Black Music Month Spotlight: Ester Dean

Countdown- Beyoncé

What would the list be without a Bey song? And “Countdown” is it. The song passed through a lot of hands. It was written by Terius Nash (The Dream), Shea Taylor, Knowles, Ester Dean, Cainon Lamb, Julie Frost and Boyz II Men got a writing credit for providing the “Countdown” The song came about when Beyoncé announced that she wanted to mix styles from the ’70’s and ’90’s. Beyoncé helped produce the song and said, “I wanted to do something refreshing and different, so I mixed genres and drew inspiration from touring, traveling, watching rock bands, and attending festivals… I was like a mad scientist, putting lots of different songs together. Boyz II Men were the first ones to put Destiny’s Child on tour. They showed us how to treat an opening act and I will never forget that. That was 15 years ago! Wow, 15 years! I’m old.”

Cainon Lamb was the one who came up with the Boyz II Men sample though and Beyoncé approved it. The song leaked before the album was released, but went on to be a part of the Billboard Hot 100.