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Daddy Lessons

"Daddy Lessons" is a song recorded by the American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was written and produced by Wynter Gordon, Beyoncé, Kevin Cossom and Alex Delicata. The song's music video is part of a one-hour film with the same title as its parent album, originally aired on HBO. A remix with the Dixie Chicks (later renamed the Chicks) was released as a promotional single on November 2, 2016.[4]

"Daddy Lessons"

November 20, 2016

2014

  • 4:49 (album version)
  • 6:25 (main version)
  • 4:51 (radio edit)

  • Beyoncé
  • Derek Dixie (co-production)
  • Alex Delicata (co-production)

Impact and controversy[edit]

Textual allusion to the relationship with her father[edit]

According to some publications, the song may be a reference to the singer's turbulent relationship with her father, Mathew Knowles. Michelle Kim of The Fader reported that "Beyoncé also confronts the parallels between her husband and her father, who was found to have also cheated on her mother during their 31-year marriage" but which "nevertheless, Lemonade doesn't chronicle all the twists and turns that Beyoncé and her father's relationship has undergone. While Beyoncé owes a lot to her persistent and sometimes even controlling father, die hard Beyoncé fans know that it's always been complicated".[13] Joi-Marie McKenzie of ABC News writes that the singer "got introspective, sharing what she learned about men from her father" and she also has "shut down rumors that her father had never met her daughter, Blue Ivy, in the song's corresponding music video. Home footage showed the two happily playing".[14]


During an academic lecture at Texas Southern University, Mathew Knowles, interviewed by Sirius XM's Mark Thompson, clarified leaked rumors following the release of the song, saying:[15]

Commercial performance[edit]

After the release of Lemonade, "Daddy Lessons" debuted and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 41[24] and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart at number 26.[24] In overseas charts, the song entered in digital charts in top 10 in the Netherlands and Sweden. The song also reached the top 40 in the UK, and was certified silver by British Phonographic Industry (BPI)[25] in February 2021.


After the release of the country music dual lead singles "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" for Beyoncé's eighth studio album Cowboy Carter (2024), "Daddy Lessons" increased up 370% on music streaming service.[26]

Remix[edit]

On November 2, 2016, Beyoncé released a remix of "Daddy Lessons" with the American country band the Dixie Chicks (later renamed the Chicks) free of charge on her website.[4] On November 20, 2016, "Daddy Lessons" was released as a promotional single on iTunes and multiple streaming services. The song samples Darrell Scott's song "Long Time Gone" which was covered by the Chicks as the lead single on their 2002 album Home.[27]

Cover versions[edit]

"Daddy Lessons" was added to the Chicks' during their DCX MMXVI World Tour. On April 30, 2016, the song was covered for the first time at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England[28] and remained in their setlist throughout the remainder of the European leg of the tour in addition to the North American leg of the tour. Billboard describes the performance as "faithful" to the original song.[28]


In 2019, the song was covered in the episode "Chapter Fifty-Six: The Dark Secret of Harvest House" from the third season of the television series Riverdale, performed by Camila Mendes.[29]


In 2024 the song was covered by Reneé Rapp during her concert at the Olympia Bruno Coquatrix in Paris.[30]

Live performances[edit]

"Daddy Lessons" was part of the setlist of Beyonce's The Formation World Tour with the first performance taking place in Miami at the Marlins Park on April 27, 2016.[31] Beyoncé and the Chicks also performed the song with excerpts from the band's "Long Time Gone" at the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 2, 2016. A studio version was released after the performance.[32]