"Halo" | ||||
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Single by Beyoncé | ||||
from the album I Am... Sasha Fierce | ||||
Released | January 20, 2009 | |||
Format | ||||
Recorded | 2008; Manfield Studios (Los Angeles); Germano Studios and Roc the Mic Studios (New York City) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
4:21 (album version) 3:44 (radio edit) |
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Label | Columbia | |||
Writer(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Beyoncé singles chronology | ||||
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"Halo" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Included on the I Am... disc, it was intended to give a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Beyoncé's life, stripped of her make-up and celebrity trappings. Columbia Records released the song, the album's fourth single, to mainstream radio in the United States on January 20, 2009, and to international markets from February 20. Inspired by Ray LaMontagne's 2004 song "Shelter", "Halo" was composed by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, Eric "Nealante'" Phillips and Beyoncé. It was conceived by Tedder and Nealante specifically for Beyoncé, although there was media speculation that it had been intended for Leona Lewis.
"Halo" is a pop power ballad, the lyrics of which describe a sublime love. It features drum, piano, keyboard, string, synthesizer, and percussion instrumentation. Kelly Clarkson claimed that Tedder reused the musical arrangement in her 2009 song "Already Gone". "Halo" received positive reviews from music critics, who made comparisons with Lewis' 2007 song "Bleeding Love". Its production and Beyoncé's emotional vocals also received critical praise. "Halo" was nominated for Record of the Year and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards. It won Best Song at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards. "Halo" topped the singles charts of Brazil, Norway and Slovakia, and reached the top five on the singles chart of Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the US. It was certified quadruple-platinum in Australia, and double-platinum in Spain and the US.