Beautiful Monster

"Beautiful Monster"
Single by Ne-Yo
from the album Libra Scale
Released June 8, 2010
Format Digital download
Recorded
Genre Europop, dance-pop
Length 4:11
Label Def Jam
Writer(s) Shaffer Smith, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm
Producer(s) Stargate, Sandy Vee
Ne-Yo singles chronology
"Super High"
(2010)		 "Beautiful Monster"
(2010)		 "Champagne Life"
(2010)

"Beautiful Monster" is a song by American singer Ne-Yo from his fourth studio album, Libra Scale. The song was released to iTunes as the album's first single on June 8, 2010. The song was written by Ne-Yo, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Sandy Wilhelm, and it was produced by Stargate and Sandy Vee.[1] It has received initial positive reception, with Ne-Yo's vocals being compared to the vocal styling of Michael Jackson.

Background

"Beautiful Monster"'s original cover art was revealed online on May 21, 2010, which was a close-up of Ne-Yo's profile with a mysterious woman lurking in a forest in the background.[2] Although another cover art was revealed with the forest background altered to a city including buildings and a flashing car light, the original cover with the forest background was eventually selected as the official cover art.[3] The song was written by Ne-Yo and produced by longtime collaborators Stargate, responsible for producing some of his biggest hits such as "So Sick", "Because of You", and "Closer". The remix features Brooklyn hip-hop artist Israel The ILLa Real.[4] "Beautiful Monster" premiered online on May 25, 2010.[5]

Composition
"Beautiful Monster"
A sample of "Beautiful Monster", which includes influences such as Eurodisco and house, featuring Ne-Yo's R&B vocal stylings, which have been compared to those of Michael Jackson
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Beautiful Monster" is an uptempo dance song, containing new rave, Europop, and Ibiza influences,[3][6][7][8] featuring Ne-Yo's R&B vocals over "strobing dancefloor beats."[9] "Beautiful Monster", a pop piece,[8] features a Eurodisco feel,[6] described as "spookily anthemic", having "big filler sweeps", house beats, and "decimated snare builds" of '90s electronica.[8] The song has been compared to the sound of Michael Jackson, specifically Ne-Yo's "backing vocals and audible breath intake" according to Bill Lamb of About.com.[6] Alistair Dickinson of PopMatters said "Ne-Yo’s Michael Jackson-esque wails and screams are still in full effect". The song is composed of "out-of-tranc-y keyboard lines" and a "throbbing drumbeat."[7] "Beautiful Monster" consists lyrically about being attracted to a dangerous woman.[9] August Brown of The Los Angeles Times compared the "topical and sonic" content of the song to Lady Gaga's work on The Fame Monster, specifically the lyrical basis of "Bad Romance" and "Monster".[8] The song is written in common time with a maintaining tempo of 125 beats per minute, written in F minor, and Ne-Yo's vocals range two octaves from F4 to B♭5.[10]

Meanwhile, Ne-Yo himself described the lyrical background to the song to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis - Assistant Editor of Blues & Soul - thus: "The song itself is a small piece of a much larger puzzle. In that the album it comes from - Libra Scale - is based upon this short story that I wrote, which basically follows these three characters who are forced to choose between money-power-and-fame versus love... And the song 'Beautiful Monster' actually represents the mind-state of the man in the story whenever he comes into contact with his love interest-slash-nemesis. Whose name is Diamond Eye, and who really is best described as 'a beautiful monster'! You know, she's forbidden fruit; she's that girl who you know is gonna be nothing but trouble... But - because she's so intriguing - even if it literally might cost you your life, you still cannot resist her aura. Which is where the hook 'She's a monster, a beautiful monster; But I don't mind' comes from!"[11]

Critical reception

August Brown of The Los Angeles Times complimented the song, calling "his most evocative effort" and Ne-Yo's vocals, stating, "no male pop singer short of T-Pain can stack harmonies better right now, and when he peels off those runs of "I don't mind" after the choruses".[8] However Brown commented that, "Ne-Yo is better at writing dark edges into songs than performing them himself; he's just too put-together to truly do the freakily possessed lover act."[8] Bill Lamb of About.com favored the track's "burbling Eurodisco feel", and commented, "It also always feels like the ghost of Michael Jackson is never far away in the music of Ne-Yo."[6] Alistair Dickinson of PopMatters also gave the song a positive review, comparing it to Michael Jackson.[7] Brad Wete of Entertainment Weekly compared the song to Ne-Yo's previous hit "Closer", stating, "Ne-Yo’s brand of progressive R&B has a been a winner so far. 'Monster' should be a beast, too."[4] Although Mariel Concepcion of Billboard said the song did not boast the lyricism of Ne-Yo's past songs, she said, "the beat's thumping bassline and the singer/songwriter's smooth voice make for a perfect combination on this summer hit in the making."[12]

Chart performance

"Beautiful Monster" was most successful in the United Kingdom, where it became Ne-Yo's third single to top the UK Singles Chart after "So Sick" in March 2006 and "Closer" in June 2008, and reached the top ten in Korea and Italy, becoming Ne-Yo's highest peak there. It was certified Platinum in Italy for sales over 30,000 units. In the U.S., however, it didn't even crack the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number fifty three. It failed to match the success of the lead singles from his previous three albums, "So Sick", "Because of You" and "Closer", which all reached the top 10. The song, however, did top the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, making it his second number one there after 2008's "Closer".

Music video

The video for "Beautiful Monster" premiered on July 14, 2010 along with the video for "Champagne Life". The video beings with Ne-Yo stumbling through an alley (possibly intoxicated) and causing havoc with his supernatural powers. These powers were demonstrated in the music video for "One in a Million" where he levitates a rose to a woman to court her and stops a moving taxi to keep her from ignoring him. After throwing a car and causing an explosion, Ne-Yo encounters two men with long dreadlocks and white suits that drop from the sky to fight him. Both men have glowing, white, right eyes that represent the "Beautiful Monster's" influence over them. After choreographed fighting, Ne-Yo defeats the two men and quickly arrives at a red carpet event. He then walks into a club where all of a sudden, everyone freezes mid-action. Some of these clubbers start dancing (all with the glowing white eye) and send Ne-Yo into another room where the "Beautiful Monster" waited. After a heated struggle, the Monster flashes both her silver, glowing eyes at Ne-Yo. For the rest of the video, Ne-Yo has his hat over his right eye and dances with other people in white suits, showing that the "Beautiful Monster" had won and he was now hers.

This video is the last video in a series that Ne-Yo created. The first music video in the series is "Champagne Life" where it shows Ne-Yo to be a part of a crime fighting group that's living the life with money, women and fame. The second video of the series is "One in a Million" where Ne-Yo has his pick of the women but spends his entire time trying to court a seemingly uninterested girl. His supernatural powers are demonstrated in this video for the first time. The third and final music video of the series is "Beautiful Monster" where it shows that the Monster who leads to Ne-Yo's demise is actually the uninterested girl from the previous video.

Promotion

Ne-Yo performed the song for the first time in Brooklyn on June 14, 2010.[13] He also performed the song on So You Think You Can Dance on July 1, 2010,[14] on the Rede Globo Brazilian TV show Altas Horas, on August 14, 2010 and on German talent show Popstars: Girls forever on September 23, 2010.

Track listing

  1. "Beautiful Monster" – 4:11
  1. "Beautiful Monster" (Album Version) – 4:12
  2. "Beautiful Monster" (Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda Remix Edit) – 4:11
  1. "Beautiful Monster" (Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda Remix Edit) – 4:11
  2. "Beautiful Monster" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Save The Soul Edit) – 4:33
  3. "Beautiful Monster" (Low Sunday Terrified Edit) – 4:24
  4. "Beautiful Monster" (Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda Remix Extended) – 6:36
  5. "Beautiful Monster" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Save The Soul Club) – 9:43
  6. "Beautiful Monster" (Low Sunday Terrified Club) – 7:22
  7. "Beautiful Monster" (Mixin Marc & Tony Svedja Remix Instrumental) – 6:36
  8. "Beautiful Monster" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Save The Soul Anthem Dub) – 9:43
  9. "Beautiful Monster" (Low Sunday Terrified Dub) – 8:00

Personnel

Source:[16]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 20
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[19] 13
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 40
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[21] 40
Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 39
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[23] 7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 14
France Download (SNEP)[25] 50
Germany (Official German Charts)[26] 13
Hungary (Single Top 40)[27] 9
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[28] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 9
Israel (Media Forest)[30] 1
Italy (FIMI)[31] 3
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[32] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 28
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[34] 20
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[35] 2
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[36] 11
South Korea (GAON)[37] 3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 51
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 15
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[40] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 53
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[42] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[43] 61
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 26
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[45] 24

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
European Hot 100 Singles[46] 73
German Singles Chart[47] 92
Hungarian Airplay Chart[48] 82
Italian Singles Chart[49] 17
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[50] 39

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Italy (FIMI)[51] 2× Platinum 60,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Gold 400,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by
"All Time Low" by The Wanted		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
August 8, 2010 – August 14, 2010 		Succeeded by
"Club Can't Handle Me" by Flo Rida featuring David Guetta
Preceded by
"Wouldnit (I'm a Star)" by Ono		 Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number-one single
October 2, 2010 – October 9, 2010 		Succeeded by
"You Lost Me" by Christina Aguilera

Release history

Radio adds

Country Date Format
United States June 8, 2010 Mainstream airplay[53]
Rhythmic airplay[53]

Purchaseable release

Country Date Format Label
United States[15] June 8, 2010 Digital download Island Def Jam
Canada[54]
United Kingdom August 1, 2010 Digital download Mercury

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Legal Title: "Beautiful Monster" Ne-Yo". ASCAP. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  2. ↑ "Ne-Yo to Unleash ‘Beautiful Monster,’ New Album Due in September". Rap-Up. 2010-05-21. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  3. 1 2 "New Music: Ne-Yo – ‘Beautiful Monster’ [Snippet]". Rap-Up. 2010-05-23. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  4. 1 2 Wete, Brad (2010-05-25). "Ne-Yo unleashes 'Beautiful Monster': Stream the first single from the upcoming album here". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  5. ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson (May 25, 2010). "Ne-Yo Single 'Beautiful Monster' Debuts". MTV news. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Lamb, Bill (2010-05-25). "Ne-Yo's New Single "Beautiful Monster" Debuts". About.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  7. 1 2 3 Dickinson, Alistair (2010-05-28). "Ne-Yo Meets a "Beautiful Monster"". PopMatters. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brown, August (2010-05-25). "Snap Judgment: Ne-Yo's "Beautiful Monster"". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  9. 1 2 Anderson, Sara D. (2010-05-26). "Ne-Yo, 'Beautiful Monster' -- New Song". AOL Radio Blog. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  10. ↑ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0096257&ref=google
  11. ↑ "Ne-Yo interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2010". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  12. ↑ Concepcion, Mariel (2010-06-18). "Ne-Yo, "Beautiful Monster"". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 23 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
  13. ↑ thainadovale on 2/19/2011 3:09:00 PM. "Ne-Yo : Blog : Video: Ne-Yo Performing "Beautiful Monster" In Brooklyn". Yearofthegentleman.com. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  14. ↑ thainadovale on 2/19/2011 3:09:00 PM. "Ne-Yo : Blog : Ne-Yo "Beautiful Monster" YouTube Contest!". Yearofthegentleman.com. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  15. 1 2 "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  16. ↑ Beautiful Monster (liner notes). Ne-Yo. Def Jam Recordings. 2010.
  17. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for ne-yo.
  21. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201029 into search.
  22. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster". Tracklisten.
  23. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" European Hot 100 for ne-yo.
  24. ↑ "Ne-Yo: Beautiful Monster" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  25. ↑ "Classement des ventes de titres téléchargés en France du 27 septembre au 03 octobre 2010" (in French). Chartsinfrance. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  26. ↑ "Musicline.de – Ne-Yo Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  27. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  28. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  29. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 29, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
  30. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  31. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster". Top Digital Download.
  32. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for ne-yo.
  33. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  34. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster". Top 40 Singles.
  35. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2010-08-07". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  36. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201029 into search.
  37. ↑ "GAON Music Charts". Gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  38. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster". Singles Top 100.
  39. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster". Swiss Singles Chart.
  40. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2010-08-14" UK Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for ne-yo.
  42. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for ne-yo.
  43. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for ne-yo.
  44. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for ne-yo.
  45. ↑ "ne-yo – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for ne-yo.
  46. ↑ "European Hot 100". Billboard.com. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  47. ↑ Archived January 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  48. ↑ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2010" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  49. ↑ "FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Ricerche e dati di mercato". Fimi.it. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  50. ↑ "Year end chart: Billboard Hot Dance Club Play". Archived from the original on 29 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  51. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Ne-Yo in the field Filtra. Select 2010 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
  52. ↑ "British single certifications – Ne-Yo – Beautiful Monster". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Beautiful Monster in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  53. 1 2 "Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  54. ↑ "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2011-02-20.

External links

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