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"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, composed by Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, Kuk Harrell and Knowles for her third solo album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. The song was released as the album's second single after her worldwide hit "If I Were a Boy", and was critical and commercial success, peaking at the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100, making it Knowles' fifth number-one single, and becoming a top ten hit on many worldwide charts.

The song gained popularity for its theme of female empowerment and catchy hook, and was ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Best 100 Singles of 2008. The choreography-driven video achieved great success, prompting a legion of imitations and parodies, and became known for starting the first major dance craze of the millennium and of the internet.

Release and promotion

"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", alongside "If I Were a Boy", was initially targeted to debut on radio stations on October 7, 2008, with aims at rhythmic formats for the former. However, the song premiered the following day on the mainstream urban radio station Power 105.1.

The song was performed on November 9, 2008 at the 2008 World Music Awards and at Saturday Night Live on November 15, 2008; that night, Beyonce was also featured in a parody of the "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" music video, where the two female backup dancers from the video were replaced by three men. One of the three men was Justin Timberlake, who showed up unexpectedly at the dressing room in a leotard before filming. The other two were SNL castmembers Andy Samberg and Bobby Moynihan. On November 16, 2008 Knowles performed the song during the final episode of Total Request Live. Beyonce performed the song on November 18, 2008 at BET's 106 & Park. She also performed "Single Ladies" during the 2008 AMA Awards on November 23, 2008. On November 25, 2008, she performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. On November 26, 2008, she performed the song at Rockefeller Plaza on The Today Show. Beyoncé also performed the song on The Tyra Banks Show with two male dancers.

Critical reception

The song received generally positive critical response. Bill Lamb of About.com, stated that: "Stylistically, the pair are very distinctive from each other, but both are pure Beyoncé. To my ears, 'If I Were a Boy' sounds like an 'Irreplaceable' size smash. However, that is only if it doesn't get overshadowed by the power bounce of 'Single Ladies,' an extension of the style of 'Get Me Bodied' from B'Day." Allmusic had a negative view of the similarities between the two songs, saying the song is "a dire 'Get Me Bodied' retread". Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly magazine described that the song "is all bouncy hand claps and post-breakup sass, a giddy, high-stepping hybrid of lyrical kiss-off and fizzy jump-rope jam". Mariel Concepcion of Billboard magazine was not impressed with the song, calling it "standard screech-thump fare".

Rolling Stone magazine named "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" the best song of 2008 writing, "The beat, courtesy of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, is irresistible and exuberant, the vocal hook is stormy and virtuosic." The song also landed at number two on MTV's list of "The Best songs of 2008": "'Single Ladies' is hyperactive and supercharged in ways I never thought possible. It's epic and sexy and even a bit sad (because, you know, he didn't put a ring on it)...there is absolutely zero chance Beyoncé ever releases a single like this ever again." Time magazine's critic Josh Tyrangiel, who called the song "ludicrously infectious" ranked it the seventh best song of 2008. It has also been named Song of the Year by Fuse TV.

At the 2009 Kids Choice Awards, "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" won the "Favorite Song" award.

Chart performance

The song debuted at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 and rose up the charts. On the Billboard issue dated November 29, the song entered the top 40 at number 28. The following week, "Single Ladies" surged up to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. With strong digital sales of 204,000, "Single Ladies" topped the Hot Digital Songs chart and caused Beyonce's other single release, "If I Were a Boy", to drop down to the number two spot on the same chart with a lower tally of 160,000 copies sold. It continued its stay at number one on Hot Digital Songs for two weeks. It sold 228,000 downloads the following week, a twelve percent increase over the last week's tally of 204,000. The single's performance on the chart was boosted due to heavy rotation, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Knowles' fifth number one single.

As Knowles' fifth number one song, she is now tied with Pop singer Rihanna for most number one songs in this decade by a solo female artist (excluding three of her number one hits with Destiny's Child from this decade). The song has spent four non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100, and is Knowles' second Christmas and New Year number-one single, the first one being "Irreplaceable" in 2006-2007. The Destiny's Child single Independent Women Part I also achieved this feat. "Single Ladies" has spent another week on number 1, making it her fourth week on top due to a massive surge of 157% on downloads which gave her 382,000 downloads for the week alone. The single topped both the Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts. On February 16, 2009 the song was certified double platinum by the RIAA. The song peaked at #1 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart on the week of February 7, 2009.

The single debuted as Billboard's Hot Shot Debut at number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. After gaining the most airplay each week, it has peaked at number one for twelve straight weeks thus far, becoming Knowles' fifth number-one R&B single in her solo career. The song captured number one on iTunes U.S. Top Songs, Top Ringtones, and Top Music Videos lists.

The song debuted at number 81 on the Canadian Hot 100 based on downloads alone, and it skyrocketed to number 17 the next week based on sales strength and has currently reached number two.

On November 23, 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 67 based on downloads alone and over the period of just under 3 months, the song has gradually worked its way up the charts and has so far peaked at number 7 (and number 1 on the UK R&B Chart for three consecutive weeks), giving Knowles her 12th UK Top Ten hit. The week after it reached it highest peak in the UK charts, it fell down to 8 and then fell again down to 9 the week after; but the song was not initially due to be released as a stand-alone single due to "Single Ladies" being the b-side to "If I Were A Boy", however, due to the song's popularity, it was due to be released as a download single in its own right. However, due to overwhelming demand, Single Ladies will be released as a full-scale CD single on 16 February 2009 (a week later than originally planned) and climbed back up the charts again. "Single Ladies" has to date appeared in the UK Top 20 for almost 20 weeks. The single has currently peaked at number 4 on the Irish Singles Chart.

On November 24, 2008, "Single Ladies" debuted at number 15 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and peaked at number 5. The song was certified 2x Platinum selling over 140,000 copies. In New Zealand, "Single Ladies" debuted at number thirty-two on November 24, 2008. The song peaked at number two in its fourth week where it stayed for three weeks. It was certified Gold after seven weeks selling over 7,500 copies. In the Netherlands, Single Ladies became a top 10 hit based on downloads and airplay, eventually peaking at number 8.

Music video

Like the video for "If I Were a Boy", the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" is shot in black and white, and was directed by Jake Nava, with whom Knowles had worked with on her previous music videos. Choreographed by JaQuel Knight, Knowles performs as her alter ego Sasha Fierce. It shows her in asymmetrical leotard and high-heels, with two female look-alike backup dancers. The video, which lacks a set, features Knowles dancing against a plain white background, which puts focus on the complex choreography. The dance routine, which is reminiscent of the dance routines associated with Tina Turner, incorporates various styles, including jazz, tap, hip hop, and j-setting, a flamboyant dance style prominent in many African American gay clubs across Atlanta, which in turn was borrowed from the moves of the all-female 'J-Sette' dance troupe of Jackson State University. Towards the end of the video, Knowles flashes her wedding ring that camouflages with her glove.

Knowles premiered the music video, along side the video for "If I Were a Boy," also directed by Nava, on MTV's Total Request Live show. The video was released to major outlets on October 13, 2008. Upon the video's release, many internet bloggers noticed similarities between the choreography of "Single Ladies" and that of a June 1969 performance by Gwen Verdon on The Ed Sullivan Show entitled "Mexican Breakfast". The latter—choreographed by Broadway legend, Bob Fosse—became an internet viral sensation when Unk's "Walk It Out" was dubbed over the original mix. While promoting the song on BET's 106 & Park, Knowles stated that she was inspired by the video after viewing it on YouTube and wanted to see if she could attempt it. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine, Knowles said she saw an old tape of Verdon and used it as an inspiration for the video to "Single Ladies".

Cultural impact

"Single Ladies" has gained popularity for its theme of female empowerment with the hook "If you liked it, then you shoulda put a ring on it", and fans have compared it to Aretha Franklin's "Respect" or Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive.". The music video has achieved fame for its intricate choreography, and has been credited as having started the "first major dance craze of both the new millennium and the Internet". It was parodied on Saturday Night Live, where the two female backup dancers from the video were replaced by three men, one of whom was Justin Timberlake (the other two were SNL castmembers Andy Samberg and Bobby Moynihan).

The music video has inspired a legion of imitators who have posted videos of themselves on to YouTube attempting to perform the choreography. One of the more popular imitations is that of Shane Mercado, and he was even interviewed on The Bonnie Hunt Show. The Toronto Star writes: "There are gospel and acoustic versions. Toddlers have tackled it. Recreation centre dance classes, sorority sisters in their dorm rooms, suburban teenagers in their basements and high school cheerleaders have all filmed themselves doing the dance. There are all-male tributes, an impromptu number in an airport lounge and even some "new 'n' improved" videos of dance teams taking a second try. As with every Internet trend, there are of course the requisite Facebook groups devoted to it ... a couple of years ago, Soulja Boy initiated a short-lived dance craze ... but it remained mainly a male hip-hop dance, whereas the 'Single Ladies' dance has crossed over to all age groups and genders."

The video has generated interest in j-setting, the dance form that choreographer JaQuel Knight highlights in the video, and is credited as bringing the African American gay dance style to the mainstream. Like the histories of many popular dances, there are several versions of the development of J-setting (named after the "Prancing J-Settes" of Jackson State University in Jackson, MS). Majorettes at southern universities incorporated some of Fosse's popular vocabulary into the 'sets' of movement presented and then imitated in parades and marches. This movement vocabulary then became popular in the gay club scene. In a radio interview on NPR's All Things Considered, Knight shared his excitement about the popularity of the video's one-take dance sequence as an inspiration for anyone to get up off the couch and try out the moves.

In one of the videos on the internet, filmed by American singer John Legend , the American president Barack Obama, can be seen doing a part of "Single ladies" dance, while talking to Knowles. In London, 100 dancers wearing leotards similar to the one worn by Knowles performed the choreography on April 20, 2009 to promote Trident Unwrapped, a gum company.

Track listing and remixes

UK CD Single

1. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" - 3:13
2. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Redtop Remix) - 3:31

US Digital Remix EP

1. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Dave Aude Remix Club Version) - 8:24
2. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Karmatronic Remix Club Version) - 5:58
3. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Redtop Remix Club Version) - 6:59
4. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Remix Club Version) - 6:58
5. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Lost Daze Dating Service Remix Club Version) - 6:52
6. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Craig C's Master Blaster Remix Club Version) - 8:19

EU Digital Remix EP

1. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (RedTop Remix Radio Edit)
2. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (My Digital Enemy Remix)
3. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Olli Collins & Fred Portelli Remix)
4. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Dave Aude Remix Club Version)
5. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (The Japanese Popstars Remix)
6. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Album Version)

Charts

Sales and certifications

Chart procession and succession

References

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• 2008 singles
• Beyoncé Knowles songs
• Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
• Billboard Hot Dance Airplay number-one singles
• Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one singles
• Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles
• Dance-pop songs
• Songs with feminist themes
• Music videos directed by Jake Nava