I'm That Girl

Album: Renaissance (2022)
Charted: 26
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Beyoncé opens her Renaissance album with a mission statement where she outlines the liberation, self-assuredness, and empowerment served up over the 16 tracks. Queen Bey reminds us throughout the track that she's truly That Girl.
  • Beyoncé only sings the chorus once, and the track incorporates several ideas and BPMs. The lack of conventional song structures is another Renaissance theme.
  • Parents be warned! Beyoncé also makes it clear she won't hold back on cussing. Even in the intro, she uses the F-word a dozen times.
  • I be beatin' down the block, knockin' Basquiats off the wall-all

    Beyoncé and Jay-Z are known for their love for fine art, and own several Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings. In 2013, Bey's rapper husband reportedly purchased the Basquiat painting Mecca at Sotheby's for $4.2 million. Jay-Z references his ownership of one of the artist's works on his 2013 track "Picasso Baby" in the line, "Yellow Basquiat in my kitchen corner." In 2021, Beyoncé's ad campaign with the jewelry maker Tiffany & Co. featured a never-before-seen Tiffany blue painting by Basquiat.
  • Beyoncé wrote "I'm That Girl" with The-Dream. Other Queen Bey girl-power anthems the R&B songwriter co-penned include "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "Run The World (Girls)" as well as Renaissance's lead single, "Break My Soul." The-Dream also contributes backing vocals on the track.
  • Beyoncé, Kelman Duran, Mike Dean, Symbolyc One, Stuart White and Jameil Aossey produced the track. Mike Dean is Kanye West's go-to production partner and Symbolyc One is signed to West's GOOD Music as a producer. Stuart White was Beyoncé's recording and mixing engineer on Lemonade.
  • The song samples Memphis rappers Tommy Wright III and Princess Loko's "Still Pimpin'" from Wright's 1994 album Runnin-N-Gunnin.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.