Energy

Album: Renaissance (2022)
Charted: 27
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Beyoncé flexes about the big energy she creates when she walks into the room. Jamaican-American singer-rapper Beam contributes the hook around the same theme, giving it a dancehall feel.
  • Beam also lent additional vocals on the Renaissance tracks "Heated" and "Cuff It," but "Energy" is the only song where he's credited as an official featured vocalist.
  • Beyoncé interpolates Teena Marie's 1988 single "Ooo La La La" in the second verse. She used the same interpolation on the previous Renaissance track, "Cuff It."

    At the end, "Energy" also samples the "Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka" from Big Freedia's 2014 song "Explode." It provides a smooth transition to the next track on Renaissance, the Big Freedia-sampling "Break My Soul."
  • "Energy" originally interpolated the "la la la la" refrain from Kelis' 2003 single "Milkshake." Though Kelis co-wrote the song with Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, Beyoncé only credited Williams and Hugo. Kelis reacted with a fiery Instagram where she criticized both Bey and the Neptunes for not contacting her about the sample. In response, Beyoncé removed the vocal interpolation of "Milkshake" from the song on streaming services.
  • Beyonce and Beam co-wrote "Energy" with The-Dream, Jordan Douglas, Tizita Makuria and the track's producers Skrillex, Al Cres and Nova Wav.

    "Energy" marks Beyoncé's first collaboration with Skrillex. The Los Angeles electronic producer enjoyed success in the early 2010s with his own releases such as "Bangarang" and "Where Are U Now" before producing hits for the likes of Justin Bieber ("Sorry") and The Weeknd ("Wasted Times").

    Songwriter Jordan Douglas is a frequent collaborator with both Skrillex (Skrillex and Justin Bieber's "Don't Go") and Beam (Justin Bieber and Beam's "Freedom").
  • At 1:56, "Energy" is part interlude, part song. It is the shortest track on Renaissance.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."