Ring the Alarm

Infobox Single
Name = Ring the Alarm


Artist = Beyoncé
Album = B'Day
Released = October 17, 2006 (U.S.)
Format = CD single, digital download
Recorded = Sony Music Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre = R&B, hip hop soul
Length = 3:23 (album version)
3:17 (radio edit)
Label = Columbia
Writer = Beyoncé Knowles, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, Sean Garrett
Producer = Beyoncé Knowles, Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett
Last single = "One Night Only"
(2006)
This single = "Ring the Alarm"
(2006)
Next single = "Upgrade U"
(2006)
Misc =

"Ring the Alarm" is an R&B–hip hop soul song written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, and Sean Garrett for Beyoncé's second solo album, "B'Day" (2006). The lyrics speak about a threatened woman with her cheating man. It is noted for its aggressive tone, compared to other tracks in the album.

"Ring the Alarm" was released as the second single to mixed reception. The single debuted at number 12 on the "Billboard" Hot 100, becoming Beyoncé's highest US début of her entire musical career. It reached number 11 on the Hot 100, and was "B'Day"'s second lowest charting U.S.-released single, after "Get Me Bodied" peaked at number 68. The song was nominated at the 49th Grammy Awards. The single's music video is inspired by the 1992 film "Basic Instinct".

Background

Writing and recording

In 2006, Beyoncé landed on a starring role for a Broadway musical adaptation "Dreamgirls", that "heavily" inspired the content and music of the album.Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Be All You Can, B. |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/b/beyonce/news_feature_081406/index2.jhtml |work=MTV News |publisher=MTV Networks |date= |accessdate=2008-02-01] While having a vacation after six months of filming, she rushed to the studio to begin working on her second solo album "B'Day". Beyoncé revealed: " [When filming ended,] I had so many things bottled up, so many emotions, so many ideas". She called up American songwriter and record producer Sean Garrett, who co-wrote her 2005 multi-platinum single "Check on It", along with Rodney Jerkins and Rich Harrison.Cite news |last=Conniff |first=Tamara |title=Beyoncé Builds Buzz For 'B-Day' |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002689847 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date=(June 16, 2006) |accessdate=2008-02-01] She also contacted American hip hop producer-rapper Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, who also co-produced "Check on It". Beyoncé rented Sony Music Studios and booked Garrett, along with other producers, each with one room to work in. He revealed: "I came to the studio and saw the zone...everybody in here is banging out. Rodney Jerkins had his session, Rich Harrison had his session going on...I started banging out some shit." "Ring the Alarm" ended up co-written by Beyoncé, Garrett and Swizz Beatz. [Citation |last= |first= |title=B'Day deluxe edition - CD liner notes |url= |work= |publisher=Sony Music BMG Entertainment |date=2007 |accessdate=2008-02-01]

The album's tracks were produced while writing on the lyrics. It was co-arranged by Beyoncé and recorded in the same studio. "Ring the Alarm" was produced by Beyoncé, Garrett and Swizz Beatz. The track was one of the four songs produced by Swizz Beatz. He stated: "That's just one of the many presents I gave her for her "B'Day". I have the most tracks on her album as a single producer". [Cite news |last=MTV News staff |first= |title=For The Record: Quick News On Eminem, Aaliyah, Panic! At The Disco, DMX, Beyonce, Britney Spears & More |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1539363/20060825/knowles_beyonce.jhtml?headlines=true |work=MTV News |publisher=MTV Networks |date=(August 25, 2006) |accessdate=2008-02-01]

Artwork controversy

The artwork of "B'Day", including the cover of "Ring the Alarm", fueled controversy after Beyoncé used alligators during the photo shoot. Beyoncé revealed that using the animal and taping their mouths shut was her idea. PETA, an animal rights organization which had previous confronted her after she had used furs for her fashion line's clothing design, contacted a biologist who later wrote a letter to Beyoncé:

As a specialist in reptile biology and welfare, I'm concerned about your posing with a terrified baby alligator for your new album cover. Humans and alligators are not natural bedfellows, and the two should not mix at events such as photo shoots. In my view, doing so is arguably abusive to an animal. [Cite web |last=TMZ Staff |first= |title= PETA Wants Gator-aid From Beyoncé
url=http://www.tmz.com/2006/08/29/peta-wants-gator-aid-from-beyonce/
work=TMZ.com |publisher=TMZ Productions, Inc. |date=August 29, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04]

Musical style and lyrics

"Ring the Alarm" is an R&B song performed in a moderately slow tempo. The song is composed in A minor and is set in common time. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyoncé Digital Sheet Music: Ring the Alarm |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/scorch.asp?ppn=SC0034392 |work=Musicnotes.com |publisher=Musicnotes, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-03] "Ring the Alarm"'s instrumentation includes drums, other percussion instruments, and synthesizer. The track uses a blaring siren as its introductory sound, creating a more aggressive tone in the song. Beyoncé's strong vocals are enhanced with echo and shimmer, which overlap with one another to create a neo-warm vibe. She incorporates a mezzo-soprano growl for the track.Cite web |last=D. |first=Spence |title=Beyonce - B'Day: Sophomore slump narrowly avoided. |url=http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/730/730624p1.html |work=Music.ign.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |date=September 5, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-03] Beyoncé personally commented on the song: "It's energetic, aggressive and filled with hard beats".Cite news |last=Concepcion |first=Mariel |title=Beyoncé Rings The Alarm on Vibe.com |url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/08/beyonce_rings_the_alarm_on_vibe_com/ |work=VIBE |publisher=Vibe Media Group, Inc. |date=(August 16, 2006) |accessdate=2008-02-04] She also stated that the album was completed in three weeks, and that was the reason most of the record is aggressive.

In an interview, Beyoncé stated: "I didn't want to write some 'angry' song. Swizz's track had that tough vibe, like the guy had cheated, and I wanted to write something honest. If you're in a relationship, even if the man's cheating and you end up not wanting him, the thought of another woman benefiting from the lessons you taught him." [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyonce - Biography |url=http://www.musicworldentertainment.com/beyonce.php |work= |publisher=Music World Entertainment |date= |accessdate=2008-02-04] The lyrical content of "Ring the Alarm" was rumored to be chronicling about pop star Rihanna's relationship with rapper-mogul Jay-Z. [Cite web |last=Hashem |first=Warren |title=Beyonce's Dad: Someone is Trying to Sabotage the B'Day Album |url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/08/matthew-knowles-sabotage-bday/ |work=VIBE |publisher=Vibe Media Group, Inc. |date=August 24, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04]

Release and critical response

At the studio, Beyoncé played "Ring the Alarm" and "Freakum Dress" for the prospect of the next two singles, following "Déjà Vu". [Cite web |last=Coniff |first=Tamara |title=Beyonce's little secret |url=http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/0619beyonce0619.html |work=Originally from Billboard |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=June 19, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04] She also chose for "Green Light" and "Get Me Bodied" to hit international markets but opted for "Ring the Alarm" to be released as the second single of the album. A two-track CD single was released in the United States on October 3, 2006, two months after the release of "Déjà Vu". [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ring the Alarm [2 Tracks] |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp?tp=singles&pid=317670&aid=801124 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-04] A five-track remix CD was released on October 17, including the Karmatronic Remix, Migtight Remix, Tranzformas Remix, Pha Remix and Grizz Remix. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ring the Alarm [5 Tracks] |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp?tp=singles&pid=317670&aid=813734 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-04]

"Ring the Alarm" was received by the public with polarized responses. Eb Haynes of Allhiphop referred the track as "emotionally high-powered" which "rose speculations so arresting, while insignificant". [Cite web |last=Haynes |first=Eb |title=B'Day |url=http://allhiphop.com/stories/reviews/archive/2006/09/20/18134780.aspx |work=Allhiphop |publisher=Infinity, Allhiphop.com, Inc. |date=September 20, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-01] "The Boston Globe's" Sarah Rodman noted that the song "exposes rage and vulnerability" that "with its dread-filling siren blare, distorted vocals, and slapping backbeat, 'Ring the Alarm' finds Beyonce in full hell-hath-no-fury mode...she sings with grit and urgency that feel genuine." [Cite web |last=Rodman |first=Sarah |title=Beyonce shows rage and range on new release |url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/09/04/beyonce_shows_rage_and_range_on_new_release/ |work=The Boston Globe |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=September 4, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-01] Jonah Weiner of "Blender" wrote that "'Ring the Alarm,' a storm of clattering percussion and sirens, tackles a Beyoncé evergreen: the inseparability of romance and finance." [Cite web |last=Wiener |first=Jonah |title=Beyoncé: B’Day |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4129 |work=Blender Magazine |publisher=Dennis Digital, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-01] Chris Richards of "The Washington Post" defined her character in the song as a "jealousy-crazed ex...Riveting stuff, but without a knockout refrain, she doesn't sound particularly invested in the role." [Cite web |last=Richards |first=Chris |title=Beyonce's 'B'Day' Is Nothing to Celebrate |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/05/AR2006090501475.html |work=The Washington Post |publisher=The Washington Post Company |date=September 6, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-01] Tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media states, "'Cry Me a River' dazzled on the strength of its symphonic complexity, while 'Ring the Alarm' is an engine of simplistic fury." [Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |title=Pitchfork Track Reviews: Ring The Alarm |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/track_review/38071-ring-the-alarm
work=Pitchfork Media |publisher=Pitchforkmedia, Inc. |date=August 22, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-01]

Andy Kellman of Allmusic described it "an angered, atonal, and out-of-character song".Cite web |last=Kellman |first=Andy |title=Album review: B'Day |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0cfyxqqdld6e |work=Allmusic |publisher=Macrovision Corporation |date= |accessdate=2008-02-01] Norman Mayers of Prefixmag found the track with an "aggressive shouting and rock edge". [Cite web |last=Mayers |first=Norman |title=Beyoncé: B Day |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/beyonce/b-day/15442/ |work= |publisher=Prefixmag.com |date=September 18, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-06] Jody Rosen of "Entertainment Weekly" referred "Ring the Alarm" a "torrid" track where it "finds Beyoncé shouting the refrain through a thick fog of distortion...she sounds positively horrified by the prospect of relinquishing the luxury goodies her boyfriend has bought her—'chinchilla coats,' 'the house on the coast'—to another woman." [Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Jody |title=B'Day (2006): Beyonce Knowles |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1516025,00.html |work=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. |date=September 1, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-01] On his review of the album, Tim Finney of Pitchfork Media quoted that the track is a "siren-assisted caterwaul" and "sounds genuinely (and marvelously) incoherent" and that Beyoncé's voice is "thrillingly sharp with anxiety and paranoia." [Cite web |last=Finney |first=Tim |title=Pitchfork Record Reviews: B'Day |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/38328-bday |work=Pitchfork Media |publisher=Pitchforkmedia, Inc. |date=September 7, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-01] Brian Hiatt of "Rolling Stone" stated that "Beyonce sings with enough frantic, quavering intensity to make you believe she really is crazy in love." [Cite web |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |title=Beyoncé: B'day |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/beyonce/albums/album/11463836/review/11736807/bday |work= |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=September 20, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-06] Spence D. of IGN Music was positive, stating that Beyoncé's "best examples of her vocal stylings meshing with the grooves" come from "Ring the Alarm".

Bill Lamb of About.com commented: "Surprisingly, the first two singles released from "B'Day", "Déjà Vu" and "Ring the Alarm," are among the weakest songs here." [Cite web |last=Lamb |first=Bill |title=Beyonce - B'Day: Beyonce Steps Several Steps Forward on Her B'Day |url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/beyoncebday.htm |work=About.com |publisher=About, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-01] Bernard Zuel of "The Sydney Morning Herald" referred to it a "posturing and eventually annoying" track which "highlights another problem with the album." [Cite web |last=Zuel |first=Bernard |title=B'Day |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd-reviews/bday/2006/09/08/1157222307561.html |work=Smh.com |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=September 8, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-03]

Beyoncé performed the song at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. [Cite news |last=Montgomery |first=James |title=Underdog Night At The VMAs: Panic, Gnarls, Blunt, Chamillionaire Win Big |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1539952/20060831/index.jhtml |work=MTV News |publisher=MTV Networks |date=(September 1, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04] "Ring the Alarm" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards but lost out to Mary J. Blige's rendition of her 2005 single "Be Without You". [Cite news |last= |first= |title=49th GRAMMY Nominees Announced |url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/News/Default.aspx?newsID=2294 |work=Grammy |publisher=The Recording Academy |date=(December 7, 2006) |accessdate=2008-02-04]

Chart performance

"Ring the Alarm" was released as the second North American single from "B'Day", with "Irreplaceable" as the second elsewhere. On September 23, 2006, the song debuted at number 12 on the "Billboard" Hot 100, the highest U.S. debut of the week and Beyoncé's career. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=http://acharts.us/billboard_hot_100/2006/38 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated September 23, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-03] [Cite news |last=Hope |first=Clover |title=Timberlake's 'Sexy' Fends Off Fergie For No. 1 |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003122241 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date=September 14, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-03] The single peaked at number 11 on September 30, [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=http://acharts.us/billboard_hot_100/2006/39 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated September 30, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-03] becoming Beyoncé's lowest peaking single until "Get Me Bodied" which peaked at number 68.Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyoncé: Artist Chart History |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=317670&model.vnuAlbumId=1097735 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date= |accessdate=2008-02-03] Several weeks after falling off the Hot 100, the single charted again, on January 13, 2007, at number 81, [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=http://acharts.us/billboard_hot_100/2007/02 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated January 13, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-03] appearing on the chart for 14 weeks.Cite web |last= |first= |title="Ring The Alarm" Global charts and trajectories |url=http://acharts.us/song/10994 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date= |accessdate=2008-02-03]

The single was more successful on "Billboard"'s component charts. "Ring the Alarm" reached the top spot on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales and Hot 100 Singles Sales, number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number seven on the Hot Digital Songs. It appeared on the Rhythmic Top 40 at number 21.Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyoncé: Billboard Singles |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BEYONCE&sql=11:axfuxq8jld6e~T51 |work=Allmusic |publisher=Macrovision Corporation |date= |accessdate=2008-02-03] [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyoncé Knowles |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-k/beyonceknowles.htm |work= |publisher=Rock On The Net |date= |accessdate=2008-02-04]

Elsewhere, "Ring the Alarm" had poor reception. In Sweden, the single debuted at number 57 on January 15, 2007, a week after it re-entered the Hot 100. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Sweden Singles Top 60 |url=http://acharts.us/sweden_singles_top_60/2007/03 |work= |publisher=αCharts.us |date=chart dated January 15, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-03] It topped at number 31 and spent four weeks on the chart. In Brazil and Japan, the single peaked at numbers 13 and 16, respectively. [Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beyone Knowles: Ring The Alarm Full Chart History |url=http://top40-charts.com/songs/full.php?sid=17864&sort=chartid |work= |publisher=Top40-charts.com |date= |accessdate=2008-02-03] On Media Traffic's United World Chart, "Ring the Alarm" debuted at number 40 and stayed in the spot for five weeks.

Music video

The music video for "Ring the Alarm" was the second Beyoncé video directed by Sophie Muller after the director worked on "Déjà Vu". The video was shot inside a cavernous hangar on the Brooklyn waterfront, New York City. Beyoncé went back to the studio to continue working on "B'Day" after the shoot ended for three days. [Cite web |last=Blender editors |first= |title=Beyoncé: The Ice Princess |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2065 |work=Blender Magazine |publisher=Dennis Digital, Inc. |date=October 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04] "Ring the Alarm" copies a scene from the 1992 film "Basic Instinct", referred by Natalie More of "In These Times" an infamous scene.Cite web |last=Moore |first=Natalie |title=Beyonce’s Bootyful B’Day |url=http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/2902/beyoncs_bootyful_bay/ |work= |publisher=In These Times |date=November 17, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-03] Beyoncé wears a white skirt and turtleneck, emulating Sharon Stone. The video premiered at Yahoo! Music on August 16, 2006 and debuted on MTV's "Total Request Live" at number 10 on August 22.Cite web |last= |first= |title=TRL Debuts |url=http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/db.html |work= |publisher=Popfusion |date= |accessdate=2008-02-03] The video reached number one and remained on the show for 35 days until it was replaced by "Irreplaceable". [Cite web |last= |first= |title=TRL Number Ones |url=http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/no.html |work= |publisher=Popfusion |date= |accessdate=2008-02-09] The video was posted on MTV Overdrive on August 25, 2007.

The video starts with Beyoncé lying on a table, lit with a flashing bright red light. While the siren is blaring, she half-stands and sings while dancing on the table. She then proceeds to an interrogation room set in an environment similar to the one in the film "Basic Instinct". Beyoncé sings the first verse in a house with a seashore backdrop. She wants to escape and struggles with masked and uniformed guards in a hallway. She is then brought back to the interrogation room. In between cuts, she sings in a corner of a room, screaming in a mirror and amongst reporters. She cries while singing towards the end of the song.

The video gained mixed responses from critics. Kellman stated that the video "invited all kinds of perplexed analysis". Jose Antonio Vargas of the "The Washington Post" characterized Beyoncé in the video a "ranting, angry woman". [Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Jose Antonio |title=Beyonce, Trying To Find Her Own Destiny |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/08/AR2006090801924.html |work=The Washington Post |publisher=The Washington Post Company |date=September 9, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04] Elizabeth Goodman of "Rolling Stone" speculated that the use of guards in riot gear is a reference to "Alias". [Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Elizabeth |title=Video of the Day: Beyonce “Ring the Alarm” |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/08/17/video-of-the-day-beyonce-ring-the-alarm/ |work= |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=August 17, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04] Tom Breihan of "The Village Voice" called it "quick-and-dirty" video and a "fast montage of disconnected and disconnecting images". [Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |title=Beyonce's "Ring the Alarm": Conspiracy Theories |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/statusainthood/archives/2006/08/beyonces_ring_t.php |work= |publisher=The Village Voice |date=August 17, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-04] Roger Friedman of FOX News found it a "bizarre video depicting a wildly angry and unappealing Beyonce telling off someone (maybe Jay-Z?) for cheating as if she were an enraged guest on Maury Povich." [Cite news |last=Friedman |first=Roger |title=First Look: Beyonce's New Album 'B'Day' |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208884,00.html |work=FOX News |publisher=FOX News Network, LLC |date=August 17, 2006 |accessdate=2008-02-11]

Formats and track listing

These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "Ring the Alarm":;CD Maxi single
# "Ring the Alarm" (Karmatronic remix)
# "Ring the Alarm" (Migtight remix)
# "Ring the Alarm" (The Tranzformas remix, featuring Collie Buddz)
# "Ring the Alarm" (Jazze Pha remix)
# "Ring the Alarm" (Grizz remix);CD Single
# "Ring the Alarm" (Album version)
# "Ring the Alarm" (Instrumental);Promo 12" vinyl
# Tranzformas Remix - Featuring Collie Buddz 4:12
# Tranzformas Remix - Instrumental 4:12
# Album Version 3:23
# Grizz Remix 3:32
# Grizz Remix - Instrumental 3:13
# Jazze Pha Remix 3:47
# Jazze Pha Remix - Instrumental 3:45

Credits and personnel

*Recorded by: Jim Caruana
**Assisted by: Rob Kinelski
*Mixed by: Jason Goldstein and Swizz Beatz
**Assisted by Steve Tolle

Charts

Awards

Hot 100 Brazil

References

External links

* [http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=102945 "Ring the Alarm" music video]