Beyoncé Introduces Her Songs on iTunes Radio
With the release of her new album, Beyoncé created a special radio station on iTunes Radio! The playlist features some of her favorite songs, as well as tunes from her new record with short introductions. You can listen to the radio here or read the transcript below.
Pretty Hurts: "Pretty Hurts was such an incredible song,it's really difficult to find a song with such a strong message that doesn't feel preachy & Sia is such a genius. The second I heard the song,I'm like I have to sing this song. I don't care how hard I have to fight for this song,this is my song! (laughs) I immediately saw the vision & I thought about pageants & I thought about the most humiliating,judgmental place you can be as a woman. I feel like sometimes the world is a big contest,we're all being judged. I wanted to capture how humiliating & insecure that makes you feel. Melina was able to capture that emotion & capture the extremes we feel we have to go to to please the people that judge us. I knew from the moment that I recorded the song that she was the person that I wanted to bring the visual to life."
Haunted: "Haunted is a song produced by Boots,A Producer I completely respect. He's a instrument,He's a lyricist,He is an Innovator & I'm so proud to work with him. And the song is really about Temptation in the Music Industry & being exposed to this Craziness."
Blow: "Blow I shot in Houston,TX & I grew up in FunPlex which is a skating rink which we went back to & it was so strange because it was one of my first dates with one of my first boyfriends at FunPlex. And now I got the whole Funplex that I rented out & I thought I was balling. (laughs) I'm like Man this FunPlex is just for me! But it was beautiful to be back there & to shoot with Hype Willaims. And I was really happy to work with him again because growing up he created the music video(s) for hip hop artist + R&B artist. He was the visionary for that. From him to bring out the art direction & the hood,the sex appeal & all the things he brings to the music industry & kinda pays homage to everything brilliant that he's done was exciting for me."
No Angel: "This next song goes out to H-Town,Here is No Angel."
Yoncé/Partition: "Yoncé is such an Incredible song,I love it because it's really organic & the drumbeat was actually done in the studio by Justin Timberlake. He just started beating on these buckets & the Dream started coming up with this little chant. -sings Liqa Chant- And It's so exciting when something naturally happens that way. Partition which is a song,You know I didn't need a pen & paper,it just kinda flew out of my mouth & it's one of my favorites."
Jealous: "Jealous is a song about being human. We all get jealous,it doesn't matter who you are at some point it's inevitable. I co-directed this video with some very talented people,we shot in the streets of NYC at 4 in the morning,it was freezing cold. -chuckle- But it turned out excellent."
Rocket: "Rocket is one of the most (more) sensual songs,it reminds me of the vibe I got when I first heard D'Angelo's Untitled."
Mine: "Drake is one of my favorite rappers,he is extremely talented & I'm so happy he worked with me on this next song,it's called Mine."
***Flawless: "The reason I put out Bow Down is because I woke up,I went into the studio,I had a chant in my head,it was aggressive,it was angry,it wasn't the Beyoncé that wakes up every morning. It was the Beyoncé that was angry.It was the Beyoncé that felt the need to defend herself! And if this song never comes out,OK I said it! (got it off her chest) So I listened to it after I finished & said, "THIS IS HOT! Imma Put it out!" I'm not going to sell it,I'm just going to put it out!" People like it great,they don't,they don't. And I won't do it every day because that's not who I'am. But I feel strong, & anyone who says it's disrespectful,Just imagine the person that hates you,just imagine the person that doesn't believe in you & look in the Mirror in say "BOW DOWN BITCH!" And I guarantee you feel Gangsta,so listen to that song from that point of view if you didn't like it before."
Superpower: "Superpower is such a powerful song. It comes on & instantly you hear these voices & these chants. -does chants- It keeps going over & over again & these lyrics Frank Ocean wrote, OMG,it's like he thought of one thing & he keeps going & going & he gets more & more strong. His low octave is so beautiful & I love the way we sound together. The song is the type of song you can just put on repeat and it puts you in this trance which is why I didn't want to perform it in the video. I just wanted slow motion shots of really powerful imagery. Basically the message is Love is the most powerful thing we have. It doesn't matter if a war or a riot is going on when you are with the person you love you can survive any & everything."
Heaven: "The song Heaven is about death & finding the strength in knowing that someone had an incredible life. Also in That giving you some type of closure..."
XO: "The Dream co-wrote & produced along with Ryan Teddar & I actually worked with one of my favorite photographers Terry Richardson for the video. We shot at Coney Island this past summer,it was insanely chaotic -chuckles- the video captured raw fun & being in the moment."
credit: Azon Hernandez
Pretty Hurts: "Pretty Hurts was such an incredible song,it's really difficult to find a song with such a strong message that doesn't feel preachy & Sia is such a genius. The second I heard the song,I'm like I have to sing this song. I don't care how hard I have to fight for this song,this is my song! (laughs) I immediately saw the vision & I thought about pageants & I thought about the most humiliating,judgmental place you can be as a woman. I feel like sometimes the world is a big contest,we're all being judged. I wanted to capture how humiliating & insecure that makes you feel. Melina was able to capture that emotion & capture the extremes we feel we have to go to to please the people that judge us. I knew from the moment that I recorded the song that she was the person that I wanted to bring the visual to life."
Haunted: "Haunted is a song produced by Boots,A Producer I completely respect. He's a instrument,He's a lyricist,He is an Innovator & I'm so proud to work with him. And the song is really about Temptation in the Music Industry & being exposed to this Craziness."
Blow: "Blow I shot in Houston,TX & I grew up in FunPlex which is a skating rink which we went back to & it was so strange because it was one of my first dates with one of my first boyfriends at FunPlex. And now I got the whole Funplex that I rented out & I thought I was balling. (laughs) I'm like Man this FunPlex is just for me! But it was beautiful to be back there & to shoot with Hype Willaims. And I was really happy to work with him again because growing up he created the music video(s) for hip hop artist + R&B artist. He was the visionary for that. From him to bring out the art direction & the hood,the sex appeal & all the things he brings to the music industry & kinda pays homage to everything brilliant that he's done was exciting for me."
No Angel: "This next song goes out to H-Town,Here is No Angel."
Yoncé/Partition: "Yoncé is such an Incredible song,I love it because it's really organic & the drumbeat was actually done in the studio by Justin Timberlake. He just started beating on these buckets & the Dream started coming up with this little chant. -sings Liqa Chant- And It's so exciting when something naturally happens that way. Partition which is a song,You know I didn't need a pen & paper,it just kinda flew out of my mouth & it's one of my favorites."
Jealous: "Jealous is a song about being human. We all get jealous,it doesn't matter who you are at some point it's inevitable. I co-directed this video with some very talented people,we shot in the streets of NYC at 4 in the morning,it was freezing cold. -chuckle- But it turned out excellent."
Rocket: "Rocket is one of the most (more) sensual songs,it reminds me of the vibe I got when I first heard D'Angelo's Untitled."
Mine: "Drake is one of my favorite rappers,he is extremely talented & I'm so happy he worked with me on this next song,it's called Mine."
***Flawless: "The reason I put out Bow Down is because I woke up,I went into the studio,I had a chant in my head,it was aggressive,it was angry,it wasn't the Beyoncé that wakes up every morning. It was the Beyoncé that was angry.It was the Beyoncé that felt the need to defend herself! And if this song never comes out,OK I said it! (got it off her chest) So I listened to it after I finished & said, "THIS IS HOT! Imma Put it out!" I'm not going to sell it,I'm just going to put it out!" People like it great,they don't,they don't. And I won't do it every day because that's not who I'am. But I feel strong, & anyone who says it's disrespectful,Just imagine the person that hates you,just imagine the person that doesn't believe in you & look in the Mirror in say "BOW DOWN BITCH!" And I guarantee you feel Gangsta,so listen to that song from that point of view if you didn't like it before."
Superpower: "Superpower is such a powerful song. It comes on & instantly you hear these voices & these chants. -does chants- It keeps going over & over again & these lyrics Frank Ocean wrote, OMG,it's like he thought of one thing & he keeps going & going & he gets more & more strong. His low octave is so beautiful & I love the way we sound together. The song is the type of song you can just put on repeat and it puts you in this trance which is why I didn't want to perform it in the video. I just wanted slow motion shots of really powerful imagery. Basically the message is Love is the most powerful thing we have. It doesn't matter if a war or a riot is going on when you are with the person you love you can survive any & everything."
Heaven: "The song Heaven is about death & finding the strength in knowing that someone had an incredible life. Also in That giving you some type of closure..."
XO: "The Dream co-wrote & produced along with Ryan Teddar & I actually worked with one of my favorite photographers Terry Richardson for the video. We shot at Coney Island this past summer,it was insanely chaotic -chuckles- the video captured raw fun & being in the moment."
credit: Azon Hernandez
