"Party" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her fourth studio album, 4 (2011). It features guest vocals from American rapper André 3000 and background vocals from Kanye West and Consequence, and was released by Columbia Records as the fourth single from 4 on August 30, 2011. The song was written by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Beyoncé, Dexter Mills, Douglas Davis and Ricky Walters and produced by Beyoncé and West and co-produced by Bhasker.
A midtempo R&B song, "Party" exhibits elements of the 1980s funk and soul music, and samples the 1985 song "La Di Da Di" performed by Doug E. Fresh and MC Ricky D. It recalls the work of New Edition, Prince, and Teena Marie among others. Built on an 808-retro beat, multi-tracked harmonies, and a smooth groove, the song's instrumentation includes slow-bouncing synthesizers, keyboard tones, and drums. In his rap verses, André 3000 references milk and gets philosophical about his own career.
"Party" was acclaimed by contemporary music critics, who praised André 3000's verses, as well as the production handled by West and Beyoncé's emphatic, yet sensual vocals. It was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 54th Grammy Awards. Following the release of 4, "Party" charted at number 19 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart. It debuted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 2011, and peaked at number 2 on the chart for three consecutive weeks. The song reached number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart based on radio support. "Party" was part of Beyoncé's set list for her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé and the Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live residency shows.
Background and development
"Party" was written by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Beyoncé Knowles, André Lauren Benjamin, Dexter Mills, Douglas Davis and Ricky Walters. Production was handled by Beyoncé, West, and Bhasker. "Party" was the first song on which Beyoncé worked for her-then upcoming album, 4. In May 2010, Jordan Young aka DJ Swivel started working with Beyoncé at Rock The Mic Studio in New York City. They initially recorded the beginning stages of "Party" to see what kind of a working relationship might form. Young was introduced to Beyoncé by Omar Grant, who was an A&R at Epic Records and used to work with Destiny's Child. Beyoncé was satisfied with Young's work and commended him for being "a fast engineer". Beyoncé then decided to give him the opportunity to work with her through the whole production and recording processes of her album.
She later told Gabriel Alvarez of Complex magazine that she was very happy and keen to work with Kanye West who handled the production of "Party". This was because West's single "Runaway" (2010) drove her to the edge of tears the first time she heard. She further said: "The fact that he's belting out his pain, his confusion, and his anger, with no pre-written lyrics, was so moving. He's singing his heart out for five minutes. He is so vulnerable. I love when an artist can be so honest." On May 25, 2011, it was revealed by Rap-Up that American rapper André 3000, who had been keeping his features to a minimum in recent years, would appear as a featuring artist on fifth song featured on the track-listing of Beyoncé's then fourth upcoming studio album, 4. This was the only collaboration present on the final track-list of the record. Later on June 4, 2011, it was revealed that "Party" samples "La Di Da Di" (1985) as performed by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew featuring MC Ricky D., and written by Douglas Davis and Ricky Walters. The original record contains the lyrics, "La di da di, we like to party", which the songwriters included on "Party".
On June 6, 2011, "Party" leaked on the internet followed by the whole album, three weeks prior to its official release date, which was scheduled for June 28, 2011. Speaking of his collaboration with Beyoncé, André 3000 said: "I've always felt Beyoncé was one of the best performers of our time, so to collaborate with her was an honor and a pleasure." "Party" was added to United States urban contemporary radio by Columbia Records on August 30, 2011.
Composition and lyrical interpretation
"Party" is a mid-paced R&B song that exhibits elements of funk and soul music. It is written in the key of B major and set in common time with the sequence of Cm7–Dm7–F7(sus)–G9(sus)–Cm7–Dm7. According to David Amidon of PopMatters, the song's music "is largely reminiscent of late 1980s diva histrionics"; it is built on scooping and gliding multi-tracked 1990 girl-group harmonies, midtempo bounces, a 808-retro beat and a 1980s-style smooth hip hop groove. The instrumentation of "Party" consists of slow-bouncing synthesizers, bubbly keyboard tones, and a drum machine.
Gil Kaufman of MTV News commented that the synthesizers and drum machine used in "Party" create a groove reminiscent of "a New Jack Swing seduction." Jon Caramainca of The New York Times wrote that the production of "Party" recalls the early work of New Edition. James Reed of The Boston Globe commented that its music arrangement sounds like a parody by The Lonely Island or Flight of the Conchords. Roberts Randall of the Los Angeles Times found that "Party" sounds like a half-speed remix of a Human League song, and Kevin O'Donnell of Spin magazine found the song to be reminiscent of Prince in his 1980s prime. Priya Elan of NME commented that "Party" is the first indication that 4 was influenced by the likes of Teena Marie.
Lyrically, "Party" features Beyoncé as the female protagonist "in the mood for some loving" as she references to a get-together for two persons. West rhymes about "swag sauce" and "swagu" in the introductory lines, "You a bad girl, your friends bad too / You got the swag sauce, you're drippin' Swagu", before passing the torch to Beyoncé, who begins to sing the first verse slowly and steadily, "I may be young but I'm ready / To give you all my love / I told my girls you can get it / Don't slow it down, just let it go / So in love / I'll give it all away / Just don't tell nobody tomorrow". In the chorus lines, she harmonizes over the sample from "La Di Da Di", "Cause tonight's the night that I give you everything / Music knocking until the morning light / 'Cause we like to party". In the second verse, Beyoncé belts out "in a thick stack of smooth, layered vocals". After chanting the chorus for a second time, André 3000 surfaces around the 2:15 mark with "some very naughty references" to milk on the verses he raps, "... another homeboy, that nigga named Cheese / Fuck wit' me baby, I make it milk 'til it drip down yo' knees", before switching gears altogether and getting philosophical about his own career, "Kiddo say he looks up to me, this just makes me feel old / Never thought that we could become someone else's hero / Man, we were just in the food court eating our gyros", and finally adopting a "multi-syllabic tongue twister" to rap some of the finishing lines. The song runs out with Beyoncé reiterating the lines, "Cause we like to party, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey", and West then reprises the opening lines.
Critical reception
Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone appreciated André 3000's performance and the song itself, writing: "André 3000 is sharp and effortlessly charismatic on his rapped verse, but the real attraction here is the track itself." Similarly, David Amidon of PopMatters commented that the song features "one of those rare 'look how effortless rapping is for me'." This was echoed by Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media, who wrote that "[4s] carefree retro sensibility pops up on three more highlights, including 'Party', which combines a pitch-perfect André 3000 guest verse, a Slick Rick sample, [...] while its bounce provides prime summer barbecue background." Rich Juzwiak of The Village Voice was also positive: "'Party' sounds right out of The SOS Band's catalog (its plodding tempo is the only thing that lets you know she isn't quoting a particularly poetic, desperately meth-seeking craigslist m4m ad [...])". Jon Caramainca of The New York Times wrote that Beyoncé sings the song "in her best impression of naughtiness." Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound praised the minimal production and simplistic lyrics of "Party" further describing the song as being as "simple as a Beyoncé song gets: a low-key, synth-y beat paired with inspired vocals by Beyoncé and a killer, fluid verse by Mr. Benjamin [André 3000]."
Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun called "Party" the most throwaway moment on 4. Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly wrote that "the promisingly named 'Party' [...] turns out to be a slow-jam invitation to an after-work mixer with light refreshments." of the Chicago Sun-Times complimented the "scooping, gliding multi-tracked harmonies that almost make moot the idea of a Destiny's Child reunion." Gil Kaufman of MTV News was also positive, writing that "[...] unlike the at-points frantic 'Run the World (Girls)' [Party] takes its time, lyrically and musically, with Beyoncé luxuriating over her vocals and singing about the beauty of nice and slow." Describing "Party" as "a proudly retro slice of R&B", James Reed of The Boston Globe wrote that the song is "an irresistible summer jam that I haven't been able to stop humming for a week straight." Jim Farber of Daily News echoed Reed's sentiments, writing that "Party" would surely be "a top-down anthem for months to come." Similarly, Joanne Dorken of MTV UK described "Party" as a "dance-floor filler ... with that Sasha Fierce edge", before adding that is bound to be a "monster hit" and is a "stand out tune on the album". Ricky Schweitzer of One Thirty BPM also applauded "Party", writing:
The majority of 4 consists of mid-tempo pieces, but unlike the filler that might have occupied this pacing on previous albums, many of this album’s greatest strengths lie in this realm. Perhaps best exemplifying this spirit is the André 3000 and Kanye West assisted, 'Party' in which Beyoncé relaxes into a beat that, while not be easy to grind to, still works perfectly as a party anthem. Beyoncé reminds us that a party is not only meant for dancing. It is a place where you go to enjoy the company of others and oftentimes, that involves real human conversation and interaction. Echoing this sentiment, André’s verse is tranquilized from his customarily rapid-fire delivery to a drawl more reminiscent of Lil’ Wayne than his traditional work with Outkast. 'Party' like much of 4, is a conversation, and André 3000 wants to be heard.
However, Matthew Horton of BBC Online viewed "Party" as one of the "less successful interruptions" on 4. Similarly, Embling of Tiny Mix Tapes gave the song a mixed review, writing: "[...] the less said about the phrase 'swag goo' the better; 'Party', the song on which those unfortunate words appear — Kanye West providing that unfortunate pun — is otherwise wonderful, but yet some errors are too grievous to forgive." Andy Kellman from Allmusic stated, "[...] What's most surprising is that a song titled 'Party' quickly settles into a low-watt groove and remains there." Bill Lamb from About.com added, "Kanye West and Andre 3000 provide interesting vocal color for 'Party' but the song itself is just a variant on the 'this is my night to be bad' theme." A negative review came from Al Shipley of The Village Voice who wrote that "Party" and "Best Thing I Never Had" were "among the album's worst and most unrepresentative songs".
On The Village Voices year-end Pazz & Jop singles list, "Party" was ranked at number 177 and 439 in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The writers of Rap-Up included the song at number 8 on their list of 10 Best Songs of 2011. "Party" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 54th Grammy Awards, which was held on February 12, 2012, but lost to Kanye West's "All of the Lights". At the 2013 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards "Party" was one of the songs to win in the category for Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.