Beautiful Liar by Beyoncé and Shakira

Every New Zealand #1 single…

Beautiful Liar

Topped the NZ chart: from 23 April 2007 for 1 week

Beyoncé and Shakira were two of New Zealand’s most successful chart stars in the first decade of the 21st century. Between them, they racked up eight #1 hits, including one with Destiny’s Child.

Both have royal nicknames. Colombian-born Shakira is known as the Queen of Latin Music, while Beyoncé Knowles is known as Queen Bey.

The pair joined forces for ‘Beautiful Liar’. There’s a lot to like about the track – the pair’s vocals sound great, trading lines about being played by the same man. The Middle Eastern strings are a bold arrangement touch. But the underlying song is mundane, and probably doesn’t justify the effort.

“This song is very simple. Most of the time we have more chords in a song, because we find it hard writing a great song on just one chord. But if you do it right, you can make it work, and this song is an example.”
Mikkel S. Eriksen, songwriter and producer

‘Beautiful Liar’ squanders two charismatic stars with a mediocre song. Shakira and Beyoncé have both enjoyed much stronger moments.

5 Comments

Andrew

March 10, 2024 / 7:12 am Reply

I don’t normally listen to this music but I can appreciate the talent, I suppose.
I Was very impressed that Lady Gaga writes all of her songs and is also a classically trained guitarist.

I think Taylor Swift also writes her own songs (but I could be wrong about this).

Thanks G!
Andrew
- Aphoristical
  
  March 12, 2024 / 4:40 pm Reply
  
  I don’t know if the argument for writing your own songs matters too much – Sinatra, Presley, and pretty much everyone else from that era, didn’t, and noone minds.
  
  Swift wrote a whole album, Speak Now, by herself but often uses outside collaborators. Makes sense when she’s so prolific.
christiansmusicmusings

March 10, 2024 / 9:15 am Reply

Two of the most compelling female vocalist of our time. That said, I’m less fond of the song.
- Aphoristical
  
  March 12, 2024 / 4:41 pm Reply
  
  Yup,agreed.
Badfinger (Max)

March 10, 2024 / 5:02 pm Reply

Very talented but not up my alley. I do think that Beyonce’s new song is interesting…I think it’s called Texas Holdem…I couldn’t believe it was her.