| "Partition" | ||||
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| Single by Beyoncé | ||||
| from the album Beyoncé | ||||
| Released | February 25, 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Studio | Jungle City Studios, Oven Studios (New York City) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:19 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Beyoncé singles chronology | ||||
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| Music videos | ||||
"Partition" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé for her self-titled fifth studio album released in 2013. Beyoncé co-wrote and co-produced the song with Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, Dwane "Key Wane" Weir, and Mike Dean, with extra writing from The-Dream and extra production from Jordy "Boots" Asher. The song was sent to urban contemporary on February 25, 2014 as the third single from Beyoncé by Columbia Records.
The song consists of two parts, individually titled "Yoncé" and "Partition". "Partition" has been described as "electro-R&B" that moves "from a sweet, girl-group pop sound to Dirty South hip-hop". Its production musically consists of a sparse synthesized arrangement, a thrusting bassline and a heavy drumbeat. Exploring the deep, sexual nature of Beyoncé, "Partition" depicts sexual intercourse in the back of a limousine. The closing minute of the song features a spoken word interpolation taken from the French dub of the 1998 film The Big Lebowski, a speech originally spoken by Julianne Moore.
Following the album's release, "Partition" picked up airplay on United States urban contemporary radio stations. It has since peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number nine on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Accompanying music videos for "Yoncé" and "Partition" were released on December 13, 2013, on Beyoncé. The former clip was directed by Ricky Saiz and filmed on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, while the latter was directed by Jake Nava and shot at the Parisian cabaret club, Crazy Horse. Both "Yoncé" and "Partition" were added to the setlist and performed live during the second European leg of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013–14) and later during the On the Run Tour (2014), The Formation World Tour (2016), and the Renaissance World Tour (2023). Both of the songs were performed at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards as part of a medley of the singer's eponymous album.