| "I Was Here" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song byBeyoncé | |
| from the album4 | |
| Released | June 28, 2011 |
| Recorded | May 2011 |
| Studio | Patriot Studios (Denver;Colorado) Boston Harbor Hotel (Boston,Massachusetts) Lear 60/G2 Studios |
| Genre | R&B |
| Length | 3:57 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter | Diane Warren |
| Producers |
|
"I Was Here" is a song recorded by American singerBeyoncé from her fourth studio album,4 (2011). It was written byDiane Warren, while production was handled byOneRepublic membersRyan Tedder andBrent Kutzle, alongsideKuk Harrell; while Beyoncé is credited on the vocal production. "I Was Here" is a reflectiveR&B ballad, in which Beyoncé vulnerably reviews her past, wanting to leave an impact on the world before her life comes to an end. Described as a "career song" by Warren, its development was motivated by theSeptember 11 attacks in the United States.
Following the release of4, "I Was Here" charted at number 131 on theUK Singles Chart, 74 on theSwiss Singles Chart, and 44 on theSouth Korea Gaon International Singles Chart in early July 2011. Later, in 2012, the song also appeared on several charts internationally.
Amusic video for the song was released on August 19, 2012 and it features Beyoncé, wearing aMarc Bouwer gown, performing the song live at theUnited Nations General Assembly Hall while images of volunteers doing humanitarian work were projected on the screen behind her. It was donated to theWorld Humanitarian Day and aimed to create social media history with one billion people sharing the message of doing something good for another person. Upon its release, it received positive reviews from music critics who praised the projections, Beyoncé's vocal performance and her look.
In late July, the song was included on thesoundtrack for the 2011FIFA Women's World Cup Final. "I Was Here" was also part of Beyoncé'sset list for her residency show4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé and was used in theRevel Presents: Beyoncé Live shows during an interlude. The live video from the DVDLive at Roseland: Elements of 4 appeared online on November 16, 2011 containing Beyoncé's home movies and professional highlights. "I Was Here" was covered byLea Michele forGlee's soundtrack albumGlee: The Music, The Graduation Album (2012).
"I Was Here" was written byDiane Warren and was produced byRyan Tedder,Brent Kutzle, Beyoncé andKuk Harrell.[1] "I Was Here" is the only song on the record that was not co-written by Beyoncé.[2] The development of "I Was Here" was motivated by theSeptember 11 attacks.[3] "I thought that the one artist who would be my dream to sing ['I Was Here'] would be Beyoncé," said Warren. "This is one of those magical stories where what is meant to be actually happens."[4]
"I knew ['I Was Here'] was going to be a very special song. It just fit[s] where I was in my life and expressed something I believed and wanted to share. As an artist, you want your music to mean something or to help someone get through something, and when a song has a great message and meaning, it is what you strive for."
In May 2011,[3] Warren played the song on aguitar over the phone to Beyoncé's husbandJay-Z, who then called her.[5][6] Upon hearing "I Was Here", Beyoncé immediately made up her mind, "Oh my god, I have to have this song."[5][3] September 2011 was going to mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks and Beyoncé thought that the song would perfectly complete her album,[3] which had nearly reached completion.[5] The mastering of4 was delayed to allow Beyoncé to record the song.[6] Warren was present at the recording sessions, which took place two days following her conversation with Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the phone.[6] She said, "There's nothing better than to hear the song that you came up with [sung back]. It's like your heart found another heart",[5] before adding:
I've never had chills through my entire body like I had from hearing Beyoncé sing this song. 'I Was Here' came from my soul and became the song that was coming from hers. In all my life, I have never heard anything as amazing as this. Hearing her sing 'I Was Here' will forever be one of the best moments of my life, and I know that this song will touch many other lives as well.[4]
"I Was Here" is adowntempoR&Bballad[9][10][11] that is instrumentally based onsynthesizers undercurrent,[12]indie rock guitars,[11]musical keyboards andbig drums provided by Tedder and Kutzle.[13] The sound of the song's recurringhook uses a combination of axylophone and apiano.[9] According to the sheet music published byAlfred Music Publishing at the website Musicnotes.com, "I Was Here" is written in the key ofG major with a6
8 time signature and has a tempo of 37 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of Em–C–D–Dsus–Em–C–Em–C, and Beyoncé's vocals span two octaves from E3 to E5.[14]
James Reed ofThe Boston Globe felt that "['I Was Here'] is 'Halo' on steroids — or Valium."[11] It features Beyoncé as the female protagonist, who wants to make her mark on this Earth before her time is up as she wants that the world remember her impact.[10][11][13] Ian Walker ofAbsolutePunk elaborated on the song's composition: "'I Was Here' is Beyoncé's monument to the ages. The song climbs higher and higher, chorus by chorus, until Beyoncé reaches her apex, delivering some of her best vocals on the album. The lyrics are a bit uninspired, overly triumphant but somewhat humble as the singer contemplates her mark on history. Although she has garnered massive amounts of acclaim through her storied career, Beyoncé is far from satisfied."[15]
"I Was Here" begins with quiveringreverb[16] and a plaintively plucked guitar setting a somber mood for about fifteen seconds before thebeats begin alongside Beyoncé's voice.[9] Her vocals set a hushed and morbid tone on the song as she bring doses of edge and grit, singing: "I wanna leave my footprints on thesands of time / Know there was something that meant something that I left behind / When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets / I'll leave something to remember, So they won't forget".[16][17] She further sings throughout the song, "The hearts I have touched will be the proof that I leaved that I made a difference".[18] Watery synths shimmer in the background before Beyoncé adopts an authoritative tone to chant thechorus lines: "I was here / I lived, I loved / I was here / I did, I've done / Everything that I wanted / And it was more than I thought it would be / I will leave my mark so everyone will know / I was here".[17][19]
"But then there's Beyoncé, at the center of the mix, intoning in an uncommonly hushed tone, 'I wanna leave my footprints in the sands of time.' Instead of gnashing my teeth, I listen closer, wanting to hear this shockingly affecting elegy directed for once not at one specific lover, but the world that allowed her to express that love in the first place. Oddly enough, the song reminds me ofLars von Trier's best works, which provoke actual emotional reactions while being, on paper, contrived pieces of shit. 'I Was Here', and4 in general, is that kind of a work, objectively middling, subjectively magnificent."
"I Was Here" garnered mixed to positive reviews from critics, most of whom felt the song's message was too deep for an artist like Beyoncé to sing, and criticized its placement on the track list of4.[20] Georgette Cline ofThe Boombox gave the song a positive review stating that, although the lyrics are a bit on the morbid side, it works in Beyoncé's favor, "proving she can tackle a myriad of subjects".[13] Matthew Horton ofBBC criticized the song's order of placement on the track list of4, stating that "'Run the World (Girls)' is tagged on like a bonus track following 'I Was Here', which sounds like the perfect ending for the album."[21] Matthew Perpetua ofRolling Stone also had the same view, saying it "disrupts the flow of up-tempo songs on the second half4".[22] Perpetua however calls it a "showstopper" and added that it "work[s] well as a bittersweet emotional climax for the album".[22] Perpetua finished his review by saying that "'I Was Here' is the blustery ballad one would expect by a Beyoncé/Warren team-up, and stands off as flat and generic when compared to the rest of4."[22] Another reviewer of the same magazine,Jody Rosen complimented Beyoncé's vocals stating that she sings with authority; however, he coined "I Was Here" as a low point on the album and added that it is "swamped in 'My Way'-style self-mythologizing."[19]
Steve Jones ofUSA Today showed appreciation for "I Was Here": "At 29, the still-in-her-prime Beyoncé seems a little young to be worrying about her legacy, as she does on the Warren power ballad I Was Here. But she puts so much feeling into it that it winds up being the album's most moving song."[23] Joanne Dorken ofMTV UK was also positive, praising the song's "simple backing music, and Beyoncé's flawless and beautiful voice." She concluded that "I Was Here" ends up being a "standout song on the album [and] we won't be forgetting Queen B in a hurry."[7] Spencer Kornhaber ofThe Atlantic was also positive, writing, "Payoff comes on 11th song, the epically loping 'I Was Here.'[8] Cameron Adams of theHerald Sun commented that "I Was Here" comes to "a show-stopping moment in a Beyonce concert near you".[24] James Reed ofThe Boston Globe wrote that the collaboration of Diane Warren and Ryan Tedder, introduces "a new strain of her balladry: an ethereal marriage of R&B sensuality and stuttering indie-rock guitars."[11] Condar Tao of the website Sputnikmusic showed his appreciation for the song, writing, "[...] perhaps even more notable is the record's penultimate track, the Ryan Tedder-produced 'I Was Here'. Tedder is arguably one of the most irritating people working in pop today, and considering his track record, it's not a surprise that 'I Was Here' is the most contemporary-sounding song off of 4. What is surprising is just how good it is. The production is predictably icky, making that increasingly common mistake of using distant footsteps and reverbed guitar to convey a clichéd sense of 'epicness'."[16] Gary Graff ofBillboard said that the line "I want to leave my footprints on the sands of time" in the song defined the whole album.[25] Simon Goddard ofQ magazine chose "I Was Here" as one of the best songs on4, describing it as a "breast-clutching tour de fource".[26]
Rich Juzwiak ofThe Village Voice complimented "I Was Here" as knocking harder than anything on4's "bloated predecessor",I Am ... Sasha Fierce (2008).[27] Similarly, Embling of Tiny Mix Tapes wrote: "'I Was Here' is a heavy brick of a song — overwrought, maudlin, delusionally grandiose — but it is also disarmingly honest about the addictive, undignified dimensions of fame and celebrity."[28] Genevieve Koski ofThe A.V. Club described "I Was Here" as "uncomfortably overwrought" although he said that Beyoncé manages to bring conviction to its lyrical content.[29] Adam Markovitz ofEntertainment Weekly also gave the song a mixed review stating that it reached a "lifetime-movie levels of schmaltz".[30] David Amidon ofPopMatters stated that "I Was Here" is "plain awkward to here a woman as in her prime physically as Beyoncé is to even approach such a tune. The dull music from Ryan Tedder and an army of co-producers does not help matters."[10] Michael Cragg ofThe Observer gave the song a negative review, stating that it disappoints as being "corny bluster at odds with the laid-back feel of her most accomplished album yet."[31] Andy Gill ofThe Independent simply stated that "I Was Here" strains too hard for "Empire State of Mind" (2009) status.[32]Greg Kot ofChicago Tribune described the song as a "toxic string of cliches".[33] Hamish MacBain ofNME gave "I Was Here" a mixed review stating the song sounds like anX-Factor winner's single, full of unbelievably trite sentiments.[17]
Although "I Was Here" was never released as a single, it appeared on several charts across the world following the release of4. Selling 14,173 digital downloads, the song opened at number 44 on theSouth Korea Gaon International Singles Chart for the week ending July 2, 2011 which became its peak position on that chart.[34] Following the release of4, "I Was Here" also charted at number 131 on theUK Singles Chart on July 9, 2011.[35] "I Was Here" additionally debuted on theSwiss Singles Chart at number 74 on July 10, 2011, before falling off the chart the following week.[36] On the chart issue dated January 16, 2012, "I Was Here" debuted at number 87 on theAustralian Singles Chart and number 26 on its urban chart.[37][38]
After the release of the music video of the song it appeared again on several charts. On theIrish Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 88 for the week ending August 30, 2012 which later became its peak position on that chart.[39] On theBelgian Ultratip Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 83 on September 1, 2012[40] and four weeks later it peaked at number 16 on September 29, 2012.[41] On the chart issue dated September 8, 2012, the song appeared at number 40 on theUK R&B Chart.[42] The next week it moved three positions up, at number 37, which became its peak position.[43] On theHungarian Singles Chart, "I Was Here" debuted at number 6 on the chart issue dated September 9, 2012 which also became its peak position on that chart.[44] For the week ending September 22, 2012, the song debuted at number 44 on the USHot Dance Club Songs.[45] The next week, it moved to number 31,[46] and ascended on the chart over the next weeks. It reached its peak position of number 13 on the chart.[47]
"It says, 'I want to leave my footprints in the sands of time' and it basically is all of our dreams. And that’s leaving our mark on the world. I feel like we all want to know that our life meant something and that we did something for someone else and that we spread positivity, no matter how big or how small... We all have our purpose, and we all have our strengths…it feels so wonderful to do something for someone else. And I think for the U.N. to want to include the whole world was something important, and I feel like that’s what I represent."
On July 25, 2012 Beyoncé left a message forher fans on her official website stating "Leave Your Footprints on 19 August 2012", the opening lyrics to the song.[50] On July 27, 2012 it was revealed that Beyoncé would be releasing a music video for the song as part of a global launch ofWorld Humanitarian Day, held by theOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).[51] It was helmed by production companyRidley Scott & Associates and directors Kenzo Digital andSophie Muller.[52]Droga5,Sara Wallace and RSA Films served asproducers of the video with theanimation done by Dirt Empire NYC.[53] The campaign aimed to reach 1 billion people with a single message when it launched, further making social media history.[52][54] Several illustrations were launched on Beyoncé's website explaining how people could leave their mark on the world.[55] The campaign was powered and measured by a new platform called Thunderclap created by creative shop DE-DE which aggregated the social reach of campaign supporters.[56] Droga5's creative chairmanDavid Droga further explained the decision to include Beyoncé for the World Humanitarian Day,
"The hope, first and foremost, was to put this on people’s radar. Apart from the UN and a few newsreaders who mention this every year, people don’t even know this day exists. It’s also to make people realize it’s not just about volunteering to go and live in the Congo for four years. It’s as much about working a soup kitchen as it is helping an elderly person. Contributing something positive doesn’t have to be a lifelong commitment; it can just be daily gestures. So, it was about giving the whole issue perspective... One video and a message aren't going to save everything. But when you say things together, maybe the message will be heard and hopefully will provoke action. Inherently people are good, and inherently people are distracted and somewhat lazy, so it comes down to how do you get people’s attention."[57]
Prior to the release of the video, Beyoncé said: "We all see the headlines and we think what can I really do to help?... World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity for all of us to work together to make a difference. This is our time to leave our mark on the world and show that we were here and we care."[52] During another interview posted on the UN website, Beyoncé said she was attracted to raising awareness on the day of recognition: "I found out that 22 people lost their lives helping people [in Baghdad]. I thought it was such an incredible thing to turn that into something positive and try to include the world into doing something great for someone else".[48] Another inspiration for Beyoncé to participate in the campaign were the finalists at the2012 Do Something Awards and their humanitarian work.[58]Beyoncé also enlisted the help of celebritiesGwyneth Paltrow,Rihanna,Lady Gaga,Justin Bieber,Chris Martin,Shakira,Jay-Z and First LadyMichelle Obama to support the cause[59][60] as well asCoca-Cola,MTV, andOreo.[56] On August 3, 2012, Beyoncé released ablack and white promotional video for the World Humanitarian Day, produced bySara Wallace. The video featured Beyoncé saying, "On August 19. It’s high time we rise together. Do one thing for a human being. Nothing is too small. … Make your mark and say I was here."[61] The music video was expected to be released simultaneously in the main platforms of television, cinema, projection screens and facilities prepared for buildings in New York, Dubai and Geneva, on August 19.[51] However, it premiered on August 18, 2012 instead.[53] The next day, it was released on theiTunes Store in the US.[62] The performance of the song received positive reviews from music critics and celebrities who attended.[63]
The video was filmed in front of a live audience at theUnited Nations General Assembly Hall in New York on August 10, 2012.[64][65] SuperUber worked on integration between animations and technology, the structure design andprojection mapping that took over the General Assembly Hall after it was invited by Kenzo Digital. 10 20K HLMBarco projectors were placed and mapping was done usingPandora's widget designer and 5 Pandora'sDual Box servers.[66] The final video had an 8856 x 1664 resolution and was split into 10 slices of 1080 x 1664 pixels, since each projector was turned on its side and the images were projected vertically in order to cover the whole structure.[66] Two slices were fed into each system and SuperUber did thewarping and edge blending inside Pandora. The screen which was used was over 12,000 square feet; Lucas Werthein, a representative for SuperUber commented that it was the largest indoor temporary screen that was a tilted compound curve adding that from anengineering standpoint, it is "extremely complex".[66] It was custom-designed to mold to the inside of the General Assembly Hall. It spanned 68m X 15m and surrounded the audience with a 240 degree immersive projection.[66] Ten synchronized and mapped projections covered the screen with 200,000lumens, creating one continuous giant image.[66] The screen which weighed 1000 pounds wassewn by forty five people. The whole structure, which was hanging off the UN ceiling weighed 6000 pounds. Werthein revealed, "In order to create the proper tension for the screen to hold its shape we had to weld permanent rigging points into the dome of the general assembly."[66] Peter Kirn of Create Digital Motion wrote that the projection mapping was performed onto a fairly simple surface: "What makes the mapping so effective is the way in which it can fill the space, making those pictures immersive on a grand architectural scale. It makes the image a real volume in which the performance can take place."[66] Russ Rive, SuperUber's director said, "It’s an ambitious project that has completely transformed an iconic location – seen as immutable and unchanging, with its goldplated panel and grand volume. By adding a virtual layer to it, we could digitally rebuild it, playing with the architectural elements, and therefore changing the notion of something static. The technology made the integration between animation and architecture. We used projectors to 'paint with light' the UN General Assembly’s Hall – a unique opportunity to transform such an emblematic place."[66]
On August 10, 2012, Beyoncé appeared at the Assembly for the rehearsals prior to the performance.[67]Julia Stiles,The-Dream and Diane Warren were the celebrities who attended the performance. Prior to the performing the song, Beyoncé met with United Nations leaderBan Ki-moon.[64]Deputy Secretary-General of the United NationsJan Eliasson, announced Beyoncé's performance giving a short introduction about the singer: "Tonight [she] brings more than her stunning talents; she brings inspiration to help another person, to help another human being".[67] He further recalled a "dark day in the history of the U.N." when 22 humanitarian workers lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Iraq on August 19, 2003 adding that the event and the World Humanitarian Day both honor those lost lives and encourage others to join the effort.[67] He further interviewed guests whose relatives lost their lives in the accident.Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief CoordinatorValerie Amos also appeared encouraging everyone to log on to the website WHD-IWasHere.org by August 19 and commit to doing one good act to help someone in need further saying, "I told Beyoncé: It's great that we have her, because she can reach millions of people. I could spend the rest of my life doing what I do, and I wouldn't reach a 10th of that number. And she said: 'Don't sell yourself short.'.[67]
Beyoncé appeared on stage wearing a floor-length white gown with micro-sequins from designerMarc Bouwer's pre-fall collection[68][69] while her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail.[70] She performed on a high-rise stage with a big screen spanning from ceiling to floor behind her.[67] As she sang, the screen filled with images of U.N. aid workers on the scene in various wars, famines, and floods around the world.[69] Following the performance, she announced, "I'd like to ask everyone to make sure they're a part of August 19th... It's such a beautiful, beautiful day, and I'd like to honor the 22 people who lost their lives. God bless you all. Thank you so much for having me."[71] The music video for the song starts with Beyoncé singing the song with the U.N. audience seated in front of her, and images from recent disasters screening in panoramic view behind her. As the song progresses, scenes of globes and constellations turn up; laser lights and a small blue arrow, imprinted with the song's title, trace a path along the globe.[70] The performance footage is also mixed with images of global volunteer efforts; as the giant screen displays globe-reaching graphics they morph into pictures of humanitarian work. The music video ends with the question "What Will You Do?" and offers the official website for the World Humanitarian Day.[72]
Following Beyoncé's performance, American journalistAnderson Cooper who was present at the Hall and served as a host jokingly asked the crowd, "Is this what happens at the U.N. every Friday night? Because, I've gotta tell you ... I wanna be here every Friday night if this goes on."[67] Diane Warren described the performance as "one of the best experiences ever" in her life.[73] The performance and the music video received positive reviews from critics, who praised Beyoncé's live vocals. Pamela Falk ofCBS News described the performance as "breathtaking" and "stunning".[63] Jim Farber ofDaily News was also positive about the performance saying that she "delivered a powerful live vocal to the song's musical track".[69] Molly O'Brien ofPrefix Magazine commented that the video was "simple and powerful: Beyoncé gives an impeccable live performance of the song... On the album, 'I Was Here' is pompous and a little cloying; live and accompanied by those images, it's got the same change-the-world flavor as Michael Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror.'"[74] Nadeska Alexis of the same publication wrote that Beyoncé belted out her vocals while members of the audience sang along further noting that the moment ended "all too quickly".[67] A writer ofOK! magazine praised Beyoncé for being "striking as always" while belting out "I Was Here" in the video.[75] MTV Act's Jose Iniguez described the performance as "phenomenal, flawless, goosebump-inducing, inspiring" adding that it gave him life and made him feel "gobbled up" by the presence of Beyoncé.[58] He added that "I Was Here" couldn't have been a better fit for the campaign and concluded that "Bey[oncé] was simply flawless. Her voice, her dress, her touching (yet short) address after her performance sent chills down very limb."[58]
Leslie Gornstein ofE! Online praised Beyoncé's dress worn during the video, writing that "[it] reminds us of a long column of light".[68] Lisa Potter fromMarie Claire described the floor-length gown as "dramatic".[76] A writer of MTV News also praised Beyoncé's "glamorous [look] in white".[70] A writer ofRap-Up wrote in his review that the singer was "glowing" in her white dress, adding that she put her "powerful pipes on display as she belted out the empowering ballad".[73] E! Online's Sierra Marquina described Beyoncé's look as "stunning".[54] Melissa Maerz ofEntertainment Weekly described the gown as "sleek, space-age white" and further praised Beyoncé for "belting out" the song emotionally with tears, comparing it with the live video fromLive at Roseland: Elements of 4.[77] Adelle Platon ofVibe magazine praised Beyoncé's look in a "stunning" white gown "belting against a backdrop of worldly images".[78] Jason Lipshutz ofBillboard wrote that the images of global volunteer efforts during the video were "striking".[72] Peter Kirn from Create Digital Motion commented that the powerful projection used in the video "can make imagery big enough that it invites big thinking — and debate".[66] Kirn concluded that "In the end, you see a performance in which neither Beyoncé nor the imagery upstages the other – it’s two powerful performances, not just one."[66]The Huffington Post's Sarah Dean described the video as inspiring while "shining a spotlight on humanitarian work".[60] On August 29, 2012, according to Thunderclap 1.13 billion messages were shared worldwide.[56][79] The video was nominated in the category for Best Video with a Social Message at the2013 MTV Video Music Awards on August 25 but lost toMacklemore's "Same Love".[80][81]
The music video gained 98.69 million views with 847,000 likes on YouTube as of August 16, 2018.
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Beyoncé performed "I Was Here" live for the first time on August 14, 2011 during her4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé inRoseland Ballroom, New York City.[82] She performed the song in front of 3,500 people wearing a gold dress and backed by her all-female band and her backing singers, called the Mamas.[82] "I Was Here" served as the closing song of theresidency show with Beyoncé changing the line, on which the title of the song is based, to "Roseland, we were here."[83] Jason Newman ofRap-Up magazine commented that "in less confident hands, the line would have come off as hokey. For Beyoncé, it was the recognition of a singular event before returning to the stadium."[83] According to Brad Wete fromEntertainment Weekly, during the performance of the song Beyoncé "bowed, fanatic screams and cheers followed."[82] Mike Wass ofIdolator wrote:
[Knowles'] ability to bring new depth and texture to quality material is almost as impressive as her uncanny knack for connecting with the audience on an emotional level. Take, for instance, the final song — it was impossible not to be moved by [Knowles] as she fought tears while tackling the clearly personal lyrics of 'I Was Here'.[84]
Jody Rosen ofRolling Stone, who had given the song a negative review wrote that "on record, ['I Was Here'] was a hollow exercise in self-mythologizing. On Sunday night, though, Beyoncé brought the song to life, singing with a tenacious mix of shmaltz and soul that evoked two of her heroes,Barbra Streisand andAretha Franklin [...] It sounded less like bluster than confession. It was almost intimate."[85] Yolanda Sangweni ofEssence magazine stated that ending the show with "I Was Here" was "triumphant note" and that "Diana Ross and Michael Jackson would be proud."[86] During theITV specialA Night With Beyoncé which aired on December 4 in the United Kingdom, Beyoncé performed "I Was Here" to a selected crowd of fans.[87] The performance fromA Night With Beyoncé was later broadcast onDick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31, 2011.[88] A writer ofEssence magazine noted that she performed a "powerful rendition" of the song further adding that she "looked and sounded glorious".[89] In May 2012, duringRevel Presents: Beyoncé Live, a video montage of Beyoncé holding her child Blue Ivy Carter, drinking a pint of Guinness, and going whale-watching was shown while the song was played in the background, before she began singing the first verse ofWhitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You".[90][91]
The live performance for "I Was Here" as part of 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé, where it served as the closing song, was taped and premiered online on November 16, 2011. It was added on the DVDLive at Roseland: Elements of 4, which was released in late November 2011.[92][93] The video begins with Beyoncé onstage in a shimmery silver minidress, giving the crowd a bit of a windup about where "I Was Here" came from. She says: "It's taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am. I searched all around the world, and I found myself. You all are my inspiration. I want to sing this last song and dedicate it to all of you guys."[94] The video then turns into a career retrospective in the form of Beyoncé's home movies and her professional highlights. It splices poignant memories throughout Beyoncé's life, from her childhood, to partying and vacations with her family, to most of the locations she visited around the world, to her rise withDestiny's Child into solo stardom and her love story withJay-Z.[93][95] Also containing footage from major performances and awards shows, the clip begins with a young Beyoncé thanking the judges in a talent show and later doing the snake in her living room, performing in herTLC-inspired neon overalls.[94][96]
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The clip briefly returns to the center of the stage where Beyoncé starts to belt out the ballad over a montage of other home videos.[94] It later shows Beyoncé, as an adult, hugging Michael Jackson, performing withPrince,Tina Turner, her husband, and contains cameos byOprah Winfrey andNelson Mandela.[95][96] The montage additionally contains moments of the everyday behind-the-scenes footage of Beyoncé; her sometimes-awkward teenage hair, Beyoncé playing on aSlip 'n Slide,[96] playing with her nephew in a pool, frolicking on a beach,[97] going for whale watching,[98] and trying on her actual wedding dress at the 3:36 mark.[92] Other footage includes: Beyoncé performing on her world tours in support of her second and third studio albums,[95][97] her performance at the2011 Glastonbury Festival where she was the first major solo female headliner to appear on the Pyramid stage in over twenty years,[99] a backstage scene of Beyoncé at the52nd Grammy Awards, holding her six Grammy awards, which broke the record for mostGrammy Awards won by a female artist in one night,[100] The clip ends with Beyoncé revealing her baby bump on2011 MTV Video Music Awards.[96] a performance of "Run the World (Girls)" at the 2011Billboard Music Awards, where she was given the Millennium Award for recognizing her career achievements and influence in the music industry.[101]
Music critics generally welcomed the video as for most of her time in the spotlight, Beyoncé has been a strictly private celebrity. Melissa Maerz ofEntertainment Weekly wrote that it was pleasant to see Beyoncé unguarded as it is a rare occurrence. He added that though the clip is a more professional-looking than most people's home movies, it remains the closest thing that fans have seen so far to "Bey[oncé] just being Bey[oncé]".[96] Similarly, Brent Woodie ofThe Christian Post commented about how the 2008 wedding of Beyoncé to Jay-Z was kept very private; there were no photographs or videos released from the event, leaving media and gossip columnists to speculate on the nuptials. He welcomed the clip for being the first behind-the-scenes footage of Beyoncé on her wedding day.[95]Luchina Fisher ofABC News described it as "a home movie featuring highlights from Beyonce's decorated life" and felt that it's "the personal moments [in the video] the singer's fans will no doubt devour".[102] Samantha Cortez ofDaily News felt that the content of the video which included Beyoncé's most personal moments and the lyrics of the song, "add even more sentiment to the video".[103] At the 43rdNAACP Image Award presented on February 17, 2012, the video for "I Was Here" was nominated in the category forOutstanding Music Video.[104][105]
A cover version of "I Was Here" performed byLea Michele was included onGlee's soundtrack albumGlee: The Music, The Graduation Album released on May 14, 2012.[106] On November 29, 2012, Diamond White, a contestant of thesecond season ofThe X Factor in the US covered "I Was Here".[107][108] Michele Amabile Angermiller ofThe Hollywood Reporter noted that "Her performance had some pitch problems, but she pulled it out."[109] Daniel Fienberg from the website HitFix wrote that she made a smart choice with the performance of the song adding that there were "some sharp notes here and there, but she sings her heart out".[110] Bobby Olivier ofThe Star-Ledger described White's version as "pitchy"[111] while Lisa de Moraes ofThe Washington Post wrote that she "blasts" through the song.[112]
American Idol contestantAngela Miller performed the song during thetwelfth season of the show in March 2013.[113] Michael Slezak of the websiteTVLine graded the performance with B− saying that "tears may have affected the vocal a bit".[113] Ericka Alston ofLos Angeles Times wrote that Miller made "an appropriate choice" with the song.[114]
On April 17, 2014, the song was performed live byTeodora Sava when she was 12 years old, as a special guest of the Romanian kids talent showNext Star.[115]
In September 2014,Vanessa Hudgens covered "I Was Here" during the Voices On Point gala in Los Angeles held in support forLGBTQ students. She covered the song to honor Warren who received a Point Leadership Award at the event.[116] Dutch singerGlennis Grace performed the song live on November 10, 2014 during the Dutch national memorial ceremony in front of over 1600 relatives of the victims ofMalaysia Airlines Flight 17.[117]
CoachDelta Goodrem performed the song with her artist Judah Kelly on the grand finale of the sixth season of The Voice Australia.
In 2020Shirley Bassey recorded her version of the song with the Czech Studio Orchestra for her albumI Owe It All to You. The album's release was teased with a lyric video of the song released via Bassey's official YouTube channel.[118] The track was produced byNick Patrick.[119]
On July 19, 2011, "I Was Here" provided the soundtrack for the 2011FIFA Women's World Cup Final.[120] As reported by ABC News on September 11, 2011, Beyoncé paid tribute to theSeptember 11 attacks with "I Was Here" on the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the event.[121] On September 21, 2011, it was announced viaPR Newswire thatBoys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) would launch "a star-studded" new Public Service Advertising (PSA) campaign and that the soundtrack for the campaign would be "I Was Here".[122] Nationwide, Boys & Girls Clubs provide high-impact, affordable programs, and caring adult mentors, to keep kids on the path to great futures, emphasizing academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.[122] The director,Ron Howard explained the reason behind choosing "I Was Here" as the soundtrack of their new PSA: "We wanted the most powerful piece of music possible, to underscore the dramatic message that what we do today to shape the future of our children is vitally important. We could not have picked a more moving track. Diane's words and Beyonce's delivery are over the top."[122] In November 2013, the song was included on the relief albumSongs for the Philippines; the proceeds of it were donated to thePhilippine Red Cross for the victims ofTyphoon Haiyan.[123]
Credits adapted from4liner notes.[1]
|
|
| Chart (2011–12) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart[124] | 85 |
| Australian Urban Singles Chart[38] | 26 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[125] | 18 |
| CIS Airplay (TopHit)[126] | 187 |
| Hungarian Singles Chart[44] | 6 |
| Irish Singles Chart[39] | 88 |
| Italy (FIMI)[127] | 93 |
| Romania (Airplay 100)[128] | 100 |
| South Korea International Singles Chart[34] | 44 |
| Swiss Singles Chart[36] | 74 |
| UK R&B Singles Chart[43] | 37 |
| UK Singles Chart[35] | 131 |
| USDance Club Songs (Billboard)[47] | 13 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[129] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[130] | 3× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[131] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[132] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
