Ave Maria (Beyoncé song)
"Ave Maria" | |
---|---|
Beyoncé | |
from the album I Am... Sasha Fierce | |
Released | November 12, 2008 |
Recorded | 2008 |
Studio | Roc the Mic Studios (New York City, New York) |
Genre | |
Length | 3:42 |
Label | Columbia |
Composer(s) |
|
Lyricist(s) |
|
Producer(s) |
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"Ave Maria" is a song by American singer
Critical reception towards the song was mixed. Many contemporary critics praised its balladry and Beyoncé's vocals while others dubbed it as merely a normal take on the original. Following the release of I Am... Sasha Fierce, "Ave Maria" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 150 on November 29, 2008, based on downloads alone. The song was a part Beyoncé's set list during her I Am... World Tour (2009–10) where she sang it dressed in a wedding dress and veil. "Ave Maria" was subsequently included on her live album, I Am... World Tour (2010). Beyoncé also performed the song as a tribute to Michael Jackson during the 2009 BET Awards.
Writing and inspiration
Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, together under the stage name
[T]he lyric is very much about her. She talks about being surrounded by friends but she's alone: 'How can the silence seem so loud?' and then 'There's only us when the lights go down'. I think that's probably the most personal line on the whole album about her and Jay, because they are very real, and they're very much in love, and it must be pretty tough to have that love when you're incredibly famous.[2]
"Ave Maria" is present on the I Am... disc of the
Composition
"Ave Maria" is a
Critical reception
'Ave Maria'... pour[s] out in rapid succession... a powerful and emotionally stirring ballad with universal resonance; [it] signal[s] progression and maturity for Beyoncé the songwriter." | ||
—David Rive, The Michigan Daily[17]
|
Contemporary music critics received the "Ave Maria" with mixed reception. While some praised Beyoncé's emotion-filled vocals, others stated that her version was merely a normal take on the original. Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle commended the open-hearted emotion and the soft vocals that Beyoncé adopts on "Ave Maria", before adding that it is "a clever riff on the classic aria" and "a unique risk that pays off".[16] Likewise, the Hartford Courant's Eric R. Danton, praised the rework of the classic aria, adding that Beyoncé's lyrics were an "elegant take on the timeless melody".[18] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork commented that Beyoncé's twist on the song is "vocally impeccable, but it reads more like recital fodder rather than a true confessional."[19] Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly wrote that on the I Am disc there were some "lovely ballads" including "Disappear", the "soaring 'Halo' and 'Ave Maria'".[9] Matos Michaelangelo of The A.V. Club wrote that "Beyoncé has a real flair for grandeur" and the "big, wide melodies of 'Halo' and 'Ave Maria' give her enough to work with that."[20] Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune commented that "Ave Maria" offers a "rare moment of comfort" and added that it "come[s] off as delicate as Beyoncé's emotions."[21] Jim Farber of New York Daily News praised the song with its "operatic flourishes... [and] heavenly élan".[22] In another review, he noted that the song was "by far her most melodically sure, and musically diverse, work".[23] USA Today's Elysa Gardner chose "Ave Maria" as one of the songs to download from the album.[24] While reviewing I Am... Sasha Fierce, a critic from People magazine noted that "the classically tinged 'Ave Maria,'... shows even more range [than 'If I Were a Boy']."[14]
Spence D. of
Live performances
"Ave Maria" was a part of the
Following Beyoncé's performance of the ballad at
Beyoncé performed "Ave Maria" in
Cover versions
On May 12, 2012,
Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from I Am... Sasha Fierce liner notes.[1][66]
- Beyoncé Knowles – songwriter, vocals
- Amanda Ghost – songwriter
- Ian Dench – songwriter, guitar
- Makeba Riddick – songwriter
- Mikkel S.Eriksen – songwriter, producer, recorder, other instrumentation
- Tor Erik Hermansen– songwriter, production, other instrumentation
- Mark "Spike" Stent – audio mixing
- Matt Green – audio mixing assistant
- Recorded at Roc the Mic Studios, New York City, New York
- Mixed at Record Plant, Los Angeles, California
Charts
Following the album's digital release, "Ave Maria" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 150 on November 29, 2008.[67][68] It also charted on the Portuguese Ringtone Chart in 2010 at number 16.[69]
Chart (2008–2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Singles Chart[70] | 90 |
France (SNEP)[71] | 160 |
Portuguese Ringtone Chart[69] | 6 |
UK Singles Chart[67] | 150 |
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[72] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[73] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
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External links