Fierce (song)

Azealia Banks Writer(s) Azealia Banks Producer(s) Drums Of Death Released July 11, 2012 Recorded 2011-2012 Length 03:13 From Single(s) "Atlantis" "Luxury" Promotional single(s) "Runnin'" "L8R" "Fuck Up The Fun" "Jumanji" "Aquababe" "Nathan" "Neptune" "Esta Noche" "No Problems" Fantasea track listing "Ima Read" "Chips"

"Fierce" is a song performed by Azealia Banks. It serves as the seventh track on Azealia's debut mixtape Fantasea.

Background

The music video for the song was released on November 9, 2012 through ASOS and Vogue.it, after a couple of months a new music video with a new version of the song was released on the official channel of "THUMP" in Youtube.

Music and composition

Drums Of Death for VICE:

"I originally made "FIERCE" by taking Franklin's vocal from an old StrictIy Rhythm 12" record. It's a really cool spoken-word part. I emailed Franklin to ask if we could give the track away, as that was the original version. When I met Azealia around two years ago to work on her album, I either played her "FIERCE" or she just heard it somewhere. She loved it, and wanted to do a version for her "Fantasea" mixtape. This new one now is the first full version with Azealia's and Franklin's vocals. It's also mastered by my mate Kelly Hibbert (Alma Chrome), who masters like a boss. He does all the Stones Throw stuff, and more club tunes now too. Franklin is just awesome. He was up for re-recording his vocals in New York with my friend Kotchy. It freshened up the recording, and Franklin's as fierce as ever."

Critical reception

Pitchfork opined:

"Fierce, the mixtape's most overt gay-culture ode, endearingly samples a former drag queen and suggests that financial success is better than acclaim."

BuzzFeed opined:

"Fierce isn't just sonically suitable for nights in the gay village and associated self-realization — it's indicative of a connection to the gay community that transcends a flashy synth or a thumping four-on-the-floor beat. Banks goes further than the hat-tips to proud sexuality offered by the likes of Katy Perry in "Firework" by referencing seminal movements and moments in the history of queer culture. The courage of this decision is only amplified by her chosen art form, given the hip-hop community's current status as one of America's final remaining bastions of homophobia in pop culture. In a personal sense, I appreciate Banks' contribution because of my own experience with the distancing effect that can result from encounters with homophobic lyric."

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Azealia Banks]
Bambi, belle of the ball
Banjee, better than them all
Never been a flaw
Pretty kitty manicure the claws, silly
Never been a draw
When I purr bet he wanna paw
Cause a stir when she on the floor
Giving it her all
Champagne always on the pour
Some happy, others can applaud
Bum bitches aggy, but of course
Mermaid coming on the shore
Take the prince crown and the coin
Shut it down then a bitch is gone
'Nother round of Dom Pérignon
Downtown vampin' to the song
Tiara on my head when it's worn
That'll get the critics in the morgue
Physically shawty is the bomb
Whether blue weave or the blonde
Harlem or Milan
Banks break the bank and the bonds

[Spoken: Franklin Fuentes]
I used to think I was fierce
’Cause I was in all the houses
I won trophies
I used to munch trade for dollars too
But see I’m fiercer now
’Cause I got a job, I got an education
And I got somebody waiting at home for me, goddamit
Now one queen asked me the other day was it
She told me, "Miss Thing, you think you’re fierce?"
I said, "Of course"
She said, "All queens think they're fierce"
I said, "Miss Thing, all queens ain't me!"

[Verse 2: Azealia Banks]
Bon appétit, I'm a feast for the eyes
The reason why I’m, in luxury designs
So chic, so ahead of time
Kunt queen, princess of the prize
Witness the baddest bitch alive
Reporting from the belly of the night
Gorgeous, plus the world is mine
A girl with a twirl and a rhyme
Diamonds and a pearl on the shine
Welcome to her house in the sky

[Bridge: Azealia Banks and Franklin Fuentes]
The house, the house
Work me, the house
'Cause you pay ten dollars get in the ball, you-
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
'Cause you pay ten dollars get in the ball, you-
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
'Cause you pay ten dollars get in the ball, you-
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
'Cause you pay ten dollars get in the ball, you-
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
Work me, the house
'Cause you pay ten dollars get in the ball, you mop
The house, the house
The house, the house
Work me, goddamit

[Verse 3: Azealia Banks]
Back at it again
My only bad habit's, my addiction to win
She only mad at it, did it better than her friends
You better have cheddar to attend
Wang gown with leather on the trim
Get together with the slim
Mermaid who came on the swim
Wave to the gents
Do my dips and the spin
Turn tricks for the fucking ends?
You turned dick for the fucking gem?
You a bum bitch to the end
Come again, come again?
You running with the wrong sip, rum to the gin?
Bambi work it out like fellas in the gym
Hey fella, f-fella I'm better than a ten
Eleven in the denim
About twelve in her skin
Young mademoiselle, the devil wears Prada
I'm giving them hell, you bitches getting nada

Music video

Music video	Information
	Released	November 9, 2012
	Length	01:18
	Director
	Producer
	Filmed	September/November, 2012
	Location
	Vevo views	N/A

Music video	Information
	Released	December 5, 2012
	Length	04:57
	Director	Greenaway & Greenaway
	Producer	THUMP
	Filmed
	Location	N/A
	Vevo views	+96,001

Remix  

	Label: Self-released Format: Digital Released: January 13, 2013 Barcode: Photography: Design: Josh Peace