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As promised, Beyonce has released the lead single for her upcoming studio album, Break My Soul.

Met with mixed reviews, the track has wasted no time in climbing the charts, hitting number one in several countries and surpassing Kate Bush’s resurfaced Running Up That Hill on Apple Music.

As we celebrate the long-awaited return of Beyonce, let us take a look at seven things to know about Break My Soul.

1. What is the song about?

Seemingly under pressure, the singer in this empowerment anthem declares to world that nothing will leave her defeated.

Releasing whatever holds her back, the singer notes that she is now ready to move forward and discover new motivation and foundation.

Speaking to those going through their own struggles, the powerhouse encourages them to release whatever is ‘breaking their soul’.

2. House Music

High-tempo, dance, four-on-the-floor and electro, are all characteristics of the classic house music genre and Beyonce’s Break My Soul checks all of the above.

The lead track from the album encapsulates the genre, which became popular in the 1980s.

House is a genre of electronic dance music characterised by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 115 to 130 beats per minute.

It is said to have been created by DJs from Chicago during their underground raves.

3. Samples

Serving as the sixth track on the act i Renaissance album, Break My Soul heavily samples Robin S.’s hit, Show Me Love and Big Freedia’s Explode.

American singer-songwriter Robin S’s Show Me Love, a 1993 dance hit, has been sampled over the years in songs such as Jason Derulo’s Don’t Wanna Go Home and Charli XCX’s Used To Know Me.

The track features vocals from Big Freedia’s Explode. Big Freedia, whose real name is Freddie Ross Jr., is no stranger to working with the Flawless hitmaker.

4. Producer

The track was produced by frequent Beyonce collaborator, American singer-songwriter The-Dream.

5. Writers

In a tweeted photograph, it was revealed that Break My Soul has several contributing writers.

They include rapper Freddie Ross, producer BlaqNmilD, composer Allen George, rapper Jay-Z, record producer Christopher ‘Tricky’ Stewart, songwriter Fred McFarlene, composer Allen George, The-Dream and Beyonce.

Fun fact: Both Fred McFarlene and Allen George worked on Robin S’s Show Me Love, from which the song is sampled.

6. Anniversary of solo debut album

As we now know, the Ivy Park co-founder is very intentional when it comes on to dates. Break My Soul, released on the day of the beginning of the summer solstice, marks the 19th anniversary of her solo debut album, Dangerously In Love.

Dangerously In Love, which has five number one singles – Crazy In Love, Naughty Boy, Baby Boy, Me, Myself & I and Dangerously In Love – was released on June 20, 2003.

Lemonade, released on April 23, 2016 was dropped the same day Destiny’s Child was close to getting their careers started, performing Michael Jackson’s I Wanna Be Where You Are on April 23, 1993.

7. Lyrics

I’m bout to explode

Take off this load

Bend it, bust it open

Won’t you make it go

Yak Yak Yak

Release your wiggle

Release Your anger 

Release your mind 

Release your job 

Release the time 

Release your trade 

Release the stress 

Release the love

Forget the rest

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

I’m telling everybody

Everybody

Everybody

Everybody

Now I just fell in love

And I just quit my job

I’m gonna find new drive

Damn they work me so damn hard

Work by nine

Then off past five

And they work my nerves

That’s why I cannot sleep at night

I’m looking for motivation

I’m looking for a new foundation yeah

And I’m on that new vibration

I’m building my own foundation yeah

Hold up

Ooh baby baby baby

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

I’m telling everybody

Everybody

Everybody

Everybody

Release your wiggle

Release Your anger 

Release your mind 

Release your job 

Release the time 

Release your trade 

Release the stress 

Release the love

Forget the rest

Imma let down my hair

‘Cause I lost my mind

Bey is back and I’m sleeping real good at night

The queens in the front and the doms in the back

Ain’t takin’ no flicks but the whole click snapped 

It’s a whole lot of people in the house

Trying to smoke with the yak in your mouth

And we back outside

You said you outside but you ain’t that outside

Worldwide hoodie with the mask outside

In case you forgot how we act outside

Got motivation

And I found me a new foundation yeah

I’m taking my new salvation

And Imma build my own foundation yeah

Ooh baby baby

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

And I’m telling everybody

Everybody

Everybody

Everybody

If you don’t seek it

You won’t see it

That we all know

If you don’t think it

You won’t be it

That love ain’t yours

Trying to fake it

Never makes it

That we all know

You can have the stress

And not take less

I’ll justify love

We go round in circles

Round in circles

Searching for love

We go up and down

Lost and found

Searching for love

Looking for something that lives inside me

Looking for something that lives inside me

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

I’m telling everybody

Telling everybody

Everybody

Everybody

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul

No, no

You won’t break my soul

You won’t break my soul