Rather Die Young

Album: 4 (2011)
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Songfacts®:

  • The song finds Beyoncé singing over a Jeff Bhasker-crafted beat of the appeal of bad boys to the good girls. "Boy you'll be the death of me. You're my James Dean," the Texan songstress croons, likening her lover to the 1950's Hollywood actor whom tragically died in a car crash at the age of 24.
  • This features one of New York's most in-demand horn sections, The Superpower Horns, who comprise trumpeters Cole Kamen-Green, Alex Asher and Josiah Woodson, Nick Videen on tenor and alto saxophone and Drew Sayers on tenor and baritone saxophone.
  • The song was co-written by Australian Luke Steele of the indie band The Sleepy Jackson and the pop duo Empire of the Sun.

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