Brown Skin Girl
"Brown Skin Girl" (stylized in uppercase) is a song by American singers Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter, Guyanese-American rapper Saint Jhn, and Nigerian singer Wizkid. Produced by P2J and Beyoncé, it is taken from the 2019 soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift. The song was sent to Top 40/Rhythmic radio on July 23, 2019, as the second single from the album.[2]
"Brown Skin Girl"
July 23, 2019
2019
4:08
- P2J
- Beyoncé
The song was released to widespread critical acclaim and received numerous awards, including the Soul Train Music Award for The Ashford & Simpsons Songwriter's Award and the BET HER Award.
The music video for "Brown Skin Girl" was featured in Beyoncé's 2020 film Black Is King and was released separately on August 24, 2020. Directed by Beyoncé and Jenn Nkiru, the video acts a celebration and affirmation of the beauty of dark-skinned women. The video, featuring Beyoncé, Blue Ivy and Wizkid won the award for Best Music Video at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, as well as the Soul Train Music Award for Video of the Year and the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography.
Background[edit]
The song marks the second collaboration between Beyoncé and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, following "Blue", a song from Beyoncé's 2013 album Beyoncé. Carter is also credited as a songwriter and contributed vocals.[3] The song caused the #BrownSkinGirlChallenge to go viral upon release.[4][5]
Composition and lyrics[edit]
The song contains "spare, syncopated African rhythms", while its lyrics deal with colorism faced by darker-complexioned women: "Brown skin girl / ya skin just like pearls / Your back against the world".[6] Billboard magazine called the lyrics "compelling", noting how the song shout-outs pioneering brown girls such as Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong'o, and Beyoncé's former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland.[6]
Critical reception[edit]
In a positive review, Imani Bashir of Teen Vogue described the song as a "celebration of dark-skinned women".[7] Amanda Mitchell at O, The Oprah Magazine complimented the song for being "unapologetically and fearlessly Black".[3] Time magazine praised Blue Ivy Carter's appearance, calling it a "gracious cameo".[8] Ellise Shafer of Billboard noted that she added a "sentimental tone to the track".[4] Alexis Petridis writing for The Guardian pinpointed "Brown Skin Girl" as one of the album highlights, describing it as "brilliant".[9]
Lupita Nyong'o also reacted by posting a video of herself on Friday, July 19, 2019, via Instagram, singing and dancing along to "Brown Skin Girl", in which her name was specifically applauded by Beyoncé.
At the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards, "Brown Skin Girl" won the Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award and was also nominated for Best Collaboration.[10]
Cover versions[edit]
In September 2019, Stormzy covered "Brown Skin Girl" for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.[11] The song was also covered by Kanye West and Sunday Service Choir in December 2019.[12] In April 2020, Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson performed a cover of "Brown Skin Girl" for Global Citizen One World: Together At Home. The performance was nominated for a LiveXLive Lockdown Award for Digital Chemistry: Favorite Duet.[13]