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Standing on the Sun

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"Standing on the Sun" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, and was chosen as the promotional single for a Beyoncé x H&M curated swimwear collection in 2013.[1] The released recording featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Mr. Vegas is a remix of the song originally written and recorded for potential inclusion on her 2013 surprise eponymous album, and instead appears on the 2014 Beyonce: Platinum Edition re-package.[2][3] It was described by music publication Stereogum as a "sweeping, satisfying pop song with a slight dancehall undercurrent."[4] Upon release, the remix debuted and peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.[5]

"Standing on the Sun" (remix)
Song by Beyoncé featuring Mr. Vegas
from the album Beyonce: Platinum Edition
ReleasedNovember 24, 2014
Recorded2013
StudioKings Landing (Bridgehampton, New York)
Genre
Length4:33 (remix version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

Background and composition

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“Standing on the Sun” was written by Knowles, Sia Furler, and Greg Kurstin for reported inclusion onto what became her 2013 eponymous fifth album.[6] The “sun” of the track's title is alluded to be the heat between two people.[7] When Knowles was announced as the spokeswoman of the new 2013 H&M summer swimwear campaign, the song was teased as a new promotional single in a similar manner to "Grown Woman", a single connected to her earlier 2013 Pepsi campaign.[8][9] Upon release of the campaign, the original version of the single was lauded as having "number one hit single written all over it" by British radio station Capital Xtra and "an empowering anthem... celebrat[ing] female strength and beauty."[10][11]

Several unofficial versions appeared on various music streaming services at the conclusion of the campaign, before a full leak of the original version was reported by Rolling Stone and several other music publications in June 2013.[12]

On November 4, 2014, a special box-set repackaged edition of Knowles' fifth album was announced, including a remix of "Standing on the Sun" featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Mr. Vegas.[13] The remixed version is credited to original collaborators Knowles, Furler, and Kurstin alongside "Drunk in Love" co-writers Noel Fisher, Andre Eric Proctor, Rasool Diaz, and Brian Soko, Mr. Vegas, "Blow" producer Pharrell Williams, and 80s Jamaican reggae producers Cleveland Browne & Danny Browne.[14]

Reception

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The remix was met with mixed reception, receiving praise for its "summery" sound, acknowledgement that it would not properly fit on the 2013 original track-listing of the album, and slight disappointment for the release of what many publications considered a "diluted" version of the original.[15] Laurie Tuffrey of The Quietus highlighted the song's "808 trills over tropicalia pop" in comparison to the full-Trap record "Bow Down" released several weeks earlier.[16] Alex Kritselis of Bustle called the remix a "triumph", but also opined that the "remix isn't quite as good as the original version."[17] Moises Mendez II of Rolling Stone gave a more nuanced review based on the "darkness" of the original project: He considered the song "breezy... [with a] fun, tropical element", but understood that the "inclu[sion of] something so light on the original version of such a groundbreaking album... might have felt a little out of place", ranking the remix number 70 on the publication's "Beyonce's 70 Best Songs of All-Time" List.[18]

Visual

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90 seconds of the original version were utilized for the H&M campaign commercial in April 2013, directed by noted Swedish music video director Jonas Akurlund, whom Knowles had previously worked with on Lady Gaga collaboration "Telephone", and would direct subsequent visuals for "Haunted" and "Superpower" later in 2013.[19][20] Reportedly an homage to the fusion of the four elements (fire, water, wind and earth), the video was shot "on a glistening beach" in Nassau, Bahamas.[21][19] Vanity Fair described the visual as an "affordably outfitted, tribal tiki dance party."[22]

Live performances

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Knowles performed the song for the first time on May 31, 2013, at her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour concert in Antwerp, Belgium.[23][24] The song was debuted as a "special" surprise for the fans, as the show was rescheduled from the originally-planned May 14 date due to dehydration and exhaustion.[25]

Personnel

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Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Standing on the Sun (Remix)"
Chart (2014) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[26] 150
UK Singles Chart (OCC) 170
UK Hip-Hop and R&B (OCC)[27] 23
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[5] 45

Release history

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"Standing on the Sun" release history
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various July 29, 2013
Tiësto remix Self-released
November 24, 2014 Remix version
[17]

References

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  1. ^ Carreon, Blue. "Beyonce Collaborates With H&M For New Summer Campaign". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  2. ^ O'Neil, Lorena (November 24, 2014). "Listen to Beyonce's New 'Platinum Edition' Album, Now Streaming on Spotify". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Phaneuf, Whitney (April 29, 2014). "Beyonce's 'Standing on the Sun' shines in new high-quality version". Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Beyoncé – "Standing On The Sun"". April 30, 2014. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Beyoncé | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "Final Version of Beyonce's "Standing on the Sun" Should Have Been On Her Album – Listen". Bustle. April 28, 2014. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  7. ^ "Beyonce Teases Smoldering 'Standing on the Sun' in Beach-y Commercial". Spin. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "Beyonce is the new face of H&M". EW.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Harris, Aisha (April 25, 2013). "Is Beyoncé Breaking New Ground by Debuting Her Songs in Commercials?". Slate. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023 – via slate.com.
  10. ^ "Beyoncé - 'Standing On The Sun'". Capital XTRA. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  11. ^ Gentles, Gary (May 22, 2013). "Beyonce – Standing on the Sun - Singersroom.com". Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  12. ^ Coulehan, Erin (June 27, 2013). "Beyonce's 'Standing on the Sun' Leaks". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  13. ^ "New Beyoncé Music Is Just Three Weeks Away". Vanity Fair. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Standing on the Sun Remix (feat. Mr. Vegas)". November 24, 2014. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023 – via open.spotify.com.
  15. ^ "Beyonce's "Standing On The Sun (Mr. Vegas Remix)" Is Here: Listen To The Finished Studio Version". idolator. November 21, 2014.
  16. ^ "The Quietus | News | WATCH: Beyoncé - Standing On The Sun". The Quietus. April 25, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Beyonce's "Standing on the Sun" Is One of the Best Tracks She's Ever Recorded – Listen". Bustle. November 24, 2014. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "'Standing on the Sun (Remix),' feat. Mr. Vegas (2014)". Rolling Stone. July 29, 2022. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Ramirez, Erika (April 25, 2013). "Beyonce Previews New Song, 'Standing On The Sun': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  20. ^ Rosenthal, Jeff (December 16, 2013). "Director Jonas Åkerlund on 'Haunted,' 'Superpower,' and Beyoncé's Many Virtues". Vulture. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  21. ^ "Beyoncé's "Standing on the Sun" H&M Commercial (Behind-the-Scenes)". Hypebeast. April 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  22. ^ "If You Enjoy Experiencing New Beyoncé Songs as Swimwear Commercials, Then the H&M-Sponsored "Standing in the Sun" Is Perfect for You". Vanity Fair. April 25, 2013. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Payne, Chris (June 2, 2013). "Beyonce Premieres New Track 'Standing on the Sun' Live". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  24. ^ "Beyoncé debuts new song "Standing on the Sun"". May 31, 2013.
  25. ^ "Beyonce cancels Belgium show under doctor's orders". Associated Press. May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013 – via ABC News.
  26. ^ "Beyoncé – Standing on the Sun" (in French). Les classement single.
  27. ^ "STANDING ON THE SUN". Official Charts. December 6, 2014. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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