It portrays a romantic relationship between Beyoncé’s and Ealy’s characters. Philip Andelman directed the ballad’s accompanying music video, which features American actor Michael Ealy. It has received over ten certifications including a seven-times platinum certification from Australia and a double-platinum from Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. “Halo” topped the singles charts of Brazil, Norway, and Slovakia, and reached the top five on the singles chart of Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the US.
It won Best Song at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards. “Halo” was nominated for Record of the Year and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. The song faced a controversy when Kelly Clarkson claimed that Tedder had reused the musical arrangement in her own 2009 song “Already Gone.” “Halo” received positive reviews from music critics, who made comparisons with Lewis’s 2007 song “Bleeding Love.” Its production and Beyoncé’s emotional vocals also received critical praise. It features drum, piano, keyboard, string, synthesizer, and percussion instrumentation. “Halo” is a pop power ballad, the lyrics of which describe a sublime love.
