"Video Phone" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008).

It portrayed Beyoncé and Gaga in a number of costumes, brandishing colorful guns towards men and paying homage to the film Reservoir Dogs (1992) and pin-up legend Bettie Page.

"Video Phone" was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Shondrae Crawford, Sean Garrett, Angela Beyincé and Lady Gaga in the remixed version.

[2] In October 2009, Life & Style reported that Knowles and pop singer Lady Gaga were collaborating for a remixed version of the song.

[9] It consists of simple lyrics, with hidden innuendos, and is backed by thin-spread beats; Knowles and Gaga uttering gasps and groans while singing the song.

Freedom du Lac found similarities between "Video Phone" and the songs by rock band Nine Inch Nails.

Alexis Petridis from The Guardian compared the song to "Diva", stating that "Video Phone" is "Almost equally weird, but much better, [and it] introduces us to the unlikely figure of Beyoncé Knowles, amateur pornographer: 'You want me naked?

[20] Colin McGuire from PopMatters wrote that "'Video Phone' is sexy enough to the point where it almost becomes uncomfortable to think of her listening back to this with her father in the room.

Freedom du Lac of The Washington Post chose the song as a highlight on I Am... Sasha Fierce saying, "The moaning, groaning 'Video Phone' positions Beyoncé as the star of a sex tape set to a thrillingly spare soundtrack that sounds like a Nine Inch Nails instrumental.

"[11] The New York Times' Jon Caramanica commented that "Video Phone" and "Telephone", "promised a new direction, but all Beyoncé did was show up to prove she could out-Gaga Gaga, then return to her comfort zone.

Over sparse and eerie beats, they deliver innuendo-laced lyrics, groan near-orgasmically and generally tease us with the prospect of doing all sorts of naughty things on, well, your video phone.

[28] I Am... Sasha Fierce became the first album of the 21st century to have seven entries on this chart, following "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", "If I Were a Boy", "Diva", "Halo", "Ego" and "Sweet Dreams".

[5] On the week ending December 12, 2009, the extended remix of "Video Phone" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 65, due to digital downloads.

The song sold 28,000 copies in its first week, 93% of which were for the extended remix though radio stations preferred to spin the original album version.

[6][44] The video begins with Knowles walking down an alley, accompanied by several men in suits, an homage to Quentin Tarantino's 1992 film Reservoir Dogs.

[45][46] As the main section of the song begins, cameras zoom in on Knowles as she dances in a black and white latex leotard while holding sunglasses with hand signals on them.

During Gaga's verse, she and Knowles appear wearing white leotards; they both sing to the camera while shooting more toy guns in open fire.

[45] "Now, because Gaga is just a guest in B[eyoncé]'s world, she has to tone down the crazy, which gives us a glimpse at what she would look like if she were just a normal pop star: No over-the-top costumes, silly makeup or razor sunglasses—just a good old wind machine, long perfect blond weave and leotard.

While the song is not 'Single Ladies' catchy, that doesn't stop B[eyoncé] from bringing the fierce, even when it means ripping off Rihanna's style at the beginning or Bettie Page in the middle.

James Montgomery from MTV commented that "it's a little surprising that the just-released clip for Beyoncé's 'Video Phone' has nary a flame or fish-eye shot (there are, of course, plenty of outlandish costumes).

Especially not when you're watching Beyoncé snap her gum and shake her hips and grope an AK-47 while the screen pops from electric green to Kool-Aid red.

"[45] Jocelyn Vena of the same publication noted, "The clip is charged with energy, and the cynics out there might wonder if putting two sizzling divas in a room together created any kind of rivalry.

"[41] Jim Farber from New York's Daily News compared Knowles' look to that of pin-up model Bettie Page, and said "The clip for 'Video Phone' [...] doesn't offer much in the way of chemistry or even interaction between the two divas.

[49] New York magazine's Amy Odell commented that "The intricacy of her [Knowles'] wardrobe [in the video] suggests she's feeling the Gaga pressure.

"[50] She further added: "In a burgeoning phenomenon we might call the Gaga Effect, divas everywhere may feel the pressure to push avant-garde fashion to the max to keep up with the pantsless wonder.

Beyoncé's fashion efforts in 'Video Phone' — which make her epic diva money fan a mere distant memory — deserve a look-by-look analysis, because she tried really hard.

"[7] Margaret Wappler of The Arizona Republic praised the video saying that it had "electrifying color schemes and high-shine lighting, resulting in a fantastical pop mirage between Lady Gaga and Beyonce".

[53] She further called it a "kinetic spectacle to behold, with enough guns to make Ted Nugent weep with jealousy and some hot Bettie Page bangs on Beyonce that should prompt plenty of ladies to run to the hairdresser".