Summertime (Beyoncé song)

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"Summertime"
The 12" vinyl cover of "Summertime". It only consists of an orange cover, and a label at the right corner, in which is written "Summertime by Beyoncé featuring P. Diddy. Also includes remix featuring Ghostface Killah".
Single by Beyoncé featuring P. Diddy
from the album The Fighting Temptations (Music From The Motion Picture)
A-side"Crazy in Love"
ReleasedOctober 28, 2003
GenreR&B
Length3:54
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Winans
  • P. Diddy
Beyoncé singles chronology
"Me, Myself and I"
(2003)
"Summertime"
(2003)
"Naughty Girl"
(2004)
P. Diddy
singles chronology
"Shake Ya Tailfeather"
(2003)
"Summertime"
(2003)
"Show Me Your Soul"
(2003)
Audio video
"Summertime" on
YouTube

"Summertime" is a song recorded by American singer

12-inch vinyl single in the United States through Columbia Records
.

"Summertime" is an R&B song which lyrically refers to falling in love. Music critics generally complimented Beyoncé's vocals in the song and noted that it could have been included on her debut studio album, Dangerously in Love (2003). The song also charted on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in late 2003. The original version featuring P. Diddy and the remix version featuring Ghostface Killah peaked at number thirty-five and at number fifty-one respectively on the chart. Both versions charted for forty consecutive weeks. "Summertime" was part of Beyoncé's set list during the Dangerously in Love Tour (2003), and the Verizon Ladies First Tour (2004).

Background and composition

The song has two different themes. It primarily talks about the romance and later marriage between the film's two main characters Darrin (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Lilly (played by Beyoncé), as well as subtly hinting at Beyoncé's real-life relationship with rapper Jay-Z.[1] Darrin, a shallow New York advertising executive, traveled to a small town in the deep south upon receiving word that his aunt has died and left him a sizable inheritance. Once in town, Darrin is informed that he will only receive the money if he successfully leads a local gospel group to victory at an upcoming competition.[1] Reluctant but strapped for cash, Darrin takes on the task of finding the best singers in town and shaping the group up. Along the way, he becomes acclimated to the town with the help of his cousin Lucius (played by Mike Epps) and meets Lilly, a single mother who not only possesses an incredible voice but also the ability to warm Darrin's cold heart.[1] Although Gooding's character, Darrin, was in love with Beyoncé's character, Lilly, the latter did not always feel the same until later on in the film.[1] Near the end of the film, he proposes to her and she accepts. They eventually get married (offscreen) and within eighteen months they had a baby son together, making Darrin a father and also stepfather to Lilly's other son.[1]

"Summertime" was the only song which appeared on the

Allmusic describes "Summertime" as an R&B "sweet love song" with lush sampled strings and acoustic guitars.[5][6] The lyrics of the song do not reveal the film's plot, but they do tell that it has been a year since Darrin and Lilly met and they have gotten closer which could possibly be referring to their marriage.[1] According to Dani Boobyer of the UK-based website The Situation, its lyrics make reference to "failing in love in the summer sun."[5]

Release

P. Diddy (left) features on the original version of the song, while Ghostface Killah (right) features on a remixed version.

During a string of soundtrack releases, Beyoncé commented on the song in an interview with Billboard and stated: "A lot of music was written especially for the film. At first I was concerned about the timing of the soundtrack, [because] my solo album was supposed to come out way before the movie. But then the solo album got delayed."[7] While later announcing the release of the soundtrack album in a press release, Beyoncé said: "Once you hear the song ['Fighting Temptation'], and all the music in this film, you can't help but fall in love with it. You'll definitely get emotional. You might become happy or even sad, but your heart will get full. All the songs are touching and spiritual, and that's what the movie itself is like."[2]

"Summertime" was issued as a

12" vinyl single in the United States by Columbia Records on October 28, 2003,[8][9] and was later serviced to radio by the label.[10] The original version of the song also served as the B-side to Beyoncé's debut solo lead single "Crazy in Love" (2003) in the UK[11] and Australia.[6] "Summertime" was additionally included on Beyoncé's 2005 mixtape Speak My Mind.[12] The song was later referenced in Rochelle Alers's short story "Summer Madness", from the anthology Four Degrees of Heat (2004–07).[13]

Reception

In a summer issue of

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as a twenty five-song extension to the Billboard Hot 100.[17] Q Magazine ranked it as the 999th greatest song ever.[18]

Live performances

Although Beyoncé did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list on her tours. During the

CD titled Live at Wembley.[20][22] "Summertime" serves as the twelfth track of the live DVD.[20][23] A performance of the remix of the song was included on the Jay-Z documentary Fade to Black (2004), which features Beyoncé performing with Ghostface Killah.[24]

Track listing

US 12" vinyl single[8]
No.TitleLength
1."Summertime" (featuring P. Diddy) (Album Version)3:53
2."Summertime" (Album Version Instrumental)3:34
3."Summertime" (featuring P.Diddy) (A Capella)2:59
4."Summertime" (featuring Ghostface Killah) (Remix)4:04
5."Summertime" (Remix Instrumental)3:34
6."Summertime" (featuring Ghostface Killah) (A Capella)3:08

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Summertime"
Chart (2003) Peak
position
US
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17]

Remix
8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 35
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25]
Remix
51

References

  1. ^
    Rovi Corporation
    . Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  2. ^ . Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  3. Allmusic
    . Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  4. ^ The Fighting Temptations (Media notes). Columbia Records. 2003.
  5. ^ a b c Boobyer, Dani (September 9, 2003). "The Fighting Temptations : Soundtrack". The Situation (UK). Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d Sendra, Tim. "Review: Crazy in Love (Australia CD) – Beyoncé". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Beyoncé Tempts Fans With More Movie Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 11, 2003. p. 20. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Summertime US 12" Vinyl". EIL. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  9. ^ "Summertime – Beyoncé". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  10. ^ "Beyoncé Barrels Ahead On Next Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  11. ^ "Beyoncé – Crazy in Love – EP". iTunes Store (UK). Apple. 30 June 2003. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  12. ^ "Speak My Mind – Beyoncé". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  13. . Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Vibe Raters – Check Out The Staff's Summer Playlist". Vibe. InterMedia Partners. July 31, 2005. p. 26. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  15. ^ "Beyoncé – Live at Wembley (DVD with Bonus CD) (Jewel Case): Beyoncé: Movies & TV". Amazon. 27 April 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c "Beyoncé Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles – Issue Date: October 11, 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. September 29, 2007. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  18. ^ "Rocklist.net... Q - 1001 Best Ever Songs..." www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  19. ^
    Viacom Media Networks
    . Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c "Live at Wembley – Beyoncé". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  21. ^ "Beyoncé Summertime". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  22. ^ "Sony Music Online Japan : ビヨンセ : ライヴ・アット・ウェンブリー(初回仕様限定盤)" (in Japanese). Sony Music (Japan). Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  23. ^ "Sony Music Online Japan : ビヨンセ" (in Japanese). Sony Music (Japan). Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  24. ^ Deming, Mark. "Fade to Black". Allmovie. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  25. ^ a b "Beyonce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2022.

External links