"Shining" is a song written and performed by American producer
DJ Khaled
Khaled Mohammed Khaled (born November 26, 1975), known professionally as DJ Khaled, is an American DJ, record executive, record producer and rapper.
Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station WEDR, 99 Ja ...
as the
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
from his tenth studio album, ''
Grateful'' (2017). The song features vocals from American singer
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
and American rapper
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
. The song was released on February 12, 2017, by
We the Best
''We the Best'' is the second studio album by Miami-based DJ and Terror Squad member DJ Khaled. It was released on June 12, 2007, by Terror Squad Entertainment, distributed by Koch Records. DJ Khaled alongside fellow rapper Fat Joe and coll ...
and
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...
. The song contains a sample of
Osunlade
Osunlade (; born March 13, 1969) is an American-born musician and music producer.
Biography
Osunlade was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He composed music for ''Sesame Street'' during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Afterward, he moved t ...
's 2013 recording "Dionne" which itself samples 1970's "Walk the Way You Talk" by
Dionne Warwick
Marie Dionne Warwick (; born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host.
Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest U.S. hit makers between 1955 and 1999, based on her chart history on ''Billboards Hot 100 pop singles cha ...
.
Background
The song premiered following the
59th Annual Grammy Awards
The 59th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 12, 2017. The CBS network broadcast the show live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, ...
on February 12, 2017. The single art features Khaled's newborn son, Asahd Khaled.
Composition
Written and composed by Burt Bacharach,
Jahron Brathwaite, Ingrid Burley,
Shawn Carter
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
,
Hal David
Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He grew up in New York City. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick.
Early life
David ...
, Floyd Hills, Khaled Khaled, and
Beyonce Knowles, the song features references to the lives and success of the Knowles-Carter couple, including the twenty-one
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
won to date by the rapper, the platinum records received by the
RIAA
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
for each album released, Knowles's twenty years of music success, and twins, Sir and Rumi (born June 18, 2017), are mentioned for the first time.
The song is performed in the key of
D minor
D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has one flat. Its relative major is F major and its parallel major is D major.
The D natural minor scale is:
Changes needed for t ...
with a
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
of 112 beats per minute.
Critical reception
David Turner from ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'' thought the track "hues closer to those moments of ecstasy than the adult contemporary rap of Jay-Z's post-''
Watch the Throne
''Watch the Throne'' is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, collectively known as The Throne. It was released on August 8, 2011, through Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and Def Jam Recordings. Prior to the re ...
'' career… Jay-Z raps with an endearing mix of self-deprecation and premature paternal pride. Beyoncé, on the other hand, operates with full-on swagger, singing triumphantly about "winning" for the last "20 years," and flashing a smile to even the most dogged haters. Her half-rap cadence mimics the one she used on last year's "
Formation
Formation may refer to:
Linguistics
* Back-formation, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes
* Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes
Mathematics and science
* Cave formation or speleothem, a secondar ...
," bearing all the marks of effortless skill and confidence. And as is usual, Khaled is the hype man for his own song, his usual ecstatic adlibs sprinkled throughout."
Abbie McCarthy from ''
The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' wrote: "The song shows three heavyweights bringing all their talents to the party – DJ Khaled has served up a smooth, crisp beat, Beyoncé delivers an awesome attitude-laden verse and then Jay-Z steps in with a new sense of life, he's back to his best bars on this."
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
External links
*
{{Jay-Z songs
2017 singles
2017 songs
Epic Records singles
DJ Khaled songs
Beyoncé songs
Jay-Z songs
Songs written by DJ Khaled
Songs written by Jay-Z
Songs written by PartyNextDoor
Songs written by Danja (record producer)
Songs written by Beyoncé
Songs with music by Burt Bacharach
Songs with lyrics by Hal David
Song recordings produced by DJ Khaled