Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about an unexpected chapter in his music career, revealing that he once wrote a song for Beyoncé’s The Lion King project but secretly hoped the American superstar would not take it.

The revelation came during an interview on the One 54 podcast, where Adekunle Gold recounted how the songwriting opportunity arrived in 2019, shortly after he lost his father.

What began as an exciting chance to write for an artist he greatly admired eventually became complicated when the song he created became too personal for him to let go.

Key Takeaways

• Adekunle Gold was approached to write for Beyoncé’s The Lion King project in 2019.
• The opportunity came around the time he lost his father, affecting his ability to focus on the assignment.
• He eventually wrote “Simile”, but said the song became too personal for him to give away.
• He submitted the song late and hoped Beyoncé would not select it.
• The song was ultimately retained by Adekunle Gold and later released as part of his own music.

How Adekunle Gold Got The Beyoncé Opportunity

Adekunle Gold said his manager contacted him after Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé’s company, reached out with a request for him to write a song for The Lion King project.

The opportunity was significant for the Nigerian singer, who described Beyoncé as one of his biggest musical inspirations.

But the timing proved difficult.

Adekunle Gold was in Los Angeles when he received the news, while his father was in Lagos. He subsequently lost his father, forcing him to return home and putting the songwriting assignment far from the centre of his attention.

His Father’s Death Changed The Moment

According to Adekunle Gold, the excitement he initially felt about writing for Beyoncé was overshadowed by his bereavement.

He explained that his manager continued encouraging him to work on the project because there was a deadline.

Eventually, he returned to the studio and began writing despite the emotional circumstances surrounding him.

That process produced a song titled “Simile.”

Why He Did Not Want Beyoncé To Have The Song

The story took an unexpected turn after Adekunle Gold completed the song.

Rather than becoming eager to see Beyoncé record it, he said the song had become so personal that he no longer wanted to give it away.

Adekunle Gold explained:

“I was so excited about writing for Beyoncé because that’s my GOAT, you get? So I was like, how am I going to write a song when I just lost my dad?”

He later described what happened after he finally wrote the song.

“But when I wrote the song, it felt too personal that I didn’t want Beyoncé to have it.”

The singer said he was still expected to submit the song, so he did so while hoping that Beyoncé would not like it enough to keep it for the project.

A Late Submission Worked In His Favour

Adekunle Gold said he ultimately submitted the song too late.

That delay meant the song was not selected for the project, allowing him to retain it.

What had initially been written in response to an opportunity connected to Beyoncé therefore remained with Adekunle Gold.

He later completed the song in 2020.

“Simile” Eventually Became Adekunle Gold’s Song

The singer revealed that he eventually released “Simile” himself, turning a song originally written during a difficult period into part of his own musical catalogue.

Looking back on the experience, Adekunle Gold described the opportunity to write for Beyoncé as extraordinary, even though the song itself took an unexpected path.

“And now the song is on my latest album. I wrote the song in 2019 and I released it. I finished it in 2020. Writing for Beyoncé, yeah, that’s crazy. That’s insane.”

The episode offers a different perspective on songwriting opportunities at the highest level: the artist may receive a major opportunity, but the creative process can sometimes give the resulting work a personal meaning that changes what the artist ultimately wants to do with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Adekunle Gold write a song for Beyoncé?

Yes. He revealed that he wrote a song for a Beyoncé-related The Lion King project after Parkwood Entertainment approached him.

Why did Adekunle Gold hope Beyoncé would reject the song?

He said the song, “Simile,” became too personal after he wrote it, leading him to hope that Beyoncé would not select it.

What happened to the song?

Adekunle Gold said he submitted the song late, retained it after it was not selected, and eventually released it himself.

When did Adekunle Gold write “Simile”?

He said he wrote the song in 2019 and finished it in 2020.

What made it difficult for him to write for Beyoncé?

The songwriting opportunity came shortly after the death of his father. Adekunle Gold said the loss made it difficult for him to concentrate on the assignment.

Adekunle Gold’s account shows how a career-defining opportunity can take an unexpected turn when personal experiences become part of the creative process. What began as a chance to write for one of his biggest musical inspirations ultimately produced a song he felt was too personal to surrender.