Today’s From The Vault pick comes courtesy of music’s reigning queen – Beyonce. Mrs Carter’s 2003 single ‘Me, Myself and I’ is this week’s selection.
After the detonation of dynamite duo ‘Crazy In Love’ and ‘Baby Boy’, the pressure was on for Bey to blaze with something equally as epic. Bypassing obvious single choice ‘Naughty Girl’, the singer decided to release a cut that showcased a different side of her solo album debut ‘Dangerously In Love.’
The song was produced by Scott Storch and saw Bey re-engage with Destiny’s Child‘s lyrical mainstay: self-empowerment in the face of philandering men.
Though the track did not top the Billboard Hot 100 like its predecessors, the single was the artist’s fourth consecutive Top 5 after it peaked at #4 in the US. It ascended to #2 on the Hip-Hop/R&B tally and #3 on the Dance Club Songs count. Even if it wasn’t as impactful overseas as ‘Crazy’ and ‘Boy’, the single did manage a #11 peak in both the UK and Australia.
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Johan Renck directed the video, which tells the tale of the song, in reverse. Starting with Knowles sporting a bob walking barefoot in the street, we go back in time to find out what prompted such reactions from her.
An alternative version was released in 2010 with the story told in chronological order and additional footage of Bey performing the track.
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With Mrs Carter, her last two projects have taught us is that she doesn’t make records with radio – or iTunes – on her mind anymore. And, in a way, we appreciate her dedication to being an artist in the truest sense of the term.
Still, we’d be fully on board with an album that had a little bit of everything (see: uptempos with catchy hooks, turn up anthems, and deeper moments ala this) without sacrificing the authenticity established by her most recent projects.
In any case, we’re sure she and her team know exactly how they want to tell the next chapter of her story.
We’ll be ready when she is!