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August 13, 2021
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you feel-good songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Beyoncé and P. Diddy sing about falling in love and cruising the world for pearls in “Summertime.”
In this 2003 collaboration, Beyoncé celebrates that special moment when a woman knows she’s finally found her true love — someone who’ll really listen, a friend.
In P. Diddy’s rap at the end of the song, he says how much he loves her and how she brings out the best in him. He also promises to take her on a summertime adventure, which includes a search for precious gems.
He sings, “We can cruise the world for pearls.”
Oh, and there’s also a surprise engagement. The rap continues, “And that’s your plan, where’s your hand let me ice that / You my heart ain’t no chance you could fight that.”
Released on 12-inch vinyl as the B-side to #1 mega-hit “Crazy in Love,” “Summertime” also charted, peaking at #35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Critics praised “Summertime” as a “breezy dance number” that leaves the listener “on a smooth laid-back high.”
Beyoncé acknowledged early in her career that “Summertime” was one of her favorite songs. It was part of her set list for both the “Dangerously in Love Tour” in 2003 and the “Verizon Ladies First Tour” in 2004. Her performance of “Summertime” in front of more than 20,000 fans in New York City led MTV News to comment that Knowles “stepped in the name of love” during the breakdown of the song.
Born in Houston in 1981, Beyoncé is one of the world’s best-selling recording artists, with more than 118 million records sold worldwide. She’s captured 28 Grammy Awards, 26 MTV Video Music Awards, 31 BET Awards and 17 Soul Train Music Awards. In 2020, Time magazine included Beyoncé on its list of the “100 women who defined the last century.”
Please check out the audio track of Beyoncé and P. Diddy performing “Summertime.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Summertime”Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Angela Beyince, Sean Combs, Steven “Steven J.” Jordan, Adonis Shropshire, Varick “Smitty” Smith, Mario Winans. Performed by Beyoncé Knowles, feat. P. Diddy.
[P. Diddy]YeahThere’s three things I like about the summertimeDrop tops, long hot nights and summer loveYeahHey yo, BTell ’em what time it isLet’ s go
[Beyoncé]Out of all the guys that approached meWalking up to me like they know meYou were the one that stayed asideWaited a while and took your timeYou don’t know how impressingYour curiosity was to meIt was the fourth day of JulyLooked in my eyes and saw that I
[Break – Beyoncé]I wanted more than just a man (man)I needed a friend (I want a friend)Someone I can talk to (oh)Someone who’ll really listen (yeah)When you touched my hand (yeah yeah)The sun got brighter then (brighter then)Trusting you I closed my eyesAnd felt our love begin
[Chorus – Beyoncé]It was the summertime (when we fell in love)It was the summertime (when heaven shined on us)It was the summertime (baby there is nothing like the)Summertime, summertime (ohh)
[Beyoncé]Now it’s been a year and we’re closerFall in love again when I hold yaI know that God set you asideFor me and now you are my prizeWanna grow old with yaFill a house with ya picturesHave a son for you, a little girl for meTogether we’ll raise a family
[Break – Beyoncé]I wanted more then just a manI needed a friendYou are my best friend (yeah)Someone I could talk toSomeone who’ll really listen (yeah)When you touched my hand (yeah)The sun got brighter then (brighter then)Trusting you I closed my eyesand felt our love begin
[Chorus]
[P. Diddy]Yo let me holla at you for a secSo what’s in gonna be, him or me? (yeah)We can cruise the world for pearlsAnd bare boots for girlsSummertime in the linen, fresh fruitLivin the life that’s forbidden for just you (let’s go)No worries you ain’t gotta be stressed outNo hurries you ain’t gotta be rushed outSit back relax ma take your timeNow have a taste of the finest wineEvery minute that we have’s a blessing to meAnd in your heart you’s a “Child of Destiny” (that’s right)Them hot summers that we had especiallyLove who you is girl, you bring out the best of meAnd it’s like that, you know it’s like that (that’s right)And that’s your plan, where’s your hand let me ice thatYou my heart ain’t no chance you could fight thatThe summertime, when you hot baby take that, take thatYeah.
Credit: Image by J.ébey, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
