, which can be launched on the left of the screen.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes (Remix album). Beyoncé. Columbia Records. 2009. 88697 53949 9.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 I Am... Sasha Fierce (Platinum Edition). Beyoncé. Columbia Records. 2008. 0088697417352.
  24. ↑ "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes – Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Above and Beyonce: Video Collection & Dance Mixes" (in Japanese). Amazon.com (Japan). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Above And Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes" (in Japanese). HMV Group (Japan). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Above And Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes" (in German). Amazon.com (Germany). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Above and Beyoncé - Dance Mixes" (in German). iTunes Store (Germany). Apple Inc. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Above & Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (Canada). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Above & Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (Canada). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Above & Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (UK). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Above & Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (UK). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Above and Beyoncé - Dance Mixes" (in German). iTunes Store (Austria). Apple Inc. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Above and Beyoncé - Dance Mixes". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Above and Beyoncé - Dance Mixes" (in Swiss). iTunes Store (Switzerland). Apple Inc. Retrieved February 27, 2012.