Beyonce - Love On Top

Album 4
Released December 7, 2011
Recorded 2011, MSR Studios
(New York City; New York), Real World Studios
(Box, Wiltshire; UK)
Writer(s) Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash, Shea Taylor
Producer Beyoncé Knowles, Shea Taylor

"Love on Top" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles from her fourth studio album 4 (2011). It was written by Knowles, Terius Nash and Shea Taylor; and production was handled by Knowles and Taylor. Knowles took inspiration from her state of mind while playing Etta James. A throw-back to the 1980s music, the up-tempo R&B song exhibits similar styles of Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and The Jackson 5. While incorporating six key changes, Knowles also adopts her high range when repeating the song's chorus towards the end of the song. She sings about a man who she can always call, even after facing grief and hard work, finally earning his love and respect.

"Love on Top"'s musical composition, as well as Knowles' vocals and versatility, surprised critics. In July 2011, the song charted at number three for three consecutive weeks in South Korea. Knowles also sang "Love on Top" at 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, announcing her pregnancy at the end of her live performance. This caused the upsurge of the song on to several charts worldwide. It appeared at number 75 in the United Kingdom and at number 14 in New Zealand. The song also debuted at number 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the second highest debut of Knowles' career as a solo artist. It has so far peaked at number 20 in Australia and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Mainly inspired by the work of the American band, New Edition, the accompanying music video for "Love on Top" shows Knowles along with five male dancers, performing choreographed moves in a penthouse studio in New York City overlooking the Hudson River towards New Jersey. Critics generally commended the simplicity of the video, the wardrobe changes with every key change, and Knowles' youthful exuberance throughout the clip. The song was part of Knowles' set list for her revue, 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé. Critics commented that the song was even more impressive in person and that going through four key changes towards the last two minutes of the song while performing it live, remains a difficult task.Background

Knowles singing "Love on Top" during the music video, with male back-up dancers in the background.

A preview of the music video for "Love on Top" was shown on the Australian television program, Sunday Night, on October 9, 2011. The visuals showed Knowles in a black leotard, stockings, high-top sneakers, and medal-adorned military cap. Together with her five male dancers, they perform choreographed moves in a penthouse studio overlooking New York City. The preview was inspired to the music video for "If It Isn't Love" by American band New Edition. The full video was initially supposed to be premiered on October 17, 2011 on Australia's Today Show. However, the release date was pushed up and it was released on October 16, 2011 instead. That same day, Knowles posted the following statement regarding the video on her official website:

I am excited to give my Australian fans the World Premiere of 'Love On Top'! Thank you for the amazing response to the song at radio. I have worked very hard on this video, this song is special to me and I had an idea for the video based on some of my favorite male groups. I remember seeing videos from New Edition, The Jackson 5 and the Temptations, bands I love for their beautiful harmonies, and precise choreography and I always wanted to make a video and be part of a boy group myself. It was so much fun. I put my heart and soul into 'Love On Top' and I hope you love it.

After the release of the sneak peak, Michael Bivins of the New Edition told Theybf.com, "When I saw Beyonce on the MTV awards in the sequined jacket this year and with the dancers in R&B group positions, I knew then she was showing love to NE! The video teaser was part two... the classic video 'If It Isn't Love' reference." After the release of the full video, Johnny Gill told S2S magazine that he considers "Love on Top"'s video to be a tribute and that Knowles as well as her backup dancers did a great job of capturing New Edition's essence. In his opinion, that is why "she is one of the greatest living performers." He went on to say, "[The video] was so cool. There's no more Michael Jackson but I think she's a beast to begin with. It's such an honor to have someone who knew, and knows, her history and to be aware of where it all started.

YOUTUBE VIDEO
Love On Top MP3

Love On Top Lyrics
Bring the beat in!

Honey, honey
I can see the stars all the way from here
Can't you see the glow on the window pane?
I can feel the sun whenever you're near
Every time you touch me I just melt away

Now everybody asks me why I'm smiling out from ear to ear (They say love hurts)
But I know (It's gonna take a little work)
Nothing's perfect, but it's worth it after fighting through my tears
And finally you put me first

Baby it's you.
You're the one I love.
You're the one I need.
You're the only one I see.
Come on baby it's you.

You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I can always call.
When I need you make everything stop.
Finally you put my love on top.

Ooh! Come on baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
You put my love on top.
Ooh oooh! Come on baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
My love on top.
My love on top.

Come on baby
I can hear the wind whipping past my face.
As we dance the night away.
Boy your lips taste like a night of champagne.
As I kiss you again, and again, and again and again.

Now everybody asks me why I'm smiling out from ear to ear (They say love hurts)
But I know (It's gonna take a little work)
Nothing's perfect, but it's worth it after fighting through my tears.
And finally you put me first.

Baby it's you.
You're the one I love.
You're the one I need.
You're the only one I see.
Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I can always call.
When I need you make everything stop.
Finally you put my love on top.

Oh! Baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
You put my love on top.
Oh Oh! Come on baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
My love on top.

Baby it's you.
You're the one I love.
You're the one I need.
You're the only thing I see.
Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I can always call.
When I need you baby everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top.

Baby, you're the one I love.
Baby, you're all I need.
You're the only one I see.
Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I can always call.
When I need you everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top

Baby.
'Cause you're the one that I love.
Baby you're the one that I need.
You're the only man I see.
Baby baby it's you.
You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I always call.
When I need you everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top

Baby.
'Cause you're the one that I love.
Baby you're the one that I need.
You're the only one I see.
Baby, baby, it's you.
You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I always call.
When I need you everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top

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Beyonce - Halo

Album I Am... Sasha Fierce
Recorded 2008, Manfield Studios (Los Angeles, California); Germano Studios and Roc The Mic Studios (New York City, New York)
Writer(s) Evan Bogart, Beyonce Knowles, Ryan Tedder
Producer Beyonce Knowles, Ryan Tedder

"Halo" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Included on the I Am... disc, it was intended to give a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Knowles' life, stripped of her make-up and celebrity trappings. Columbia Records released the song, the album's fourth single, to mainstream radio in the United States on January 20, 2009, and to international markets from February 20. Inspired by Ray LaMontagne's 2004 song "Shelter", "Halo" was composed by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart and Knowles. It was conceived by Tedder and Bogart specifically for Knowles, although there was media speculation that it had been intended for Leona Lewis.

"Halo" is an R&B and pop power ballad, the lyrics of which describe a sublime love. It features drum, piano, keyboard, string, synthesizer, and percussion instrumentation. Kelly Clarkson claimed that Tedder reused the musical arrangement in her 2009 song "Already Gone". "Halo" received positive reviews from music critics, who made comparisons with Lewis' 2007 song "Bleeding Love". Its production and Knowles' emotional vocals also received critical praise. "Halo" was nominated for Record of the Year and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards. It won Best Song at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards. "Halo" topped the singles charts of Brazil, Norway and Slovakia, and reached the top five on the singles chart of Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the US. It was certified triple-platinum in Australia, and double-platinum in Spain and the US.

Philip Andelman directed the ballad's accompanying music video, which features American actor Michael Ealy. It portrays a romantic relationship between Knowles' and Ealy's characters. Critics complimented Knowles' looks in the clip. An alternative music video, which shows Ealy's character being chased by police through a forest at night, was posted on the Internet in May 2010. The lyrics to "Halo" were changed for two of Knowles' special live performances: in a tribute to Michael Jackson following his death, and in a tribute to the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The song has been covered by many artists, including Florence and the Machine and Westlife. It was performed on the television show Glee, and was added to the international soundtrack of the Brazilian soap opera India – A Love Story.The accompanying music videos for "Halo" and "Diva" premiered simultaneously on the US iTunes Store on December 23, 2008. Shot in late November 2008 in a SoHo townhouse owned by Knowles, the video was directed by Philip Andelman and features actor Michael Ealy as Knowles' love interest. Ealy was happy to work with Knowles, as he had loved the song immediately after hearing it. This was the second time he was asked to star in a video for a song by Knowles; the first was "Irreplaceable", which he had refused because he did not appreciate its theme and concept. He had advised Knowles: "Call me when you have a hero role."

The video, which Knowles has considered intimate and romantic, begins as she stands against a wall, illuminated by light that passes through a window. In one scene, Knowles' character, dressed in a skin-tight leotard, performs a dance sequence while her love interest looks down at her from a balcony. According to Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly, the dance routines pay homage to the 1983 romantic drama film Flashdance. Knowles and Ealy later stare adoringly at each other as they snuggle on a sofa. During the climax of the video, Knowles is shown underwater, dressed in white, moving slowly upwards. As the chorus begins, she opens her eyes; after Ealy kisses the back of her neck, the pair come face to face in the final scene, in which Knowles lies in bed, with Ealy above her. Jennifer Cady of E! Online wrote that the bright shiny lights in the video "make [Knowles] look like an angel". Alison Maloney of The Sun praised Knowles' "amazing figure". The video was ranked at number 74 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.

An alternate video surfaced online in late May 2010, explaining why Knowles' character was remembering her love interest in the original version. It begins with a view of the night sky and many trees, as Knowles drives a car and Ealy's character is chased by the police through a forest. As the video progresses, she parks her car on the side of the road and scenes from the original version are shown. Police dogs eventually catch Ealy's character and attack him savagely. An open bag reveals stolen money, which is dispersed by the wind. At the end of the video, in the forest, Knowles finds Ealy lying lifelessly on the ground.

YOUTUBE VIDEO
Halo MP3

Halo Lyrics
Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound

I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light

I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again

Feels like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
The risk that I'm takin'
I'm never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Halo, halo

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

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