"Diva" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé. It was written and produced by Beyoncé, Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford, and Sean Garrett for Beyoncé's third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). It was released as the album's third overall single in the United States alongside the third international single "Halo". "Diva" is an R&B song, which is set with a southern hip hop flavored groove, and carries a stuttering beat. Its lyrics deliver messages of independence and female empowerment. The song boasts a beat and a bassline similar to those of another Bangladesh 2008 production, "A Milli" by American rapper, Lil' Wayne; critics coined "Diva" as a "female companion" to the latter.
"Diva" received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who had polarized opinions concerning its affiliation with "A Milli". Despite being released to rhythmic and urban radios only in the US, the song peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, and attained a peak position of number three on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Diva" was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipment of 2,000,000 copies. Although it was only officially released in the US, the song appeared on the singles charts in Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The accompanying music video for "Diva" was directed by Melina Matsoukas. It shows the singer and backup dancers in a warehouse, and presents a choreography similar to that of her previous single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008). Beyoncé also appears in different Thierry Mugler couture pieces. The video received mixed response from critics, who were not pleased by its concept as they believed it portrayed Beyoncé's alter ego Sasha Fierce ineffectively. It was ranked at number 13 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown. Although Beyoncé did not perform the song in any televised appearances, it was a part of her set list on various of her world tours, from I Am... (2010) tour onwards.
Background and release
"Diva" was written and produced by Beyoncé, Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford, and Sean Garrett. According to an interview that Bangladesh gave with Rap-Up, the song was originally intended to be included on the track-listing of his own mixtape after choosing a female artist to contribute vocals to "Diva". However, he decided to play the song to American R&B singer Keyshia Cole, who liked the beat, but not the whole track. She eventually declined to record the song, but later said she would sing the song, however, by this time Beyoncé also wanted it for her then upcoming album. Bangladesh ultimately gave "Diva" to Beyoncé and composed another song for Cole. About one month after the release of I Am... Sasha Fierce, American R&B singer Ciara, who was working on her third studio album, Fantasy Ride (2009), remixed "Diva", which was supposed to be included on her Fantasy Ride Mixtape.
"Ego" and "Halo" were initially planned for simultaneous release in the US, following the 2008 dual lead singles "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". However, the release of "Ego" was scrapped and replaced with "Diva", which was taken from a different disc of I Am... Sasha Fierce to "Halo"; the intention was to demonstrate the concept that Beyoncé has conflicting personalities. "Diva" added to urban contemporary radio and rhythmic contemporary radios playlists,Rhythmic – Week Of: January 20, 2009 Radio and Records. Retrieved 2010-12-09. while "Halo" was sent to contemporary hit radio on January 20, 2009.Top 40 – Week Of: January 20, 2009 Radio and Records. Retrieved 2010-12-09. In Germany, "Diva" was featured as the B-side to "Halo" single. Upon its release, contemporary music critics noted many similarities between Beyoncé's "Diva" and Lil Wayne's 2008 song "A Milli"; both feature a similar beat produced by Bangladesh.
In an interview with MySpace, Beyoncé agreed that "Diva" is the woman's equivalent to "A Milli". However, she stated that it was not consciously. "Diva" eventually became known as the feminine companion to "A Milli".
Composition and lyrical interpretation
"Diva" is an R&B and hip hop song, which is composed in a moderate tempo in the key of E major. It carries a stuttering beat, which is accompanied by a slow-rolling and heavy bass-pumping groove with a jerky rhythm. The song marks a change of direction for Beyoncé; she raps in cadences over a Roland TR-808 machine, kick drums, and fewer instruments than her usual tracks. As stated by Andy Kellman of Allmusic, "Diva" aurally resembles Beyoncé's own 2006 songs "Freakum Dress" and "Ring the Alarm". Spence D. of IGN Music further compared its hip hop composition to Missy Elliott's earlier songs. Adam Mattera of The Observer noted "Diva" could be "a perfect independent women anthem"; its lyrics reflect a message of courage and determination. Similarly, Houston Chronicles Joey Guerra called the song an "ode to female fabulousness".
"Diva" features Beyoncé as the female protagonist speaking about being a diva. Chipmunked vocal samples and overdubs aplenty make up the song's foundation. According to Nick Levine of Digital Spy, Beyoncé's alter ego Sasha Fierce also salutes her earning power and proclaims herself as the "number one diva in the game". "Diva" begins with metallic kick drum complemented by Beyoncé's robotic sly vocal stutters as she sings: "I'm a, I'm a, a diva". She then starts the first verse, chanting the dictionary definition of a diva. She references her millions of dollars, and raps, "I done got so sick and filthy with benjis, I can't spend it", channeling her alter ego. After repeating the introductory lines, Beyoncé employs breathy drawls and robotic shouts to chant the chorus, where the lines, "Now diva is a female version of a hustla. Of a hustla. Of a, of a hustla", are looped. In the second verse, she finds love in the club, where she warns "Better have a six-pack in the cooler ... If you ain’t gettin[g] money, then you ain't got nothin[g] for me", and asks, "Where yo Boss at?" After singing the third verse and the chorus for the third time, Beyoncé adopts her initial chipmunked vocals to end the song, chanting, "I'm a, I'm a, a diva".
Critical reception The song received mixed to positive reviews, with critics either praising or criticizing it being a female companion to "A Milli." Matos Michaelangelo of The A.V. Club said that "Diva" is a flagrant attempt to write a female version of "A Milli". Leah Greenblat of Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Diva" can make a good feminine companion to "A Milli" thanks to their use of similar music instruments." Noting its similarity to "A Milli", Andy Kellman of Allmusic picked out "Diva" as one of the three standout tracks from the album. J. Freedom du Lac of The Washington Post chose it as one of the best songs on I Am... Sasha Fierce, calling it a "fun, [and] tuneless, gender-twisting play". Colin McGuire of PopMatters picked "Diva" as the highlight of the album, noting its "Lil Wayne-inspired beat" and describing it as "cheeky". He further wrote it shows the singer's "impeccable street side... with enough attitude to make it work".McGuire, Colin. (2009-02-09) Review: I Am... Sasha Fierce . PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-11-11.
Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune commented that the "menacing rhythm and chanted vocals" on "Diva", mark the album's biggest departure. Adam Mazmanian of The Washington Times felt that the song was influenced by Beyoncé's husband, American rapper Jay-Z as it has a "bad soft-core gangster rap". He also noted that its contains words that could get an "explicit" sticker by the chain stores. Similarly, Daniel Brockman of The Phoenix remarked that the song is "particularly intriguing" as it progresses through "hard-knockish robbery scenarios" which does not resemble Beyoncé's clean public image. Stacey Anderson of Spin magazine noted that "Diva" places a "startling, sexy snarl over window-rattling bass".Anderson, Stacey (2008-12-08). Review: I Am... Sasha Fierce . Spin. Spin Media LLC. Retrieved on 2010-09-10. Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone noted Beyoncé turns out "modal-sounding hooks" over 808 bass on the song.Hoard, Christian. (2008-11-18) Review: I Am... Sasha Fierce . Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved on 2009-11-11. The Village Voices Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond described Sasha Fierce as "suffer no such identity crisis, brassy, big-headed, confrontational, and witty...", reflected on "Diva".Brew-Hammond, Nana Ekua. (2008-12-17) Review: I Am... Sasha Fierce . The Village Voice. (Village Voice Media). Retrieved on 2009-11-11. James Reed of The Boston Globe described "Diva" as a "glitchy, bass-heavy thumper with the most ridiculous chorus of the year". Reed nevertheless added that the song is "insanely catchy, but then, when you hear something looped incessantly, no matter how mindless, it's bound to stick".
Mariel Concepcion of Billboard magazine noted that "Diva" is not something new, nevertheless it manages to be a radio-ready dance song. Alex Thornton of AllHipHop noted that Beyoncé adopts a masculine character on "Diva" and that it is "something decent to bounce to at least". The Observers Adam Mattera described the song as a potential source of inspiration to drag queens, however concluded that it can also leave many persons confused and bewildered.Mattera, Adam (2008-11-09). Review: I Am... Sasha Fierce . The Observer. (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved on 2010-09-10. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, also reviewed the song negatively, stating, "The sonic trickery on the most experimental track, 'Diva', isn't interesting enough to distract you from the absence of a tune." Spence D. of IGN Music, felt that Beyoncé's rapping in the song was a "bad idea" and described the song as "awkward, [and] horribly dated." On The Village Voices 2009 Pazz & Jop singles list, "Diva" was ranked at number 224. In 2013, John Boone and Jennifer Cady of E! Online placed the song at number nine on their list of ten best Beyoncé's songs.
Chart performance Initially, "Diva" charted on the Billboards Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart at number five. For the week ending January 3, 2009, the song debuted on the main US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 96, and peaked at number 19 on the issue dated March 7, 2009, becoming Beyoncé's sixteenth top twenty single on the chart. "Diva" reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart on March 28, 2009, giving Beyoncé her ninth number one on the chart. It peaked at number three on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart from the week ending February 14, 2009 to the week ending March 14, 2009.The song peaked at number three for five consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart: "Week ending February 14, 2009": "Week ending February 21, 2009": "Week ending February 28, 2009": "Week ending March 7, 2009": "Week ending March 14, 2009": "Diva" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 12, 2009. As of October, 2012, it had sold 1,037,000 digital downloads in the US. In August, 2022 the song was certified double platinum with over 2,000,000 copies.