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Dj Vu (Beyonc song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Dj Vu
| cover = Beyonc - Deja Vu (single).png
| alt = The picture of a blonde-haired woman. She wears soft makeup and earrings, and a midriff-baring white shirt. Next to her, there are some words: the word "Beyonc" is written in white bolded letters; "Dj Vu" in midnight tone words; and "featuring Jay-Z" in black capital letters. Behind her the sky is appreciated.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Beyonc featuring Jay-Z
| album = B'Day
| released =
| recorded = April 2006
| studio = Sony Music, New York City
| genre = * Funk
* hip hop
* R&B
| length = * 4:00 (album version)
* 3:25 (radio edit)
| label = Columbia
| writer = * Beyonc Knowles
* Rodney Jerkins
* Delisha Thomas
* Makeba
* Keli Nicole Price
* Shawn Carter
| producer = * Darkchild
* 808-Ray
* Beyonc Knowles
| chronology = Beyonc
| prev_title = Check on It
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = Ring the Alarm
| next_year = 2006
| misc =
}}
"'Dj Vu'" is a song by American singer Beyonc, featuring vocals by rapper Jay-Z. It was produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Beyonc for her second solo album, 'B'Day' (2006). "Dj Vu" is an R&B song, which incorporates elements of 1970s funk and soul music. Its music is largely based on live instrumentation, including bass guitar, hi-hat and horns, except the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which is a non-live instrument. The song's title and lyrics refer to a woman being constantly reminded of a past lover.
"Dj Vu" was released as the album's lead single to US radio stations on June 24, 2006. The song received generally mixed critical reviews. Many critics noted the similarities of "Dj Vu" with Beyonc's own 2003 song "Crazy in Love". Critics commended the assertiveness and the sensuality with which Beyonc sings the lyrics and compared her vocal delivery to that of Tina Turner in the late 1980s. "Dj Vu" and its Freemasons club remix version received three nominations at the 2007 Grammy Awards. It was recognized as the Best Song of 2006 at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards.
Commercially, "Dj Vu" peaked at number four on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart. It topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart, the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Dj Vu" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and generally reached the top 20 in Europe. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Sophie Muller. About 5,000 fans petitioned online for a re-shoot of the video, complaining about, amongst other factors, the lack of theme, the wardrobe choice, and the seemingly sexual interactions between Beyonc and Jay-Z.
Background and production
In 2005, American record producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and producer Jon Jon Traxx "came up with the concept of doing an old-school track, a throwback with real bass and horns", to which the song's title is partly attributed. Traxx with Jerkins, first recorded the bass sections, onto which the percussion, horns and vocals were layered. Production took place in Jerkins' New Jersey-based studio, and Sony Music Studios in New York City.
Jerkins recorded a demo version of the song with vocals by American songwriter Makeba Riddick, who is credited as co-writer. They presented the demo to Beyonc, who later approved of it. "Dj Vu" also has lyrical contributions from songwriters Delisha Thomas and Keli Nicole Price, and Beyonc's husband (then-boyfriend) Jay-Z. He became involved at a late stage, when Beyonc saw him trying to sing along to a recorded version of the track, and asked him to contribute. Jay-Z recorded rap verses for the song and hence appears as a featured guest.
Concerning the production of "Dj Vu", Beyonc told MTV News':
When I recorded 'Deja Vu' ... I knew that even before I started working on my album, I wanted to add live instruments to all of my songs. It's such a balance [of music on the song] [...] It's still young, still new and fresh, but it has the old soul groove. The energy is incredible. It's the summer anthem, I pray. I feel it. Rodney Jerkins is incredible, Jay of course is on it, he blessed the song, I'm happy with it.
Music and lyrics
"Dj Vu" is a contemporary R&B song, performed in a moderate hip hop groove. It is also influenced by late-1970s funk music, and it contains elements of soul music as well as dance-pop music. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is composed in the key of G minor with a time signature in common time, and a moderate groove of 106 beats per minute. Beyonc's vocals range from the note of D4 to F5. The music is largely based on live instrumentation, including a bass guitar, conga, hi-hat, and horns. A non-live instrument, the Roland TR-808 drum machine, provides the song's heavy and energetic disco beat. Spence D. of IGN Music commented that Beyonc's vocals on the song are "silky smooth" and that her vocal range leans toward the high end, hence contrasting to the song's low-end construction. Mike Joseph of PopMatters noted that "Dj Vu" is reminiscent of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" (1980).
The title refers to the 'dj vu' phenomenon. The lyrics to "Dj Vu" follow the versepre-choruschorus pattern, and feature two rap verses. It is hook-laden, similar in this respect to "Crazy in Love". The lyrics detail a woman being constantly reminded of a past lover, shown in the lines, "Is it because I'm missing you that I'm having dj vu?" As the song opens, Beyonc introduces the bass, hi-hat and Roland TR-808 by name. The sounds of the instruments blend as they are being mentioned one after the other; the horns are only audible in the pre-chorus and hook sections, and a short section in the second rap. The bass guitar, which is the first instrument to enter, slides into the main two-bar ostinato. Following the repeated bass slides, the hi-hat and the Roland TR-808 begin playing.
After that Beyonc mentions Jay-Z, the bass glides up for a vibrato-rich fill, giving way to the first rap. Backgrounded with a repeating groove, Beyonc starts the first verse. The pre-chorus follows, for which the bass changes to a more melodic tone "to play something more singing", in the words of Jon Jon Webb, the bass player on the track. The melody returns to the main groove during the repeated hook. This pattern repeats and leads to the second rap verse. The third pre-chorus "comes from Jerkins' idea to have the part changes on top, with Webb's main groove on the bottom". It is followed by the main pre-chorus, then the hook is repeated four times. After that, the singing stops and the instruments fill in the space of the pre-chorus. The hi-hat and Roland TR-808 also stop; the song ends with the plucked bass and blasts of horns from the very first line of the chorus.
Release
"Dj Vu" was leaked to the internet on June 13, 2006. On June 24, 2006, it was released to radio stations in the United States, four weeks after Beyonc informed Columbia, her record label, that 'B'Day' was completed. Over one month later, it was released to physical formats; the track was released as a CD single on July 31, 2006, in the United States. An enhanced CD was released on September 12, containing five tracks and an additional "Dj Vu" multimedia track. In the United Kingdom, the digital download became available on August 15, 2006.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121111073913/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/id175554708 "iTunes Store Beyonc Dj Vu single"]. iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011. A CD maxi and a 12-inch single were released on August 21, 2006. Beyonc's manager approached English production team Freemasons to remix "Dj Vu" after hearing a remix they made for a song by singer Heather Headley. A club-oriented version was produced and appeared on a "Green Light" Freemasons EP, released on July 31, 2007. A maxi single, featuring the album version of the track and Freemasons club mix, was released on August 5, 2006, in European countries.[https://itunes.apple.com/be/album/deja-vu-feat-jay-z-ep/id176071925 "iTunes Store Beyonc Dj Vu EP"]. iTunes Store (Belgium). Apple Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011. The UK hits compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 65, released in 2006, features an alternative version of the single, omitting Jay-Z's parts and running to 3 minutes and 25 seconds.
Critical reception
"Dj Vu" debuted to mixed and positive reviews among critics. Mike Joseph of the international webzine PopMatters
Several other music critics have compared "Dj Vu" to Beyonc's 2003 single, "Crazy in Love", the lead single of her debut album. According to Gail Mitchell of 'Billboard' magazine, the song is viewed by many as a sequel to "Crazy in Love". Jason King of the 'Vibe' magazine deemed the song as "cloned from the DNA of the raucous 'Crazy in Love'" while Thomas Inskeep of 'Stylus' Magazine referred to it as "'Crazy in Love' lite". Some reviewers, however, were negative to the parallels drawn between the two songs. Andy Kellman of AllMusic, an online music database, wrote that "['Dj Vu'] "had the audacity to not be as monstrous as 'Crazy in Love'", referring to the commercial success the latter experienced in 2003. The internet-based publication 'Pitchfork's writer Ryan Dombal claimed that "this time [Beyonc] out-bolds the beat".
Sasha Frere-Jones of 'The New Yorker' deemed the lyrics as a "perplexing view of memory", while Chris Richards of 'The Washington Post' characterized Beyonc as a "love-dazed girlfriend" in the song. Jody Rosen of the 'Entertainment Weekly' referred to "Dj Vu" as an "oddly flat" choice as a lead single. Jaime Gill of Yahoo! Music regarded "Dj Vu" as a good choice for a single but concluded that it does lack "the kind of killer chorus" to suggest that Beyonc would take one further step "to outright global domination". On the other hand, Jon Pareles of 'The New York Times' wrote that Jay-Z shows up "as calmly boastful as ever" in the song but he only makes Beyonc's "sound more insecure". Kelefa Sanneh of the same publication noted that "the refrain doesn't give Beyonc a chance really to show off" and further described the song as a "fair-to-middling single from a singer who is the opposite of desperate".
In 2022, 'Rolling Stone' named the track the best song of Beyonc's entire career.
Accolades
"Dj Vu" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best R&B Song while the Freemasons club remix version was nominated for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 2007 Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Collaboration alongside Beyonc's other song "Upgrade U" featuring Jay-Z, at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards. "Dj Vu" won Best Song at the 2006 MOBO Awards in the UK. The following year, it also received two nominations for the Best R&B/Urban Dance Track and Best Pop Dance Track at the 22nd Annual International Dance Music Awards in 2007. The writers of 'Rap-Up' magazine put the song at number ten on their list of the ten best singles of 2006. In 2013, John Boone and Jennifer Cady of E! Online placed the song at number six on their list of ten best Beyonc's songs. In a 2013 list of Jay-Z's 20 Biggest 'Billboard' Hits, "Dj Vu" was ranked at number 19.
Commercial performance
"Dj Vu" debuted on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart at number 44, less than a month before its physical release. After the release of the digital and physical components, the song sold 75,000 downloads in its first week. It eventually peaked at number four on the Hot 100 chart. The track's Freemasons/M. Joshua remix topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, while the album version peaked at number 18 on the same component chart. "Dj Vu" also reached the top spot of the Hot Dance Singles Sales and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, number nine on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart, and number 14 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart.
"Dj Vu" reached the top 10 in eight European countries. Having sold 29,365 units on its first week, the single made its debut at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming both Beyonc and Jay-Z's second number-one single in the UK. The single reached the top five in Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland and entered the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, and Germany. In Oceania, "Dj Vu" peaked on the Australian Singles Chart at number 12, and on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number 15. "Dj Vu" emerged as the 98th best-selling single in Australia in 2006.
Music video
Background and synopsis
The music video for "Dj Vu" was filmed by British director Sophie Muller in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 21, 2006, with parts of the video shot at the Maple Leaf Bar and the Oak Alley Plantation in Carrollton, Louisiana and Vacherie, Louisiana respectively. The footage features couture-inspired outfits, vigorous footwork and sexually-themed routines. The video simultaneously premiered on July 12, 2006, on MTV's show 'TRL', and Overdrive, MTV's online video channel. It reached the top spot on the 'TRL', Yahoo!, and MTV countdowns. The "Deja Vu" video topped the UK TV airplay chart in late July 2006.The video begins with showing Beyonc against a green wall and Jay-Z sitting on a chair inside a dark room. Beyonc and Jay-Z then start to simultaneously play imaginary instruments, mimicking the song's tune. Scenes of Beyonc are then shown in several different rooms wearing different outfits. As the chorus begins, she is shown running around and dancing out in a large sugarcane field. At the end of the chorus, she dances in a red dress in front of a pond and in a large red dress out in front of a mansion. When Jay-Z's verse begins, the two are shown alone inside a room, Beyonc is now barefoot and bare-legged, she dances seductively around Jay-Z, and leads to the controversial oral sex scene. Beyonc is then shown wearing a green skirt and bedazzled bra while dancing Mbalax (a Senegalese & Gambian dance) around in sand. As the song progresses, she is shown dancing alone in a dark forest wearing a sparkling black dress as fireflies circle around her head. The song ends with Beyonc leaning back in a pose as fireflies race away.
Reception
Reactions to the video were mixed. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented it is "more thematic and thought provoking than the videos for 'Baby Boy' and 'Naughty Girl'", Beyonc's songs from her debut album, 'Dangerously in Love'. Allhiphop's Eb Haynes described the video "visually fresh" and "couture motivated". A news article published by 'Hindustan Times' reported that a particular scene in the video is suggestive of oral sex. Natalie Y. Moore of 'In These Times' magazine echoed the latter's commentary, writing that the video showcases Beyonc "strutting her sexuality", and that in Jay-Z's scenes it "looks as if any minute now she'll give him fellatio". The video later appeared on a list of Yahoo! Music News' Worst Videos of All Time, which pointed to the negative fan reaction and stated, "It's probably the least horrific video listed ... but as far as Beyonc videos go, it 'is' [sic] a stinker."According to an MTV News staff report, as of July 2006, more than two thousand people had signed an online petition addressed to Beyonc's record label, Columbia, demanding a reshoot for the video. By the end of August 2006, 5000 additional fans had signed it. The petition requested the clip to be taped again because it was considered to be "an underwhelming representation of the talent and quality of previous music-video projects of Ms. Beyonc". Included in the laundry list of offenses were "a lack of theme, dizzying editing, over-the-top wardrobe choices, and unacceptable interactions" between Beyonc and her now-husband, Jay-Z. Beyonc's dance moves were also called into question by the petition, qualifying them as "erratic, confusing and alarming at times". Additionally, fans complained about the sexual theme depicted in the video, describing that some scenes as "unacceptable interactions [between Beyonc and Jay-Z]" while also complaining of a "non-existent sexual chemistry" between the two. The music video was awarded Best Video at the 2006 MOBO Awards. It also received two nominations for Sexiest Video and Best Hook-Up at the 2007 MTV Australia Video Music Awards.
Live performances
, 2007|alt=A brunette woman with dark skin wears an orange dress. She holds a microphone and she performs a song on a stage.
"Dj Vu" was performed by Beyonc at the 2006 BET Awards on June 27 at the Shrine Auditorium. The show was opened with a performance of the song and Jay-Z joined Beyonc onstage during the second half of the song. William Keck of 'USA Today' commented that Beyonc "sizzled in a revealing silver ensemble" as she performed the song. She also performed "Dj Vu" at the Fashion Rocks on September 8, 2006. According to Farrah Weinstein of MTV News, Beyonc's performance of the song was billed as a tribute to Josephine Baker, and both her stage set and outfit were in homage to the singer and dancer. The set was designed like an old cabaret club, complete with male dancers bearing saxophones, and both Beyonc and her female dancers wore Baker's trademark mini-hula skirt embellished with fake bananas. She performed the song on the American morning news and talk show, 'Good Morning America' during an episode which aired on September 8, 2006. Beyonc also performed the song at 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on September 9, 2006, and at 'The Tyra Banks Show' on September 15, 2006. At the 2006 World Music Awards on November 15, 2006, Beyonc opened the show with a performance of "Dj Vu".
In addition to her live performances of "Dj Vu" in awards ceremonies and televised shows, the song was included on the set list for her tours The Beyonc Experience and I Am... World Tour. During Beyonc's performance of "Dj Vu" at a concert in Toronto on August 25, 2007, she had a wardrobe malfunction as her dress flew over her head and was speculated to reveal her breast. However, a spokesperson for the singer denied speculations saying, "She's wearing a flesh-tone bra! Do you really think Beyonc would go onstage like that?". The video which was uploaded to YouTube went viral.Sources about the wardrobe malfunction during the concert in Toronto, Canada on August 25:
*
*
* Ann Powers of 'Los Angeles Times' discussed about the malfunction, saying: "As a pop queen, Beyonc is almost too perfect... [a] 'wardrobe malfunction' in Toronto garnered far more attention than was warranted partly because these mistakes contradicted her fiercely athletic style." During the I Am... World Tour, Beyonc sang part of the first verse a capella after entering the stage before leading into "Crazy in Love". During the revue I Am... Yours which was a part of the tour, Beyonc performed a jazz medley of "Dj Vu", "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and "Bootylicious" and continued with a full version of the first song.(2009) Album notes for 'I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas' by Beyonc Knowles. Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records. Concert performances of "Dj Vu" were included on her live albums 'The Beyonc Experience Live' (2007), 'I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas' (2009) and 'I Am... World Tour' (2010).
Beyonc performed Dj Vu during her 2018 Coachella Performances on April 14 and 21, 2018, with a guest appearance by Jay Z, along with a live orchrestra. It had been more than 8 years since she last performed the song.
Cover versions
On January 31, 2009 Jade Ewen performed the song during the 'Eurovision: Your Country Needs You' show. During the finale of the tenth season of 'American Idol' on May 25, 2011, the lady contestants joined together onstage to perform "Dj Vu" along with a medley of Beyonc's other hit singles.
Track listings
* 'Japanese CD single'
# "Dj Vu" (Album Version) 3:59
* 'Australian, European and US CD single'
# "Dj Vu" (Album Version) 3:58
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Radio Mix) 3:15
* 'US CD maxi single'
# "Dj Vu" (Album Version) 4:00
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Radio Mix) 3:15
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Radio Mix No Rap) 3:15
# "Dj Vu" (Maurice's Nusoul Mix) 6:01
# "Dj Vu" (Maurice's Nusoul Mixshow Mix) 5:58
* 'German CD maxi single'
# "Dj Vu" (Album Version) 3:58
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Radio Mix) 3:15
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Club Mix No Rap) 8:05
# "Dj Vu" (Maurice's Nusoul Mix) 6:01
# "Dj Vu" (Maurice's Nusoul Mixshow Mix) 5:58
# "Dj Vu" (Video) 4:01
* 'US 12-inch vinyl'
# "Dj Vu" (Main Version) 4:00
# "Dj Vu" (Instrumental) 4:00
# "Dj Vu" (Main Version) 4:00
# "Dj Vu" (A Capella) 3:52
* '12-inch vinyl (Club Mixes)'
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Club Mix No Rap) 8:05
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Radio Mix) 3:15
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Club Mix Instrumental) 8:00
# "Dj Vu" (Freemasons Radio Mix Instrumental) 3:15
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the 'B'Day' liner notes.
* Vocals: Beyonc Knowles, Jay-Z (raps)
* Guitar, programming, keyboards, production: Rodney Jerkins
* Bass guitar: Jon Jon
* Brass: Ronald Judge, Allen "Al Geez" Arthur, Aaron "Goody" Goode.
* Recording: Jeff Villanueva, Jim Caruana
** Assisted by: Rob Kinelski, Jun Ishizeki
* Mix engineers: Jason Goldstein, Rodney Jerkins
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Dj Vu"
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format(s)
! scope="col"| Label(s)
! scope="col"|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| June 24, 2006
| Urban contemporary radio
| rowspan="2"|
| align="center"|
|-
| July 25, 2006
| Digital download
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"| Japan
| July 26, 2006
| rowspan="2"| CD
| rowspan="2"| Sony BMG
|
|-
! scope="row"| Australia
| August 7, 2006
|
|-
! scope="row"| United States
| August 15, 2006
|
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"| Germany
| rowspan="2"| August 18, 2006
|
| Sony BMG
|
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom
| Digital download
| RCA
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"| France
| rowspan="2"| August 21, 2006
| CD
| Sony BMG
|
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom
|
| RCA
| align="center"|
|}
See also
* List of number-one dance singles of 2006 (U.S.)
* List of number-one R&B singles of 2006 (U.S.)
* List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 2000s
References
Category:2006 singles
Category:2006 songs
Category:Beyonc songs
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Funk songs
Category:Jay-Z songs
Category:Music video controversies
Category:Music videos directed by Sophie Muller
Category:Song recordings produced by Beyonc
Category:Song recordings produced by Rodney Jerkins
Category:Songs written by Beyonc
Category:Songs written by Jay-Z
Category:Songs written by Makeba Riddick
Category:Songs written by Rodney Jerkins
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
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