Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.
This week we’ll dial back to 2006’s ‘Ring the Alarm’ – the second single from Beyonce‘s second solo album, ‘B’Day.’
After a string of top 5 singles from her first solo effort, ‘Dangerously in Love,’ the heat was on Beyonce to match or surpass that success with tunes from her follow-up LP, ‘B’Day.’ Yet, while the set’s first single, ‘Deja Vu,’ seemed poised to follow in the footsteps of the releases from ‘Dangerously’ as it quickly peaked at #4 on the Hot 100, it fell from its perch just as quickly.
Bey & team wasted no time responding with the unveiling of a second single – ‘Ring the Alarm’ (which premiered via live performance at the 2006 MTV VMAs the week before ‘B’Day’s release). A fiery anthem calling out disgust for the protagonist’s mistress, many fans and critics alike felt the song’s timely delivery was a direct jab at then up-and-comer Rihanna (who was rumored to be romantically involved with Bey’s then-boyfriend Jay-Z). With the rumor mill hard at work, in addition to her show-stopping performance at the VMAs, ‘Alarm’ was hoisted to a #12 debut on the Hot 100 its first week – her highest premiere placement on the chart to date.
Peaking at #11 the next week (this week in 2006), ‘Alarm’ – despite going on to Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) – became Bey’s first song to miss the top 10 and lowest charting single of her solo career up to that point. Signaling to some the diva was en route for the dreaded sophomore slump, the era was subsequently rescued by the mega-success of the tune ‘Irreplaceable’ and the rest, as they say, is history.
While we celebrate the oft-underrated gem that is ‘Ring the Alarm’ (in relation to the rest of Bey’s prized discography), look below to see who joined her in the top 25 this week 13 years ago:
Hot 100 This Week in 2006
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to see this week’s full ‘TGJ Chart Check.’
Looking at the charts you can see the quality of music was declining.
Was or is cause looking at today’s chart the state of music is in the ?????
Was.
Love these posts with quality content, please keep them coming. I visit this site multiple times per day at work as I am sure many others do 🙂
Back when quality music and talent was appreciated. Now folks rapping about Panini’s and riding horses are breaking records.
This proved that Beyonce was and still is hype and good marketing
FACTS
How did it prove that? Y’all say anything
Personally I think that if she had released this as the first single she would have had bigger success with this album.
Idk I’ve always thought Upgrade U or even Back Up should have been the lead single followed by Irreplaceable.
❤ the whole B-Day album!