Beyoncé – Haunted (Official Video)
Inspiration Behind Haunted:
Haunted spawned from Beyoncé’s own personal and professional experiences in the music industry. Following a frustrating record label meeting, Beyoncé and her producer Boots’ had a collaborative idea that developed into a two‑part experimental track. Ghost” and “Haunted” was designed to contrast the stream‑of‑consciousness rap with a dream. Haunted was finalized thanks to Aphex Twin’s work, featuring a minimalistic arrangement of keyboards, bass, and percussion.
Biblical Application:
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” 16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David, 1 Samuel 28:15-17.
Exegesis of Haunted:
[Verse: Beyoncé]
And I’ve been driftin’ off on knowledge
Catcalls on catwalks, man, these women gettin’ solemn
I could sing a psalm for a Solomon or Salamander
We took a flight at midnight and now my mind can’t help but wonder, “How come?”
Spoon-fed pluralized eyes to find the beaches in the forest
When I’m lookin’ off the edge, I preach my gut, it can’t help but ignore it
I’m climbin’ up the walls ’cause all the shit I hear is borin’
All the shit I do is borin’, all these record labels borin’
I don’t trust these record labels, I’m torn
All these people on the planet workin’ nine-to-five just to stay alive
The nine-to-five just to stay alive, the nine-to-five just to stay alive
The nine-to-five just to stay alive, the nine-to-five just to stay alive
The nine-to-five just to stay alive, the nine-to-five just to stay alive
All the people on the planet workin’ nine-to-five just to stay alive, how come?
Beyonce wasn’t thinking about hauntings. Perhaps drifting off, is getting sleepy as she begins to see a series of strange things. Beyonce took a red eye flight as her eyes and mind wonder. Looking off to the edge of the window, she’s listening to the conversation on this plane which is a bore. This is when Beyonce has a flashback to her disappointing record label meeting. People are just working to stay alive instead of being passionate about their job.
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
What goes up, ghost around
Ghost around
What goes up, ghost around
Ghost around
Perhaps a reference to unfulfilled workers being like zombies, like an anxious ghost moving from place to place.
[Bridge: Beyoncé]
Around
Around
Around
Around (Will it be forever?)
Around (What are you gonna do?)
Around (What are you gonna do?)
Around
What happens to the spirits of individuals after this pass.
[Outro: Beyoncé]
Soul not for sale
Probably won’t make no money off this, oh, well
Reap what you sow
Perfection is so, mmm
Selling your soul for success. Another thought realizes that this project won’t make any money. Instead, focus on reaping what you sow and perfection.
[Verse 1: Beyoncé]
It’s what you do, it’s what you see
I know if I’m hauntin’ you, you must be hauntin’ me
It’s where we go, it’s where we’ll be
I know if I’m onto you, I’m onto you
Onto you, you must be onto me
My haunted lungs, ghost in the sheets
I know if I’m onto you, you must be hauntin’ me
My wicked tongue, where will it be?
I know if I’m onto you, I’m onto you
Onto you, I’m onto you
Onto you, you must be onto me
Perhaps a reference to her producer. They both want success but this pressure to succeed has turned into a haunting. There is tension between Beyonce and this person. This situation has created a divide due to a lack of trust.
[Bridge: Beyoncé]
You want me?
I walk down the hallway
You like it?
The bedroom’s my runway
Slap me
I’m pinned to the doorway
Kiss, bite, foreplay
A time to make up. Images and requests to get back together.
[Verse 2: Beyoncé]
My haunted lungs, ghost in the sheets
I know if I’m hauntin’ you, you must be hauntin’ me
My wicked tongue, where will it be?
I know if I’m onto you, you must be onto me
It’s what we see
I know if I’m hauntin’ you, you must be hauntin’ me
It’s where we go, it’s where we’ll be
I know if I’m onto you, I’m onto you
Onto you, I’m onto you
Onto you, you must be onto me
You must be onto me
You must be onto me
You must be onto me
Most likely an ex. Haunting likely refers to regretting a past decision. Both begin to question the motives of each other. Seeing through their act.
[Outro: Beyoncé & BOOTS]
(Onto you, I’m onto you)
Me (Onto you, I’m onto you)
Me, me (Onto you, I’m onto you)
Me (Onto you, I’m onto you)
Me
Referring to their record label meeting, not letting go their disappointment of the results or lack their of.
Final Thoughts:
Beyonce is discreet about what exactly went down during their meeting. All I can do is speculate. When a singer on the level of Beyonce, she either didn’t get the respect, cooperation or investment what she was expecting. Subsequently, the use of haunting appears to be like you are going to regret this decision. Life is full of rejection for most human beings. How you respond to this will ultimately dictate the direction you will proceed in the future. Developing perseverance and resolve will lead to success in the future.
by Jay Mankus
