Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes

Above and Beyoncé
Remix album / video by
Beyoncé
ReleasedJune 16, 2009
Recorded2008–2009
Genre
Length51:10 (video collection)
50:04 (dance mixes)
Label
Director
Producer
Beyoncé chronology
I Am... Sasha Fierce
(2008) 		Above and Beyoncé
(2009) 		I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas
(2009)
Beyoncé video chronology
The Beyoncé Experience Live
(2007) 		Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes
(2009) 		I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas
(2009)

Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes is a remix and video album by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on June 16, 2009, through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment exclusively to Walmart and J&R, although it was later made available through other retailers. Consisting of two discs, the album features music videos and dance remixes of singles from her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes peaked at number thirty-five on the US Billboard 200, and received generally favorable reviews from music critics. It also appeared on US Billboard's component charts, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Dance/Electronic Albums. The remix version of "Ego" included on the album, featuring Kanye West, was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards (2010).

Background and content

Above and Beyoncé comprises two discs. The first contains the music videos of six of the singles from her 2008 studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce: "If I Were a Boy", "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", "Diva", "Halo", Broken-Hearted Girl" and "Ego". It also features a "fan exclusive" cut of the "Ego" video and behind-the-scenes footage of the shooting of the videos. The second disc hosts electronica dance remixes of the songs,[1][2] as well as of the album's sixth single, "Sweet Dreams". A mix of "Ego" with a rap verse from Kanye West closes the album.

Release and artwork

On June 15, 2009, the behind-the-scenes footage was broadcast on BET's Access Granted.[3][4] The remix video for "Ego" premiered afterwards.[4] The cover art of Above and Beyoncé was previewed by People magazine in May 2009.[5] The album was originally released exclusively to Walmart and J&R, on June 16, 2009.[6] The dance mixes only were made available via MP3 format through Amazon Music the same day,[7] and the whole album was released to the online store on November 3, 2009.[8] The iTunes Store began selling the remixes on February 1, 2010.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]

AllMusic's Andy Kellman called the album "a nice set for devoted fans who haven't already shelled out for all the mixes", and awarded it three out of five stars.[10] In 2011, Maura Gavaghan, writing for MTV, said: "The creative title of this video album alone is a reason for every devoted fan... to buy a copy".[11] She added that the dance remixes of the songs make a "dance party in a neatly packaged DVD set".[11]

Commercial performance

Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes debuted at number thirty-six on the US Billboard 200 chart dated July 4, 2009,[12] selling 14,000 copies that week.[13] It later peaked at number thirty-five, spending fourteen weeks on the chart.[14][15] On the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes debuted[16] and peaked at number twenty-three, spending forty-three weeks on the chart.[17] Among the US Dance/Electronic Albums, the album debuted at number two, placing below Lady Gaga's debut studio album The Fame (2008).[18] It spent a total of forty-eight weeks on the chart, including twenty-four weeks in the top ten.[19] Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes was ranked at number nine on the year-end US Dance/Electronic Albums for 2009,[20] and at number twenty-one for 2010.[21]

Track listing

Video Collection

No.TitleWriter(s)Director(s)Length
1."If I Were a Boy"
Jake Nava5:06
2."Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Nava3:19
3."Diva"
Melina Matsoukas4:06
4."Halo"
Philip Andelman3:45
5."Broken-Hearted Girl"
Sophie Muller4:40
6."Ego" (Remix featuring Kanye West)
  • Knowles
  • Frank Gatson Jr.
4:53
7."Ego" (Fan exclusive)
  • Williams
  • Lilly
  • Knowles
  • Knowles
  • Gatson Jr.
3:57
8."Behind the Scenes: the Videos" Ed Burke19:02

Dance Mixes

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."If I Were a Boy" (Maurice Joshua Mojo UK Remix)
  • Gad
  • Jean
  • Gad
  • Knowles
  • Joshua[a]
6:29
2."Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Remix – Club Version)
  • Stewart
  • The-Dream
  • Harrell
  • Knowles
  • Stewart
  • The-Dream
  • Knowles
  • DJ Escape[a]
  • Tony Coluccio[a]
6:57
3."Diva" (Karmatronic Club Remix)
  • Knowles
  • Bangladesh
  • Garrett
  • Bangladesh
  • Garrett
  • Knowles
  • Achilles Sparta[a]
  • Péter Krajczár[a]
5:08
4."Halo" (Dave Audé Club Remix)
  • Knowles
  • Tedder
  • Bogart
  • Tedder
  • Knowles
  • Audé
8:55
5."Broken-Hearted Girl" (Catalyst Remix)
  • Babyface
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Knowles
  • Stargate
  • Knowles
  • James Cruz[a]
4:46
6."Ego" (OK DAC Remix)
  • Blac Elvis
  • Lilly
  • Knowles
  • Blac Elvis
  • Lilly
  • Knowles
  • OK DAC[a]
6:29
7."Sweet Dreams" (Harlan Pepper & AG III Remix)
  • Jonsin
  • Wilkins
  • Love
  • Knowles
  • Harlan Pepper & AG III Remix[a]
6:43
8."Ego" (Remix featuring Kanye West)
  • Blac Elvis
  • Lilly
  • Knowles
  • Blac Elvis
  • Lilly
  • Knowles
4:44
Notes
  • ^a – denotes a remixer.

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic and Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes's liner notes.[22][23][24]

  • Kory Aaron – assistance
  • Damien Alexander – artists and repertoire
  • Phillip Andelman – direction
  • Dave Audé – production, remixing
  • Babyface – writing
  • Christian Baker – assistance
  • Bangladesh – writing
  • Tim Blacksmith – management
  • E. Kidd Bogart – writing
  • Ed Burke – direction
  • Domenic Capello – mixing
  • Jim Caruana – engineering, vocal engineering
  • Fusako Chubachi – art direction
  • Tony Coluccio – remixing
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • James Cruz – mastering
  • Kim Dellara – executive production
  • DJ Escape – remixing
  • The-Dream – writing
  • Mikkel Storleer Eriksen – engineering, instrumentation, writing
  • Jens Gad – drums
  • Toby Gad – arrangement, engineering, production, instrumentation, writing
  • Tim Gant – keyboards
  • Sean Garrett – writing
  • Alan Gordon – engineering
  • Matt Green – assistance
  • Kuk Harrell – engineering, writing
  • Matt Hennessy – engineering
  • Ty Hunter – stylist
  • Jim Jonsin – production
  • Maurice Joshua – remixing
  • Grant Jue – production
  • Chris Kantrowitz – executive production
  • Anthony Kilhoffer – vocal engineering
  • Kimberly Kimble – hair stylist
  • Juli Knapp – artists and repertoire
  • Beyoncé – executive production, production, writing, vocals vocal production
  • Mathew Knowles – executive production
  • Tina Knowles – creative consultant
  • Melissa Larsen – production
  • Harold Lilly – production, writing
  • Peter Lindbergh – photography
  • Rico Love – producer, writing, vocals, vocal production
  • Philip Margiziotis – horn
  • Melina Matsoukas – direction
  • Jake McKim – artists and repertoire
  • Michael Paul Miller – assistance
  • Sophie Muller – director
  • Jake Nava – director
  • Jeff Pantaleo – executive production
  • Dave Pensado – mixing
  • Jim Jonsin – writing
  • Hagai Shaham – production
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • Tricky Stewart – writing
  • Ryan Tedder – arrangement, engineering, instrumentation, production, writing
  • Francesca Tolot – make-up
  • Lidell Townsell – keyboards
  • Jennifer Turner – marketing
  • Randy Urbanski – assistance
  • Miles Walker – engineering
  • Wayne Wilkins – production, writing
  • Blac Elvis – writing
  • Dontae Winslow – trumpet
  • John Winter – production
  • Andrew Wuepper – assistance

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes
Region Date Edition(s) Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Japan June 16, 2009 Standard CD+DVD Sony Music Japan
[28][29]
United States
[6]
Dance Mixes Digital download
[7]

References

  1. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (May 20, 2009). "Beyonce Knew The Perfect Person To Remix 'Ego': Kanye West!". MTV News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  2. ^ Cline, Georgette (May 27, 2010). "Beyoncé Goes Above & Beyond with Dance Album". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "Beyoncé". Access Granted. June 15, 2009. Black Entertainment Television. BET Networks.
  4. ^ a b "'Ego' Remix Video Premieres on Special BET Access Granted!" (Press release). Beyoncé's Official Website. June 15, 2009. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  5. ^ Orloff, Brian (May 20, 2009). "First Look: Beyoncé's New DVD Cover Revealed!". People. Time Inc. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Beyoncé to Release Above And Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes!" (Press release). Beyoncé's Official Website. May 26, 2009. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Above And Beyoncé Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  8. ^ "Above & Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "Above and Beyoncé – Dance Mixes". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Gavaghan, Maura (October 31, 2011). "Must-Have Items To Be A True Beyonce Stan". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  12. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 4, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  13. ^ "Dancing Diva". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 26. Prometheus Global Media. July 4, 2009. p. 53. ISSN 0006-2510.
  14. ^ "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  15. ^ "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 29 March 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011. Note: To interpret the number of weeks in the chart, the user must navigate the visualizer, which can be launched on the left of the screen.
  16. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on 30 March 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  17. ^ "Beyoncé: Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  18. ^ "Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  19. ^ "Beyoncé: Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2011. Note: To interpret the number of weeks in the chart's top ten, the user must navigate the visualizer, which can be launched on the left of the screen.
  20. ^ a b "Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  22. ^ Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes (Remix album). Beyoncé. Columbia Records. 2009. 88697 53949 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ I Am... Sasha Fierce (Platinum Edition). Beyoncé. Columbia Records. 2008. 0088697417352.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes – Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  25. ^ "Beyoncé Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  26. ^ "Beyoncé Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard.
  27. ^ "Beyoncé Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  28. ^ "Above and Beyonce: Video Collection & Dance Mixes" (in Japanese). Amazon.com (Japan). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  29. ^ "Above And Beyonce Video Collection & Dance Mixes" (in Japanese). HMV Group (Japan). Retrieved February 27, 2012.