Freakum Dress
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"Freakum Dress" is a song by American singer
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
from her second solo studio album '' B'Day'' (2006). It was written by Beyoncé,
Rich Harrison Richard Christopher Harrison (born 1979) is an American record producer and songwriter specializing in R&B and hip hop music. The winner of a Grammy Award, Harrison is well known for producing songs such as " Get Right" (performed by Jennifer ...
,
Angela Beyincé Angela Renee Beyincé (born October 25, 1976) is an American songwriter, actress, and music executive. She is a cousin of American singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, and has made songwriting contributions to several of Beyoncé's albums inclu ...
and
Makeba Riddick Makeba Riddick-Woods, also known as Girl Wonder, is an American songwriter and singer who has been active in the music industry since 2002. Born and raised in West Baltimore, Maryland, she signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2008. Background Ri ...
. "Freakum Dress" received comparisons to
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...
songs recorded in the 1990s. The song's production includes
whistles A whistle is a musical instrument which produces sound from a stream of gas, most commonly air. It is a type of fipple flute, and may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means. Whistles vary in size from a small sl ...
,
cymbal A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sou ...
dominated scatter
rhythm Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular r ...
s and a
beat Beat, beats, or beating may refer to: Common uses * Assault, inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact * Battery (crime), a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact * Battery (tort), a civil wrong in common law of inte ...
augmented by
hi-hats A hi-hat (hihat, high-hat, etc.) is a combination of two cymbals and a pedal, all mounted on a metal stand. It is a part of the standard drum kit used by drummers in many styles of music including rock, pop, jazz, and blues. Hi-hats consist o ...
and plinking keyboard pulses. Lyrically, Beyoncé advises women who have partners with straying eyes to put on alluring dresses and grind on other guys in dance clubs, to regain their affections. "Freakum Dress" was generally well received by music critics who complimented Beyoncé's vocals as well as the assertiveness with which she delivers the lyrics. Many of them also noted that the beat of song melds very well with the vocal arrangement and the instruments used. The music video for the song was directed by Ray Kay, with co-direction from Beyoncé, for the '' B'Day Anthology Video Album'' (2007). It features Beyoncé dancing with women of different ages, races, and sizes. Thirty metallic dresses were designed by
Tina Knowles Celestine Ann "Tina" Beyoncé Knowles (born January 4, 1954) is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, author, and philanthropist known for establishing the brands House of Deréon and Miss Tina by Tina Knowles. She is the mother of singe ...
and were used in the production. Beyoncé explained that the main reason behind shooting a video for the song was to show what a "freakum dress" looks like. The song was part of the
set list A set list, or setlist, is typically a handwritten or printed document created as an ordered list of songs, jokes, stories and other elements an artist intends to present during a specific performance. A setlist can be made of nearly any materi ...
s of several of Beyoncé's worldwide tours, including
The Beyoncé Experience The Beyoncé Experience was the second concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé, in-support of her sophomore studio album, '' B'Day'' (2006). The Beyoncé Experience consisted of 96 shows in 2007, spread-out over five legs. Fan club t ...
(2007), I Am... World Tour (2009–10), and
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. Announced in February 2013 with initial dates in Europe and North America, the tour contained seven legs and 132 shows. It began in Belgrade, Serb ...
(2013) as well as her 2012 revue Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live. In 2016, the song was played during an interlude on
The Formation World Tour The Formation World Tour was the seventh concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé in support of her sixth studio album, ''Lemonade'' (2016). The all-stadium tour was announced following her guest appearance at the Super Bowl 50 halfti ...
. "Freakum Dress" ranked number one on ''Billboard''s "100 Best Deep Cuts by 21st Century Pop Stars" list.


Recording and conception

"Freakum Dress" was conceived at
Sony Music Studios Sony Music Studios was an American music recording and mastering facility in New York City. The five-story building was a music and broadcasting complex located at 460 W. 54th Street, at 10th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhat ...
, in New York City, when Beyoncé enlisted Harrison to co-produce for her album '' B'Day'' (2006). She and Harrison had previously collaborated on her 2003 single "
Crazy in Love "Crazy in Love" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé featuring guest vocals from American rapper Jay-Z. It was written by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Rich Harrison, and produced by the last two. "Crazy in Love" is a pop, hip hop, and ...
". She arranged for Harrison,
Sean Garrett Garrett Robin Hamler (born March 30, 1979), known professionally as Sean Garrett, is an American record producer and songwriter. He is known his songwriting work on a series of commercially successful R&B and hip-hop songs, beginning with Ush ...
and
Rodney Jerkins Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), better known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists. Jerkins has won two Grammy Awards from 19 nomi ...
to be given individual rooms at the studio. In this way, Beyoncé fostered "healthy competition" between the producers by going into each of their rooms and commenting on the "great beats" the others were creating.
Roger Friedman Roger Dattyres Friedman (born June 11, 1957) is an American journalist and gossip blogger.
of
Fox News Channel The Fox News Channel (FNC), commonly known as Fox News, is an American multinational conservative news and political commentary television channel and website based in New York City, U.S. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is ow ...
noted that "Freakum Dress" and "
Suga Mama "Suga Mama" is a song by American singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, ''B'Day (Beyoncé album), B'Day'' (2006). It was written by Knowles, Rich Harrison, and Makeba Riddick, and produced by Harrison and Knowles. "Suga Mama" is i ...
" (2006), Harrison's other contribution to ''B'Day'' "fall short of originality but mimic the Chi Lites percussion section f "Crazy in Love"yet again", adding, "Harrison is like the
Indiana Jones ''Indiana Jones'' is an American media franchise consisting of five films and a prequel television series, along with games, comics, and tie-in novels, that depicts the adventures of Indiana Jones (character), Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, ...
of soul, constantly pulling out forgotten gems of the past for sampling ..You can't help but think: Thank God someone wrote music in the past that can be repurposed now." Harrison coined the term "Freakum dress” for a “sassy sartorial item that can help recharge a relationship" and co-wrote the song with Beyoncé,
Angela Beyincé Angela Renee Beyincé (born October 25, 1976) is an American songwriter, actress, and music executive. She is a cousin of American singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, and has made songwriting contributions to several of Beyoncé's albums inclu ...
and
Makeba Riddick Makeba Riddick-Woods, also known as Girl Wonder, is an American songwriter and singer who has been active in the music industry since 2002. Born and raised in West Baltimore, Maryland, she signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2008. Background Ri ...
. In an interview with ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'', Beyoncé talked about the content "Freakum Dress", stating that an outfit which reminds of the best moments in a couple's life, is a necessity for every woman's wardrobe. In June 2006, Beyoncé invited Tamara Coniff of ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' to a New York recording studio. There she premiered several songs from the album including "
Ring the Alarm "Ring the Alarm" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her second studio album, '' B'Day'' (2006). It was written by Beyoncé, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, and Sean Garrett. Columbia Records released "Ring the Alarm" as the second sin ...
" (2006) and "Freakum Dress", both were cited as possible second singles although in the end it was actually "Ring the Alarm" that became ''B'Day''s second single. Beyoncé told Coniff that "Freakum Dress" was one of her favorite songs ever.


Music and theme

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by
Hal Leonard Corporation Hal Leonard LLC (formerly Hal Leonard Corporation) is an American music publishing and distribution company founded in Winona, Minnesota, by Harold "Hal" Edstrom, his brother, Everett "Leonard" Edstrom, and fellow musician Roger Busdicker. Cur ...
, "Freakum Dress" is a moderate R&B song played “with a steady beat”, in
common time A time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, and measure signature) is an indication in music notation that specifies how many note values of a particular type fit into each measure ( bar). The time signature indicates the ...
, written in the key of F♯-Minor; the range of the composition is from a low C♯4 to F♯5. The song’s verses alternate from the chords of F♯ and C. The track also draws from the
hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
,
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
, and
dance-pop Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
genres. Mike Joseph of ''
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'' observed that the song shows influences by 1970s
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
music, and contains limited elements of 1980s go-go. According to Phil Harrison of '' Time Out'', "Freakum Dress" consists of a steady "long
crescendo In music, the dynamics of a piece are the variation in loudness between notes or phrases. Dynamics are indicated by specific musical notation, often in some detail. However, dynamics markings require interpretation by the performer depending ...
, welding galloping beats and a steamrolling two-
note Note, notes, or NOTE may refer to: Music and entertainment * Musical note, a pitched sound (or a symbol for a sound) in music * ''Notes'' (album), a 1987 album by Paul Bley and Paul Motian * ''Notes'', a common (yet unofficial) shortened versi ...
riff A riff is a short, repeated motif or figure in the melody or accompaniment of a musical composition. Riffs are most often found in rock music, punk, heavy metal music, Latin, funk, and jazz, although classical music is also sometimes based ...
", accompanied by several genres of music, which he qualified as "multi-tracked". Spence D. of
IGN Music ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former edi ...
noted that the song consists of frequent
whistles A whistle is a musical instrument which produces sound from a stream of gas, most commonly air. It is a type of fipple flute, and may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means. Whistles vary in size from a small sl ...
as well as crashing
cymbal A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sou ...
dominated scatter
rhythm Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular r ...
s and a beat which fits the "powerful, loud, confident lines" in which Beyoncé asks for the attention of her man, and urges women to have a beautiful dress to spice up their sexual life. "Freakum Dress" opens with a spoken
introduction Introduction, The Introduction, Intro, or The Intro may refer to: General use * Introduction (music), an opening section of a piece of music * Introduction (writing), a beginning section to a book, article or essay which states its purpose and g ...
. Throughout the song, Beyoncé sings her lines in an assertive manner on melding shattering
hi-hats A hi-hat (hihat, high-hat, etc.) is a combination of two cymbals and a pedal, all mounted on a metal stand. It is a part of the standard drum kit used by drummers in many styles of music including rock, pop, jazz, and blues. Hi-hats consist o ...
" and plinking keyboard pulses. According to Joseph, "Freakum Dress" is thematically similar to "
Bills, Bills, Bills "Bills, Bills, Bills" is a song by American girl group Destiny's Child from their second studio album, '' The Writing's on the Wall'' (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, Kelly Rowland, Kandi Burruss, and Kevin "She'kspe ...
" (1999) and "
Say My Name "Say My Name" is a song by American group Destiny's Child from their second studio album, '' The Writing's on the Wall'' (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerki ...
" (2000), from the
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...
era.
Ann Powers Ann K. Powers (born February 4, 1964) is an American writer and popular music critic. She is a music critic for NPR and a contributor at the ''Los Angeles Times'', where she was previously chief pop critic. She has also written for other publicat ...
of ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' noted that "Freakum Dress" celebrates showing off.
Jon Pareles Jon Pareles (born 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' viewed the concept of the song as not merely having a nice wardrobe to entice men, but it also serves as "a means of self-assertion." In the song, the female protagonist pulls out her best dress to remind her potentially wandering mate of what he is leaving at home. Jody Rosen of ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' added that Beyoncé also seemingly gives professional advice to women on how to hold a man's attention in a long-term relationship. She sings: "I think I'm ready/ Been locked up in the house way too long / It's time to get it, eause once again he's out doing wrong ..Wear very skimpy clothes...". Joseph commented that in the song, Beyoncé is capable of wearing anything to keep her man by her side rather than dumping him. Sarah Rodman of ''
The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...
'' added that after having skirted her best dress, Beyoncé eyes other guys in dance clubs to make her own man jealous, in the hope of regaining his attention but she also makes sure that he really pays when he does her wrong. Beyoncé later refers to her "freakum dress" in "Jealous", a track from her fifth studio album ''
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
'' (2013).


Reception

The song received mostly positive reviews. Phil Harrison of '' Time Out'' called "Freakum Dress" a “magnificent production” thanks to its vocal arrangements and commented that its beat can "drive the boys crazy." Brian Hiatt of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'' magazine wrote that even though "Freakum Dress" was less harmonically and melodically “produced” than songs such as "Crazy In Love" (2003), or even songs from the
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...
era, it remains a “good track” due to its highly energetic beat. Jaime Gill of
Yahoo! Music Yahoo Music was a brand under which Yahoo provided music services including Internet radio, a digital music store, music streaming service, media player software, and original programming. Yahoo Music was sold to Rhapsody in early 2008. Pro ...
called the track "discordant" and "menacing", while Jon Pareles of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' called it "overwrought". In a separate review, Jon Pareles said that the song will remain as one of Beyoncé's most memorable tracks thanks to its streak of rage, which is "perfectly groomed but unmistakable". Bill Lamb of
About.com Dotdash Meredith (formerly The Mining Company, About.com and Dotdash) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, hom ...
chose "Freakum Dress" as one of the three best songs on the entire record, and called it a “powerful, emotionally intensive and energetic track”. Caroline Sullivan of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' called the song a "lighthearted crunk spree" that reminds girls of the significance of having a nice dress in their wardrobe. Mike Joseph of
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
complimented the overall concept of the song, noting that the lyrics do not "radiate" enough warmth. Sal Cinquemani of ''
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New Yor ...
'' jokingly said that Beyoncé has added the term "Freakum Dress" "to the
pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...
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." Elysa Gardner of ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' said that "self-assurance is evident on a tune on ''B'Day'' called 'Freakum Dress'", while another review by the staff members of the same magazine complimented the song's sexual imagery, stating "…When Ms. Bootylicious eyoncésings of squeezing that jelly into a 'Freakum Dress', the imagination runs wilder than any video would.” Darryl Sterdan, writing for the Canadian website ''
Jam! Jam! was a Canadian website which covered entertainment news. It was part of the Canoe.com online portal, formerly owned and operated by Quebecor through its Sun Media division, and now owned by Postmedia Network. Jam! was the only media outl ...
'', complimented the song's "bashing beat and irresistible chorus". Andy Kellman of
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
described "Freakum dress" as a "blaring and marching" track. Calling "Freakum Dress" one of the best dance tracks that Beyoncé has ever sung, Norman Mayers of ''Prefix Magazine'' chose it as one of the standout songs of the album. While reviewing ''B'Day'', Chuck Arnold of ''
People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...
'' magazine wrote, "'…ladies' anthem 'Freakum Dress' finds Beyoncé working all her bootylicious powers over some slamming funk…". "Freakum Dress" reached number twenty-five on the US
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...
chart issue dated September 9, 2007. Note: Billboard.biz subscription is required to access the source. The same day, it also charted on the US
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 po ...
chart at number sixteen.


Music video


Concept and filming

The music video was co-directed by Ray Kay and Beyoncé for the '' B'Day Anthology Video Album'', which was released the same month: it was one of eight videos shot in two weeks for the album. The choreography was done by Danielle Polanco and Jonte' Moaning, who used a
1980s retro 1980s nostalgia is nostalgia for certain aspects of the 1980s. 1980s nostalgia is a form of decade nostalgia. 1980s retro is Retro style, retro related to the 1980s. 1980s revival is the revival of some aspect or aspects of the 1980s. Duration an ...
set. Beyoncé explained the concept of the video at
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
: "It's probably the most flamboyant video, and the metallic dresses are so beautiful, they added so much color. I had to do a video for this song. Everyone wanted to know what a 'freakum dress' was, and you can't really explain it, you have to see it. Everyone has their own version, so we had so many women — of different races, sizes, shapes, ages — because we all have those dresses we pull out when we need to shut it down." After two weeks of shooting, Beyoncé decided to call her mother
Tina Tina may refer to: People *Tina (given name), people and fictional characters with the given name ''Tina'' Places * Tina, Iran, a village in Khuzestan Province, Iran * Tina, Tunisia, a town in Sfax Governorate, Tunisia * Tina, Guadalcanal, Solom ...
. The latter designed thirty dresses for the video, with eight of them for her daughter. Due to limited time, certain dress were sewed on the spot in approximately ten minutes each by taking fabric from one dress, making a slit in it, draping it and putting a belt on it. The glasses that Beyoncé wears in the video were borrowed from her
make-up Cosmetics are substances that are intended for application to the body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. They are mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources or created syn ...
artist, Francesca Tolot. The video was finished in about eighteen hours of filming and it features Ebony Haith from the first cycle of ''America's Next Top Model''. Throughout the video, Beyoncé can be seen fixing her hair in a
neon Neon is a chemical element; it has symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is the second noble gas in the periodic table. Neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas under standard conditions, with approximately two-thirds the density of ...
mirror and is surrounded by neon-constructed doors, catwalks and podiums. It premiered on
BET Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting Black American audiences. It is the flagship channel of the BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group. Originally launched ...
's ''
106 & Park ''106 & Park'' is an American hip hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast on weekdays at 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT on BET; it aired on a one-day delay on BET International. It was the network's highest- rated ...
'' and on American Music Channel, among others, before the release of the video anthology.


Synopsis and reception

The video begins with Beyoncé dancing in front of a target before moving to her putting on blush and lipstick next to two other men in a room full of neon framed mirrors. The men then pull a dress onto her and as the chorus begins, she walks by several women dancing on neon boxes before beginning to do a dance routine with them. As the chorus ends, she is shown surrounded by several men in a dark room and dancing in front of barcode-like walls. The video then moves to her walking down a neon
catwalk A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase their upcoming line of clothing and/or accessories during a fashion week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons. This is where ...
. As the bridge starts, she begins doing a fierce dance routine, while constantly switching dresses. A scene is then shown with her dancers pretending to be paparazzi swarming her with microphones, before ending with Beyoncé whipping her hair in front of the target. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave a negative review for the video, describing it as "sloppily edited". He further commented that it "plays out like a cheap fashion show for House of Deréon instead of the couture-as-weapons anthem it should be".


Live performances

Although Beyoncé did not perform "Freakum Dress" in any televised appearances, the song was part of her set list on
The Beyoncé Experience The Beyoncé Experience was the second concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé, in-support of her sophomore studio album, '' B'Day'' (2006). The Beyoncé Experience consisted of 96 shows in 2007, spread-out over five legs. Fan club t ...
. On August 5, 2007, Beyoncé performed the song at the
Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...
in
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, where she directly started the song with the line: "Stop, I ain’t ready yet — wait, let me fix my hair...". Jon Pareles of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' praised the performance, stating: "Beyoncé needs no distractions from her singing, which can be airy or brassy, tearful or vicious, rapid-fire with staccato syllables or sustained in curlicued melismas. But she was in constant motion, strutting in costumes ... Tonya Turner of ''
The Courier-Mail ''The Courier-Mail'' is an Australian newspaper published in Brisbane. Owned by News Corp Australia, it is published daily from Monday to Saturday in tabloid format. Its editorial offices are located at Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner norther ...
'' reported that tracks like "Freakum Dress", "moved fans to screams of endearment". David Schmeichel of Jam! wrote that Beyoncé performed a "ballsy" version of the song. Anthony Venutolo of New Jersey On-Line wrote that Beyoncé "boiled over" during the performance of the song. It was included as the third track on Beyoncé's live album ''
The Beyoncé Experience Live ''The Beyoncé Experience Live'' is the third live and fourth video album by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It was released through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment on November 16, 2007. It was filmed at the Staples Cent ...
'' (2007). It was also part of the set list on the I Am... World Tour. When Beyoncé performed the song in
Sunrise, Florida Sunrise is a city in central-western Broward County, Florida, Broward County, Florida, United States, and is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area. The population was 97,335 at the time of the 2020 census. History Early history In ...
on June 29, 2009, she was wearing a glittery gold leotard. As she sang, animated graphics of turntables, faders and other club equipment were projected behind Beyoncé, her dancers and musicians. Beyoncé was accompanied by her two drummers, two keyboardists, a percussionist, a horn section, three imposing backup vocalists called the Mamas and a lead guitarist, Bibi McGill. During the performance, she bent backwards at her guitarist's feet. Jonathon Moran of ''
The Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper, first published on 5 February 1961 and published by the Telegraph Media Group, a division of Press Holdings. It is the sister paper of ''The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Tele ...
'' praised Beyoncé's dancing during the performance of the song on the I Am... World Tour. "Freakum Dress" was included as the fourth track on the deluxe edition of '' I Am... World Tour'' (2010). According to Andy Kellman of Allmusic, the performance has a "
hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...
overhaul". In May, 2012, Beyoncé performed "Freakum Dress" during her Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live
revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...
at Revel Atlantic City. While singing the song, Beyoncé was wearing a black dress and performed a "strut-heavy footwork". Dan DeLuca from ''
The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', often referred to simply as ''The Inquirer'', is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded on June 1, 1829, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third-longest continuously operating da ...
'' noted that "her
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
moves on songs like 'Freakum Dress,' which find her facing off with a leather-jacketed lead guitarist, tend to be of the screaming-solo-played-on-a-Flying Vee variety." Ben Ratliff of ''The New York Times'' mentioned "Freakum Dress" in the "almost continuous high point" of the concert. Jim Farber of ''Daily News'' wrote that "The first, and last parts of the show stressed the steeliest Beyoncé, told in bold songs" like "Freakum Dress". Brad Wete, writing for ''
Complex Complex commonly refers to: * Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe ** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'' noted that Beyoncé was "wagging her bootyliciousness at the audience" while performing the song. The performance of "Freakum Dress" was included on the live album '' Live in Atlantic City'' (2013) which was filmed during the revue. In 2013 the song was a part of the set list during
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. Announced in February 2013 with initial dates in Europe and North America, the tour contained seven legs and 132 shows. It began in Belgrade, Serb ...
.


Usage in media

On June 24, 2009, American actress
Cameron Diaz Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American actress. Prolific in both comedy and drama, Cameron Diaz filmography, her films have grossed over $3 billion in the U.S. box-office. Her output of romantic comedies in the late 1990s a ...
danced to "Freakum Dress" during the show '' It's On with Alexa Chung''. On the eighth season of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars'' is an American reality competition spin off edition of the original ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', which is produced by World of Wonder, for Logo TV and later VH1. The show premiered on October 22, 2012, on Logo TV, ...
'', drag queens Kahanna Montrese and Aja performed the song during the “lip sync for your legacy” segment, with the latter winning.


Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from ''B'Day'' liner notes. *
Vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...
: Beyoncé Knowles *
Writing Writing is the act of creating a persistent representation of language. A writing system includes a particular set of symbols called a ''script'', as well as the rules by which they encode a particular spoken language. Every written language ...
: Beyoncé Knowles,
Rich Harrison Richard Christopher Harrison (born 1979) is an American record producer and songwriter specializing in R&B and hip hop music. The winner of a Grammy Award, Harrison is well known for producing songs such as " Get Right" (performed by Jennifer ...
, Makeba,
Angela Beyincé Angela Renee Beyincé (born October 25, 1976) is an American songwriter, actress, and music executive. She is a cousin of American singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, and has made songwriting contributions to several of Beyoncé's albums inclu ...
* Producing: Rich Harrison, Beyoncé Knowles *
Recording A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, re ...
: Jim Caruana **Assisted by: Rob Kinelski and Jamie Rosenberg * Mixing: Jason Goldstein & Rich Harrison **Assisted by: Steve Tolle


Chart performance


Certifications


References


External links

* {{authority control 2006 songs Beyoncé songs Music videos directed by Ray Kay Song recordings produced by Rich Harrison Songs written by Beyoncé Songs written by Rich Harrison American funk songs Songs written by Makeba Riddick Song recordings produced by Beyoncé