Don't Hurt Yourself (Beyoncé song) explained

Don't Hurt Yourself
Artist:Beyoncé featuring Jack White
Album:Lemonade
Released:April 22, 2016
Recorded:2014
Studio:Jungle Studios, New York City
Genre:

"Don't Hurt Yourself" is a song by American singer Beyoncé featuring American musician Jack White. It is the third track on her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016), released through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The song's music video is part of Beyoncé's 2016 film Lemonade, aired on HBO alongside the album's release.[2]

The song was produced by Jack White, Beyoncé, and Derek Dixie, and written by White, Beyoncé, and Diana Gordon. The song contains samples of "When the Levee Breaks" written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, and performed by Led Zeppelin. Some critics compared the song to Beyoncé's "Ring the Alarm" (2006).[3] The song received a nomination for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in the category of Best Rock Performance. Billboard ranked "Don't Hurt Yourself" at number 61 on their "Billboards 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list.[4]

Background

Jack White said of the song's origin in an NPR interview:

"You know, I just talked to her and she said, "I wanna be in a band with you." [Laughs.] I said, "Really? Well, I'd love to do something." I've always loved her voice — I mean, I think she has the kind of soul singing voice of the days of Betty Davis or Aretha Franklin. She took just sort of a sketch of a lyrical outline and turned into the most bodacious, vicious, incredible song. I don't even know what you'd classify it as — soul, rock and roll, whatever. "Don't Hurt Yourself" is incredibly intense; I'm so amazed at what she did with it."[5]
The song's music video is part of a one-hour film with the same title as its parent album, which originally aired on HBO.

Critical reception

Writing for Pitchfork, Jillian Mapes argues that Beyoncé is "giving the world a modern-day 'Respect' in 'Don't Hurt Yourself'". Mapes continues, writing "Even on an album stacked with some of Beyoncé's best recorded vocal performances to date, 'Don't Hurt Yourself' has her belting to a whole other dimension—specifically, that of Janis Joplin and late-'60s Tina Turner".[6] Amber Mackie of Revolt stresses that the song follows "Hold Up" narration with "no nonsense lyrics", with "energy and power" from "propulsive rhythms and fills of the drums".[7]

Chart performance

After the release of Lemonade, "Don't Hurt Yourself" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 28[8] and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart at number 16.[8] As featured artist on the song, Jack White notched his first solo top 40 Hot 100 hit. In a prior appearance as a soloist, White reached number 81 in 2008 with the duet "Another Way to Die" with Alicia Keys, the theme from the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.[9]

Live performances

"Don't Hurt Yourself" was part of the set list for The Formation World Tour with the first performance taking place in Miami at Marlins Park on April 27, 2016. Beyoncé also performed this as part of her medley at the 2016 MTV VMA.[10] Writing for The Guardian, Caroline Sullivan noted how during the performance of "the bitterest songs" off Lemonade, "Sorry" and "Don't Hurt Yourself", "she's a pillar of rage".[11] Beyoncé also performed the song on her setlist for her 2018 Coachella performance, as well as co-headlining On the Run II Tour with Jay-Z. Jack White opened his October 10, 2020 performance on Saturday Night Live with a portion of "Don't Hurt Yourself" as part of a medley.[12]

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 93
Australia Urban Singles (ARIA)[14] 10
France (SNEP)[15] 47
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 77
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 28

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beyoncé's Surprise 'Lemonade' Album: Instant Track-by-Track Analysis. Fuse.
  2. Web site: Beyoncé Releases New Album Lemonade Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, the Weeknd, James Blake. April 23, 2016. April 23, 2016. Pitchfork Media. April 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160425100613/http://pitchfork.com/news/63381-beyonce-releases-new-album-lemonade-featuring-kendrick-lamar-jack-white-the-weeknd-james-blake/. live.
  3. Web site: Beyonce's 'Lemonade': Track-By-Track Album Review. Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 21 May 2016.
  4. Web site: Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks. Billboard. December 12, 2016. December 12, 2016.
  5. Web site: Jack White on Detroit, Beyoncé and Where Songs Come from. NPR.org.
  6. Web site: Mapes . Jillian . April 26, 2016 . Beyoncé: Lemonade . March 10, 2024 . Pitchfork.
  7. Web site: Mackie . Amber . April 24, 2016 . Beyoncé's 'Lemonade': A Track-By-Track Review . March 10, 2024 . Revolt.
  8. Web site: All 12 of Beyonce's 'Lemonade' Tracks Debut on Hot 100. Billboard.biz. April 30, 2016.
  9. Web site: Hot 100 Chart Moves: Prince & Beyonce's Record-Breaking Week. Billboard. April 30, 2016.
  10. Web site: Beyoncé Kicks Off 'Formation' Tour in Miami, Jay Z Shows Support But Doesn't Perform . ET . April 30, 2016.
  11. Web site: Beyoncé, Formation World Tour, Sunderland review – she slays. The Guardian. Caroline. Sullivan. June 29, 2016. July 5, 2016.
  12. Web site: 'SNL': Jack White Plays His Beyonce Collaboration, and Fans Can't Believe It. popculture. John. Coulston. October 11, 2000. October 21, 2020.
  13. Web site: CHART WATCH #366 - auspOp. auspOp . April 28, 2022.
  14. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 40 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 9, 2016.
  15. Web site: Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés. SNEP. April 29, 2016. https://archive.today/20150905220633/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/. September 5, 2015. dead.
  16. Web site: Sverigetopplistan - Sveriges Officiella Topplista . 2014-08-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151226154145/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/ . 2015-12-26 . . Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  17. Desiigner Holds Off Drake Atop Hot 100, Prince & Beyonce Hit Top 10. Billboard. 2 May 2016. May 2, 2016.