Gatson had introduced Fosse’s work into Beyoncé’s repertoire before “Single Ladies”: The “Get Me Bodied” video is a direct tribute to the mod “Rich Man’s Frug” scene from Sweet Charity, and shades of the musical’s stand-out “Big Spender” number made it into her live show as well. The white, panoramic field initially intended for “If I Were A Boy” found a home on the second video shoot set, which would focus on putting a modern twist on Bob Fosse’s choreography. A complex scene unfolds from that stark set-up, but Beyoncé, Nava, Gatson, and Knight still embraced simplicity while moving forward with “Single Ladies.” You can see it play out in the first few seconds of “If I Were A Boy,” which have Beyoncé and actor Eddie Goines standing in front of a white wall while listing off words that fall under the umbrella of romantic relationships - intimacy, honesty, commitment, you, me. When Beyoncé, Nava, and Nava’s writing partner, Ben Cooper, started brainstorming ideas for “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies,” the vibe, initially, was simple. Though their experiences differ, they’re unanimous on two points: that Beyoncé is a genius, and that “Single Ladies” is a testament to not just that genius, but also her ability to cultivate it. Billboard also spoke to Ebony Williams, the dancer who completed the trio with Beyoncé and Everett Lorraine Schwartz, the designer behind Beyoncé’s bionic glove and Bobby Moynihan, who wrote and performed in one of the most affectionate (and hilarious) tributes to the song on Saturday Night Live. Perhaps most importantly, it set the precedent for an artist who’d go back to the drawing board, only to flip it over and stun her fans, long before setting the titanium standard for the visual album as a format.īelow, Nava, Gatson and Knight all speak on “Single Ladies,” their contributions to the visionary visual and its lasting imprint on pop as we know it. It showcased a pop star wielding the music video as a revolutionary medium on a level her peers couldn’t touch while reviving the form during a low point of relevance in the process. It served as the jumping-off point for some of her most formative creative partnerships. “If I Were A Boy” is a standout in her videography and puts her acting chops to work, but the seismic impact of “Single Ladies” went on to dwarf it as a cultural phenomenon. Premiered alongside “Boy” on MTV’s Total Request Live in October 2008, “Ladies” cemented Beyoncé’s status as a triple-threat who can marry the grace of a ballerina and the formidable bombast of a J-setting dance corps with a body roll. The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century: Critics' Picks
Carter World Tour - bringing the young and hungry Knight into Beyoncé’s orbit, where he closely remains. Both videos were directed by Jake Nava, who’d been working with Beyoncé on a regular basis since 2003’s “Crazy in Love” clip, her solo breakthrough. But “Single Ladies” also had Gatson - who worked closely with Beyoncé as choreographer and creative director from her first days as a solo artist through the 2013 Mrs. “Single Ladies” was shot directly after the visual for “If I Were A Boy,” which was initially intended to be the showpiece for Beyoncé’s I Am… Sasha Fierce era. It was written as a mini-film, complete with dialogue, intrigue, and a significant plot twist to match the intensity of the love-scarred power ballad - fitting, considering how she was about to star as Etta James in 2008’s Cadillac Records and already had leading roles in Dreamgirls and The Pink Panther under her belt. and JaQuel Knight worked tirelessly to hone every kick, waist-wind, and lift that would go on to define one of the most iconic dances in pop music history. Everett was at Beyoncé’s side when she filmed the music video for “Single Ladies” and in the three months leading up to the shoot, when they and choreographers Frank Gatson Jr.
That such a life-changing moment went down in the middle of a “Single Ladies” performance is perfect, as the song has proven to be a monumentally transformative force in the lives of Beyoncé and those of her closest collaborators.