Today, we celebrate another trip around the sun for the reigning Queen of music, Beyonce.
This week’s From The Vault is the much loved, yet much underrated, ‘Ego.’
Written and produced by Blac Elvis and Beyonce herself, it was released as the sixth single from her 2008 double LP, ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce.’ Boasting bravado and attitude aplenty, the track saw Bey embark on the biggest swagger-a-thon… but as she says, she talks like this ‘cause she can back it up.
Gratingly, amidst the omnipresence of preceding offering ‘Single Ladies,’ ‘Ego’ never garnered the chart recognition it deserved in its own right and only peaked at #39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #60 on the Official UK Singles Chart. It was, however, nominated for a GRAMMY. Deservingly.
Directed by creative-extraordinaire Frank Gaston Jr., its black and white visual was reminiscent of the ‘Single Ladies.’ Indeed, the simplistic clip featured Beyonce, wrapped in a figure-hugging leotard, giving her all alongside two equally dynamic dancers.
Today and every day we salute Beyonce. We applaud her sense of risk and dedication, and we praise her ability to always capture the moment.
As we await the visuals for her thrilling latest set, ‘Renaissance,’ we’ll bask in the brilliance of this trip down memory lane; to a time few of us could have predicted just how much more epicness there was to come.
Happiest of birthdays, Queen Bey.