Maggie Hansen

Music 1010
Semester Final Project

Music History

HALO
Written by Beyonc, Ryan Tedder, and Evan Boggart, Halo is a down tempo
power balad that has topped charts around the globe since its release in 2009,
though not without some push-back. Tedder and Boggart had outlined the song and
then talked with both Beyoncs and Leona Lewis people offering the song for
recording. Though Tedder and Boggart had originally intended the song to be for
Beyonc, they wanted to have a backup in case Beyonc, because of her busy
schedule was unable to record it. Simon Cowell, owner of the music production
company Syco Entertainment, fought that Boggart and Tedder had offered the song
to his client Lewis and then had taken it back. Tedder comments back saying,
There was this huge scandal that Halo was meant to go to Leona. That was never
the case. After the drama of the dispute had subsided and Beyoncs schedule was
clear, the artist recorded the song in New York Citys Germano and Roc The Mic
Studios.
The song has a deep love story weaved throughout the melody and lyrics.
Inspired by the heavenly chords that Tedder had strummed during the process of
composing the piece they titled the song Halo. In it, Beyonc pours out her love to
her soul mate with open-hearted emotion. Of the song she says, Halo is angelic
like you see angels faces instantly when you hear it. Its lyrics are basically saying
that I had these walls built up about love and you completely tore them down. And
when I look at you, I see your halo and it is really beautiful.
DIVA
Released on the same album as Halo, Diva has a completely different sound.
Written and produced by Shondrae Bangladesh Crawford, Sean Garrett and Mrs.
Carter it is an R&B, hip hop song with a steady beat throughout the entire piece.
The theme throughout the song is female empowerment, not surprising coming
from the Queen Bey. With lyrics such as I know you read the paper the one where
they call me queen, she states her claim very clearly on her position in charge.
Houston Chronicles Joey Guerra called it, an ode to female fabulousness.
XO
Having been released in December of 2013, XO is one of Beyonces more
recent hits. Being another power ballad it is very similar to Halo. The song speaks
insightfully about the different types of relationships as well as celebrating these
differences in a cheerful celebration of love and the ways we can find it. Beyonce

sings about the importance of living in the present with the one you love and
cherishing the time you have with them. Though the song starts as a search for love
in darkness it is quickly found and the singer seems entranced by the light and love
she has found.