"Crazy in Love" was a number-one hit in the United States and United Kingdom, and reached the top ten in various other countries worldwide. Music critics praised the hook, Jay-Z's contribution, and Beyoncé's assertive delivery of the lyrics. VH1 declared it the greatest song of the 2000s decade, while Rolling Stone ranked it at number 118 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time in 2010, and in 2018, declared the song, the greatest of the 21st century so far. At the 46th Annual Grammy Awards (2004), "Crazy in Love" won Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
The song's accompanying music video features Beyoncé in various dance sequences. It won three awards at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, and its director, Jake Nava, won the Music Video Production Association award for Best R&B Video in 2004. Since 2003, "Crazy in Love" has been a staple in Beyoncé's live performances and concert tours. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized "Crazy in Love" as one of the most performed songs of 2004. Artists including David Byrne have covered the song, and it has been used in various television shows and other media.
Development and production
By July 2002, Beyoncé had already recorded several songs which would appear on Dangerously in Love. Columbia Records planned to release the album in October 2002; however, the release was postponed several times to capitalize on the success of American rapper Nelly's 2002 single "Dilemma," which features Beyoncé's former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland. These delays allowed Beyoncé to record more songs for the album.
Before meeting Beyoncé, Rich Harrison had conceptualized the beat of the song. He had sampled the hook's instrumentation from the 1970 song "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)," which had originally been written and composed by Eugene Record, frontman of the Chicago-based vocal group The Chi-Lites. When Harrison first played the beat to his friends, they could not "dig it," and this made him realize that he had conceived something special, which people would appreciate better after hearing the whole record. Thus Harrison decided not to market the selection, and instead, he waited for the right artist to record it: "I had it in the chamber, I had not really shopped it much, because sometimes you do not want to come out of the bag before it's right. People do not really get it and you will leave them with a foul taste in their mouth."
Harrison was pleasantly surprised when he got a call from Beyoncé, who was working on one of the most anticipated albums of the year. However, things did not turn up according to his plans the following day, as he was late and was still suffering the effects of a hangover. When Harrison played the sample to Beyoncé in the studio, the singer initially had doubts about the "sound so full of blaring fanfare;" it seemed too retro and according to her, no one used horn riffs in the 21st century. Nevertheless, Beyoncé became friendlier to the sample, much to Harrison's delight, and gave him two hours to write and compose the song while she went out.
Harrison confessed that it was not easy for him to come up with the lyrics to "Crazy in Love" in that length of time. But two hours later, he had written the verses, and the hook, in spite of being hung over. Harrison had also made provision for a backing track; he played all the instruments on the track. The bridge was written by Beyoncé, who was inspired by looking at herself in the mirror; as she was not wearing matching clothes and her hair was untidy, she kept saying, "I'm looking so crazy right now." Harrison sang back to her and said, "That's the hook." It also inspired the title of the song. After that Beyoncé had filled up the middle eight, she came up with the catchphrase – "Uh-oh, uh-oh, you know" – alongside Harrison.
American rapper Jay-Z became involved late in the song's production. Around 3 a.m., he came to the studio and recorded a rap verse, which he improvised in about ten minutes. The recording of "Crazy in Love" took place nearly three months following the meeting of Beyoncé with Harrison.
Crazy In Love
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's so crazy right now
Most incredibly, it's ya girl, B (yes)
It's ya boy, Young
You ready?
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no (ow)
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no (yeah)
History in the making
Part two, it's so crazy right now
I look and stare so deep in your eyes
I touch on you more and more every time
When you leave, I'm begging you not to go
Call your name two, three times in a row
Such a funny thing for me to try to explain
How I'm feeling and my pride is the one to blame
(Yeah, yeah) 'cause I know I don't understand
Just how your love can do what no one else can
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's
Got me looking so crazy right now (your love)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch
Got me looking so crazy right now (your touch)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss
Got me hoping you'll save me right now
Looking so crazy, your love's
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no
When I talk to my friends so quietly
Who he think he is? Look at what you did to me
Tennis shoes, don't even need to buy a new dress
If you ain't there, ain't nobody else to impress
It's the way that you know what I thought I knew
It's the beat that my heart skips when I'm with you
But I still don't understand
Just how your love can do what no one else can
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's
Got me looking so crazy right now (so crazy)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch (your love)
Got me looking so crazy right now (love)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss (hey)
Got me hoping you'll save me right now (hey)
Looking so crazy, your love's (hey)
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love
I'm looking so crazy in love's
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love (I'm warmed up now, let's go)
Young 'Hov, y'all know when the flow is loco
Young B and the R-O-C, uh oh (oh)
Ol' G, big homey, the one and only
Stick bony, but the pocket is fat like Tony Soprano (oh no)
The ROC handle like Van Axel
I shake phonies, man, you can't get next to
The genuine article, I do not sing though
I sling though, if anything, I bling yo
A star like Ringo, war like a Green Beret
Crazy bring ya whole set
Jay Z in the Range, crazy and deranged
They can't figure him out, they like, "Hey, is he insane?"
Yessir, I'm cut from a different cloth
My texture is the best fur, chinchilla
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) I been iller than chain smokers
How you think I got the name Hova?
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) I been realer, the game's over
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) fall back, Young, ever since I made the change over
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) to platinum the game's been wrap, one
Got me looking so crazy, my baby
I'm not myself, lately I'm foolish, I don't do this
I've been playing myself, baby, I don't care
'Cause your love's got the best of me
And, baby, you're making a fool of me
You got me sprung and I don't care who sees
'Cause, baby, you got me
Baby, you got me (you got me so crazy, baby), hey
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's (oh love)
Got me looking so crazy right now (lookin' crazy)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch
Got me looking so crazy right now (baby)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss (hey)
Got me hoping you'll save me right now (oh)
Looking so crazy in love's (hey)
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love (whoa)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's
Got me looking so crazy right now (your love)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch
Got me looking so crazy right now (your touch)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss
Got me hoping you'll save me right now
Looking so crazy in love's
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love
The lyrics of Beyoncé's hit song "Crazy in Love" are about being overwhelmed by someone's love and passion, as evidenced by the repetition of the phrase "got me looking so crazy right now." Beyoncé describes staring deep into her lover's eyes and being consumed by their touch and kiss, feeling so strongly that she is begging them not to leave. She acknowledges that her pride is preventing her from fully understanding the extent of their love's power. In the second verse, Beyoncé reveals that her friends think she's crazy for being so taken with her lover, but she's so smitten that she doesn't care. The middle section of the song features a rap verse from Jay-Z, who brags about his wealth and success while also acknowledging that his love for Beyoncé makes him behave irrationally at times. Overall, the song is a celebration of passionate love and the way it can make people feel.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes (whoo, ow)
Excited vocalization to start the song.
It's so crazy right now
The situation or emotion being experienced is intense and exhilarating.
Most incredibly, it's ya girl, B (yes)
Beyoncé is confident and proud of herself for being such an amazing performer.
It's ya boy, Young
Referring to Jay-Z, who is also a talented and respected artist.
You ready?
Asking the listener if they are prepared to experience the energy and passion of the song.
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no (ow)
A repeated vocalization that signifies danger or warning, but also adds to the intense and exciting atmosphere.
History in the making
The song and its performers are making history because of how exceptional and memorable it is.
Part two, it's so crazy right now
The continuation of something that is already amazing and intense.
I look and stare so deep in your eyes
The artist is entranced by their lover and deeply connected to them emotionally.
I touch on you more and more every time
The artist is physically affectionate towards their lover and desires them more with each interaction.
When you leave, I'm begging you not to go
The singer is so enamored with their lover that they can't bear the thought of being apart from them.
Call your name two, three times in a row
The artist is so infatuated that they repeatedly call out to their lover.
Such a funny thing for me to try to explain
The singer acknowledges that their feelings may be difficult to fully express or comprehend.
How I'm feeling and my pride is the one to blame
(Yeah, yeah) 'cause I know I don't understand
Just how your love can do what no one else can
The singer is humbled by how deeply their lover's affection affects them and how it surpasses anything they've experienced before.
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's
Got me looking so crazy right now (your love)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch
Got me looking so crazy right now (your touch)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss
Got me hoping you'll save me right now
Looking so crazy, your love's
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love
The singer is so swept up in their partner's love that they feel a little out of control, but also immensely satisfied by the intensity of it all.
When I talk to my friends so quietly
Who he think he is? Look at what you did to me
The artist is amazed by the power their lover has over them and is eager to discuss it with their friends.
Tennis shoes, don't even need to buy a new dress
If you ain't there, ain't nobody else to impress
The artist is so focused on their lover that they don't care about impressing anyone else; they just want to be close to them.
It's the way that you know what I thought I knew
It's the beat that my heart skips when I'm with you
But I still don't understand
Just how your love can do what no one else can
The singer marvels at how their lover is able to touch them in ways they never thought possible, and once again acknowledges that their love is truly special.
Young 'Hov, y'all know when the flow is loco
Young B and the R-O-C, uh oh (oh)
Ol' G, big homey, the one and only
Stick bony, but the pocket is fat like Tony Soprano (oh no)
The ROC handle like Van Axel
I shake phonies, man, you can't get next to
The genuine article, I do not sing though
I sling though, if anything, I bling yo
A star like Ringo, war like a Green Beret
Crazy bring ya whole set
Jay Z in the Range, crazy and deranged
They can't figure him out, they like, "Hey, is he insane?"
Jay-Z delivers a rap verse that reinforces the idea that he and Beyoncé are unique and talented artists who are impossible to ignore or classify.
Yessir, I'm cut from a different cloth
My texture is the best fur, chinchilla
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) I been iller than chain smokers
How you think I got the name Hova?
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) I been realer, the game's over
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) fall back, Young, ever since I made the change over
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no) to platinum the game's been wrap, one
Jay-Z continues boasting about his success and unique talents, using clever wordplay and metaphor to do so.
Got me looking so crazy, my baby
I'm not myself, lately I'm foolish, I don't do this
I've been playing myself, baby, I don't care
'Cause your love's got the best of me
And, baby, you're making a fool of me
You got me sprung and I don't care who sees
'Cause, baby, you got me
Baby, you got me (you got me so crazy, baby), hey
The artist is fully engulfed in their lover's affection, and is willing to be vulnerable and foolish for the sake of that love.
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's (oh love)
Got me looking so crazy right now (lookin' crazy)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch
Got me looking so crazy right now (baby)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss (hey)
Got me hoping you'll save me right now (oh)
Looking so crazy in love's (hey)
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love (whoa)
The artist repeats the chorus again, emphasizing the intensity and exhilaration of their lover's love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rich Harrison, Shawn Carter, Beyonce Knowles, Eugene Records
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisarmelseyibayebek4977
the first thing She said was "You ready?"
17 years later still not ready
@princessamani
LOL
@beebies7022
100000000 years later and even then we wont be ready
@permasianparapio9905
11*
@lachannasimms7861
@@permasianparapio9905 this songs from 2003
@tiffanyguinto
@@permasianparapio9905 this song is from 2003
@luma2172
Beyoncé, Shakira, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Amy Whinehouse, Alicia Keys, Fergie, the true queens of the 2000s!
@Riley05
💯
@elawamoja9118
indeed
@chloejoseph9271
Rihanna. No Rihanna