Mood 4 Eva

"Mood 4 Eva"
Song by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z, Childish Gambino & Oumou Sangaré
from the album The Lion King: The Gift
ReleasedJuly 19, 2019
Recorded2018–2019
StudioNRG Recording Studios
Genre
Length4:32 (original version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Danja
  • Beyoncé
  • DJ Khaled
  • Michael Uzowuru
  • Teo Halm
  • Jeff Kleinman

"Mood 4 Eva" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z, Childish Gambino & Oumou Sangaré, and was chosen as a promotional single for her 2019 curated soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift.[1][2]

Background and composition

“Mood 4 Eva” was written by Knowles, Denisia Andrews, Brittany Coney, Shawn Carter, Donald Glover, Khaled Khaled, Floyd Nathaniel Hills, Michael Uzowuru, Teo Halm, Jeff Kleinman, Ant Clemons, and Anathi Bhongo Mnyango. The song also contains elements of "Diaraby Nene" written and performed by Oumou Sangaré, an interpolation of "Sweet Green Fields" written by Jimmy Seals, as well as an interpolation of "(Think) About It" written by James Brown.

Beyonce and Jay-Z lyrically pay homage to Yoruba deity Oshun, Queen of Sheba, Mansa Musa, Muhammad Ali, Nas, and The Notorious B.I.G., among others.[3]

Reception

On Rolling Stone's "List of the 70 Greatest Beyoncé Songs", "Mood 4 Eva" was described as the "standout of Black Is King". Ranked at #65 on the list, it was celebrated for being "effortlessly powerful, despite the smooth tempo."[4] Hunter Harris of Vulture crowned the song as "near-perfect" and "the Best Song on Beyoncé’s New Lion King Album", noting that "Beyoncé chews us up, spits us out, and reminds us that if we need to recover, maybe the Ramada Inn has a vacancy?"[5] Rap-Up described the song as a "triumphant [standout of the album]",[6] while Eric Deggans of NPR Music echoed a similar sentiment.[7]

Visual

The visual was met with critical acclaim, lauded for its "colorful, lavish display[s] featuring designer looks, vibrant scenery, high-class jewels, and top-shelf champagne."[8] Directed by Dikayl Rimmasch, cinematographer Santiago Gonzalez described the idea for the video as "portraying a carefree lifestyle with a dreamscape harkening back to old Hollywood... culminating in a Busby Berkeley-style aqua-musical fantasy" in an interview with Variety.[9] Both Kelly Rowland and Tina Knowles-Lawson make cameo appearances.[10][11]

The video was officially uploaded to YouTube on August 1, 2021, alongside "Otherside", to celebrate the first anniversary of the release of Black Is King.[12]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Mood 4 Eva"
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 48
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 64
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 54
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[15] 56
US Hot 100 (Billboard) 90
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 33

Release history

"Mood 4 Eva" release history
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various July 19, 2019
Original Version
[16]
Tidal Exclusive Extended Version [16]
July 31, 2020 Black Is King Extended version

References

  1. ^ Coleman, C. Vernon II (July 19, 2019). "Beyonce "Mood 4 Eva" With Jay-Z and Childish Gambino: Listen to New Song". XXL Mag. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Frank, Allegra (July 31, 2020). "Black Is King is Beyoncé's stunning ode to African glory". Vox. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Grady, Constance (July 31, 2020). "Meet the African goddess at the center of Beyoncé's Black Is King". Vox. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "The 70 Greatest Beyoncé Songs". Rolling Stone. April 2024. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Harris, Hunter (July 19, 2019). "An Ode to 'MOOD 4 EVA,' the Best Song on Beyoncé's New Lion King Album". Vulture. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Devin (July 19, 2019). "New Music: Beyoncé, JAY-Z, & Childish Gambino - 'MOOD 4 EVA'". Rap-Up. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Deggans, Eric (August 1, 2020). "Review: Beyoncé's Visual Album, 'Black Is King'". All Things Considered (Podcast). NPR. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Inman, DeMicia (August 2, 2021). "Beyoncé Releases New Videos For One-Year Anniversary Of 'Black Is King'". VIBE.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (November 24, 2020). "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' — Behind the Visuals With DP Santiago Gonzalez". Variety. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Walsh, Savannah (August 1, 2020). "Beyoncé's 'Mood 4 Eva' Lyrics Are A Message To Her Haters (If She Had Any)". ELLE. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Jackson, Lauren Michele (August 3, 2020). "Beyoncé's Knowing Ethnic Splendor in "Black Is King"". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (August 1, 2021). "Beyoncé Shares "Mood 4 Eva" Video in Celebration of 'Black Is King' Anniversary". Complex Networks. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  13. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  14. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Mood 4 Eva". Official Charts. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (July 19, 2019). "TIDAL Releases Extended Version of Beyoncé, Jay-Z & Childish Gambino's 'MOOD 4 EVA': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2024.