I Wrote A Song For Beyoncé, But It Got Rejected’ — Adekunle Gold Reveals

Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has revealed that he wrote a song for Beyoncé’s 2019 The Lion King project but ultimately retained the track after it was not selected for the project.

According to Ireporter Online, Adekunle Gold disclosed the experience during an appearance on the One 54 Podcast, explaining that the opportunity came after Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment contacted his manager in 2019.

The singer said he was excited by the prospect of writing for Beyoncé, whom he described as one of his biggest musical inspirations. However, the opportunity came at a difficult period in his life following the death of his father in Lagos while he was in Los Angeles, United States.

Adekunle Gold said his grief initially affected his ability to concentrate on the assignment, despite his manager encouraging him to work on a song before the project’s deadline.

He eventually entered the studio and wrote a song titled “Simile.” However, the singer said the track became deeply personal to him, making him reluctant to have Beyoncé record it.

According to Adekunle Gold, he submitted the song after the deadline had passed and, at the time, even hoped it would not be selected so he could keep the track for himself.

He said the song was ultimately not used for the project, allowing him to retain it. He later completed the song in 2020 and eventually included it on his latest album.

Reflecting on the experience, Adekunle Gold described the opportunity to write for Beyoncé as an extraordinary moment in his career, particularly because of his admiration for the American singer.

The singer’s revelation offers insight into the personal circumstances surrounding “Simile” and how a songwriting opportunity connected to The Lion King project eventually resulted in a song of his own.