Music Review: Beyonce & Jay-Z "Deja Vu"
Beyonce & Jay-Z
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Déjà Vu
Album: B’Day
Year: 2006
Beyonce sees her ex-boyfriend in every man in the lumpish “Déjà Vu.”
First, Beyonce introduces the instruments and Jay-Z, setting a formulaic tone.
Then, on cue, Jay-Z begins his rap. In it, he compares how he grew up to his life now. He says he used to play baseball as a child and is now a professional musician. He adds he used to go through many women easily. However, he’s now a one-woman who is dating Beyonce. Beyonce interjects that there’s been some conflict in their relationship and she’s been crying over him. But it’s quickly back to Jay-Z. He says he grew up Brooklyn (like legions of people already know otherwise, whether they care or not) and today, millions of people know his name. Jay-Z says Beyonce is going to impress her fans yet again.
In the first verse, Beyonce explains that each time she goes out, even if it’s to the video store, she is reminded of her ex-boyfriend. She thinks of what they had and doesn’t care to date anybody else. No one could be him.
In the pre-chorus, she says she tries to distract herself whenever he enters her mind, but it’s like an old habit. His attractiveness keeps her holding on.
In the chorus, she says can’t forget him and is still reeling from their breakup. He’s the only guy she wants. Each time she sees another guy smile in a curved way, it’s like she’s experiencing the pain of being without him anew.
In the second verse, she thought he passed by her on the street on her way to work. She was ready to call out to him and say hello. However, once she saw the guy’s face, she knew it wasn’t him. She thinks she’s going crazy.
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
In Jay-Z’s second section, he boasts that his rapping skills are unique and women will be trying to figure out how he does it so well. Then, he starts talking about drugs and cops to sound hardcore. Then, he says that he makes a ton of money and there are debates going on as to if he’s a legend. He says hit singles are natural and easy for him to do.
In the bridge, Beyonce summarizes the verses and choruses into four lyrics. She adds that she’s willing to get a red eye flight on a moment’s notice if he wants her to return to him.
The pre-chorus is sung again.
The chorus is sung twice to end the single.
Beyonce’s dispirited vocals are monotone and woozy. She’s clearly on auto-pilot and wants to get the recording done to take a nap.
Jay-Z has not only bought his own press, he’s purged on the entire bag. His rap is incoherent, as he seems to trying to think of things to include on his mental checklist.
The stilted arrangement is lopsided and jerky. It wavers during the verses, trying to find its footing. By the chorus, it’s slipping on its mediocrity.
In the careless “Déjà Vu” Beyonce sticks rigidly to the formula that made her popular and arrogantly thinks people will lap it up without any effort on her part.
Album: B’Day
Year: 2006
Beyonce sees her ex-boyfriend in every man in the lumpish “Déjà Vu.”
First, Beyonce introduces the instruments and Jay-Z, setting a formulaic tone.
“Bass (Uh)/Hi hat (Uh)/ 808 (Uh)/ Jay (Uh-huh)/Ready?/Uh-huh/Let's go get 'em/ Uh-huh/C'mon.”
Then, on cue, Jay-Z begins his rap. In it, he compares how he grew up to his life now. He says he used to play baseball as a child and is now a professional musician. He adds he used to go through many women easily. However, he’s now a one-woman who is dating Beyonce. Beyonce interjects that there’s been some conflict in their relationship and she’s been crying over him. But it’s quickly back to Jay-Z. He says he grew up Brooklyn (like legions of people already know otherwise, whether they care or not) and today, millions of people know his name. Jay-Z says Beyonce is going to impress her fans yet again.
“ I used to run base like Juan Pierre/Now I run the bass hi hat and the snare/
I used to bag girls like Birkin bags/Now I bag B (Boy you hurtin' that)/Brooklyn Bay where they birthed me at/Now I be everywhere, the nerve of rap/The audacity to have me whipping curtains back/Me and B, she about to sting/Stand back.”
In the first verse, Beyonce explains that each time she goes out, even if it’s to the video store, she is reminded of her ex-boyfriend. She thinks of what they had and doesn’t care to date anybody else. No one could be him.
“Baby seems like everywhere I go/I see you, from your eyes, your smile/It's like I breathe you, helplessly I reminisce/Don't want to compare nobody to you.”
In the pre-chorus, she says she tries to distract herself whenever he enters her mind, but it’s like an old habit. His attractiveness keeps her holding on.
“Boy, I try to catch myself/But I'm out of control/Your sexiness is so appealing/I can't let it go/Oh.”
In the chorus, she says can’t forget him and is still reeling from their breakup. He’s the only guy she wants. Each time she sees another guy smile in a curved way, it’s like she’s experiencing the pain of being without him anew.
“Know that I can't get over you/'Cause everything I see is you/And I don't want no substitute/Baby I swear it's Déjà vu/Know that I can't get over you/'Cause everything I see is you/
And I don't want no substitute/Baby I swear it's Déjà vu.”
In the second verse, she thought he passed by her on the street on her way to work. She was ready to call out to him and say hello. However, once she saw the guy’s face, she knew it wasn’t him. She thinks she’s going crazy.
“Seeing things that I know can't be/
Am I dreaming? When I saw you walking past me/Almost called your name/Got a better glimpse and then I looked away/It’s like I'm losing it.”
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
In Jay-Z’s second section, he boasts that his rapping skills are unique and women will be trying to figure out how he does it so well. Then, he starts talking about drugs and cops to sound hardcore. Then, he says that he makes a ton of money and there are debates going on as to if he’s a legend. He says hit singles are natural and easy for him to do.
“Yes! Hova's flow so unusual/Baby, girl you should already know/It's H-O, light up the dro'/'Cause you gon' need help tryna study my bounce, flow, blow/What's the difference?/One, you take in vein while the other you sniffin'/It's still dough, po-po try to convict him/That's a no-go/My dough keep the scales tipping like 4-4's/Like I'm from the H-O-U-S-T-O-N/
Blow, wind so Chicago of him/Is he the best ever, that's the argu-a-ment/I don't make the list, don't be mad at me/I just make the hits, like a factory/I'm just one-to-one, nothin' after me/No Deja Vu, just me and my, oh.”
In the bridge, Beyonce summarizes the verses and choruses into four lyrics. She adds that she’s willing to get a red eye flight on a moment’s notice if he wants her to return to him.
“Baby I can't go anywhere/Without thinking that you're there/Seems like you're everywhere, it's true/Gotta be having Déjà vu/'Cause in my mind I want you here/Get on the next plane, I don't care/Is it because I'm missing you/That I'm having Déjà vu.”
The pre-chorus is sung again.
The chorus is sung twice to end the single.
Beyonce’s dispirited vocals are monotone and woozy. She’s clearly on auto-pilot and wants to get the recording done to take a nap.
Jay-Z has not only bought his own press, he’s purged on the entire bag. His rap is incoherent, as he seems to trying to think of things to include on his mental checklist.
The stilted arrangement is lopsided and jerky. It wavers during the verses, trying to find its footing. By the chorus, it’s slipping on its mediocrity.
In the careless “Déjà Vu” Beyonce sticks rigidly to the formula that made her popular and arrogantly thinks people will lap it up without any effort on her part.