Beyoncé’s Hit Single ‘Déjà Vu’ Came About Thanks to 7-Eleven
Over the past two decades, Beyoncé has risen to become one of the biggest entertainers in the world. The Grammy-winning singer has released countless hit songs over the years, including the beloved 2006 single “Déjà Vu.”
‘Déjà Vu’ was Beyoncé’s comeback single
After the success of her solo debut album Dangerously in Love, Beyoncé wanted to deliver a powerful lead single for her sophomore project that showed she was a force to be reckoned with. The Jay-Z collab “Déjà Vu” ended up being the first single released from B’Day.
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, who produced “Déjà Vu,” reflected on working with a young Beyoncé in a 2021 interview with Variety. “She was actually watching different people she was thinking about hiring as directors [for the videos],” he recalled. “When we weren’t recording, she was thinking about all that type of stuff, and I got a chance to see that side of her.”
The idea for ‘Déjà Vu’ came about on the way to 7-Eleven
According to Variety, Jerkins and fellow producer Jon Jon Traxx were inspired to create the track while listening to Michael Jackson’s hit song “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” on the radio in the car. Jerkins had worked with Jackson in the past and wanted to create a hit for Beyoncé that was on the same level.
According to Variety, Jerkins and Traxx came up with the concept for “Déjà Vu” on the way to 7-Eleven before going to the studio for a recording session.
Jerkins and Traxx cut the demo in less than an hour and presented it to Beyoncé. She fell in love with the record and recorded her part immediately after. Because it was her grand return to the music scene, Beyoncé wanted to ensure that it was as big as possible. Jerkins and Traxx incorporated live instruments in the track, including horns, and Beyoncé insisted that they add an 808 drum at the last minute.
Beyoncé has a song called ‘7/11’
Nearly a decade later, Beyoncé released a popular club song titled “7/11.” Beyoncé herself never revealed the meaning behind the song’s title, but Bustle surmised that the song’s title — combined with its lyrics — mean that it has to do with alcohol.
The drinking game “Sevens, Elevens, and Doubles” involves participants rolling dice to try to land a 7, an 11, or two of the same numbers. Beyoncé seems to reference the game with the lyrics “I know I’m thinkin’ bout that alcohol / Man it feel like rollin’ dice, man it feel like rollin’ dice / Seven eleven, seven eleven, seven twice, man seven twice / Man it feel like rollin’ dice, man this feel like rollin’ dice.”
The music video for the song seemingly confirms that Beyoncé is singing about getting drunk in the song, as she’s seen having fun with a red Solo cup. The song, then, isn’t a subtle reference to how “Déjà Vu” was born nearly 10 years prior.
