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The video was directed by Melina, who also directed [[Ludacris]]' "[[Money Maker]]" and [[Ying Yang Twins]]' "Dangerous". The video was shot on [[January 25]], [[2007]]. The video premiered on [[February 28]] on ''[[106 & Park]]'', the same day as the video for Beyoncé's other single release, "[[Beautiful Liar]]" featuring [[Shakira]], on ''[[Total Request Live|TRL]]''. As of [[March 7]], the "Upgrade U" music video had peaked at number six on BET's ''106 & Park''; in the UK the music video had peaked at number one on [[MTV Base]]'s Base Chart Show as of [[May 16]].
The video was directed by Melina, who also directed [[Ludacris]]' "[[Money Maker]]" and [[Ying Yang Twins]]' "Dangerous". The video was shot on [[January 25]], [[2007]]. The video premiered on [[February 28]] on ''[[106 & Park]]'', the same day as the video for Beyoncé's other single release, "[[Beautiful Liar]]" featuring [[Shakira]], on ''[[Total Request Live|TRL]]''. As of [[March 7]], the "Upgrade U" music video had peaked at number six on BET's ''106 & Park''; in the UK the music video had peaked at number one on [[MTV Base]]'s Base Chart Show as of [[May 16]].


In the beginning, Beyoncé is seen mouthing the words of Jay-Z's lyrics, dressed in masculine, [[hip hop fashion|hip-hop style clothing]]. She is later seen wearing vintage Cazal 905 sunglasses and singing in the backseat of a [[Rolls-Royce (car)|Rolls Royce]]. During the choruses she dances in a gold minidress in front of a group of male back-up dancers. She continues the Jay-Z imitation through his rapped verse, and halfway through it Jay-Z appears to finish the rap himself. Beyoncé is seen amidst gold watches and jewelery, continuing the motif of luxury that is alluded to in the song.
In the beginning, Beyoncé is seen mouthing the words of Jay-Z's lyrics, dressed in masculine, [[hip hop fashion|hip-hop style clothing]]. She is later seen wearing vintage Cazal 905 sunglasses and singing in the backseat of a [[Rolls-Royce (car)|Rolls Royce]]. During the choruses she dances in a gold minidress in front of a group of male back-up dancers. She continues the Jay-Z imitation through his rapped verse, and halfway through it Jay-Z appears to finish the rap himself. Beyoncé is seen amidst gold watches and jewelry, continuing the motif of luxury that is alluded to in the song.


==Song references==
==Song references==

Revision as of 07:51, 10 August 2007

"Upgrade U"
Song

"Upgrade U" is an R&B song written by Beyoncé Knowles, Sean Garrett, Solange Knowles, Angela Beyince, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Makeba Riddick, Willie Clarke and Clarence Reid for Beyoncé's second solo album, B'Day (2006). It is her fifth collaboration with Jay-Z, who is featured on the song. The song samples Betty Wright's "Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do", and was originally going to have featured T.I.. The song is about a relationship between a female and a male; Beyoncé sings that she can upgrade her man and introduce him to new things, improving his life style and reputation.

Music video

File:Upgrade u vid.jpg
Beyoncé in "Upgrade U".

The video was directed by Melina, who also directed Ludacris' "Money Maker" and Ying Yang Twins' "Dangerous". The video was shot on January 25, 2007. The video premiered on February 28 on 106 & Park, the same day as the video for Beyoncé's other single release, "Beautiful Liar" featuring Shakira, on TRL. As of March 7, the "Upgrade U" music video had peaked at number six on BET's 106 & Park; in the UK the music video had peaked at number one on MTV Base's Base Chart Show as of May 16.

In the beginning, Beyoncé is seen mouthing the words of Jay-Z's lyrics, dressed in masculine, hip-hop style clothing. She is later seen wearing vintage Cazal 905 sunglasses and singing in the backseat of a Rolls Royce. During the choruses she dances in a gold minidress in front of a group of male back-up dancers. She continues the Jay-Z imitation through his rapped verse, and halfway through it Jay-Z appears to finish the rap himself. Beyoncé is seen amidst gold watches and jewelry, continuing the motif of luxury that is alluded to in the song.

Song references

  • Audemars Piguet, a Swiss watchmaker
  • Jacob the Jeweler, a celebrity jeweler
  • Cartier, a jeweler and watch manufacturer
  • Hermès, a luxury goods company
  • Lorraine Schwartz, a celebrity jeweler
  • Ralph Lauren Purple Label, a higher-end division of the legendary designer's clothing line
  • Natura Bisse Diamond Cream, diamond dust mixed with cream that costs $235 for only 1.7 ounces
  • 6 star pent suites, only a handful exist in the world such as Crown Macau in China and Dreams Los Cabos near San Jose del Cabo in Mexico
  • The Amalfi Coast, located in southern Italy. It's an easy trek to the islands of Capri, the Bay of Naples' Ischia and Procida
  • Fendi, a luxury goods company
  • The Bloomberg Luxury Accommodation Group, which is located in South Africa and caters to Hollywood-millionaire types

Charts

After the release of B'Day, and before its release as a single, the song gained popularity on R&B and hip hop radio stations in the U.S.;[2] consequently, it entered the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and later the Billboard Hot 100 at number ninety-two on November 9 2006. The song was released as a twelve-inch promotional single on November 27,[1] after which it reached number fifty-nine on the Hot 100 and number eleven on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[3] "Upgrade U" remained on the Hot 100 for eighteen non-consecutive weeks.[4] In addition, it charted for three weeks on the UK top 200 singles, peaking at number 176.

Chart Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 176
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3] 59
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[3] 11

Credits and personnel

  • Lead vocals: Beyoncé Knowles, Jay-Z
  • Mixed by Jason Goldstein
  • Mixing assistance: Steve Tolle
  • Recorded by Jim Caruana at Sony Music Studios, New York City
  • Assisted by Rob Kinelski

Formats and track listings

Other official versions
  • "Upgrade U" (original version) (featuring. T.I.)
  • "Upgrade U" (Beyonce's Rap Intro)

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b "BEYONCE feat JAY Z - Upgrade U". Juno Records. Retrieved June 28 2007.
  2. ^ Caulfield, Keith. "Ask Billboard - Replacing Irreplaceable". Billboard. December 29 2006. Retrieved February 8 2007.
  3. ^ a b c "Beyoncé - Artist Chart History - Singles". Billboard. Retrieved February 8 2007.
  4. ^ "Beyoncé and Jay-Z - Upgrade U". aCharts.us. Retrieved June 28 2007.
  5. ^ "Vinyl I". 2FunkyRecords. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
  6. ^ "Vinyl II". 2FunkyRecords. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
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