Background

Beyonce wanted to go higher. And she did with “Cuff It”.

“Cuff It” is the second single from Beyonce’s seventh studio album Renaissance. It was released on September 2022, and was written and produced by Beyonce, Nova Wav, Morten Ristorp, Raphael Saadiq, and The-Dream, with additional writing credits for Nile Rodgers.

Get Lucky

I wasn’t alive in the 70s. But the beat sounds like the good old days. It uses melodies that remind me of classic 70s disco and younger years when life was simpler. The guitar riffs are reminiscent of “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk, which should not come as a surprise, as Nile Rodgers worked on both.

The song also uses trumpets and horns. They automatically make the experience brighter and louder. They are the musical equivalent of a sunshine or an exclamation point! Another favourite track of mine, “Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities, utilises the same instrumentation. No wonder they bring about the same effect.

Love on Top

The song hits its emotional peak once the third verse and/or bridge kicks in. The track changes gears, going faster and higher. And that’s not an easy feat, considering “Cuff It” is already a ball of energy.

Beyonce elevates the song into a plane that I didn’t know existed or was possible. The first time I heard the change, I was surprised. But now I have a rush and I look forward to it. It’s the same trick she uses on “Love on Top”. The melody builds and the notes get higher. She’s soaring and flying, and we’re all aboard.

7/11

Many artists nowadays create music for TikTok. They shorten the track lengths. The choice of genre is patterned after what the algorithm rewards. Dances are initiated and stunts are pulled by the musicians themselves to create reach.

Beyonce pursues art for its sake. Or at least I think she does. She isn’t constrained by the trend. And a lot of her virality is organic. “Cuff It” is no different. And it is the same scenario as what happened with “7/11”.

Fans created a synchronized dance. A DJ made a mashup of “Cuff It” with an older song by Twista. It became so popular that Beyoncé actually released that version officially as a remix.

She’s not only 7/11. She’s now 24/7.

Conclusion

Beyonce wanted to f*** up the night. She saw the stars. She went far. She levitated. She met God. And so did we.