Beyonce’s ‘I Am… Sasha Fierce’ Turns 5: Stan & Deliver

Mike Wass | November 14, 2013 5:30 am

Name: Mike Wass | Location: Los Angeles | Twitter: @MikeWassMusic

2. Halo

“Halo” is my favorite song of all time. When I hear it a warmth creeps through my body and I feel Beysus watching over me from her golden throne in ritziest corner of New York. It’s hard to explain my, perhaps abnormal, reaction to the Ryan Tedder-penned power ballad but I’ll try.

In late 2008 I went to hospital for some routine tests. An overnight stint turned into a two month stay and I spent long, boring days watching terrible soap operas and talk shows. During the seemingly endless nights I would switch on my iPod and blast Beyonce’s latest. I loved every song but “Halo” had an inexplicable calming effect on me.

The genius of “Halo” is that  it works on so many different levels. There’s the obvious romantic aspect but also a spiritual component — making it a love song on an unusually grand scale. This dichotomy is reflected by the fact that the original video had Beyonce’s love interest being murdered in the woods. Those scenes were cut in favor of something more romantic and fluffy but magically, it still works.

Hearing Beyonce sing “Halo”  live is a religious experience that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Hearing her glorious voice soar over an orchestra of synths is quite likely the sound you’ll hear when Jesus opens heaven’s gate.

This perfect piece of modern pop gospel massages your ears and soothes your soul. Never has there been a more deserving winner of the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammys.