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End of Time (Beyoncé song)

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"End of Time"
Song

"End of Time" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, taken from her 2011 studio album, 4. Initially rumored to be titled "Till the End of Time", a demo of the song leaked online May 20, 2011, giving rise to speculation that the song was a potential follow-up to the lead single, "Run the World (Girls)" which divided music critics because of the fact that the song samples of Major Lazer's "Pon de Floor" as well as the aggressiveness with which Knowles delivers the lyrical content of the song. However, "Best Thing I Never Had" was ultimately chosen as the second single off 4. "End of Time" was written by Knowles, Terius Nash, Shea Taylor, and Dave Taylor while production was handled by Knowles, The-Dream, Switch as well as Diplo.

An uptempo dance song, "End of Time" exhibits the influence of late Fela Kuti, as stated by Knowles, in the sense that the bass line of the song was influenced by the multi-instrumentalist musician and composer. Also displaying elements Afrobeat, the song's instrumentation consists of marching band percussion, drums, and horns. The high energy level provided by these musical instruments have been noted by music critics to have similarities to several Michael Jackson's songs, including "Off the Wall" (1980). "End of Time" has been generally very well received by music critics who have coined it as one of highlights on 4 thanks to the effective melding of its heavy beat and its lyrical content.

Background

Knowles has said that "End of Time" was inspired by Fela Kuti (pictured)

"End of Time" was written by Knowles, Terius Nash, Shea Taylor, and Dave Taylor while production was handled by Knowles, The-Dream, Switch as well as Diplo.[1] The song originally leaked as a demo on May 1, 2011.[2] A private listening party for Knowles' fourth studio album was held on May 12, 2011. Knowles offered a select group of fans a preview of five songs from her fourth studio album as well as the official video for the lead single "Run the World (Girls)". On that occasion, "End of Time" was one among the five songs previewed. Knowles explained at the listening event that the bass line for the song was inspired by late Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti.[3] Additionally, in an interview with Billboard Magazine, Knowles spoke more about Fela Kuti, stating that she appreciated his "feel for the soul and heart of his music; it's so sexy, and has a great groove you get lost in," stating that is takes a major inspiration on "End of Time" with drums and horns and "how everything was on the one".[4]

On May 20, 2011, the full demo of the song leaked online, watermarked with the tag "internal use only".[5][6] At that time, it was rumored to be titled "Till the End of Time".[5] Several websites, including MTV News started reporting that it might serve as a potential follow up to the lead single, "Run the World".[7] However, these speculations were soon overshadowed by the release of an exclusive US promotional single, "1+1" on May 25, 2011.[8] In early June 2011, Columbia Records reported that "1+1" would however not be sent for airplay, with "Best Thing I Never Had" favored as the second single from 4, following "Run the World".[9]

Composition

"End of Time" is an uptempo dance song.[7] The song also contains elements of funk,[10] Afrobeat and Latin jazz.[11] Its instrumentation consists of marching band percussion, heavy drums, and staccato horns reminiscent of the B'Day era.[5][7][12] Thanks to these musical instruments, a high energy level is maintained throughout the song. As stated by James Dinh of MTV News, "End of Time" bears resemblance to an older Destiny's Child cut.[7] Charley Rogulewski of AOL Music further added the song channels Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" (1980) production with horns kicking in midway through the song.[13] Calling it "more like new sound [Knowles) described last year than 'Run the World (Girls)'", Brad Wete of Entertainment Weekly added that "End of Time" also has some vibes of Michael Jackson's 1983 single, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"[14] whose rhythm arrangement is a complex interweaving of drum-machine patterns,work by percussionist Paulinho da Costa and the horns.[15]

"End of Time"
A 22-second sample of the bridge and chorus of "End of Time", featuring Knowles' muffled lyric lines looping over and over again towards the end.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Lyrically, "End of Time" is about Knowles as the female protagonist professing her everlasting love with both ferocity and passion.[7][16] The song opens with a "militaristic, almost marching band-style tribal drumbeat" as Knowles sings in an almost distorted fashion, with her vocals layered underneath[16] until a "dramatic explosion" after which Knowles sings: "Come take my hand / I won’t let you go / I’ll be your friend / I will love you so deeply / I will be the one to kiss you at night / I will love you till the end of time."[7] These intro lines also serve as the chorus lines.[7] Knowles continues her appeal, convincing her lover that she will be there every night as she sings, "till the end of time."[7] Just before the bridge which features Knowles belting over a horn sequence,[7] her voice is looped in "an uber-fast, aggressive fashion."[16]

Critical reception

Calling "End of Time" a "lovesick battle hymn", Entertainment Weekly's Adam Markovitz praised the song, writing that it is "exactly the kind of genre-busting risk that few other current pop stars would even attempt, let alone pull off flawlessly with 
a no-big-thing shrug."[17] Charley Rogulewski of AOL Music added that "End of Time" picks up on the post-apocalyptic vibe of "Run the World (Girls)" but with more originality and "a two-faced delivery; a brash, marching militia-inspired beat is coupled to sweet lyrics."[13] James Dinh from MTV News also gave "End of Time" a positive review, saying the song had the "powerhouse professing her everlasting love."[7] He also praised Knowles for keeping the "energy level high" and compared the song to those she produced with Destiny's Child.[7] Amy Sciarretto from PopCrush called Knowles a "female bad ass, as she fearlessly explores new musical terrain on this track." She said Knowles gets "bolder and even more courageous" on the song as she takes influences from the rawness of world music.[16] She even went on to praise the singer's vocals, calling them the "most aggressive we’ve ever heard" and said the song was "girl power at it's [sic] finest."[16] Craig Jenkins of Prefix Magazine called "end of Time" the highlight of the album.[11]

Erika Ramirez of Billboard magazine called the song "addictive" and added that it "hits strong from jump with the orchestration."[18] Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal wrote that "End of Time" is perhaps 4's most strident declaration of co-dependence, adding that sounding like "En Vogue remixed by a high school pep band, the song has Beyoncé finding the strength in two as she sings, 'I just wanna be with you/ I just wanna live for you/ I'd never let you go!'"[19] Rolling Stone's writer Jody Rosen commended the song for being one of the most adventurous cuts on 4.[20] Claire Suddath of The Time Magazine commented that the song "is just screaming to be covered by an earnest high school a capella group and posted to YouTube."[10] This was somehow echoed by Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound who wrote that "[...] Beyoncé also makes room on the album for more grandiose tracks that would sound right at home in Broadway musicals, like the marching band-fueled funk/operatic space ballad 'End of Time'."[21] Ricky Schweitzer of One Thirty BPM noted that "End of Time" revisits "the kind of girl-power territory" that Knowles found more often with Destiny’s Child. He however added that this time around, the song "is crisper, more tightly wound, and brimming with confidence that feels natural in a way that Beyoncé has never showcased before."[22]

Chart performance

Without being released as a single, "End of Time" debuted at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart,[23] and number 20 on the UK R&B Chart on July 4, 2011.[24] This debut was possible thanks to the 4,488 digital downloads the song sold during the week 4 was released.[23] Selling 18,222 digital downloads, the song opened at number 26 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart for the week ending July 2, 2011.[25] "End of Time" also charted on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number 13 for the week ending July 16, 2011.[26]

Live performances

"End of Time" was first performed by Knowles in a pink fringe dress at a concert at Palais Nikaïa in Nice, France, on June 20, 2011, in support of her then-upcoming album 4.[27] The song was also part of her set list for her performance at 2011 Glastonbury Festival on June 26, 2011. Wearing a low-cut sequinned gold jacket, she sang the song live in front of more than 175,000 fans.[28] The pre-taped performance was broadcast during the 2011 BET Awards in the United States later during the same day.[29]

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart[30] 26
UK R&B Chart[24] 20
UK Singles Chart[23] 62
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[26] 13

References

  1. ^ 4 (Media notes). Columbia Records. 2011. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Listen To Snippets Of Beyonce's Supposed Next Single 'End Of Time'". Idolator. Buzz Media. May 1, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  3. ^ "Billboard Bits: Beyonce Previews '4' at Listening Party, Kenny Chesney Playing Alabama Show For Charity". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. May 12, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  4. ^ Trust, Gary (May 11, 2011). "Beyoncé: The Billboard Music Awards Q&A". Billboard. New York: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Bain, Becky (May 20, 2011). "Beyonce Will Love You "Till the End of Time" In New Single". Idolator. Gawker Media. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  6. ^ Buchanan, Kyle (May 21, 2011). "Listen to Beyoncé's Next Single, 'Till the End of Time' – Vulture". New York. New York Media Holdings. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Dinh, James (May 23, 2011). "Beyonce's 'Till The End Of Time' Hits The Internet". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  8. ^ Corne, Lewis (May 26, 2011). "Beyoncé releases new song '1+1'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  9. ^ Trust, Gary (June 1, 2011). "'Idols' Scott McCreery & Laura Alaina Top Hot 100 Debuts, Adele Still No. 1". Billboard. New York: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Suddath, Claire (June 28, 2011). "Album Review: Beyoncé's '4′ Muddles Its Message". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Jenkins, Craig (June 28, 2011). "Beyonce - 4". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Kot, Greg (June 24, 2011). "Beyonce album review; 4 reviewed". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  13. ^ a b Rogulewski, Charley (May 23, 2011). "New Beyonce Song, 'Till the End of Time,' Leaks". AOL Music. AOL Inc. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  14. ^ Wete, Brad (May 23, 2011). "Beyoncé's 'Till the End of Time' leaks online: Wish this was her first single?". Entertainment Weekly. Time inc. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  15. ^ "'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". Allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d e Sciarretto, Amy (May 23, 2011). "Beyonce, 'Till the End of Time' – Song Review". PopCrush. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  17. ^ Markovitz, Adam (June 28, 2011). "Music Review 4 (2011)". Entertainment Weekly. Time inc. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  18. ^ Ramirez, Erika (May 23, 2011). "Beyonce's 'Till the End of Time' Single Leaks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  19. ^ Dombal, Ryan (June 28, 2011). "Album Reviews: Beyoncé: 4". Pitchfork Media. Ryan Schreiber. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  20. ^ Rosen, Jody (June 28, 2011). "4 by Beyonce". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved July 14, 2011, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Text "Music Reviews" ignored (help)
  21. ^ Coplan, Chris (June 24, 2011). "Album Review: Beyoncé – 4". Consequence of Sound. Complex Media Network. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  22. ^ Schweitzer, Ricky (July 3, 2011). "Album Review: Beyoncé – 4". One Thirty BPM. Evan Kaloudis. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c Jones, Alan (July 3, 2011). "Beyonce's 4 wins the album chart numbers game". Music Week. United Business Media. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  24. ^ a b "Chart Archive > R&B Singles > 9th July 2011". UK R&B Chart. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 14, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  25. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: June 25, 2011 to July 2 2011)". Gaon Chart. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  26. ^ a b "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |acessdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Beyoncé Invades The Stage At European Concert Kickoff (Video)". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. June 20, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  28. ^ Bull, Sarah (June 27, 2011). "Famous friends Gwyneth Paltrow and Jay-Z among the star-studded audience as Beyoncé closes Glastonbury". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  29. ^ "Beyoncé Performs During BET Awards (Video)". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. June 26, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  30. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: June 26, 2011 to July 2, 2011)". Gaon Chart. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
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