"Summertime" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé, featuring American rapper P. Diddy. "Summertime" was written by Beyoncé, Angela Beyincé, P. Diddy, Steven "Stevie J." Jordan, Adonis Shropshire, Varick "Smitty" Smith and Mario Winans, while production was handled by Winans and P. Diddy. The song was later remixed to feature vocals from American rapper Ghostface Killah. "Summertime" was included on the soundtrack album for the film The Fighting Temptations (2003), in which Beyoncé played the lead female role. The original version of the song was released as a B-side to "Crazy in Love" in the UK and Australia, while it was issued as a 12-inch vinyl single in the United States through Columbia Records.
"Summertime" is an R&B song which lyrically refers to falling in love. Music critics generally complimented Beyoncé's vocals in the song and noted that it could have been included on her debut studio album, Dangerously in Love (2003). The song also charted on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in late 2003. The original version featuring P. Diddy and the remix version featuring Ghostface Killah peaked at number thirty-five and at number fifty-one respectively on the chart. Both versions charted for forty consecutive weeks. "Summertime" was part of Beyoncé's set list during the Dangerously in Love Tour (2003), and the Verizon Ladies First Tour (2004).
Background and composition
The song has two different themes. It primarily talks about the romance and later marriage between the film's two main characters Darrin (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Lilly (played by Beyoncé), as well as subtly hinting at Beyoncé's real-life relationship with rapper Jay-Z.
"Summertime" was the only song which appeared on the soundtrack album of The Fighting Temptations but not in the movie itself. The latter has a starring role in the film, along with a choir made up of gospel, R&B and hip-hop recording artists. Faith Evans, Angie Stone, Melba Moore, Rev. Shirley Caesar, The O'Jays, Montell Jordan, T-Bone, and Zane are all seen on the film and perform on the soundtrack. Tim Sendra of Allmusic describes "Summertime" as an R&B "sweet love song" with lush sampled strings and acoustic guitars. The lyrics of the song do not reveal the film's plot, but they do tell that it has been a year since Darrin and Lilly met and they have gotten closer which could possibly be referring to their marriage. While later announcing the release of the soundtrack album in a press release, Beyoncé said: "Once you hear the song ['Fighting Temptation'], and all the music in this film, you can't help but fall in love with it. You'll definitely get emotional. You might become happy or even sad, but your heart will get full. All the songs are touching and spiritual, and that's what the movie itself is like."
"Summertime" was issued as a 12" vinyl single in the United States by Columbia Records on October 28, 2003, and was later serviced to radio by the label. The original version of the song also served as the B-side to Beyoncé's debut solo lead single "Crazy in Love" (2003) in the UK and Australia. The song was later referenced in Rochelle Alers's short story "Summer Madness", from the anthology Four Degrees of Heat (2004–07).
Reception
In a summer issue of Vibe, the song was included on a list of the top songs for a summer playlist. Research director Laura Checkoway reviewed the remix of the track and stated: "Ghost's game is tight." Tim Sendra of Allmusic wrote that "Summertime" features "a wonderful vocal from Beyoncé." During the week of August 16, 2003, the remix featuring Ghostface Killah charted and peaked at number fifty-one.
Live performances
Although Beyoncé did not perform the song in any televised appearances, the song was a part of her set list on her tours. During the Verizon Ladies First Tour, which also featured Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott and Tamia, Beyoncé performed "Summertime" in New York in front of more than 20,000 fans. Beyoncé also sung "Summertime" with an interpolation of R. Kelly's "Step in the Name of Love" on her first solo tour Dangerously in Love Tour (2003) at the Wembley Arena in London, England. Beyoncé performed the song in a yellow summer-dress that was bedazzled in rhinestones across the upper breast area and around the bottom of the dress. The song, alongside its live version, was included on a live DVD/CD titled Live at Wembley. "Summertime" serves as the twelfth track of the live DVD. A performance of the remix of the song was included on the Jay-Z documentary Fade to Black (2004), which features Beyoncé performing with Ghostface Killah.
Track listing
Charts
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Summertime"
! scope="col"| Chart (2003)
! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)<br/>Remix
| 8
|-
|-
|}