One of Bey’s most vocally demanding and optimistic works, “Halo” comes off as a centerpiece in the I Am… disc of Beyoncé’s third studio album. Equipped with emotional vocalizations and angelic overtones, the song remains one of Bey’s most magnificent and impressive songs. The intimate power ballad took home Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards, and has converted over 3 million digital units thus far.

“Halo” was originally written by E. Kidd Bogart & OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, a day after Tedder had surgery on a broken Achilles' tendon, causing the cancellation of the band’s tour. The pair drew inspiration from Ray LaMontagne’s “Shelter”. “Halo” was released simultaneously with “Diva” on January 20, 2009.

The song drew critical praise, but also many comparisons and a few controversies. According to Bogart, the song was written specifically with Beyoncé in mind; however, it was tentatively offered to Simon Cowell for his client Leona Lewis before Bey had recorded it. Similarities between “Halo” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Already Gone” – also composed by Ryan Tedder – sparked gossip that he had used the same tune for both songs.

“Halo” was one of 2009’s best-selling singles, and was the #1 song of the 2000s in Brazil. The music video, directed by Phillip Andelman, featured actor Michael Ealy as Bey’s love interest (he originally turned down the role in the video for “Irreplaceable”.) An alternative version surfaced in 2010; this includes omitted scenes with Ealy on the run from police officers before Bey finds him dead.

This song was featured on Akon’s Trouble.

It talks about the trials and tribulations of living/growing up in the ghetto.