British producer Naughty Boy enlisted Beyoncé and Arrow Benjamin on his new track “Runnin’ (Lose It All).” The Pop power ballad features piano chords, strings and the hard hitting drums that have characterised his work with Emeli Sandé. It’s not strange that this song wouldn’t sound out of place on the Our Version of Events album, in fact that’s probably what most thought when they first heard “Runnin’.”
The beautiful lyrics and the melancholic piano chords that open the song immediately set the tone for Beyoncé’s soft vocals on the intro. The song is powerful, yet she’s singing with an understated passion that concentrates more on the warmth and richness of her tone, instead of charging with power belts, even during the chorus. Arrow Benjamin then takes over the second verse and ends the song with the chorus sung in duet with Queen Bey.
While the track doesn’t explore new territories sonically and remains rooted in its producer’s sound, it is distinctive enough to leave its mark. And it certainly functions as a worthy placeholder until Beyoncé releases new music of her own.