"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
" is a 2008 song by American singer and performer Beyoncé. The track was released in 2008 as a part of her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce. Alongside "If I Were a Boy", the song served as the album's lead single, with both tracks showcasing the different themes and styles present throughout the double album.
The song was written by Beyoncé and her regular collaborators Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Thaddis Harrell, and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, and produced by Nash and Stewart. The song's lyrics talk about a woman who is tired of waiting for her partner to propose, and demands that he "put a ring on it" if he wants to keep her. The catchy chorus, "If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it," has become an iconic phrase and is often associated with the song.
The music video for "Single Ladies" became instantly famous for its simplistic concept, and its iconic dance routine, featuring Beyoncé (as her alter ego Sasha Fierce) and two backup dancers dressed in black leotards and high heels, performing a series of sharp, synchronized moves while filmed in black-and-white.
Not to be confused for the 2011 VH1 series Single Ladies, though the song is where the series got its name.
All the Single Tropes!
- Break-Up Song: The subject of the song breaks up with her man because of his failure to commit to her.
- Commitment Issues: The male target of the song is hesitant to fully commitment and marry the female subject of the song.
- Deliberately Monochrome: The music video is filmed in black and white.
- Limited Lyrics Song: Other than the verses and bridge, the lyrics mostly consist of the phrases "All the single ladies" and "If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it".
- Minimalism: The music video just consists of Beyoncé and two dancers dancing in a room.
- The Oner: Played With, there are a few camera tricks and editing that seemingly make the video look like it was filmed in one shot.
- Sexier Alter Ego: Beyoncé performs as her onstage alter ego Sasha Fierce, a sexually aggressive Drag Queen. Beyoncé often remarked that when she takes the stage to perform, that it's "Sasha" taking over.
