Ring the Alarm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with the song with the same name by Tenor Saw.
“Ring the Alarm”
“Ring the Alarm” cover
Single by Beyoncé
from the album B'Day
Released October 17, 2006 (U.S.)
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded Sony Music Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre R&B, hip hop soul
Length 3:23 (album version)
3:17 (radio edit)
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Beyoncé Knowles, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, Sean Garrett
Producer Beyoncé Knowles, Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett
Beyoncé singles chronology
"One Night Only"
(2006)		 "Ring the Alarm"
(2006)		 "Upgrade U"
(2006)

"Ring the Alarm" is an R&B–hip hop soul song written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, and Sean Garrett for Beyoncé's second solo album, B'Day (2006). The lyrics speak about a threatened woman with her cheating man. It is noted for its aggressive tone, compared to other tracks in the album.

"Ring the Alarm" was released as the second single to mixed reception. The single debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Beyoncé's highest US entry on her entire musical career. It reached number 11 on the Hot 100, and was B'Day's second lowest charting U.S.-released single, after "Get Me Bodied" peaked at number 68. The song was nominated at the 49th Grammy Awards. The single's music video is inspired by the 1992 film Basic Instinct.

Contents

[edit] Background

[edit] Writing and recording

In 2006, Beyoncé landed on a starring role for a Broadway musical adaptation Dreamgirls, that "heavily" inspired the content and music of the album.[1] While having a vacation after six months of filming, she rushed to the studio to begin working on her second solo album B'Day.[1] Beyoncé revealed: "[When filming ended,] I had so many things bottled up, so many emotions, so many ideas".[1] She called up American songwriter and record producer Sean Garrett, who co-wrote her 2005 multi-platinum single "Check on It", along with Rodney Jerkins and Rich Harrison.[2] She also contacted American hip hop producer-rapper Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, who also co-produced "Check on It".[1] Beyoncé rented Sony Music Studios and booked Garrett, along with other producers, each with one room to work in.[2] He revealed: "I came to the studio and saw the zone…everybody in here is banging out. Rodney Jerkins had his session, Rich Harrison had his session going on…I started banging out some shit."[1] "Ring the Alarm" ended up co-written by Beyoncé, Garrett and Swizz Beatz.[3]

The album's tracks were produced while writing on the lyrics.[1] It was co-arranged by Beyoncé and recorded in the same studio. "Ring the Alarm" was produced by Beyoncé, Garrett and Swizz Beatz.[1] The track was one of the four songs produced by Swizz Beatz. He stated: "That's just one of the many presents I gave her for her B'Day. I have the most tracks on her album as a single producer".[4]

[edit] Artwork controversy

The artwork of B'Day, including the cover of "Ring the Alarm", fueled controversy after Beyoncé used alligators during the photo shoot. Beyoncé revealed that using the animal and taping their mouths shut was her idea. PETA, an animal rights organization which had previous confronted her after she had used furs for her fashion line's clothing design, contacted a biologist who later wrote a letter to Beyoncé:

As a specialist in reptile biology and welfare, I'm concerned about your posing with a terrified baby alligator for your new album cover. Humans and alligators are not natural bedfellows, and the two should not mix at events such as photo shoots. In my view, doing so is arguably abusive to an animal.[5]

[edit] Musical style and lyrics

"Ring the Alarm" is an R&B song performed in a moderately slow tempo. The song is composed in A minor and is set in common time.[6] "Ring the Alarm"'s instrumentation includes drums, other percussion instruments, and synthesizer. The track uses a blaring siren as its introductory sound, creating a more aggressive tone in the song. Beyoncé's strong vocals are enhanced with echo and shimmer, which overlap with one another to create a neo-warm vibe. She incorporates a mezzo-soprano growl for the track.[7] Beyoncé personally commented on the song: "It's energetic, aggressive and filled with hard beats".[8] She also stated that the album was completed in three weeks, and that was the reason most of the record is aggressive.[1]

In an interview, Beyoncé stated: "I didn't want to write some 'angry' song. Swizz's track had that tough vibe, like the guy had cheated, and I wanted to write something honest. If you're in a relationship, even if the man's cheating and you end up not wanting him, the thought of another woman benefiting from the lessons you taught him."[9] The lyrical content of "Ring the Alarm" was rumored to be chronicling about pop starlet Rihanna's relationship with rapper-mogul Jay-Z. [10]

[edit] Release and critical response

At the studio, Beyoncé played "Ring the Alarm" and "Freakum Dress" for the prospect of the next two singles, following "Déjà Vu".[11] She also chose for "Green Light" and "Get Me Bodied" to hit international markets but opted for "Ring the Alarm" to be released as the second single of the album.[8] A two-track CD single was released in the United States on October 3, 2006, two months after the release of "Déjà Vu".[12] A five-track remix CD was released on October 17, including the Karmatronic Remix, Migtight Remix, Tranzformas Remix, Pha Remix and Grizz Remix.[13]

"Ring the Alarm" was received by the public with polarized responses. Eb Haynes of Allhiphop referred the track as "emotionally high-powered" which "rose speculations so arresting, while insignificant".[14] The Boston Globe's Sarah Rodman noted that the song "exposes rage and vulnerability" that "with its dread-filling siren blare, distorted vocals, and slapping backbeat, 'Ring the Alarm' finds Beyonce in full hell-hath-no-fury mode…she sings with grit and urgency that feel genuine."[15] Jonah Weiner of Blender wrote that "'Ring the Alarm,' a storm of clattering percussion and sirens, tackles a Beyoncé evergreen: the inseparability of romance and finance."[16] Chris Richards of The Washington Post defined her character in the song as a "jealousy-crazed ex…Riveting stuff, but without a knockout refrain, she doesn't sound particularly invested in the role."[17] Tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media states, "'Cry Me a River' dazzled on the strength of its symphonic complexity, while 'Ring the Alarm' is an engine of simplistic fury."[18]

Andy Kellman of All Music Guide described it "an angered, atonal, and out-of-character song".[19] Norman Mayers of Prefixmag found the track with an "aggressive shouting and rock edge".[20] Jody Rosen of Entertainment Weekly referred "Ring the Alarm" a "torrid" track where it "finds Beyoncé shouting the refrain through a thick fog of distortion…she sounds positively horrified by the prospect of relinquishing the luxury goodies her boyfriend has bought her—'chinchilla coats,' 'the house on the coast'—to another woman."[21] On his review of the album, Tim Finney of Pitchfork Media quoted that the track is a "siren-assisted caterwaul" and "sounds genuinely (and marvelously) incoherent" and that Beyoncé's voice is "thrillingly sharp with anxiety and paranoia."[22] Brian Hiatt of Rolling Stone stated that "Beyonce sings with enough frantic, quavering intensity to make you believe she really is crazy in love."[23] Spence D. of IGN Music was positive, stating that Beyoncé's "best examples of her vocal stylings meshing with the grooves" come from "Ring the Alarm".[7]

Bill Lamb of About.com commented: "Surprisingly, the first two singles released from B'Day, "Déjà Vu" and "Ring the Alarm," are among the weakest songs here."[24] Bernard Zuel of The Sydney Morning Herald referred to it a "posturing and eventually annoying" track which "highlights another problem with the album."[25]

Beyoncé performed the song at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.[26] "Ring the Alarm" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards but lost out to Mary J. Blige's rendition of her 2005 single "Be Without You".[27]

[edit] Chart performance

"Ring the Alarm" was released as the second North American single from B'Day, with "Irreplaceable" as the second elsewhere. On September 23, 2006, the song debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest U.S. debut of the week and Beyoncé's career.[28][29] The single peaked at number 11 on September 30,[30] becoming Beyoncé's lowest peaking single until "Get Me Bodied" which peaked at number 68.[31] Several weeks after falling off the Hot 100, the single charted again, on January 13, 2007, at number 81,[32] appearing on the chart for 14 weeks.[33]

The single was more successful on Billboard's component charts. "Ring the Alarm" reached the top spot on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales and Hot 100 Singles Sales, number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number seven on the Hot Digital Songs. It appeared on the Rhythmic Top 40 at number 21.[31][34][35]

Elsewhere, "Ring the Alarm" had poor reception. In Sweden, the single debuted at number 57 on January 15, 2007, a week after it re-entered the Hot 100.[36] It topped at number 31 and spent four weeks on the chart.[33] In Brazil and Japan, the single peaked at numbers 13 and 16, respectively.[37] On Media Traffic's United World Chart, "Ring the Alarm" debuted at number 40 and stayed in the spot for five weeks.[33]

[edit] Music video

The music video for "Ring the Alarm" was the second Beyoncé video directed by Sophie Muller after the director worked on "Déjà Vu". The video was shot inside a cavernous hangar on the Brooklyn waterfront, New York City. Beyoncé went back to the studio to continue working on B'Day after the shoot ended for three days.[38] "Ring the Alarm" copies a scene from the 1992 film Basic Instinct, referred by Natalie More of In These Times an infamous scene.[39] Beyoncé wears a white skirt and turtleneck, emulating Sharon Stone.[39] The video premiered at Yahoo! Music on August 16, 2006[8] and debuted on MTV's Total Request Live at number 10 on August 22.[40] The video reached number one and remained on the show for 35 days until it was replaced by "Irreplaceable".[40][41] The video was posted on MTV Overdrive on August 25, 2007.

The video starts with Beyoncé lying on a table, lit with a flashing bright red light. While the siren is blaring, she half-stands and sings while dancing on the table. She then proceeds to an interrogation room set in an environment similar to the one in the film Basic Instinct. Beyoncé sings the first verse in a house with a seashore backdrop. She wants to escape and struggles with masked and uniformed guards in a hallway. She is then brought back to the interrogation room. In between cuts, she sings in a corner of a room, screaming in a mirror and amongst reporters. She cries while singing towards the end of the song.

The video gained mixed responses from critics. Kellman stated that the video "invited all kinds of perplexed analysis".[19] Jose Antonio Vargas of the The Washington Post characterized Beyoncé in the video a "ranting, angry woman".[42] Elizabeth Goodman of Rolling Stone speculated that the use of guards in riot gear is a reference to Alias.[43] Tom Breihan of The Village Voice called it "quick-and-dirty" video and a "fast montage of disconnected and disconnecting images".[44] Roger Friedman of FOX News found it a "bizarre video depicting a wildly angry and unappealing Beyonce telling off someone (maybe Jay-Z?) for cheating as if she were an enraged guest on Maury Povich."[45]

[edit] Formats and track listing

These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "Ring the Alarm":

CD Maxi single
  1. "Ring the Alarm" (Karmatronic remix)
  2. "Ring the Alarm" (Migtight remix)
  3. "Ring the Alarm" (The Tranzformas remix, featuring Collie Buddz)
  4. "Ring the Alarm" (Jazze Pha remix)
  5. "Ring the Alarm" (Grizz remix)
CD Single
  1. "Ring the Alarm" (Album version)
  2. "Ring the Alarm" (Instrumental)
Promo 12" vinyl [46]
  1. Tranzformas Remix - Featuring Collie Buddz 4:12
  2. Tranzformas Remix - Instrumental 4:12
  3. Album Version 3:23
  4. Grizz Remix 3:32
  5. Grizz Remix - Instrumental 3:13
  6. Jazze Pha Remix 3:47
  7. Jazze Pha Remix - Instrumental 3:45

[edit] Credits and personnel

  • Recorded by: Jim Caruana
    • Assisted by: Rob Kinelski
  • Mixed by: Jason Goldstein and Swizz Beatz
    • Assisted by Steve Tolle

[edit] Charts

Chart (2006)[31][33][34] Peak
position
Brazil Hot 100 13
Japan Singles Chart 16
Sweden Singles Top 60 31
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 11
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 3
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 3
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 21
United World Chart 37

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Reid, Shaheem. "Be All You Can, B.", MTV News, MTV Networks. Retrieved on 2008-02-01. 
  2. ^ a b Conniff, Tamara. "Beyoncé Builds Buzz For 'B-Day'", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., (June 16, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-01. 
  3. ^ B'Day deluxe edition - CD liner notes, Sony Music BMG Entertainment, 2007 
  4. ^ MTV News staff. "For The Record: Quick News On Eminem, Aaliyah, Panic! At The Disco, DMX, Beyonce, Britney Spears & More", MTV News, MTV Networks, (August 25, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-01. 
  5. ^ TMZ Staff (August 29, 2006). PETA Wants Gator-aid From Beyoncé. TMZ.com. TMZ Productions, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  6. ^ Beyoncé Digital Sheet Music: Ring the Alarm. Musicnotes.com. Musicnotes, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  7. ^ a b D., Spence (September 5, 2006). Beyonce - B'Day: Sophomore slump narrowly avoided.. Music.ign.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  8. ^ a b c Concepcion, Mariel. "Beyoncé Rings The Alarm on Vibe.com", VIBE, Vibe Media Group, Inc., (August 16, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-04. 
  9. ^ Beyonce - Biography. Music World Entertainment. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  10. ^ Hashem, Warren (August 24, 2006). Beyonce's Dad: Someone is Trying to Sabotage the B'Day Album. VIBE. Vibe Media Group, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  11. ^ Coniff, Tamara (June 19, 2006). Beyonce's little secret. Originally from Billboard. Azcentral.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  12. ^ Ring the Alarm [2 Tracks]. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  13. ^ Ring the Alarm [5 Tracks]. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  14. ^ Haynes, Eb (September 20, 2006). B'Day. Allhiphop. Infinity, Allhiphop.com, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  15. ^ Rodman, Sarah (September 04, 2006). Beyonce shows rage and range on new release. The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  16. ^ Wiener, Jonah. Beyoncé: B’Day. Blender Magazine. Dennis Digital, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  17. ^ Richards, Chris (September 06, 2006). Beyonce's 'B'Day' Is Nothing to Celebrate. The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  18. ^ Breihan, Tom (August 22, 2006). Pitchfork Track Reviews: Ring The Alarm. Pitchfork Media. Pitchforkmedia, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  19. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. Album review: B'Day. All Music Guide. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  20. ^ Mayers, Norman (September 18, 2006). Beyoncé: B Day. Prefixmag.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  21. ^ Rosen, Jody (September 01, 2006). B'Day (2006): Beyonce Knowles. Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  22. ^ Finney, Tim (September 07, 2006). Pitchfork Record Reviews: B'Day. Pitchfork Media. Pitchforkmedia, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  23. ^ Hiatt, Brian (September 20, 2006). Beyoncé: B'day. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  24. ^ Lamb, Bill. Beyonce - B'Day: Beyonce Steps Several Steps Forward on Her B'Day. About.com. About, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  25. ^ Zuel, Bernard (September 08, 2006). B'Day. Smh.com. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  26. ^ Montgomery, James. "Underdog Night At The VMAs: Panic, Gnarls, Blunt, Chamillionaire Win Big", MTV News, MTV Networks, (September 01, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-02-04. 
  27. ^ "49th GRAMMY Nominees Announced", Grammy, The Recording Academy, (December 07, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-04. 
  28. ^ Billboard Hot 100. αCharts.us (chart dated September 23, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  29. ^ Hope, Clover. "Timberlake's 'Sexy' Fends Off Fergie For No. 1", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., September 14, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  30. ^ Billboard Hot 100. αCharts.us (chart dated September 30, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  31. ^ a b c Beyoncé: Artist Chart History. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  32. ^ Billboard Hot 100. αCharts.us (chart dated January 13, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  33. ^ a b c d "Ring The Alarm" Global charts and trajectories. αCharts.us. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  34. ^ a b Beyoncé: Billboard Singles. All Music Guide. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  35. ^ Beyoncé Knowles. Rock On The Net. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  36. ^ Sweden Singles Top 60. αCharts.us (chart dated January 15, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  37. ^ Beyone Knowles: Ring The Alarm Full Chart History. Top40-charts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  38. ^ Blender editors (October 2006). Beyoncé: The Ice Princess. Blender Magazine. Dennis Digital, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  39. ^ a b Moore, Natalie (November 17, 2006). Beyonce’s Bootyful B’Day. In These Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  40. ^ a b TRL Debuts. Popfusion. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  41. ^ TRL Number Ones. Popfusion. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
  42. ^ Vargas, Jose Antonio (September 09, 2006). Beyonce, Trying To Find Her Own Destiny. The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  43. ^ Goodman, Elizabeth (August 17, 2006). Video of the Day: Beyonce “Ring the Alarm”. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  44. ^ Breihan, Tom (August 17, 2006). Beyonce's "Ring the Alarm": Conspiracy Theories. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  45. ^ Friedman, Roger. "First Look: Beyonce's New Album 'B'Day'", FOX News, FOX News Network, LLC, August 17, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-02-11. 
  46. ^ http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=383303 12" vinyl sales

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Beyoncé Knowles
Studio albums
DVDs
Singles
"Work It Out" · "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" · "Crazy in Love" · "Baby Boy" · "Me, Myself and I"  · "Naughty Girl" · "Check on It"  · "Déjà Vu" · "Ring the Alarm" · "Irreplaceable" · "Listen" · "Beautiful Liar" · "Get Me Bodied"  · "Green Light"
Other songs
Filmography
Tours
Related articles