Get Me Bodied

Infobox Single
Name = Get Me Bodied


Artist = Beyoncé
Album = B'Day
Released = July 10, 2007 (U.S.)
Format = CD single, 12" single, digital download
Recorded = Sony Music Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre = Hip hop soul
Length = 3:25 (album version)
4:01 (radio edit)
5:59 (original extended mix)
6:18 (deluxe album version)
Label = Columbia
Writer = Swizz Beatz, Angela Beyincé, Sean Garrett, Beyoncé Knowles, Solange Knowles, Makeba Riddick
Producer = Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett, Beyoncé Knowles
Certification =
Last single = "Suga Mama"
(2007)
This single = "Get Me Bodied"
(2007)
Next single = "Amor Gitano"
(2007)

"Get Me Bodied" is a hip hop soul song written by Beyoncé Knowles, Sean Garrett, Solange Knowles, Angela Beyince, Makeba Riddick, and Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean. The track was produced by Swizz Beatz, Beyoncé and Sean Garrett, for Beyoncé's second solo studio album, "B'Day" (2006). She took inspiration from her sister-singer Solange and former Destiny's Child band-mate Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams during the writing process. The song's accompanying music video cites influences from 1960s movements like from The Frug of the musical "Sweet Charity"; it features Solange, Rowland and Williams.

The single was released as the album's eighth single in the United States on July 10, 2007. "Get Me Bodied" reached number sixty-eight on the "Billboard" Hot 100, becoming the album's lowest charting U.S.-released single. Internationally, it appeared in Canada and Portugal singles charts.

The song was positively received by contemporary critics. "Get Me Bodied" was nominated by VH1 Soul VIBE Awards Special for Video of the Year.

Background

During a vacation after six months of filming "Dreamgirls", Beyoncé went to the studio to begin working on her second solo album "B'Day".Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Be All You Can, B. |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/b/beyonce/news_feature_081406/index2.jhtml |work=MTV News |publisher=MTV Networks |date= |accessdate=2008-02-01] Beyoncé revealed: " [When filming ended,] I had so many things bottled up, so many emotions, so many ideas". She contacted American songwriter-producer Sean Garrett, who co-wrote her 2005 hit single "Check on It", and booked him at the Sony Music Studios in New York City.Cite news |last=Conniff |first=Tamara |title=Beyoncé Builds Buzz For 'B-Day' |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002689847 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date=(June 16, 2006) |accessdate=2008-02-01] She also called American hip hop producer-rapper Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean who had co-produced songs for her before. Besides from her sister-singer Solange Knowles, Beyoncé enlisted her cousin Angela Beyince, who had been collaborated on her previous album "Dangerously in Love", and up-and-coming songwriter Makeba Riddick, who became part of the "B'Day" production team after co-writing the album's lead single "Déjà Vu".

When I wrote it, I said "three best friends" because I was thinking about them. They make me laugh so hard, and we are so silly together. Like, we're trying to pretend that we're fierce, but in between takes, we're laughing [uproariously] at our inside jokes.

—Beyoncé Knowles, "Billboard"Cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |title=Beyonce: Behind The B’Day Videos |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/b/beyonce/videos_07/news_feature_040207/index2.jhtml |work=MTV |publisher=MTV Network |date= |accessdate=2008-02-06]

Beyoncé took inspiration from Solange, who helped her writing the song, and former Destiny's Child band-mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. In the song, she mentioned "three best friends" because she was thinking of them while writing.

While working on the lyrics, Swizz Beatz and other producers in the team produced the track. "Get Me Bodied" was produced by Swizz Beatz, Beyoncé and Sean Garrett. It is one of the four songs produced by Swizz Beatz for the album, including "Upgrade U" and "Ring the Alarm", which was produced by the same trio. The song was recorded in the same studio.

Music and structure

"Get Me Bodied" is a moderate R&B and a snappy dance track.Cite web |last= |first= |title= Beyoncé Digital Sheet Music: Get Me Bodied |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/scorch.asp?ppn=SC0034389 |work=Musicnotes |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |date= |accessdate=2007-12-27] Cite web |last=Davis |first=Carolyn E. |title=B-Day: Beyoncé’s back and branching out with a more mature sound |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/node/560 |work=US Magazine |publisher=Us Weekly |date=September 5, 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-27] It is composed in the key of G minor and set in common time. The song includes hand-claps and chants of "hey!" and "yo!" in the background and features vocal gymnastics and Texas twang. It was referred to as a "glorified version" of Gwen Stefani's 2005 pop song "Hollaback Girl".Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Mike |title=Beyoncé: B-Day |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/5216/beyonce-b-day/ |work=Popmatters.com |publisher=PopMatters Media, Inc. and PopMatters Magazine. |date=September 5, 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-27]

The lyrics are constructed in the traditional verse-chorus form. Beyoncé mentions the date of her birthday to 9-4-8-1. A man's voice takes over singing "hey's" and "jump's" for four bar, followed with the first verse. The verses are written like a list where Beyoncé roll calls her missions before going party. It is followed with the chorus, then the second verse. The chorus repeats giving way to the bridge. Beyoncé sings the chorus again, ending the song with "hey!".

Release and reception

"Get Me Bodied" and "Green Light" were planned to be released as the next two single from "B'day", following the lead single "Déjà Vu". Beyoncé aimed the tracks to the international markets; but opted for "Ring the Alarm" as the second single, which charted poorly. [Cite news |last=Concepcion |first=Mariel |title=Beyoncé Rings The Alarm on Vibe.com |url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/08/beyonce_rings_the_alarm_on_vibe_com/ |work=VIBE |publisher=Vibe Media Group, Inc. |date=(August 16, 2006) |accessdate=2008-02-04] Instead, "Get Me Bodied" was released after the album's deluxe edition's "Beautiful Liar" (2007). A two-track CD single was released on July 10, 2007 in the United States containing the radio edit and the extended mix of the song. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Get Me Bodied |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp?tp=singles&pid=317670&aid=984115 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-06] A "Get Me Bodied" (ringle) was released on October 23, 2007. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Get Me Bodied [Ringle] |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp?tp=singles&pid=317670&aid=1089548 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-06]

"Get Me Bodied" received plaudits from the public. Chris Richards of The "The Washington Post" referred to the track a "club-hungry come-ons" with a "dexterous melody". He further stated that the "skeletal" track "keeps Beyonce tethered to the ground". [Cite web |last=Richards |first=Chris |title=Beyonce's 'B'Day' Is Nothing to Celebrate |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/05/AR2006090501475.html |work=The Washington Post Company |publisher=The Washington Post Company |date=September 6, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-06] Jody Rosen of "Entertainment Weekly" commented that "a piddly home hi-fi can hardly capture the thunderous grandeur of "Get Me Bodied," which sets Beyoncé's harmonies above a pummeling track overseen by rap producer Swiss Beatz". [Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Jody |title=B'Day (2006): Beyonce Knowles |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1516025,00.html |work=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. |date=September 1, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-06] Tim Finney of Pitchfork Media called the track a "percussive, Diwali-esque jam". [Cite web |last=Finney |first=Tim |title=Beyoncé: B'Day |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/38328-bday |work=Pitchfork Media |publisher=Pitchfork Media Inc. |date=September 7, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-06] "US Weekly" described "Get Me Bodied" a "snappy dance number" and Bill Lamb of About.com called it a "party track".Cite web |last=Lamb |first=Bill |title=Beyonce - B'Day: Beyonce Steps Several Steps Forward on Her B'Day |url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/beyoncebday.htm |work=About |publisher=About, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-10] Spence D. of IGN complimented Swizz Beatz that he "tossed up a strange click track rhythm that is augmented by 'ayes' and 'yos.'" He was also impressed with Beyoncé that although her "crisp voice seems at odds with the lurching, turgid beats", when it gets muted and overlapped on the chorus it sounds "purely hypnotical". [Cite web |last=D. |first=Spence |title=Beyonce - B'Day |url=http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/730/730624p1.html |work=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |date=September 5, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-06] Mike Joseph of Popmatters was unimpressed with the song calling it a "sparse production". Sasha Frere-jones of "The New Yorker" noted the song sounds anxious. [Cite web |last=Frere-jones |first=Sarah |title=Crazy from Love |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/25/060925gore_GOAT_recordings |work=The New Yorker |publisher=CondéNet |date=September 25, 2006 |accessdate=2008-03-10]

"Get Me Bodied" was nominated at the 2007 VH1 Soul Vibe Awards for VH1 Soul Video of the Year. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyoncé and Jay-Z Lead the Pack of ASCAP Members Nominated for VH1 Soul Vibe Awards |url=http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/vh1soulvibe/2007/nominees.html |work= |publisher=ASCAP |date= |accessdate=2008-02-10] About.com listed the song as one of the top tracks of "B'Day".

Chart performance

"Get Me Bodied" charted poorly in domestic charts. Prior to the release of the single, it debuted on the "Billboard" Hot 100 on May 26, 2007 at number ninety-eight while "Beautiful Liar" and "Irreplaceable" were still charting. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=http://acharts.us/billboard_hot_100/2007/21 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated May 26, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-06] It was lurking below top fifty approaching its physical release. On August 4, 2007, "Get Me Bodied" peaked at number sixty-eight, [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=http://acharts.us/billboard_hot_100/2007/31 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated August 4, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-06] and spent a total of eighteen weeks on Hot 100.Cite web |last= |first= |title="Get Me Bodied" Global Charts and Trajectories |url=http://acharts.us/song/26004 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date= |accessdate=2008-02-06] "Get Me Bodied" reached at number ten on the "Billboard" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and at number eighty-eight on the Pop 100.Cite web |last= |first= |title=Artist Chart History |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=317670&model.vnuAlbumId=1089064 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-06] Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyoncé: Billboard Singles |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BEYONCE&sql=11:axfuxq8jld6e~T51 |work=All Music Guide |publisher=Macrovision Corporation |date= |accessdate=2008-02-06]

Internationally, "Get Me Bodied" received polarized responses. In Portugal, the single debuted at number forty-eight on August 26, 2007. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Portugal Singles Top 50 |url=http://acharts.us/portugal_singles_top_50/2007/35 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated August 26, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-06] It peaked at number forty-five on September 9 and stayed the chart for four weeks. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Portugal Singles Top 50 |url=http://acharts.us/portugal_singles_top_50/2007/37 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated September 9, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-06] In Canada, the single debuted at number two and was its peak position. It charted for a total of eleven weeks.Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyonce Knowles: Get Me Bodied Full Chart History |url=http://top40-charts.com/songs/full.php?sid=20245&sort=chartid |work= |publisher=Top40-charts.com |date= |accessdate=2008-02-06] . In Brazil, the song peaked at 22. "Get Me Bodied" appeared on the World RnB Top 30 Singles at number ten and stayed for four weeks.

Music video

"Get Me Bodied" was one of the videos shot during the two-week filming for "B'Day Anthology Video Album".Cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |title=Beyonce: Behind The B’Day Videos |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/b/beyonce/videos_07/news_feature_040207/index3.jhtml |work=MTV |publisher=MTV Network |date= |accessdate=2008-02-07] The music video was conceptualized by Beyoncé and co-directed by Anthony Mandler.Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyonce Vs. Justin: VMA Dance Off? |url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2007/08/09/beyonce-vs-justin-vma-dance-off/comment-page-1/ |work=MTV Buzzworthy |publisher=MTV Network |date=August 9, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-10] The version used in the video is the extended mix on the Deluxe Edition of "B'Day". The shooting went for two days and choreographed by Rhapsody, Todd Sams, Clifford McGhee and Bethany Strong. For the shoot, Beyoncé asked former Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and sister Solange to appear alongside her in the video. Beyoncé said that it "sets the tone of the video".

Beyoncé's mother and stylist, Tina Knowles created over sixty outfits for Beyoncé and the fifty extras features in the video. The "instructional" dance-oriented video is inspired by the 60s choreographies. Beyoncé cites influences from the legendary Broadway director-choreographer Bob Fosse, Southern and Jamaican movement and the Frug from the musical "Sweet Charity". She said, "It tells you how to do all the dances — it's modern, it's retro, it's vintage, it's stylized, it's all of those things put together." The story moves from a tony party reminiscent of the Jazz Age, followed with dance sequences. The video was posted on the MTV Overdrive on March 28, 2007.

A re-edit of the video was produced for the Timbaland remix featuring Voltio. Although Voltio does not actually appear in the video, unused footages of the original video were replaced during his parts, instead. The re-edited video was posted on the MTV Overdrive on July 26, 2007.

Formats and tracklisting

CD Single
# "Radio Edit" – 4:01
# "Extended Mix" – 6:19

CD Single
# "Extended Mix" – 6:21
# "Timbaland Remix (feat. Voltio)" – 6:17
# "Timbaland Remix (feat. Fabolous)" – 4:50

Chart

References