I'm thinking every pop connoisseur like myself remember exactly where we were when we first heard this GLORIOUS song. Me, I was at an Internet café, which were very popular at that time (10 years from now! I'm getting so old). Looking up on the web, I encountered the announcement that Beyoncé song was available for download, so I proceeded to did the obvious, and oh, boy, I've never looked back since.
I have to be honest: I didn't immediately dig it. A song so atypical of that time, with horns, trumpets, and the like, and a very 70's vibe so unlikely for that era. I mean, not the current sound on the charts (mostly filled with hip hop collaborations and R&B contemporary sounds). But then, this song and the magnetic sample courtesy of the Chi-Lites changed the face of the pop, R&B and hip hop music, for sure.
The song gradually grown on me and everyone else, and it was a matter of time for it to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts for eight straight weeks. That's an accomplishment itself, but being the first single as a soloist, Beyoncé really knew how to made an impact on the public. Of course, Jay Z's rap was also responsible for its success (I'm very proud of the fact that, still to this day, I'm able to sing the Jay Z's part in its entirety).
Rich Harrison was the producer of this gem, and of course his popularity went through the roof with this one. Many artists worked with him, and he produced several hits trying to revive the success of this sound, but none of them took him to the levels that this song reached. And that's fine, so many great songs and artists came out of this effort. Just to name a few:
...and so many others.
The legacy of this song, besides the fact that established Beyoncé as a global superstar, is that brought a breath of fresh air to the sound of the 2000's, so plagued with disposable rappers, hip hop collaborations and a declining on pop music. So basically, this song, using a sample of a 70's song, established a model to be followed by many artists and a sound so fierce, as her moniker Sasha Fierce would tell us years later.
Of course, this song has been covered many times, but my favorite is the current version of Emeli Sande and the Bryan Ferry Orchestra, in a 20's spirit and it showed this song is indeed timeless.
Oh, Beyoncé, this song of yours is already unforgettable. Here's to another 10 years of being 'Crazy in Love' about it!
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