Pray You Catch Me

"Pray You Catch Me"
Song by Beyoncé
from the album Lemonade
RecordedSeptember 2015
StudioConway Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length3:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Kevin Garrett
  • Beyoncé

"Pray You Catch Me" is a song by American singer Beyoncé. It is the first track on her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016), released through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The song's music video is part of Beyoncé's 2016 film Lemonade, aired on HBO alongside the album's release.[2]

Production and composition

The song was recorded at Conway Studios in Los Angeles, California in September 2015. Knowles wrote the song with Kevin Garrett and James Blake and produced it with the former.[3] "Pray You Catch Me" is a downtempo song.[1] According to the sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing on Musicnotes.com the song is composed in the key of G♯ minor and set in 4
4 and 5
4 time signatures at a slow tempo of 58 beats per minute. Knowles's vocal range spawns from the low note F♯3 to the high note G♯4.[4] The song begins with Knowles singing, "You can taste the dishonesty / It’s all over your breath as you pass it off so cavalier."[1][5] NME's Larry Bartleet described the song as a "piano and strings-backed ballad.[6] Everest True from The Independent described it as a "stately, intense and secret – there is just the occasional throb of bass and softened beat to accentuate her message. With other lyrics, this could be a love song."[1]

Commercial performance

After the release of Lemonade, "Pray You Catch Me" debuted on Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 37 and peaked on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart at number 22.[7]

Live performance

Beyoncé performed the song at the 2016 VMAs as part of a medley of songs from her Lemonade album.[8]

Usage in media

On May 12, 2016, the song was included in the episode "At Last" of Grey's Anatomy.[9]

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 97
Australia Urban Singles (ARIA)[11] 11
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 71
France (SNEP)[13] 96
Hungary (Single Top 40)[14] 30
Scotland (OCC)[15] 50
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 52
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[18] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 37
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 22

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c d True, Everett (April 26, 2016). "Beyoncé, Lemonade review: Fiery, insurgent, fiercely proud, sprawling and sharply focused". The Independent. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  2. ^ "Beyoncé Releases New Album Lemonade Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, the Weeknd, James Blake". Pitchfork Media. April 23, 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  3. ^ "LEMONADE CREDITS". Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  4. ^ "Beyonce Knowles - "Pray You Catch Me" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. 6 May 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Wood, Mikael (April 26, 2016). "Review Fierce Beyoncé puts Jay Z on final notice, then turns bitterness into 'Lemonade'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  6. ^ "Beyonce - Lemonade (Review)". NME. April 25, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  7. ^ "All 12 of Beyonce's 'Lemonade' Tracks Debut on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "MTV Names Beyoncé's 2016 'Lemonade' Medley The Best Performance In VMA History". Maven. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  9. ^ "Find Out Who Died, Proposed, and Made Out With Meredith on This Week's Grey's Anatomy". ABC. 13 May 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  10. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 9, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  11. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 40 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  13. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés". SNEP. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  16. ^ "Sverigetopplistan". www.sverigetopplistan.se. Retrieved May 7, 2016.[title missing]
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  18. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  19. ^ "Desiigner Holds Off Drake Atop Hot 100, Prince & Beyonce Hit Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  20. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  21. ^ "American single certifications – Beyonce – Pray You Catch Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 17, 2024.