Beautiful Liar
by Beyoncé (featuring Shakira)

Album: B'Day Deluxe Edition (2007)
Charted: 1 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Shakira and Beyoncé talking about how the same man told each of them that she was the one and only. Instead of starting a fight or plotting to get back at the guy, they decide he isn't worth it, and to ignore him. Beyoncé considers it a female-empowerment song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Donovan Berry - El Dorado, AR
  • On the week of April 7, 2007 this made the biggest ever leap in the Billboard Hot 100 when it rose 91 positions to land at #3. It broke the previous record, which was the 95-7 jump of "Smack That" by Akon featuring Eminem on the chart dated October 14, 2006.
  • Beyoncé recorded this herself before asking Shakira to sing on it with her. The song has a Latin flavor and some Spanish lyrics that suited Shakira well.
  • Though this only reached #3 in America, the song was a smash hit internationally, topping the charts in 32 different countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and New Zealand.
  • Mikkel S. Eriksen, half of the songwritng/production duo Stargate, who co-created the tune, said the project was a lesson in simplicity. "This song is very simple," he told Sound on Sound. "Most of the time we have more chords in a song, because we find it hard writing a great song on just one chord. But if you do it right, you can make it work, and this song is an example."
  • Beyoncé and Shakira, who recorded their parts separately in their respective studios, met to film the music video. Directed by Jake Nava, the clip finds the singers emerging from a smoky background as they individually perform their parts, mirroring each others' outfits and dance moves, until they finally meet for a sultry belly-dancing session.

    The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Most Earthshattering Collaboration in 2007.
  • Along with Beyoncé and the Stargate production team, this song was written by the team of Ian Dench and Amanda Ghost, who also contributed to the I Am... Sasha Fierce track "Disappear." Dench is best known as the guitarist in EMF, who had a huge '90s hit with "Unbelievable."
  • This was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals at the 2008 Grammy Awards, but lost to "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

Comments: 5

  • Martamjlover from UsaI've had this happen to me more than once. And I hated to have my heart broken so many times it sucks. Like Else Debarred say's in one of his songs the heart is not so smart. But this song is good not the having u'r heart broken part though. But Shakira and beyonce' are right the guy is the to blame.
  • Nadia from Phoenix, Azthis is one of those songs that the video is so good it will carry it further then the song alone.
  • Reza from Shiraz, Iranhey shakira and beyonce. one of the sexiest videos ive ever seen. love it
  • Emily from Derby, United KingdomI LOVE THIS SONG! iT IS AWESOME
  • Fani from Avlon, GreeceI really love this song.......And it's rhythm calls you to dance
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.