Resentment (song)

"Resentment"
Song by Victoria Beckham from the album Come Together
Recorded September 2003
Genre Soul Soft rock
Length 3:20
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Walter W. Millsap III
  • Candice Nelson

"Resentment" is a song written by Walter W. Millsap III, Candice Nelson and Curtis Mayfield and originally performed by Victoria Beckham. 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" along with several other songs were meant to be on Beckham's third solo-album, Come Together, which was later shelved, leading the song to be included on the documentary DVD titled The Real Beckhams (2004). American recording artist Jazmine Sullivan had re-recorded the song in 2005 for her unreleased original debut Break My Little Heart. Beyoncé's version of the song was included on her second studio album B'Day (2006) and featured additional lyrics composed by the singer herself.

Background and development

Victoria Beckham worked with Walter M. Millsap III and Candice Nelson on "Resentment" in 2004.

On August 14, 2000, Victoria Beckham released her first solo single, "Out of Your Mind" in collaboration with Dane Bowers and Truesteppers.[1] Beckham then signed a recording contract with her group label Virgin Records.[2] Her eponymous debut album was released on October 1, 2001.[3] The album cost a reputed £5 million to produce and it sold a modest 50,000 copies.[4] In 2002, Telstar Records signed Beckham in a deal made with 19 Management worth £1.5 million.[2][4] Beckham spent much of that year recording her second, and more pop-influenced album called Open Your Eyes, which yielded the single "Let Your Head Go", but instead of pop, Beckham wanted a more urban sound for her third album, Come Together, which lead her to working with urban producer Damon Dash for a more rhythm and blues and hip hop influence.[5][6][4][7]

She then worked with Walter M. Millsap III and Candice Nelson on a soul track titled "Resentment"; recording sessions occurred in 2004.[8][9] The track used Curtis Mayfield's 1972 "Think (Instrumental)", from the Super Fly soundtrack.[10] "Resentment" was first included on a documentary of Victoria and David Beckham, titled The Real Beckhams (2004).[11] The DVD captures the family as they move to Spain, and features Victoria Beckham launching her newest singles to date, and recording additional songs including "Resentment".[11] United Kingdom daily national tabloid newspaper, The Sun, noted Victoria Beckham's multiple songs about a possible affair and read into the "poignant lyrics" as a stab at her husband David Beckham.[12] "Resentment" along with "Valentine" and "Just Me And You This Time" were meant to be on Beckham's third solo-album Come Together, which was later shelved, forcing the song to be included on the documentary DVD.[12]

Beyoncé version

"Resentment"
Song by Beyoncé from the album B'Day
Recorded 2006
Genre
Length 4:42
Label Columbia Records
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Millsap
  • Nelson
  • Knowles

American R&B recording artist Beyoncé recorded "Resentment" for her second studio album, B'Day (2006). She covered the original song by Beckham with slightly modified lyrics. It was composed by Walter W. Millsap III and Candice Nelson. This version contained the instrumental of Curtis Mayfield's "Think" from the film Superfly in 1972.

The cover was well received by music critics who praised Beyoncé's powerful vocal performance and vulnerability. It charted at number 11 on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles based on downloads alone. She performed the song during her revue shows I Am... Yours (2009) and Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live (2012). It was additionally included the 2009 DVD/CD I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas as the ninth track.

Background and composition

The version of "Resentment" on B'Day contained writing and production credits for Beyoncé along with the team who worked on the original version of the song. During an interview with 4Music, the singer talked about the song, saying, "The song on my new album [B'Day] 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".[13]

"Resentment" is a passionate ballad[14] about a gritty, agitated goodbye which adds a "different kind of overwrought drama".[15][16] The track is written in the key of E major.[14] "Resentment" features a slow groove of 70 beats per minute, with Beyoncé's vocals range spanning from the note of F3 to E5.[14] It is built around a honeyed sample from Curtis Mayfield's [Think] (1972) album: "How could you lie?".[17] 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."[18] 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.[19]

Reception

Critics praised Beyoncé's vocals and emotions in "Resentment".

Beyoncé's version of "Resentment" received positive reviews from critics, most of whom noted the soulful vocal stylings used in the song. Bill Lamb of About.com complimented the song as one of the album highlights and described it as "gospel-influenced" and "emotion filled" song.[20] A writer of Billboard magazine 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".[21] 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".[22] 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".[23] Jon Pareles of The New York Times stated that the "agitated goodbye" builds a different kind of overwrought drama.[16] Steve Jones of USA Today the song showcases Beyoncé's "maturing vocal chops," describing the song as spare and gritty.[15] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine noted that the song would have been better if performed by a trio of "talented" vocalists, such as Destiny's Child, rather than Beyoncé by herself.[24] Houston Chronicle's Joey Guerra felt that "Doubters of Beyoncé's immense talent need only give one listen to this track ['Resentment'] from 2006's B'Day. It's a stunner — a visceral, emotional showcase that casts Beyoncé as a scorned, sorrowful woman. You can almost feel the pain in her delivery."[25] According to a writer of Irish Independent, the song gives a more soulful feel to B'Day.[26] Jim Farber of Daily News called "Resentment" an "old-school soul shouter".[27] Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker described the song as a "fierce ballad".[17] "Resentment" peaked at number 11 on the US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[28]

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'."[29] 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.[30][31] During a Thanksgiving TV Special, Beyoncé aired I Am... Yours in its entirety which also featured her performance of "Resentment".[32] 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."[33]

In May, 2012, Beyoncé performed "Resentment" as a part of her revue show Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States' entertainment resort, hotel, casino and spa, Revel.[34][35] She announced it as her "favorite song" and according to Georgette Cline of The Boombox, "fans could feel the pangs of her once-broken heart on 'Resentment,' as she cooed of a lying lover who deceived her".[36] Ben Ratliff of The New York Times mentioned "Resentment" in the "almost continuous high point" of the concert.[37] A writer of the Associated Press, noted that Beyoncé "held back tears during a rousing rendition" of the song.[38] According to Chuck Darrow of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the acoustic performance of the ballad, "proved a nice respite from the relentless thump-thump-thump of the many dance-pop numbers".[39] Tris McCall from The Star-Ledger wrote that Beyoncé brought the song to life further describing the performance as a "full-scale psychological portrait in three and a half minutes".[40] The live performance of the song during the concerts at Revel was used in Beyoncé's HBO documentary film, Life Is But a Dream (2013).[41] Only one shot was used to film it for five minutes.[42] Aaron Parsley from People magazine commented that the rendition of "Resentment" was "grittier and angrier" than the previous performances of the song.[43] The song was also included on the set list of Beyoncé's The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013), during several opening shows of the first leg where she performed it on a B-stage.[44][45]

"Resentment" was performed during Beyoncé and Jay-Z's co-headlining On the Run Tour (2014).[46] 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.[47] 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.[48] Kat Bein from the Miami New Times thought that the performance of the song was a "high note" during the concert.[48]

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from B'Day liner notes.[49]

Other versions

Following Beyoncé's cover of the song, American recording artist Jazmine Sullivan covered the song in 2006 prior to her official debut Fearless (2008).[50]

References

  1. "Just an ordinary couple?". BBC News. BBC. 2002-11-02. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  2. 1 2 Barbara, Ellen (2003-11-02). "Watch this Spice". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  3. "Double chart triumph for Kylie". BBC News. BBC. 2001-10-22. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  4. 1 2 3 "Beckham producer slights her talent". BBC News. BBC. 2003-09-23. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  5. "Victoria Beckham's scrapped album leaked". Female First. 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  6. Regan, Susanna (2006-09-08). "Beckham angry about album leak". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  7. "Beckham misses out on number one". BBC News. BBC. 2005-01-04. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  8. Guerra, Joey (2007-08-02). "Posh adds extra spice to Beckhamania scene". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  9. Beckham, Victoria; Beckham, David. The Real Beckhams. Telstar Records (2004)
  10. Kellman, Andy. "B'Day >> Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  11. 1 2 "The Real Beckhams [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV". Amazon.com. (UK) Amazon Inc. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  12. 1 2 "Posh song about affair". The Sun. News International. 2004-04-16. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  13. 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. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
  14. 1 2 3 "'Resentment' - Beyoncé Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  15. 1 2 Jones, Steve (2006-09-05). "Beyonce sets a torrid pace on new CD". USA Today. Gannett Company. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  16. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (2006-09-04). "All That Success Is Hard on a Girl (or Sounds That Way)". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  17. 1 2 Frere-Jones, Sasha (September 25, 2006). "Crazy from Love". The New Yorker. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  18. Nudd, Tim (2006-11-06). "Beyoncé: My Lyrics Aren't About My Life". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  19. Casseus, Ulrick (2006-09-08). "Beyoncé Celebrates Her Second B-day". Virginia Law Weekly. University of Virginia School of Law. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  20. Lamb, Bill. "Beyonce - B'Day - Review of the album B'Day by Beyonce". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  21. "Reviews - Spotlight Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007-11-05. Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  22. Hiatt, Brian (2006-09-21). "B'day by Beyonce". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  23. D, Spence (2006-09-05). "Beyonce - B'Day - Music Review". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  24. Cinquemani, Sal (2006-08-29). "Beyoncé: B'Day | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  25. Guerra, Joey (2009-07-02). "All hail the Queen 'B' — Beyoncé". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  26. "Blood and sweat from a black icon". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 2006-09-17. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  27. Farber, Jim (2001-09-01). "Power is Beyoncé's only gift on her 'B'day' Beyoncé comes out swinging on her second solo album". Daily News. Daily News, L.P. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  28. "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Week Ending October 27, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
  29. Knowles, Beyoncé (2009). I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas (DVD/Blu-ray). Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records. Event occurs at 39:56 to 40:43.
  30. "I Am...Yours. An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas(2CD/1DVD): Beyonce: Music". Amazon.com. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  31. "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. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  32. Kaufman, Gil (2009-11-02). "Beyonce To Host Thanksgiving Special". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  33. Chinen, Nate (2009-12-06). "From Las Vegas, Newport, Norway and Brooklyn". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  34. Johnston, Maura (2012-05-27). "Live: Beyoncé Brings The House Down At Atlantic City's Newest Casino". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  35. Sheridan, Emily (2012-05-26). "'Feels so good to be back home on stage': Beyonce shows off her post-baby curves as she performs for first time since Blue's birth". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Archived from the original on 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  36. Cline, Georgette (2012-05-26). "Beyonce Sings of Pleasure and Pain During Revel Comeback Concert". The Boombox. AOL. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  37. Ratliff, Ben (2012-05-27). "Beyoncé: Coming Back and Catching Up, Then Conquering". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  38. "Michelle Obama, daughters attend Beyonce concert". The Associated Press via USA Today. 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  39. Darrow, Chuck (2012-05-27). "Beyonce dazzles at Revel". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  40. McCall, Tris (May 27, 2012). "Beyonce spellbinding at Revel". The Star-Ledger. Advance Publications. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  41. Exton, Emily (2013-02-17). "Beyoncé's Life Is But A Dream: Shutting Up The Haters By Showing Off Her Baby Bump". VH1. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
  42. "Beyoncé's 'Life Is But a Dream': In Touch's Q&A With Her Documentary Co-Director Ed Burke". In Touch Weekly. Bauer Media Group. 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
  43. Parsley, Aaron (2013-02-17). "Beyoncé's Life Is But a Dream: The Best Moments". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
  44. Corner, Lewis (2013-04-16). "Beyoncé begins 'Mrs Carter Show' world tour, no new songs performed". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
  45. Yuscavage, Chris (2013-04-17). "10 Things You Need To Know About Beyoncé's 'The Mrs. Carter Show' Tour". Vibe. Vibe Media. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
  46. Young, Alex (2014-06-26). "Jay Z and Beyoncé kick off On the Run Tour with massive 42-song setlist". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  47. K. Landau, Erica (2014-06-25). "Terrific together: Beyonce and Jay Z go live". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  48. 1 2 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. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  49. B'Day (Media notes). Beyoncé Knowles. Sony Music BMG Entertainment. 2006.
  50. "Jazmine Sullivan's Resentment cover of Victoria Beckham's Resentment". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.