Daddy (Beyoncé Knowles song)

"Daddy"
Promotional single by Beyoncé from the album Dangerously in Love
Released	June 3, 2003
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2003
Genre	R&B
Length	4:58
Label	Columbia
Writer	Beyoncé Knowles, Mark Batson
Dangerously in Love track listing
"Gift from Virgo" (14) "Daddy" (15)

"Daddy" is a song recorded by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles for her debut studio album, Dangerously in Love (2003). It was composed by Knowles as well as Mark Batson. The song was not originally intended to be featured on the final track listing of the album. Knowles was able to record the song as the release date of her debut album had been postponed. "Daddy" was only released to US iTunes Store as a promotional single on June 3, 2003 through Columbia Records.

Knowles explained that the song's development was motivated by the devotion and the loyalty her father/manager, Mathew Knowles has towards his family members. Many of the songs on the album examine aspects of relationships. However, "Daddy" was considered to be an element analyzing the kinship ties between a father and his offspring from a different and more powerful perspective. Music critics, who generally received the song with positive reception, commented that the song was a way for Knowles to pay tribute to her father.

Background and development

"Daddy" was written by Knowles as well as Mark Batson.^[1][2] It was a "hidden track" on all the editions of Dangerously in Love as the fifteenth and final track.^[3] Knowles initially was not going to include the song on the album,^[3] however after undergoing multiple push-backs, she was able to work on extra material for the album which included "Daddy".^[4] Over forty-three songs were recorded for Dangerously in Love, all of which were overseen by father Mathew, however Beyoncé secretly planted the song on the album as a "hidden track" which left Mathew speechless out of both shock and appreciation.^[4] The song was released as a promotional single to iTunes Store exclusively in the United States on June 23, 2003 through Columbia Records.^[5] It is also featured on the soundtrack of Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls (2007).^[6]

Concerning the conception of "Daddy", Knowles told MTV News:

“	"My mother and father have been together for 23, 24 years, and I've seen them go through a lot. And he has always supported his wife and supported his family and supported me and my sister and [my cousin] Kelly Rowland. That loyalty and that strength that he has, those certain qualities I just want in all the people around me.	”
—Beyoncé Knowles (2003), [4]

Composition

"Daddy" is a nearly five-minute long^[7] R&B song.^[8] The first verse of the song begins with Knowles reminiscing about the times she and her father/manager, Mathew Knowles shared as a child and through her adolescence.^[9] She sings about wanting to be with a man who has similar qualities as her father.^[4] This is illustrated in the lyrics: "I treasure every irreplaceable memory and that's why I want my unborn son to be like my daddy, I want my husband to be like my daddy, there is no one else like my daddy."^[9] According to Marc Anthony Neal of the PopMatters, Beyoncé also confidently embraces her womanhood in the song.^[3] In a way, Beyoncé pays tribute to her father through this song.^[7]

Critical reception

Mark Edward Nero of About.com stated that "Daddy" was probably written specifically for the soundtrack album of Daddy's Little Girls and that it may even "play a part in a pivotal scene." Making reference to Knowles long-time relationship with Jay-Z and then recent rumors about them possibly getting married, Nero added that the song might leave several numerous fans wondering what could happen next.^[9] Marc Anthony Neal of the international webzine PopMatters considered "Daddy" to be the "most affecting song on Dangerously in Love."^[3] He went on writing that the song is an extraordinary tribute to her father Mathew Knowles, stating that Knowles "embraces [...] the man that has helped take the kind of artistic leap that Dangerously in Love represents." He ended up by adding that " [...] By the time listeners get to the fifteenth and final track, they will have been so pleasantly surprised and impressed by Beyoncé's performance throughout, that 'Daddy' seems less corny [...]" but it is in this song that she finally accepts the state of being a woman, rather than a girl.^[3]

Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone commented that the album, which starts with "[a] cauldron of energy" on "Crazy in Love" (2003), ends by contrast with "Daddy" which he described as a five-minute tribute to her manager-father, and considered to be "an anthology of vocal and lyrical cliches."^[7] MTV News wrote that "Daddy" is different from the other relationship songs on Dangerously in Love, and added that it has a powerful message.^[4] By contrast, Allison Stewart of The Washington Post called "Daddy" a "creepy bonus track".^[10] Similarly, Spence D., writing for IGN Music stated that "Daddy" is not really worth uncovering, as it follows suit in terms of being "a by-the-books contempo R&B rendition", and he commented that "there is something oddly eerie about an attractive woman such as Beyoncé crooning the words 'I want my husband to be like my Daddy.'"^[8]

References

1. ^ Thread editors. "Beyoncé's debut Album, Dangerously In Love". Thread Magazine. Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080122183145/http://www.thread.co.nz/article/554. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 
2. ^ (2003) Album notes for Dangerously in Love by Beyoncé Knowles [CD]. United States: Sony BMG Entertainement.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Neal, Marc Anthony (July 11, 2003). "Beyoncé: Dangerously in Love". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/b/beyonce-dangerously.shtml. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} Moss, Correy. "Beyoncé: Genuinely In Love - Part 2". MTV News. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/bands/b/beyonce/news_feature_062703/index2.jhtml. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
5. ^ "Daddy - Single Beyoncé". iTunes Store US. Apple Inc.. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/daddy-single/id196799219. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
6. ^ "Daddy's Little Girl (Soundtrack)". Amazon UK. Amazon Inc.. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000LV6W0K. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} DeCurtis, Anthony (July 10, 2003). "Album Reviews: Dangerously in Love". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/7733/38096. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
8. ^ ^{a b} D., Spence (September 3, 2003). "Dangerously In Love - Beyoncé's solo debut is a mixed bag of contemporary R&B". IGN Music. News Corporation. http://music.ign.com/articles/436/436601p2.html. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} Mark Edward Nero. "Review: "Daddy's Little Girls" Soundtrack". About.com. The New York Times Company. http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/fr/DaddysGirls.htm. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
10. ^ Stewart, Allison. "Review: Dangerously in Love". The Washington Post. Katharine Weymouth.: C.05. June 25, 2003. Retrieved on March 1, 2011. (Transcription of original review at talk page)

External links

• Beyoncé Knowles' Official Website