12 July 2003
I think you’ll agree Beyoncé’s debut solo single was nothing special. A rather pedestrian soul-R&B throwback, it hardly set the world alight, did it? Who listens to it now, or even remembers it? As a launchpad to next-level superstardom, it was underwhelming. But anyway, that’s enough about ‘Work It Out’, a 2002 top twenty hit in Ireland from the soundtrack of that awful third Austin Powers movie. The reign of Queen Bey really begins here with her second solo single, ‘Crazy In Love’. You may know it.
‘Crazy In Love’ was always going to be a massive hit. Beyoncé was already a star. Her previous group had, as she had informed us in ‘Survivor’, sold nine million, ergo ready-made fanbase. The record company would be duly flexing its financial and marketing pectorals anyway. The only question was: would ‘Crazy In Love’ be good? Well, you know that too: it’s glorious.
The latter-day Destiny’s Child singles were remarkable for their steely will-to-power: the trio manifesting themselves as survivors and independent women. ‘Crazy In Love’ is the sound of Beyoncé now secure in that power, with nothing to prove to anyone, and as a result having the confidence to cut loose. She’s sensational here, and ‘Crazy In Love’ is sensational. Its best-known hooks—the blaring brass sample, the giddy “uh-oh, uh-oh, oh no no!” and the insanely catchy chorus—are the delirious daredevilry and complete control of a stunt pilot doing barrel-rolls over a gasping air-show audience. Jay-Z gets a whole intro and verse but isn’t even named on the record cover (above). That’s no bad reflection on his fine contribution, just the new reality: it’s Beyoncé’s gig now – it’s Beyoncé’s world now.
