Resentment (Beyoncé song)
"Resentment" | |
---|---|
Song by Beyoncé | |
from the album B'Day | |
Released | September 1, 2006 |
Recorded | April 2006 |
Studio |
|
Genre | R&B |
Length | 4:42 |
Label | Columbia |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) |
|
"Resentment" is a song written by Walter W. Millsap III, Candice Nelson and Curtis Mayfield, and originally performed by Victoria Beckham. The song was later recorded with additional lyrics by American singer Beyoncé, who included it on her second studio album B'Day (2006). It is an emotive ballad whose lyrics detail a situation where a woman feels hurt and anger that her man lied and cheated on her.
"Resentment" was originally intended for inclusion for Beckham's unreleased studio album, Come Together, but was eventually included as a bonus feature on the documentary video release The Real Beckhams (2004). American singer Jazmine Sullivan also recorded a rendition of the song in 2004, which remains unreleased.
The original version of the song was composed by Walter W. Millsap III and Candice Nelson and contained the instrumental of Curtis Mayfield's "Think" from the film Superfly in 1972. For her rendition, Beyoncé re-arranged the structure of the song by changing the order of lyrics, adding a chorus and writing new lyrics, also handling the production alongside Millsap III and Nelson.
Beyoncé's version of the song was well received by music critics who praised Beyoncé's powerful vocal performance and vulnerability. It charted at number 11 on the Billboard
Background and composition

"Resentment" was originally written by Walter M. Millsap III and Candice Nelson for Victoria Beckham, who recorded her version of the song in 2003.[3] The track used Curtis Mayfield's 1972 "Think (Instrumental)", from the Super Fly soundtrack.[4] "Resentment" was instead included as a bonus feature on a documentary video release starring Beckham and her husband David, titled The Real Beckhams (2004).[5]
When recording her version of "Resentment" in 2006, Beyoncé contributed additional writing and production, and is credited as a songwriter and producer. During an interview with 4Music, the singer discussed the song: "The song on my new album I am proudest of is probably 'Resentment'. I feel like vocally I've grown, I feel like all the chord changes and the beautiful harmonies and the lyrics is something that I really am proud of".[6]
"Resentment" is a passionate ballad[7] about a gritty, agitated goodbye which adds a "different kind of overwrought drama".[8][9] The track is written in the key of E major.[7] "Resentment" features a slow groove of 70 beats per minute, with Beyoncé's vocals range spanning from the note of F♯3 to E5.[7] It is built around a honeyed sample of Curtis Mayfield's Think.[10] In "Resentment" Beyoncé sings about infidelity and a boyfriend who cheats and lies to her, seen in the lines "I've been crying for too long/ What did you do to me?/ You lied, you lied, you lied."[11] In the song, Beyoncé presents a more vulnerable side of herself, because she shows that she doesn't want her boyfriend to leave her for another woman.[12]
Critical reception
Beyoncé's version of "Resentment" received positive reviews from critics, most of whom noted the soulful vocal stylings used in the song. Gail Mitchell of Billboard stated that Beyoncé "shifts into emotive mode" on this song from "rockier, edgier" sound of album and noted that the track "calls to mind the subtle fervor and passion of the best girl groups of the '60s and '70s".[13] Brian Hiatt from Rolling Stone marked the track as "one of the most arresting moments" on the album and described it as an "anguished, sixties-tinged ballad".[14] Spence Abbott of IGN also noted track as a stand out alongside "Irreplaceable" and observed that "[the] track goes straight for Aretha Franklin-inspired territory, with Beyoncé actually getting gritty and dropping her high octave range down a few pegs to get guttural and downright Old School soulful".[15]
Jon Pareles of
Live performances
During Beyoncé's 2009 Las Vegas revue show, I Am... Yours, she performed the song live for the first time. Before performing the song, the singer described its meaning depth, stating: "How many of you have ever been lied to? I'm sure everyone has —we all have. But this next song is from my last album, B'Day. And I never performed this song before, this is especially for Encore[...] It talks about a relationship after you've been lied to. And you're trying your best to forgive. But it's difficult because you never forget. It's called 'Resentment'."[21] She additionally included the song on the 2009 I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas as the ninth track of the DVD/CD's first disc.[22][23] During a Thanksgiving TV Special, Beyoncé aired I Am... Yours in its entirety which also featured her performance of "Resentment".[24] Nate Chinen of The New York Times said, "There's exactly one human-scale moment in the concert, when she sits at the lip of the stage to sing an acoustic treatment of 'Resentment,' from her album 'B'Day.' And even then she makes it a showstopper."[25]
In May, 2012, Beyoncé performed "Resentment" as a part of her
"Resentment" was performed during Beyoncé and Jay-Z's co-headlining On the Run Tour (2014).[37] During the concert, Beyoncé moved to an island stage in the middle of the stadium, dressed as a bride in white with a floor-length bridal veil and performed the song seated.[38] Video projections of the pair shooting at each other in an abandoned church, dressed in wedding attire followed as images of guns flashed across the screen with the words "this is not real". The footage ended with Beyoncé shooting Jay-Z dead.[39] Kat Bein from the Miami New Times thought that the performance of the song was a "high note" during the concert.[39] She also performed this song on Beyonce and Jay Z's second co-headlining tour On the Run II Tour (2018).
Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from B'Day liner notes.[40]
- Beyoncé Knowles – vocals, production, writing, executive production
- Walter W. Millsap III – production, writing, recording assistance
- Candice Nelson – co-production, writing
- Curtis Mayfield – writing
- Jim Caruana – recording
- Rob Kinelski – recording assistance
- Dave Lopez – recording assistance
- Jason Goldstein – mixing
- Steve Tolle – mixing assistance
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[41] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Sony Music BMG Entertainment. 2006.)
{{cite AV media notes}}
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{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ Beckham, Victoria; Beckham, David. The Real Beckhams. Telstar Records (2004)
- Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on 2011-10-24. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
- ^ "The Real Beckhams [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ Maresca, Rachel (2014-07-01). "Beyonce sparks Jay Z cheating rumors during On the Run Tour, changes lyric to 2006 'Resentment' track about infidelity". Daily News. Daily News, L.P. Archived from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
- ^ a b c "'Resentment' – Beyoncé Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ a b Jones, Steve (2006-09-05). "Beyonce sets a torrid pace on new CD". USA Today. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2006-10-25. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (2006-09-04). "All That Success Is Hard on a Girl (or Sounds That Way)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
- ^ a b Frere-Jones, Sasha (September 25, 2006). "Crazy from Love". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ Nudd, Tim (2006-11-06). "Beyoncé: My Lyrics Aren't About My Life". People. Archived from the original on 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ^ Casseus, Ulrick (2006-09-08). "Beyoncé Celebrates Her Second B-day". Virginia Law Weekly. University of Virginia School of Law. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ^ "Reviews – Spotlight Albums". Billboard. 2007-11-05. Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
- ^ Hiatt, Brian (2006-09-21). "B'day by Beyonce". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- News Corporation. Archived from the originalon 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
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- Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records. Event occurs at 39:56 to 40:43.
- ^ "I Am...Yours. An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas(2CD/1DVD): Beyonce: Music". Amazon. Archived from the original on 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ "Beyoncé set to release 'I Am... Yours An Intimate Performance At Wynn Las Vegas'" (Press release). Beyonceonline.com. Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records. 2009-11-02. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
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- ^ Corner, Lewis (2013-04-16). "Beyoncé begins 'Mrs Carter Show' world tour, no new songs performed". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
- ^ Yuscavage, Chris (2013-04-17). "10 Things You Need To Know About Beyoncé's 'The Mrs. Carter Show' Tour". Vibe. Vibe Media. Archived from the original on 2013-08-14. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
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- ^ a b Bein, Kat (2014-06-26). "Jay Z and Beyonce's On the Run Tour – Sun Life Stadium, Miami". Miami New Times. Voice Media Group. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
- Sony Music BMG Entertainment. 2006.)
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ "American single certifications – Beyoncé – Resentment". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 17, 2024.