Heated (Beyoncé song)

"Heated"
Song by Beyoncé
from the album Renaissance
ReleasedJuly 29, 2022 (2022-07-29)
StudioThe Juicy Juicy and Parkwood West, Los Angeles
Genre
Length4:20
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
Lyric Video
"Heated" on YouTube

"Heated" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé. It is the eleventh track on her seventh studio album, Renaissance (2022), which was released on July 29, 2022, through Parkwood and Columbia.[1]

Composition and lyrics

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Pitchfork writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd described the song as an "a pulsing afrobeats track".[2] Michaelangelo Matos of The New York Times described as a "neo-dancehall form over a slinky, wood-block-heavy groove".[3] The song also features elements of ballroom music.[4][5]

"Heated" referred to Beyoncé's "Uncle" Jonny, her gay cousin who introduce the singer to post-1970s Black ball culture, dance music and club culture, concept of Renaissance.[6][7] The song was considered a tribute to "Uncle" Jonny, who helped raise her until his death during the AIDS epidemic.[8][9]

Controversy

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The song was met with criticism online for its use of the word "spaz" in its lyrics, which disability advocates said is an ableist slur.[10] Other users online said that "spaz" has a different meaning in African-American English and is synonymous with "freaking out".[11][10] Beyoncé announced the following day that the word would be removed from the song, with the word soon being replaced with "blast".[12]

Live performance

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Beyoncé first performed "Heated" in Stockholm, Sweden on the opening night of the Renaissance World Tour, including it on the setlist for the duration of the tour.[13]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Heated"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 69
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 52
South Africa (TOSAC)[16] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 68
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19] 20

Certifications

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Certifications for "Heated"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[20] 3× Platinum 120,000
Canada (Music Canada)[21] Gold 40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Aswad, Jem (July 21, 2022). "Beyonce Reveals 'Renaissance' Collaborators: Drake, Jay-Z, Pharrell, Tems, Dozens More". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (2022-08-01). "Beyoncé: Renaissance". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2023-10-25. "Alien Superstar" channels Vanity 6 as an old-way house anthem.
  3. ^ Matos, Michaelangelo (July 29, 2022). "Beyoncé's "Renaissance" Embodies Decades of Dance Music. Here's a Guide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (August 4, 2022). "On Beyoncé's 'Renaissance': To be queer, gifted, and Black". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  5. ^ Lyons-Burt, Charles (June 29, 2022). "Beyoncé 'Renaissance' Review: A Disco-Trap Trip". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Rock, Audrey (July 29, 2022). "Uncle Jonny: 5 Things To Know About Beyonce's Gay Uncle Who Inspired "Renaissance"". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  7. ^ Betancourt, Bianca (July 29, 2022). "Who Was Beyonce's Uncle Jonny?". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Wehniainen, Grace (June 29, 2022). "This 'Renaissance' Song Pays Tribute To Beyoncé's Uncle Jonny". Bustle. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Nolfi, Joey (July 28, 2022). "Beyoncé dedicates "Renaissance" to her gay uncle and "fallen angels"". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Chilton, Louis (August 1, 2022). "Beyoncé faces backlash over ablest slur in lyrics to new Renaissance track "Heated"". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "Why Beyoncé and Lizzo Changed the Same Lyric on Their New Albums". Time. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Adekaiyero, Ayomikun (August 1, 2022). "Beyoncé confirms she will remove a lyric from her new album "Renaissance" following backlash that it's "ableist" and "deeply offensive"". Insider Inc. Insider Inc. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  13. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (May 10, 2023). "Beyoncé Renaissance tour set list: See all the songs on her nearly 3-hour show". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  14. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  15. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  16. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 31-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  18. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  20. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Beyoncé – Heated" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  21. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Beyoncé – Heated". Music Canada. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  22. ^ "British single certifications – Beyoncé – Heated". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 18, 2023.