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Holy Grail (Jay-Z song)

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"Holy Grail"
Song

"Holy Grail" is a song by American hip hop artist Jay-Z from his twelfth studio album Magna Carta... Holy Grail. It features vocals from singer Justin Timberlake and will serve as the album's first single.[2][3][4][5] It was produced by The-Dream, Timbaland and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, with additional production from No ID and contains elements of Nirvana's 1991 hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Following the release of the album, the song debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.[6]

Recording and composition

"Holy Grail", along with another song from Magna Carta... Holy Grail called "Oceans" were recorded in 2011 during the recording sessions for Jay-Z's collaborative album with Kanye West, Watch the Throne. West wanted the two songs to appear on Watch the Throne, but Jay-Z chose to keep them for his upcoming studio album and they were replaced with "No Church in the Wild" and "Made in America".[7] The early version of the instrumental was created in 2011 by The-Dream. When the recording sessions for MCHG started, Timbaland together with fellow producer J-Roc rearranged it to create the final track.[8]

"Holy Grail" is composed in a D minor key, and plays in common time at a tempo of 72 beats per minute. The vocals ranges from a G3 to C6.[9] Jay-Z lyrically sampled rock group Nirvana's single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", after receiving permission from Courtney Love who owns the rights to the original song.[10] In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Jay-Z stated that "Holy Grail" was "the map for the album" and that it set the tone for the rest of MCHG. When the song was first recorded for Watch the Throne Jay-Z thought it would get lost on the album and decided to keep it as the "center piece" for his next album.[11]

Music video

On August 2, 2013 Jay-Z told Power 106 that he and tourmate Justin Timberlake had begun shooting the music video for "Holy Grail".[12]

Critical reception and promotion

Andy Gill of The Independent described the song as "smooth and mellifluous,"[13] while Rolling Stone's Simon Vozick called it a "surprisingly moody opener."[14] DJ Booth praised the track as an "appropriately bombastic intro to an epic LP."[15]

Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake performed the song live at the Wireless Festival in London.[16]

Chart performance

The song had a hot-shot debut on many charts upon the release of the album. It debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, being at the time the second highest debut on that chart of the year.[17]

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 42
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 31
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[20] 17
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 17
France (SNEP)[22] 40
Invalid chart entered Germany2 25
Ireland (IRMA)[23] 53
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 91
Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 26
Scotland (OCC)[27] 19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 29
South Korea (GAON)[29] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 24
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[31] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[32] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[33] 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[34] 24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[35] 2
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[36] 1

References

  1. ^ "Jay-Z - Magna Carta… Holy Grail - Reviews - Clash Magazine". Clashmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  2. ^ "[FIRST LISTEN] Jay Z Drops "Holy Grail" In Most Innovative Campaign Which Turned Out To Be A Flop|JAY Z| News | MTV European". Mtv.tv. 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  3. ^ "Stream Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' On Hot 97 - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  4. ^ "Jay-Z Justin Timberlake Holy Grail". Complex. 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  5. ^ "Listen: Jay-Z's "Holy Grail" ft. Justin Timberlake - Fuse". Fuse.tv. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  6. ^ "Official UK Singles Top 100 - 20th July 2013". UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  7. ^ "Jay-Z. Zane Lowe. Part 1: Magna Carta Holy Grail". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  8. ^ "Unlocking the Holy Grail: Timbaland". Revolt. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  9. ^ Jay-Z "Holy Grail" Sheet Music - Download & Print. musicnotes.com. Accessed on July 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "Free Love: "A-Sides" Interview with Queen Courtney On New Music, Her Autobiography, A Reality TV Show, and Jay-Z Covering Nirvana?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  11. ^ "Jay-Z. Zane Lowe. Part 2: Fame". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  12. ^ Tardio, Andres. "Jay-Z & Justin Timberlake Are Filming "Holy Grail" Video | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  13. ^ Gill, Andy. "Jay-Z, Magna Carta Holy Grail - review". The Independent. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  14. ^ "Magna Carta . . . Holy Grail". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  15. ^ "Jay-Z - Holy Grail". DJ Booth. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  16. ^ "Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake Perform 'Holy Grail' at Wireless Festival". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  17. ^ Grein, Paul (2013-07-16). "Week Ending July 14, 2013. Albums: Jay-Z Back On The Throne | Chart Watch - Yahoo! Music". Music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  18. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  19. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  20. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail" (in French). Ultratip.
  21. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail" (in French). Les classement single.
  23. ^ "Chart Track: Week 29, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
  24. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  25. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail". Tracklisten.
  26. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail". Top 40 Singles.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail". Singles Top 100.
  29. ^ "GAON Music Charts". Gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2013-7-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  30. ^ "JAY-z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail". Swiss Singles Chart.
  31. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  33. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  34. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  35. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  36. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
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