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"Alien Superstar"
Song by Beyoncé
from the album Renaissance
ReleasedJuly 29, 2022 (2022-07-29)
StudioThe Juicy Juicy and Parkwood West, Los Angeles
Genre
Length3:35
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Lyric Video
"Alien Superstar" on YouTube

"Alien Superstar" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé. It is the third track on her seventh studio album, Renaissance (2022), which was released on July 29, 2022, through Parkwood and Columbia.

Composition

[edit]

Pitchfork writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd described the song as an "old way house anthem", comparing the track's musicality to that of Vanity 6.[1] The "futuristic" dance-pop and R&B[2] song features heavy synthesizer production[3][4] and elements of ballroom music, such as usage of the term "category", throughout the song.[5][6] Beyoncé raps in a monotone delivery during the verses, before singing over stacked vocals during the choruses.[7][8]

The song features some cultural references, including Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise". The song samples an autobiographical recording by American writer and producer Barbara Ann Teer featured in Black Drama: "We dress a certain way. We walk a certain way. We talk a certain way. We paint a certain way. We make love a certain way, you know? All of these things we do in a different, unique specific way that is personally ours".[5][9][10]

Critical reception

[edit]

Upon release of the parent album, "Alien Superstar" received positive reviews from critics.[5][9] The New York Times called the song a "bold pop homage to ballroom culture" that delves into themes of Afrofuturism, and self-celebration.[11] Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast deemed it as Renaissance's "stand-out track", praising its "ode to queer dance-floor anthems".[12]

Ranking it as the eighth best song off the album, Billboard praised the song's unconventional song structure, "warbling synths", and utilization of rapping and stacked vocals.[7] Pitchfork and NPR both placed the song on their "Best Songs of 2022" lists, ranking at number five and number two respectively.[8] The former publication called it a "new-gen ballroom staple" and compared its funky and electronic sound to that of Prince;[13] in September 2024, they included it on their list of "The 100 Best Songs of the 2020s So Far", ranking it at number 24.[14]

Commercial performance

[edit]

After the release of Renaissance, "Alien Superstar" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 19 and on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number eight.[15]

Personnel and credits

[edit]

Samples

[edit]

Recording locations

[edit]
  • The Juicy Juicy (Los Angeles, California)
  • Parkwood West (Los Angeles, California)

Personnel

[edit]

Performers

  • Vocals by Beyoncé
  • Background vocals by Blu June

Musicians

  • Mike Dean – synths
  • Honey Dijon – additional programming
  • The-Dream – synths
  • Chris Penny – keys and programming
  • Luke Solomon – drum production and programming

Technical credits

  • Beyoncé – production, vocal production
  • Matheus Braz – assistant engineering
  • Chi Coney – engineering
  • John Cranfield – engineering
  • Mike Dean – co-production
  • Honey Dijon – production
  • The-Dream – co-production
  • NovaWav – additional production
  • Chris Penny – production
  • Andrea Roberts – engineering
  • Luke Solomon – production
  • Stuart White – mixing, recording

Live performance

[edit]
Beyoncé performing "Alien Superstar" on the Renaissance World Tour in 2023

Beyoncé first performed "Alien Superstar" in Stockholm, Sweden on the opening night of the Renaissance World Tour, including it on the setlist for the duration of the tour.[16] The song is featured in the robotic-themed "Renaissance" act of the tour and follows a transition from "Cozy". The performance starts with Beyoncé pantomiming that she's asleep, with her dancers holding up a quilted bedspread and pillows designed by Victor Weinsanto.[17] She then 'wakes up' and holds her hands up while spelling out "Unique" and counting down with her fingers. The performance continues with the song's intro. During the second chorus, elements of "Sweet Dreams" are used such as the instrumental and select lyrics.[18]

Beyoncé wore a number of outfits during this section over the course of the tour, starting with a custom Courrèges outfit from the fall 2023 collection.[19][20] At later dates, she wore a custom Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini bodysuit,[20][21] a metallic Balmain bodysuit, and a silver-and gold Lanvin bodysuit with cutouts.[20]

During a performance of the song at a show in Arizona, an audio malfunction caused Beyoncé and her dancers to temporarily retreat.[22] She then restarted the performance, wearing a new metallic outfit with wings designed by Juraj Zigman.[23][24]

"Alien Superstar" remained on the setlist for the Cowboy Carter Tour in 2025 with a performance similar to how it was during the previous tour, omitting the "Lift Off" outro.[25]

Charts

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Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Alien Superstar"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[42] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[43] Diamond 160,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[44] Gold 40,000‡
France (SNEP)[45] Gold 100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[48] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alien Superstar

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
![Beyoncé performing "Alien Superstar" during the Renaissance World Tour at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium]float-right "Alien Superstar" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, released as the third track on her seventh studio album, Renaissance, on July 29, 2022, via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The track, produced by Beyoncé alongside Mike Dean and others, incorporates house and disco elements with interpolations of Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" (1991) and samples from tracks including Bernard Edwards' "Right Track" (1983) and Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" (1977), resulting in 24 credited songwriters due to clearance requirements for multiple source materials. Drawing from ballroom culture aesthetics and voguing terminology, the lyrics celebrate self-empowerment and uniqueness, with Beyoncé proclaiming her irreplaceable status amid a pulsating dance beat. Upon release, "Alien Superstar" debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, contributing to all 16 tracks from Renaissance charting simultaneously, and later achieved gold certification by the RIAA for 500,000 units in the United States as of December 2024. The song faced scrutiny over its extensive writer credits, prompting public commentary from songwriter Diane Warren on the proliferation of sample-based attributions in modern pop production, though defenders emphasized standard industry practices for legal clearances. Additionally, Right Said Fred alleged unauthorized use of their hit, but Beyoncé's representatives clarified that permissions were obtained for the interpolation, dismissing the claims as erroneous; a separate 2025 lawsuit alleges improper sample clearance sourcing for one element, though details remain in litigation. Performed live during the Renaissance World Tour, the track underscored Beyoncé's return to dance music roots and her influence in revitalizing house genres for mainstream audiences.

Background and development

Conception and inspiration

"Alien Superstar" emerged as part of 's seventh studio album, , which she conceived and recorded amid the beginning in 2020, with the intent to foster escapism and communal joy through dance-oriented music. described the project as a "safe place" drawing from club culture's history of resilience and reinvention, particularly honoring overlooked and contributors to and genres. The album's dedication to her late uncle , who exposed her to in the 1970s and 1980s, underscored this foundational influence, extending to tracks like "Alien Superstar" that evoke underground scenes. The song's conception drew heavily from culture's performative elements, including voguing poses, category calls, and communal affirmations, as reflected in urging listeners to "find a way to get up on that floor" and embrace otherworldly uniqueness. Co-producer , a DJ rooted in Chicago's scene, infused the track with black queer cultural motifs during sessions, aiming to amplify voices from those origins; she credited the collaboration with for channeling "supernatural love" and historical nods absent from mainstream narratives. This aligned with the album's broader aim to re-center Black queer pioneers, though some critiques noted the interpretation of these elements through a commercial lens. Songwriting contributions, including from , emphasized Beyoncé's directive creativity, where initial ideas evolved through iterative refinement to capture an "alien" persona of unapologetic self-assertion, inspired by sampled speeches on Black stylistic innovation from Barbara Ann Teer's 1970 Black Theatre recording. Daye highlighted Beyoncé's self-sufficient artistic vision, noting the process prioritized her innate style over external imposition. These elements coalesced to position "Alien Superstar" as a manifesto of extraterrestrial confidence, blending empirical nods to subcultural history with first-hand production insights from collaborators immersed in those traditions.

Songwriting and production process

"Alien Superstar" was co-written by a team of 24 credited songwriters, reflecting contributions from interpolations, samples, and collaborative lyric and melody work typical in modern pop and house-influenced tracks. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter received primary writing credit alongside key collaborators including her husband Shawn Carter (JAY-Z), R&B singer Lucky Daye, producer Honey Dijon, house music veteran Luke Solomon, and Chris Penny; additional writers encompassed The-Dream (Terius Nash), Nova Wav duo Brittany "Chi" Coney and Denisia "Blu June" Andrews, and members of Right Said Fred due to the interpolation of their 1991 hit "I'm Too Sexy." The extensive credits stemmed from the song's layered structure, incorporating a spoken-word sample from Foremost Poets' "Moonraker" (crediting John Holliday) and vocal ad-libs, which required clearance and attribution under publishing norms. Songwriting sessions emphasized Beyoncé's directive for stadium-ready house energy, with , , and developing initial musical frameworks in , focusing on driving basslines and hooks designed for live performance scale. contributed lyrical elements during remote collaboration, later describing in a how Beyoncé refined ideas to align with her vision, stating she "has her own creativity" and elevates contributions without needing external imitation of her style. added melodic and production input, defending the multi-writer approach in a 2022 profile as standard for tracks blending original composition with referential elements, countering critiques from songwriter who questioned the necessity of so many credits. Production was led by Beyoncé alongside , , and Penny, with co-production from and Mike Dean, and additional production by . shared in a 2023 NPR discussion that her involvement drew from sending Beyoncé a playlist of New York house classics for inspiration, infusing black club culture into the track's synth-driven groove and voguing references. noted in 2024 that the team prioritized "stadium" sonics from the outset, using monitors like PMC 6-2 for precise mixing to ensure the track's bass and vocal clarity translated to large venues. Beyoncé oversaw final vocal recording and arrangement at her studio, integrating the "" riff—cleared post-release despite initial disputes—and ensuring the production honored Renaissance's homage while amplifying her persona as an "alien superstar."

Composition and production

Musical elements and genre

"Alien Superstar" is a house track that incorporates elements of , , and culture, characterized by its driving rhythms and celebratory energy. The song maintains a of 122 beats per minute, aligning with standard pacing to facilitate dance-floor momentum. It is composed in the key of , contributing to its tense, pulsating atmosphere through progressions and melodic tension. Musically, the production emphasizes layered synths, including monstrous synth lines that evoke an intergalactic, futuristic vibe, alongside throbbing basslines and hi-hat patterns typical of genres. Beyoncé's vocals are processed with effects for a chopped, repetitive quality in the verses, building to a maximalist hook that interpolates the cadence from Right Said Fred's hit "I'm Too Sexy," rephrased as "I'm too classy for this world / Forever, I'm that girl." This structure creates a high-energy drop suited to club environments, with influences from 's swing evident in the bass swing and rhythmic groove produced by contributors like .

Lyrics and themes

"Alien Superstar" opens with a synthesized directing listeners to stay on the dance floor during a "luminous invasion" of their minds, setting a scene of immersive, commanding performance akin to competitions. The lyrics employ repetitive affirmations of singularity, such as "I'm one of one, I'm number one, I'm the only one," underscoring the narrator's unmatched status and warning competitors against emulation. These declarations draw from vernacular, where participants claim exclusivity in categories like "femme queen" or "" through poised strikes and voguing. The track interpolates Right Said Fred's 1991 hit "," transforming its boastful male posturing—originally about being "too sexy for my shirt"—into lines like "I'm too classy for this world, forever, I'm that girl / Feed you " and "I'm too classy to be touched, I paid them all in dust." This subversion highlights themes of elevated , material dominance, and untouchability, positioning the performer as an , transformative force. Additional references, including "Hit the club, let me summon my inner " and "Queen bee, best hive," reinforce self-mythologizing and hive-like loyalty, evoking 's established persona while nodding to house music's communal energy. Central themes include radical self-empowerment and individuality, with the "alien superstar" motif portraying the artist as an extraterrestrial entity beyond earthly norms or rivalry. The song embraces culture's competitive ethos, originating in New York harbors for black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities, where verbal "reads" and poses assert identity amid marginalization. This aligns with Renaissance's overall tribute to house music's black queer foundations, though interpretations vary; some analyses frame it as a universal call to inner uniqueness, detached from specific subcultural origins. The lyrics avoid explicit vulnerability, prioritizing unyielding grandeur over introspection, which critics attribute to the track's role as an album opener signaling escapist defiance.

Samples and interpolations

"Alien Superstar" samples the drum break from "Moonraker," a 1998 house track by Foremost Poets. It also incorporates instrumental elements from "Unique," a 1997 song by Danube Dance featuring Kim Cooper. The track features an interpolation of the vocal hook and lyrics from Right Said Fred's 1991 hit "," reinterpreted in the chorus as "I'm too classy for this world / I'm too classy for this world / I'm too classy for this world / Forever, I'm that girl." This re-recording of the melody and phrasing, rather than direct audio sampling, distinguishes it as an . The use of "" sparked controversy in October 2022 when publicly claimed Beyoncé's team failed to seek permission, labeling her approach "arrogant." Beyoncé's representatives countered that full clearance had been secured from the rights holders before the song's July 29, 2022, release on the album . No litigation ensued from the dispute.

Recording and personnel

Recording sessions

The recording sessions for "Alien Superstar" formed part of the extended production timeline for Beyoncé's album Renaissance, spanning roughly three years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on remote and improvisational workflows to evoke escapism and immediacy. Engineer Stuart White, Beyoncé's primary collaborator for vocals and mixing, described a seamless integration of recording and mixing phases, aiming to preserve raw emotional capture on the first take—often completing up to 90% of a track's mix during initial vocal sessions to avoid over-refinement. Sessions utilized non-traditional environments to prioritize vibe over polished acoustics, including Airbnbs featuring wooden interiors for natural reverb, bedroom rigs with mattress-lined walls for isolation, and high-ceilinged living rooms; formal work also occurred at Avenue A Studios West in . Beyoncé's vocal performances were tracked using premium tube microphones like the ELA M 251, with inline processing via EQ, compression, and effects in HD Native to handle her wide (up to 6-10 dB headroom preserved initially, without early master bus limiting). This approach mirrored techniques applied to adjacent tracks like "I'm That Girl," where aggressive transients and on-the-fly drum programming by White contributed to the song's high-energy foundation. Production involved as lead producer alongside Luke Solomon, , and Chris Penny, incorporating co-production from and Mike Dean, and additional input from ; the layered ballroom-inspired elements with live-feel instrumentation to build the track's pulsating synths and basslines iteratively during these fluid sessions. No public details specify isolated dates or anomalies for "Alien Superstar," reflecting 's guarded creative , though the album's overall prioritized spontaneity to mirror the track's themes of uninhibited self-expression.

Key personnel

The production of "Alien Superstar" was led by , who served as executive producer, lead vocalist, and co-writer, alongside primary producers (Honey Redmond), Chris Penny (Christopher Lawrence Penny), and Luke Solomon. Co-production was handled by (The-Dream) and Mike Dean, with additional production contributions from the duo (comprising producers like Jonathan Roye and others associated with the track's rhythmic elements). Songwriting credits encompass a collaborative team reflecting influences from , hip-hop, and R&B, including , Honey Redmond, Christopher Lawrence Penny, Luke Francis Matthew Solomon, Denisia Andrews (Blu June), Brittany Coney, Michael Bianco, Shawn Carter (), David Hamelin (Dave Blunts), David Brown (), Terius Nash (), Andre Benjamin, Warren Felder, Rodney Jones Jr., Michael Cox Jr., Bryan Williams, and Nathan Barton Jr. This extensive roster underscores the track's interpolation of Right Said Fred's 1991 hit "," credited to its original writers , Fred Fairbrass, and Rob Manzoli, integrated to evoke and vogueing aesthetics. Recording engineers included Stuart White, who oversaw principal engineering, with assistance from Chris Penny and others, ensuring the song's polished fusion of electronic beats and vocal layers during sessions tied to the broader Renaissance album production in 2021–2022.

Release and promotion

Release details

"Alien Superstar" was released on July 29, 2022, as the third track on Beyoncé's seventh studio album Renaissance, issued by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The track runs for 3:35 and debuted exclusively on digital streaming platforms and for download as part of the full album rollout. No standalone single release occurred for "Alien Superstar" at launch, with promotion tied to the album's surprise drop following the earlier single "Break My Soul."

Promotional activities and live performances

The official lyric video for "Alien Superstar" was released on July 28, 2022, coinciding with the album Renaissance launch the following day, serving as an initial promotional element to highlight the track's ballroom-inspired themes and lyrics. No official music video was produced, distinguishing it from lead single "Break My Soul," with promotion instead channeled through album visuals and social media teasers. The primary promotional platform for "Alien Superstar" was the , commencing May 10, 2023, in , , and concluding September 24, 2023, in , spanning 56 shows across and . The song featured prominently in the setlist as the third track in the opening sequence, following "I'm That Girl" and "Cozy," often incorporating mashup elements from ' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." Performances emphasized futuristic alien aesthetics, with in metallic outfits evoking the song's extraterrestrial motif, such as a Loewe during the European leg. Staging included synchronized dancers, LED screens projecting cosmic visuals, and interactive fan elements like illuminated wristbands syncing to the beat, enhancing the track's and energy. These live renditions were captured in the concert film , released October 7, 2023, which documented performances from the tour's North American leg, including "Alien Superstar," further extending its promotional reach via theatrical and streaming platforms. In 2025, incorporated "Alien Superstar" into the Cowboy Carter Tour setlist, blending it with material from her prior albums to bridge her and Cowboy Carter eras; it appeared in a medley with "I'm " and "Cozy" during shows such as Houston's Night 1 on July 7 and dates in May. This inclusion sustained visibility for the track amid the tour's focus on country and hip-hop influences, with performances adapting the original's high-energy to varied stadium settings.

Commercial performance

Chart achievements

"Alien Superstar" debuted at number 19 on the US chart dated August 13, 2022, which became its peak position, and the song spent a total of 12 weeks on the ranking. It also reached number 15 on the chart. In the , the track entered the Official Singles Chart at number 16 upon the release of Renaissance on July 29, 2022, marking its highest placement there. The song achieved additional peaks on international charts, including number 31 in on the ARIA Singles Chart and number 33 on the .
Chart (2022)Peak Position
(US)19
15
UK Singles Chart16
ARIA Singles ()31
33

Certifications and sales

In the United States, "Alien Superstar" was certified platinum by the (RIAA) on December 17, 2024, indicating 1,000,000 units in sales and streaming equivalents. This certification reflects combined track equivalent album units derived from pure sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming equivalent albums, as calculated by the RIAA methodology. No certifications have been awarded by other major industry bodies such as the (BPI) or the Australian Recording Industry Association () as of October 2025.

Critical reception

Accolades from critics

Critics lauded "Alien Superstar" for its pulsating rhythms, -inspired voguing references, and Beyoncé's assertive proclaiming unparalleled individuality, often citing it as a highlight of . placed the track at number 24 on its list of the 100 Best Songs of the 2020s So Far, praising how it embodies the ballroom tradition's "serving fantasy" and "projecting an extraterrestrial level of realness." In its album review, described the song as channeling in an "old-way anthem," emphasizing its fusion of retro influences with energy. Consequence selected "Alien Superstar" as its Song of the Week following 's July 29, 2022 release, calling it a potential standout amid the album's strong tracks and portraying as operating in "a of her own" through its confident, otherworldly vibe. , in analyzing the album's strengths, noted the song's "throbbing progressive energy" and its role in affirming 's dominance while inviting listener uniqueness, positioning it as a key example of the project's liberating dance-floor ethos. The track earned high placements on individual critic rankings from Renaissance, including second on Music's list of standout songs and third on New York Times critic Lindsay Zoladz's selections, reflecting its appeal for blending self-empowerment themes with infectious club production. Business Insider's review team recommended it as essential listening from the album, underscoring its amid broader acclaim for Beyoncé's genre explorations. The Daily Beast advocated for it as a contender for Song of the Summer in , highlighting its suitability for battles and invigorating performance potential.

Criticisms and skeptical analyses

Some analysts have questioned the authenticity of Beyoncé's invocation of ballroom culture in "Alien Superstar," arguing that the song's references to terms like "" and "alien superstar"—evoking exceptionalism and nonconformity—represent a of Black aesthetics by a , heterosexual artist. The track's spoken-word intro, quoting activist , and lyrics such as "We dress a certain way, we walk a certain way" draw directly from voguing and house ball traditions originating in New York underground scenes dominated by Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities, yet critics contend this framing prioritizes mainstream commercial appeal over genuine communal reclamation. Skeptics, including voices from queer media, highlight how Renaissance's broader aesthetic, exemplified in "Alien Superstar," risks exploiting the very subcultures it honors, given the album's high production costs and ticket prices for associated tours, which exclude many from the originating communities. For instance, while credits influences like her late uncle and pioneers, detractors argue that such tributes do not mitigate the pattern of queer innovation being "exploited constantly, flagrantly, by the entertainment industry," as the song achieves chart success without equivalent empowerment for those cultural stewards. Further scrutiny focuses on the song's lyrical self-aggrandizement, with some viewing lines like "I’m your new state of mind" as emblematic of a narrative that overshadows collaborative origins, potentially diluting the subversive edge of the sampled and elements. , a veteran songwriter, publicly critiqued the track's writing credits in August 2022, implying over-attribution amid Renaissance's interpolation-heavy style, though this sparked backlash from supporters emphasizing Beyoncé's creative direction.

Controversies

Sampling and interpolation disputes

"Alien Superstar" incorporates an interpolation of the chorus from Right Said Fred's 1991 hit "I'm Too Sexy," which led to public controversy in October 2022 when the British duo accused Beyoncé's team of using the element without seeking their permission beforehand. Right Said Fred described the approach as indicative of arrogance, stating in an interview that major artists like Beyoncé often fail to contact originators directly for clearances, relying instead on publishers or intermediaries. Beyoncé's representatives countered that contact had been made through the song's publishers, labeling the duo's assertions as "erroneous and incredibly disparaging," and emphasized that proper procedures were followed prior to the track's release on the Renaissance album. Despite the exchange, the interpolation received songwriting credits for Right Said Fred members Richard Fairbrass, Fred Fairbrass, and Rob Manzoli, as listed in the official album credits. The track's introduction features a sample from the 1996 spoken-word piece "Unique" by the hip-hop group Foremost Poets, sourced from the Definition of a Bad Azz. This usage prompted a filed on July 30, 2025, by Soundmen on Wax Records against Beyoncé's and associated entities, alleging unauthorized sampling without licensing agreement or compensation. The plaintiffs claim ownership of the master recording and seek damages, arguing that the sample's inclusion in "Alien Superstar"—which peaked at number 14 on the US —constitutes infringement despite the track's commercial success exceeding 500 million streams on platforms like by mid-2023. Parkwood has not publicly responded to the suit as of October 2025, though standard industry practice involves sample clearances handled via publishers, which may form the basis of any defense. Additionally, "Alien Superstar" interpolates elements from Donna Summer's 1977 track "I'm in Love," produced by and Pete Bellotte, earning credits for Summer, Moroder, and Bellotte in the song's composition. No formal disputes have arisen from this , attributed to pre-release clearances facilitated by Summer's estate, though it contributes to the track's extensive list of 24 credited writers, reflecting layered sampling common in and production. These incidents highlight tensions in modern music creation between homage through sampling and the legal-economic imperatives of clearance, particularly when obscure or older works are repurposed for high-profile releases.

Songwriting credits debate

Songwriter sparked public debate on August 1, 2022, by tweeting, "How can there be 24 writers on a song?" accompanied by an eye-rolling , in apparent reference to "Alien Superstar," which lists 24 credited songwriters due to its incorporation of multiple samples and interpolations. The track credits include Knowles-Carter, Shawn Carter (), and contributors from sampled elements, such as the spoken-word introduction from Foremost Poets' "Moonraker" (crediting John C. Holliday II) and interpolations of tracks like Right Said Fred's "," Donna Summer's "I'm in Love," and James Brown's "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud." The remark drew immediate criticism from Beyoncé's fanbase, known as the BeyHive, and collaborators, who defended the credits as standard industry practice for clearing samples, where original composition rights necessitate inclusion of prior songwriters alongside new contributors. , a co-writer on the track, responded by emphasizing that such multiplicity arises from layering samples—four in this case, accounting for nine writers from those sources—rather than implying diluted authorship, stating, "Because we couldn’t afford certain things, we had to do it ourselves, but also because we are honoring those things." This practice aligns with hip-hop and electronic music norms, where "Alien Superstar" draws from , , and influences, requiring publishers' approvals and proportional credits to avoid infringement. Warren issued an apology later that day on , clarifying, "I meant no disrespect to anyone involved especially who is a classy artist & person," while reiterating her point as a broader observation on songwriting complexity in sampled music, not a personal attack. The incident highlighted tensions between traditional songwriting views—favoring fewer, primary authors—and contemporary production realities, but no evidence emerged of improper crediting on "Alien Superstar," as all sampled parties received royalties and acknowledgments per ASCAP and BMI registrations. The debate subsided without formal challenges to the credits, underscoring how Renaissance's homage to and pioneers involved extensive clearances, with 's team reportedly negotiating over 100 such elements across the album. In July 2025, Hirose Enterprises, LLC initiated a in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Beyoncé's , Sony Music Entertainment, , and musician Mike "Holiday" Hamilton, alleging unauthorized use of a sample from Hamilton's 1998 house track "Moonraker" in the introduction of "Alien Superstar." The suit, filed on July 29, 2025, contends that while Parkwood obtained clearance and licensing fees directly from Hamilton, he lacked ownership of the composition rights, which Hirose acquired from the original rights holders in 2008. Hirose seeks a permanent to halt distribution of the track, statutory , actual , and an accounting of profits derived from the song's exploitation. The case highlights chain-of-title issues in sample clearances, where intermediaries may not possess full authority despite apparent agreements, a recurring challenge in music licensing documented in prior infringement disputes. As of October 2025, the lawsuit remains pending, with no reported settlements or rulings. Earlier, in October 2022, British duo publicly accused of incorporating an unpermitted of their 1991 hit "" into "Alien Superstar," claiming no clearance request was made. 's team countered that permission for a direct sample was sought via the duo's publisher but denied, prompting a revision to an of the chorus and melody without using the original recording, which they argued fell outside sampling requirements under U.S. precedents like the fair use considerations in Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. . The exchange did not escalate to formal litigation, though it fueled debates on disclosures in an era of fragmented publishing rights. No other lawsuits directly targeting "Alien Superstar" have been filed as of late 2025.

Cultural impact and legacy

Influence on music and subcultures

"Alien Superstar," released on July 29, 2022, as the third track on Beyoncé's album , blended production with -inspired beats, contributing to a renewed mainstream interest in electronic dance genres rooted in and histories. The song's structure shifts from a vogue/ to a chorus, produced in part by —a DJ known for reincorporating elements—exposing pop listeners to underground sounds typically confined to club scenes. This fusion helped elevate 's visibility, as became the first album by a artist to win the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album on February 4, 2024, signaling genre validation amid a revival. In subcultures, the track amplified lexicon and aesthetics, with lyrics invoking performance uniqueness ("one of one") and ego-boosting declarations drawn from voguing competitions, prompting discussions on cultural preservation within communities. Beyoncé's , commencing May 10, 2023, integrated live voguing segments and house mixes during "Alien Superstar" performances, providing platforms for performers and fostering cross-generational engagement in these traditions. Critics noted the album's overall effect, including this track, as injecting vitality into stagnant dance culture by merging archival nods with contemporary pop accessibility, though some within subcultures debated the extent of authentic reciprocity versus commodification.

Broader societal reception and debates

"Alien Superstar" garnered significant positive reception within LGBTQ+ communities for its explicit references to ballroom terminology and ethos, such as voguing cues and declarations of uniqueness akin to ball categories, positioning it as a mainstream amplifier of Black queer underground traditions. Organizations like GLAAD praised the track's contributions to the album's overall portrayal of Black queer culture, emphasizing its role in elevating subcultural elements without diluting their origins. Similarly, media outlets including Entertainment Weekly described the song as a "radical re-envisioning" of cultural narratives for Black, queer, and trans audiences, crediting its production—co-written by transgender DJ Honey Dijon—for authentic nods to house music's roots in marginalized spaces. Debates emerged regarding the of a heterosexual artist's deep engagement with subcultures, with some observers cautioning against potential exploitation of innovations that have historically faced mainstream co-optation. The Atlantic noted that while the song's "360-degree aural fireworks" evoked spectacle, culture's frequent by dominant industries warranted scrutiny, even amid Beyoncé's collaborative approach. A Medium analysis questioned whether inclusions of contributors fully mitigated risks of appropriation, arguing that Renaissance's commercial framing could inadvertently prioritize spectacle over sustained community uplift. These concerns, though not dominant, highlighted tensions between visibility gains and preservation of subcultural agency, informed by precedents like Madonna's "Vogue" mainstreaming elements in 1990. Conservative commentators critiqued the track within broader album discussions on explicit language and themes, with Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo decrying Renaissance's use of profanity and slurs as emblematic of moral decline in popular music, though specific ire focused more on lyrical vulgarity across cuts. NPR discussions framed the song's advocacy for Black artistic connectivity—via spoken-word interpolations from Barbara Ann Teer—as a counter to societal homogenization, yet acknowledged polarized views on its bold persona assertions amid cultural wars over identity expression. Empirical indicators of reception included strong live tour engagement, where "Alien Superstar" segments prompted audience voguing participation, reflecting organic adoption beyond elite discourse.

References

  1. https://genius.com/Beyonce-alien-superstar-lyrics/q/release-date
  2. https://variety.com/2022/music/news/beyonce-hits-back-right-said-fred-claim-permission-im-too-sexy-interpolation-alien-superstar-1235396435/
  3. https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/beyonce-alien-superstar-lyrics-meaning-renaissance
  4. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/beyonce-renaissance-16-songs-on-hot-100-1235123875/
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  42. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-renaissance-tracklist-1386007/
  43. https://open.spotify.com/album/6FJxoadUE4JNVwWHghBwnb
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  46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_aT9pAGQo8
  47. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/beyonce-33d69c3d.html?tour=33dff079
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  50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnHCoNsu5Oc
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