Rocket (Beyoncé song)

"Rocket" was written by Miguel, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and Beyoncé for the latter's self-titled fifth studio album. It was produced by Beyoncé, Timbaland and Harmon, with the former also serving as the song's vocal producer. The track was recorded with guidance by Stuart White and Chris Godbey in Jungle City Studios and Oven Studios, both located in New York City. The engineering of "Rocket" was done by Ramon Rivas with assistance by Matt Weber. Chris Godbey finished the mixing and eventually, the mastering was done by Tom Coyne and Aya Merrill at Sterling Sound. Timberlake further provided background vocals.

While working in the studio for her fifth studio album, Beyoncé demanded from Miguel to write a song in which nothing was "off-limits" and where he could push the envelope creatively. He recalled that they collaborated soon after she had had her first baby. Inside the studio, she told him, "'Listen I feel so empowered at this time and place. You'll have to put me on a pedestal, like, never mind that it's Beyoncé. I wanna make music that makes me feel or shows that I feel hot and I'm confident and I wanna feel empowered because that's what I meant in my life'".{{cite AV media|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/997204/miguel-talks-lyrical-inspiration-behind-beyonces-rocket.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130070339/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/997204/miguel-talks-lyrical-inspiration-behind-beyonces-rocket.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2014|title=Miguel Talks Lyrical Inspiration Behind Beyonce's 'Rocket'|publisher=MTV|date=January 26, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1721213/miguel-jay-z-beyonce-sexy-rocket-lyrics/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904003750/http://www.mtv.com/news/1721213/miguel-jay-z-beyonce-sexy-rocket-lyrics/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2014|title=Miguel Imagined Himself As Jay Z To Write Sexy Beyonce Lyrics|publisher=MTV News|first=Rob|last=Markman|date=January 27, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} For the opening lines of the song, Miguel was inspired by the singer herself: "What's the first thing I'd want Beyoncé to say to me, as a man? What have I not heard her say? That's where the song came from." He further noted that "Rocket" managed to showcase a new part of the singer which was confident, sexual and liberating at the same time.{{cite news|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/miguel-speaks-writing-beyonces-rocket-nothing-was-limits|title=Miguel Speaks On Writing Beyoncé's 'Rocket': 'Nothing Was Off-Limits'|work=Vibe|first=John|last=Kennedy|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}}

Beyoncé explained on her iTunes Radio channel that "Rocket" was one of the "most sensual songs", adding that it reminded her of the vibes of D'Angelo's song "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (2000).{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/beyonce-explains-songs-titled-album/story?id=21262583|title=Beyonce Explains New Self-Titled Album|publisher=ABC News|first=Luchina|last=Fisher|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} The singer elaborated the concept behind the song during an album documentary filmed for Beyoncé, titled "Honesty", saying, "Now I'm in my 30s, and those children that grew up listening to me have grown up, and I always felt like it was my responsibility to be aware of kids and their parents and all these generation". With that said, the singer felt "stifled" and unable to express every feeling she wanted to show. However, she noted that with "Rocket", one of the most liberating songs on the record, she managed to express many of those feelings and show different sides of her personality. Revealing that she would not have been confident enough to record the song earlier in her career, Beyoncé noted, "I kinda dropped that fourth wall and I did it".{{cite news|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2014/01/04/beyonce-earns-praise-from-justin-timberlake-pharrell-in-self-titled-part-5-honesty/|title=Beyoncé Earns Praise from Justin Timberlake, Pharrell in 'Self-Titled Part 5. Honesty'|work=Rap-Up|date=January 1, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} The singer also discussed the meaning of the song by saying, "What I love about this song is, it takes you through this journey. You're flirting and you're talking all of your arrogant {{sic|s--t}}. Then you climax, and then you have your cigarette... This song actually is about singing from the heart, and harmonies and adlibs and arrangement".{{cite web|url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/495677/beyonce-s-self-titled-part-5-honesty-star-talks-sexy-rocket-justin-timberlake-bows-down|title=Beyoncé's "'Self-Titled' Part 5. Honesty": Star Talks Sexy "Rocket," Justin Timberlake Bows Down|publisher=E! Online|first=Natalie|last=Finn|date=January 3, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} During the same video, she praised Timberlake and Miguel's work; the clip also showed footage of Beyoncé recording the song in the studio.

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"Rocket" is a six and a half-minute track, the longest one on Beyoncé.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beyonce-breakdown-the-ultimate-guide-to-beys-surprise-new-album-20131213|title='Beyonce' Breakdown: The Ultimate Guide to Bey's Surprise New Album|first=Jon|last=Dolan|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041810/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beyonce-breakdown-the-ultimate-guide-to-beys-surprise-new-album-20131213|url-status=dead}} It has a time signature of 6/8. It is a slow tempo ballad{{cite news|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/beyonce-beyonce|title=Beyoncé - Beyoncé|work=Clash|first=Mike|last=Diver|date=January 9, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} and explores elements of soul music, neo soul,{{cite news|last=Leconte|first=Julia|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=195899|title=Who runs the world?|work=Now|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} funk and R&B.{{cite news|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/beyonce-self-titled-spin-essential/|title=Beyonce Outdoes Herself (and Everyone Else) With the Humanizing, Superhuman 'Beyonce'|work=Spin|first=Anupa|last=Mistry|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} It was noted to be one of the album's retro songs.{{cite news|last=Wood|first=Mikael|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-beyonce-album-review-20131213-story.html|title=Album review: 'Beyoncé' is full of surprises|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 14, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Houston Chronicle{{'s}} Joey Guerra deemed the track an "old-school R&B stunner" filled with "all swooping verses and steamy choruses".{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Beyonc-delivers-the-complete-package-5069527.php|title=Beyoncé delivers the complete package|work=Houston Chronicle|first=Joey|last=Guerra|author-link=Joey Guerra|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Many critics found similarities to work by musician Prince.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inthemix/Review-Beyonce.html|title=Review: 'Beyonce'|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network|first=Dan|last=DeLuca|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Nick Catucci of Entertainment Weekly described the track as a "funk excursion" similar to songs by Prince. Mike Divers from Clash magazine also felt that "Rocket" was reminiscent of Prince's "funky prime". Jon Pareles of The New York Times noted that the seductive track harks back to Prince's music with "harmonies blossom[ing] all around Beyoncé's cooing lead vocal".{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/arts/music/beyonces-new-album-is-steamy-and-sleek.html|title=A December Surprise, Without Whispers (or Leaks)|author-link=Jon Pareles|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Julia Leconte of Now summarized the song's sound as a cross between music by D'Angelo during the late-90s and Usher during the early 2000s. Other critics noted "Rocket" to be a rehash and a homage of D'Angelo's work,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/13/beyonce-album-first-review|title=Beyoncé: Beyoncé – first look review|work=The Guardian|last=Cragg|first=Michael|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|title='Beyonce' album review: More than the delivery is a surprise|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-beyonce-album-review-beyonce-self-titled-album-reviewed-20131214-column.html|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=December 14, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} particularly on his song "Untitled (How Does It Feel)".{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/12/beyonce-impulsive-album-review/|title=Beyonce's 'Beyonce': Our Impulsive Reviews|last=Sherburne|first=Philip|date=December 13, 2013|work=Spin|access-date=September 3, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/12/17/beyonce/|title=Beyoncé Beyoncé|work=Fact|first=Chris|last=Kelly|date=December 17, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/12/beyonce-new-visual-album-surprise/|title=Beyonce Drops New 'Visual Album' With No Advance Warning|work=Spin|first=Jem|last=Aswad|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Claire Lobenfeld of Complex magazine found cues taken from "Untitled" in "Rocket" to the "point of pop-facsimile".{{cite news|last=Lobenfeld|first=Clare|title=First Impressions of Beyoncé's New Album|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/beyonce-self-titled-track-by-track-review|work=Complex|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Variety{{'s}} Andrew Barker deemed the seductive, "grinding" "Rocket" a 2013 makeover of that song.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2013/music/reviews/album-review-beyonce-beyonce-1200966324/|title=Album Review: Beyonce, 'Beyonce'|first=Andrew|last=Barker|work=Variety|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} In a review for The Quietus, Mof Gimmers concluded that the song followed up where Ciara's "Body Party" (2013) and R. Kelly's Black Panties (2013) finished.{{cite news|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/14122-beyonce-review|title=Reviews Beyoncé|work=The Quietus|first=Mof|last=Gimmers|date=December 14, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}}

Keeping in line with the most prominent theme of Beyoncé, "Rocket" explores frank female sexuality.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/02/28/beyonce-album/|title=Beyoncé Album Review|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Catucci|first=Nick|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=October 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016135358/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20766081,00.html|url-status=live}} It opens with Beyoncé expressing feelings of lust in the first line, "Let me sit this {{sic|ass|ssss}} on ya" for which she adopts a soft and sultry vocal style. She further sings about love-making with a male lover and the second line includes the lyrics: "Let me take this off while you watch me / that's my'ass appeal".{{cite magazine|last1=Hampp|first1=Andrew|last2=Ramirez|first2=Erika|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/5839712/beyonce-beyonce-track-by-track-review|title=Beyonce, Beyonce: Track-By-Track Review|magazine=Billboard|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} It features explicit and metaphorical lyrics throughout and sees Beyoncé instructing her love interest to watch her perform a striptease. She further talks about how their evening together is going to proceed with lyrics such as "If you like you can touch it babe, do you wanna touch it baby?".

While singing the lines "So rock right up to the side of my mountain / Climb until you reach my peak babe my peak, the peak / And reach right into the bottom of my fountain", Beyoncé uses sexual innuendos.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.2203/title.beyonce-beyonce|title=Beyonce - BEYONCE|work=HipHopDX|first=Janice|last=Llamoca|date=December 21, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a17063/beyonce-sexy-album-blue-ivy/|title=All The Sex Talk On Beyoncé's New Album Explained|work=Cosmopolitan|first=Alex|last=Rees|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} She also incorporates similar double entendres and euphemisms in the lyrics, "Reach right into the bottom of my fountain / dip me under to where you can feel my river flow / Rock it till water falls".{{cite web|last=McCormick|first=Neil|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/10515912/Beyonce-album-review-the-most-X-rated-pop-album-since-Madonnas-Erotica.html|title=Beyoncé, album review: 'the most X-rated pop album since Madonna's Erotica'|date=December 13, 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=September 3, 2014}}{{cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/13/14-things-to-know-about-beyonces-new-album/|title=14 Things to Know About Beyoncé's New Album|last=Locker|first=Melissa|magazine=Time|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} During the end of the song, Beyoncé sings the lines "You rock hard / I rock steady" eventually "erupting into an orgasmic finish" as stated by Puja Patel of Spin. During the last part, she sings "Goddamnit, I'm comfortable in my skin / And you're comfortable in my skin".{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/177859-beyonce-beyonc/|title=Beyoncé - BEYONCÉ|work=PopMatters|first=David|last=Amidon|date=January 9, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} It was noted that during the end of the song, the protagonist becomes ready to be sexually subordinate and "discipline[d]" as opposed to the first part where she adopted a more dominant persona; this is further exemplified in the lines "Punish me, punish me please" where Beyoncé uses soft vocals.{{cite news|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/57272148-223/beyonc%C3%A9-album-songs-release.html.csp|title=Review: Beyoncé reaches new heights on 5th album|work=Associated Press via The Salt Lake Tribune|first=Mesfin|last=Fekadu|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016161137/http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/57272148-223/beyonc%C3%A9-album-songs-release.html.csp|archive-date=October 16, 2014}}

John Kennedy from Vibe magazine opined it was impossible for a sexually active person not to feel an urge to invite their partner over upon hearing "Rocket". Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club compared the song's sexiness to that of "Drunk in Love" in a style of an "overeager, pre-shower quickie", calling both of them the singer's raunchiest and most romantic.{{cite news|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/beyonces-surprise-album-is-her-most-substantial-an-200652|title=Beyoncé's surprise album is her most substantial and also her most human|last=Rytlewski|first=Evan|work=The A.V. Club|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Mike Diver of Clash felt surprised by Miguel's writing contribution mostly due to the sound showcased in the song. Now{{'}}s Julia LeConte listed the song as the best on the entire album. Andy Kellman from AllMusic called "Rocket" the second best song on Beyoncé, deeming it an "amusing mix of metaphorical and explicit come-ons" with an "elegant" opening line.{{cite web|last=Kellmam|first=Andy|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/beyonc%C3%A9-mw0002607521|title=Beyoncé – Beyoncé |website=AllMusic|date=December 17, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Similarly, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone provided a positive review for the "squishy" tune where Beyoncé "hits nasty highs", further praising the first line as a nice song-opener.{{cite news|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/beyonce-20131214|title='Beyoncé' Album Review|newspaper=Rolling Stone|date=December 14, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405101157/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/beyonce-20131214|url-status=dead}} Jon Dolan of the same publication further praised it as the best opening line of the "sumptuously asstastic" track. In an article for Vulture, Jody Rosen viewed the song as "teasingly slow and salacious" and felt that its opening line was one of the best of all time.{{cite web|first=Jody|last=Rosen|author-link=Jody Rosen|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/12/jody-rosen-on-beyonce-close-to-a-masterpiece.html|title=Jody Rosen on Beyoncé: Close to a Masterpiece |publisher=Vulture|date=December 17, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} James Montgomery from MTV News regarded it as a "slowed-down jam in the purest sense of the term".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1719054/beyonce-album-game-changer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716020019/http://www.mtv.com/news/1719054/beyonce-album-game-changer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2014|title=Beyoncé: The 'Grown Woman' Changes The Game|publisher=MTV News|first=James|last=Montgomery|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}}

Writers of Billboard magazine called "Rocket" a "baby-making anthem" in the vein of Zapp, which finds the singer "fully equipped for the occasion". Commenting it was "a primer on what sex with Beyoncé is like", Chris Bosman from the website Consequence of Sound concluded the track "beats R. Kelly at his own game of pairing hyper-specific, 'so ridiculous they're incredible' bedroom euphemisms with the most classic of soul vibes".{{cite web|last=Bosman|first=Chris|title=Beyoncé – Beyoncé|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/12/album-review-beyonce-beyonce-2/|work=Consequence of Sound|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Writer Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune noted that Beyoncé's voice turned into a "lust-saturated choir" on the track. Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times felt the "sumptuous" song provided a room for the singer to "flex her impressive stylistic chops". Jody Rosen in Vulture also described it as a "sumptuous old-fashioned soul ballad, [which] goes down like a profiterole".{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/12/beyonce-surprise-new-album-snap-judgments-jody-rosen.html|title=Jody Rosen's Snap Judgments on Beyoncé's Surprise New Album|publisher=Vulture|first=Jody|last=Rosen|author-link=Jody Rosen|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Ryan E.C. Hamm from Under the Radar advised people who thought D'Angelo's "Untitled " is "the sexiest song ever" to hear "Rocket".{{cite news|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/beyonce/|title=Beyoncé: Beyoncé (Columbia) Review|work=Under the Radar|first=Ryan|last=E.C. Hamm|date=January 17, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Lindsey Weber of Vulture considered it an ode to "Untitled" and summed it up as "insanely sexy".{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/12/beyonce-videos-easter-eggs.html|title=A Starter Guide to the Many Easter Eggs in Beyoncé's New Album|publisher=Vulture|first=Lindsey|last=Weber|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Editor Caitlin White writing for the website The 405 noted how the singer managed to reveal her true side in "Rocket" while making herself the dominant lover.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/beyonce-beyonce|title=Beyoncé — Beyoncé|last=White|first=Caitlin|publisher=The 405|date=January 7, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714172735/http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/beyonce-beyonce|url-status=dead}}

Philip Matusavage in a review for the musicOMH pointed out the lines "you're the shit, that makes you my equivalent" as re-appropriation of "When I Get You Alone" (2002) by singer Robin Thicke.{{cite web|first=Philip|last=Matusavage|title=Beyoncé – Beyoncé|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/beyonce-beyonce|work=musicOMH|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Writing for Idolator, Mike Wass likened the song to material on B'Day (2006), and complemented it as a "vocal tour de force with eye-popping, quotable lyrics".{{cite web|last=Wass|first=Mike|url=http://www.idolator.com/7498102/beyonces-beyonce-new-album-review#more-7498102|title=Beyonce's 'Beyonce': Track-By-Track Album Review|publisher=Idolator|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=July 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731090733/https://www.idolator.com/7498102/beyonces-beyonce-new-album-review#more-7498102|url-status=dead}} BET{{'s}} Latifah Muhammad used the words "assertive, feminine, coy and direct" to describe the track.{{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/f0auz3/the-rundown-beyonce-beyonce/xd9yye|title=The Rundown: Beyoncé, Beyoncé - "Rocket"|publisher=BET|first=Latifah|last=Muhammad|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Una Mullally of The Irish Times dubbed "Rocket" as "simple and inoffensive".{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/poplife/2013/12/13/beyonce/|title=BEYONCÉ – Pop Life|first=Una|last=Mullally|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast felt that Beyoncé managed to execute a modern Motown sound.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/13/beyonce-review-genius-and-dripping-of-sex.html|title='Beyoncé's Review: Genius...and Dripping of Sex|last=Fallon|first=Kevin|date=December 13, 2013|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Tris McCall of The Star-Ledger wrote that "Rocket" featured "a thing or two to say about the irresistible siren call of her butt".{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2013/12/beyonces_latest_album_is_adventurous_sexy_and_smart.html|title=Beyonce's latest album is adventurous, sexy, and smart|first=Tris|last=McCall|work=The Star-Ledger|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Claire Lobenfeld from Complex found "Rocket" to be more sultry than the rest of the songs on the album. Tim Finney of the same publication highlighted "Rocket" as a "relatively classicist... sex romp slow jam" and concluded, "[it] gradually disintegrates into a loosely interwoven patchwork of faux-improvised exclamations and exhalations as Beyoncé determinedly roots out every possible voluptuous vocal angle on the song's preoccupations".{{cite news|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/beyonce-beyonce-review|title=It's Mostly Tha Voice: Why the Music (Yes, Music) of "Beyoncé" Matters|work=Complex|first=Tim|last=Finney|date=December 19, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}}

Stereogum journalist Tom Breihan described "Rocket" as "a squelchy, Prince-ly old-school sex-ballad" in which the singer seemingly "melt[s] into the track". He stated that despite "nothing remotely innovative about it... I can't remember the last time I heard a ballad of this type so completely fleshed-out and fully realized".{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1604191/premature-evaluation-beyonce-beyonce/franchises/premature-evaluation/|title=Premature Evaluation: Beyoncé|date=December 16, 2013|first=Tom|last=Breihan|website=Stereogum|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Ryan B. Patrick of Exclaim! noted that songs on the album, such as Rocket", effectively display genre diversity, Beyoncé's vocal range and "a penchant of musical experimentation".{{cite news|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/PopAndRock/beyonce|title=Beyoncé|first=Ryan B|last=Patrick|work=Exclaim!|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Although describing it as a "pitch-perfect rehash" of "Untitled" and noting that it succeeded in turning Beyoncé's "sex life into topography", Fact{{'s}} Chris Kelly felt "Rocket" was unnecessary on the album. Philip Cosores of Paste stated that the song was "dragging on a minute or two too long".{{cite news|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/12/beyonce-beyonce.html|title=Beyoncé: Beyoncé: Music: Reviews|first=Philip|last=Cosores|work=Paste|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Janice Llamoca from the website HipHopDX called it suitable for a bonus track on Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience (2013). Neil McCormick, writing for The Daily Telegraph criticized the song as a {{sic|"superflous"}} cut meant for The 20/20 Experience.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/10516174/BEYONC-track-by-track-review.html|title=Beyoncé, track by track review|first=Neil|last=McCormick|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} In the annual Pazz and Jop mass critics poll of the year's best in music in 2013, "Rocket" was ranked at number 424.{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2013/|title=The Village Voice's 41st Pazz & Jop Music Critics Poll: The Last Word on the Year in Music|work=The Village Voice|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225309/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2013/|url-status=dead}}

File:Standard Hotel Chelsea jeh.jpg hotel, where the video for "Rocket" was filmed]]

The music video for "Rocket" was directed by Beyoncé along with Ed Burke and Bill Kirstein. It was filmed at a room known as Hudson Studio in the hotel The Standard, High Line, located in Manhattan, New York City.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/new-york-hotel-gets-exposure-after-beyonce-romps-on-bed-for-rocket-video-1.1603877|title=New York hotel gets exposure after Beyonce romps on bed for 'Rocket' video|publisher=CTV News|date=December 21, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Some of the scenes were also shot in the hotel's hallway while others were filmed at different locations.{{cite news|url=http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2013-12-17/beyonce-video-new-york-city-hotel|title=Beyoncé Filmed One of Her Videos at This Hotel|work=Condé Nast Traveler|first=Billie|last=Cohen|date=December 17, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} The visual was released on December 13, 2013, to iTunes Store on Beyoncé itself along with sixteen other music videos for every track on the album.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beyonce-available-worldwide-now-235687181.html|title=BEYONCÉ Available Worldwide Now|publisher=Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records via PR Newswire|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} On November 24, 2014, it was also uploaded to the singer's Vevo account.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6327633/beyonce-platinum-edition-streaming-spotify|title=Beyonce's New 'Platinum Edition' Album Is Streaming on Spotify Now!|magazine=Billboard|first=Joe|last=Lynch|date=November 24, 2014|access-date=December 8, 2014}} Todd Tourso, who served as the creative director for Beyoncé, revealed that while making the video, "Rocket" was altered to fit with its visual counterpart.{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/12/creative-director-todd-tourso-on-beyonc.html|title=Beyoncé's Creative Director Todd Tourso on Her New Album and Keeping Secrets|publisher=Vulture|first=Amanda|last=Dobbins|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}}

During one scene in the video, Beyoncé is seen wearing a denim button-down top and a lace bra by retailer Agent Provocateur. In a commentary about the look, Joanna Nikas of The New York Times described her style as "[a]t-[h]ome".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/12/19/fashion/BEYONCE-FASHION-ALBUM.html|title=Beyoncé's 'Visual Album' Fashions|work=The New York Times|first=Joanna|last=Nikas|date=December 19, 2013|page=1|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Neal Farinah, who worked as a stylist for the singer, elaborated that the team wanted to keep her hair long and wavy in order to portray sexuality and femininity.{{cite news|url=http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20276934_20769343_30074008,00.html|title="Rocket" - Beyoncé's Visual Album: All the Exclusive Hair Details From Stylist Neal Farinah|work=InStyle|page=7|first=Marianne|last=Mychaskiw|date=December 23, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904032709/http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20276934_20769343_30074008,00.html|url-status=dead}} The video features various close-up shots of the singer throughout; she is seen writhing on a bed dressed in lingerie, eating strawberries, having a shower inside a bathtub, playing on a piano. Other scenes show various objects and Beyoncé walking along a corridor and lighting up a cigarette atop a car.

A writer from the website E! Online felt that in the video, Beyoncé "most certainly comes into her own". Puja Patel of Spin regarded it as "practically a tribute to her curves". An editor for CTV News noted how the singer was seen hovering over a bed in an exorcist style. Kathy Iandoli from Vice remarked the same particular scenes for showing Beyoncé living in a matrix.{{cite news|url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/what-i-learned-about-style-from-17-beyonce-videos|title=What I Learned About Style from 17 Beyoncé Videos|work=Vice|first=Kathy|last=Iandoli|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Billie Cohen from the magazine Condé Nast Traveler noted that "maybe one of the most memorable image" from the visual album was when the singer was seen falling on a king-size bed in "Rocket". In what she perceived to be the best dance moves on the album, Lindsey Weber of Vulture listed the same scene.{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/12/best-dance-moves-from-beyonce-album-music-videos.html|title=The 12 Best Dance Moves From Beyoncé's New Music Videos|publisher=Vulture|first=Lindsey|last=Weber|date=December 19, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Considering it one of the most intimate videos on the entire record, Michael Zelenko from The Fader noted, "In a collection full of erotic videos, 'Rocket,' with its heaving chests, bare thighs, bubble baths, and nails clawing at sheets, manages to stand apart as the steamiest of the bunch."{{cite news|url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/12/13/beyonce-directors/|title=Meet the Directors Behind Beyoncé's Visual Album|work=The Fader|first=Michael|last=Zelenko|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Jody Rosen of The New York Times opined that the video featured mostly slow-motion pictures of "billowing silk sheets and water droplets tumbling onto Beyoncé's bare midriff".{{cite news|url=http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/beyonce-the-woman-on-top-of-the-world/|title=Beyonce: The Woman on Top of the World|work=The New York Times|first=Jody|last=Rosen|date=June 3, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=October 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007031407/http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/beyonce-the-woman-on-top-of-the-world/|url-status=dead}} Neil McCormik from The Daily Telegraph noted the lack of subtlety during the scenes showing a power drill and Beyoncé "shuddering with pleasure". In another review, he labeled the clip as "very naughty".

Fuse writer Jason Newman called the clip an ode to D'Angelo and went on to state it worked as part underwear commercial, part shower commercial.{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2013/12/beyonce-album-track-by-track|title=Beyonce's Surprise Album: A Track-by-Track Breakdown|publisher=Fuse|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Writing for the Italian edition of Vogue, Valentina Veneziano concluded that the video showcased Beyoncé's positive attitude portrayed through her laugh in "Rocket".{{cite news|url=http://www.vogue.it/en/magazine/editor-s-blog/2014/09/beyonce|title=Beyoncé|work=Vogue Italia|first=Valentina|last=Veneziano|date=September 1, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Meghan O'Keefe from VH1 argued that the video was the first to focus on Beyoncé's "voluptuous curve, toned muscle, raised goosebumps and bleached strands of bed head".{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-12-13/beyonce-by-beyonce-essential-guide/9/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218032703/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-12-13/beyonce-by-beyonce-essential-guide/9/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 18, 2013|title=The Essential Guide To Beyonce's Surprise Album|publisher=VH1|first=Meghan|last=O'Keefe|page=9|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Brent DiCrescenzo from the magazine Time Out found influences by Madonna from her work on the album Erotica (1992) and the book Sex (1992).{{cite news|url=http://www.timeout.com/chicago/music/ranking-the-videos-from-the-surprise-new-beyonce-visual-album|title=Ranking the videos from the surprise new Beyoncé visual album|work=Time Out|first=Brent|last=DiCrescenzo|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=October 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017054530/http://www.timeout.com/chicago/music/ranking-the-videos-from-the-surprise-new-beyonce-visual-album|url-status=dead}} Vanity Fair reviewer Michelle Collins opined that the video opened with shots of Beyoncé on a bed to slightly change the overall feeling present on the album.{{cite news|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/12/beyonce-album-review-gifs-photos|title=The Ultimate Photo Recap of Beyoncé's Beyoncé|work=Vanity Fair|first=Michelle|last=Collins|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Insanul Ahmed writing in Complex remarked that things "get sensual" in "Rocket"'s clip.{{cite news|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/beyonce-gifs-17-videos|title=We Made GIFs From Beyoncé's 17 New Videos So You Didn't Have To|work=Complex|first=Insanul|last=Ahmed|date=December 13, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Whitney Phaneuf of the website HitFix was more critical towards the visual, saying that it "may be the sexiest video of the bunch, but it's achieved in such a conventional way that it ends up being boring".{{cite news|url=http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/overlay/beyonces-17-new-music-videos-ranked-from-worst-to-best#3|title=Beyonce's 17 new music videos ranked from worst to best - 15. Rocket|work=HitFix|page=3|first=Whitney|last=Phaneuf|date=December 16, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=July 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705072346/http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/overlay/beyonces-17-new-music-videos-ranked-from-worst-to-best#3|url-status=dead}} On December 21, 2013, eight days following the release of the video for "Rocket", CTV News reported that the hotel where the clip was filmed would earn profit from the exposure in the album.

File:FWT12.jpg during "Rocket"]]

"Rocket" was performed live for the first time by Beyoncé during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on August 25, as part of a medley consisting of songs from her self-titled album. For the rendition of the song, the singer danced atop a chair, surrounded by smoke on stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/vmas-2014-beyonce-726816|title=VMAs: Beyonce Shares Onstage Kiss With Jay Z After Performing Self-Titled Album Medley|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first1=Philiana|last1=Ng|first2=Ashley|last2=Lee|date=August 24, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} She performed the same dance choreography seen in the music video for "Partition".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1910270/beyonce-2014-vma-perfomance/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140825083307/http://www.mtv.com/news/1910270/beyonce-2014-vma-perfomance/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 25, 2014|title=Beyonce's 2014 VMA Performance: Fearless, Feminist, Flawless, Family Time|publisher=MTV News|first=Nadeska|last=Alexis|date=August 25, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Beyoncé was dressed in a jeweled bodysuit and performed "Rocket" as the seventh song on the set. Mike Wayers writing for The Wall Street Journal noted that the performance of the song was during the medley's "sexiest part".{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/08/25/vmas-2014-beyonce-performs-a-mesmerizing-beyonce-medley/|title=VMAs 2014: Beyonce Performs a Mesmerizing 'Beyonce' Medley |work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Mike|last=Ayers|date=August 25, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} Following the song's live performance, its sales in the US increased by 584%.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2014/08/29/beyonce-leads-post-vma-sales-gains-album-rises-1400-percent/|title=Beyonce Leads Post-VMA Sales Gains, Album Rises 1400 Percent|work=Forbes|first=Hugh|last=McIntyre|date=August 29, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} In 2016, "Rocket" was performed live throughout The Formation World Tour. During the track, a line of "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" was implemented and Beyoncé performed a chair dance.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/04/28/beyonce-formation-tour-jay-z-7-things-to-know/83637246/|title=Beyoncé's Formation tour: 7 things to watch for|work=USA Today|first=Maeve|last=McDermott|date=April 28, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/music/news/a35980/beyonce-formation-world-tour-miami-recap/|title=30+ Songs, Insane Moves, and Jay Z Shout-Outs: Beyoncé's Formation World Tour, Night 1|work=Elle|first=Alyssa|last=Bailey|date=April 28, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016}}

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes and the singer's official website.{{cite AV media notes|title=Beyoncé|others=Beyoncé|year=2013|publisher=Columbia Records}}Sources for the credits of "Rocket" and its music video:

• {{cite web|url=http://www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=songs|title=Beyoncé (2013) - Songs|publisher=Beyonce.com. Parkwood Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729144029/http://www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=songs|archive-date=July 29, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014|format=To see the personnel for "Rocket" click on the part titled "Credits" next to the song's title}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=video|title=Beyoncé (2013) - Videos|publisher=Beyonce.com. Parkwood Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729092757/http://www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=video|archive-date=July 29, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014|format=To see the personnel for "Rocket" click on the part titled "Credits" next to the video's title}}

;Song credits

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Writing – Miguel Jontel Pimentel, Beyoncé Knowles, Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Jerome Harmon, James Fauntleroy
• Production – Timbaland, Knowles
• Co-production – Harmon
• Vocals production – Knowles
• Recording – Stuart White, Chris Godbey; Jungle City Studios, Oven Studios, New York City
• Second engineering – Ramon Rivas
• Assistant engineering – Matt Weber
• Background vocals – Beyoncé, Timberlake
• Guitar – Mike Scott
• Bass – Dwayne Wright
• Audio mixing – Chris Godbey
• Assistant mix engineering – Chris Cannon
• Audio mastering – Tom Coyne, Aya Merrill; Sterling Sound, New York City

{{div col end}}

;Video credits

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Directors – Knowles, Ed Burke, Bill Kirstein
• Directors of photography – Kirstein, Steve Romano, Jackson Hunt
• Executive producers – Rob Galluzzo, Erinn Williams
• Producers – Carly Hugo, Kirstein, Tracey-Lee Permall
• Co-producer – Luke Kenny
• Production companies – Loveless, Parkwood Entertainment
• Stylists – Ty Hunter, Raquel Smith
• Additional styling – Tim White
• Production designer – Philip Dorling
• Editor – Jonathan Wing
• Brand manager – Melissa Vargas
• Color correction – Ron Sudul
• Visual effects – The Brigadem Alexander Moors
• Assistant editors – Jonatán López, Joe Sinopoli
• Photography – Robin Harper

{{div col end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Beyonce|title=Rocket|award=Gold|relyear=2014|certyear=2022|access-date=January 5, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Beyonce|title=Rocket|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=December 15, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Beyonce|title=Rocket|award=Platinum|relyear=2014|certyear=2024|access-date=December 17, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|GTchztxRytQ|"Rocket"}}

{{Beyoncé songs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rocket (Beyonce song)}}

Category:2010s ballads

Category:2013 songs

Category:Beyoncé songs

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Neo soul songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Beyoncé

Category:Song recordings produced by Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon

Category:Song recordings produced by Timbaland

Category:Songs written by Beyoncé

Category:Songs written by Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon

Category:Songs written by Justin Timberlake

Category:Songs written by Timbaland

Category:Soul ballads

Category:Music videos directed by Beyoncé