Ciara returns with “Ecstasy,” a steamy new single released under her Beauty Marks label via Warner Music/ADA Worldwide—and the black-and-white visual that accompanies it reminds fans exactly why she’s still a force in R&B. Sleek, minimal and dripping with sensuality, the video plays like an homage to her past iconic visuals while reaffirming her presence in the now.
Shot in black and white, the video channels the sensual intimacy of “Promise” and the one woman show essence of “Ride.” She emerges from a cloud of smoke, slowly rising before gliding into a floor grind, her signature moves returning with newfound precision. As she puffs smoke and perches on a cube in a deep squat, the camera lingers on her silhouette—graceful yet powerful.
Wearing a leather jacket and little else, Ciara transitions into a chair routine evocative of a lap dance, her gold grills glinting as she sinks into the camera’s gaze. With her slicked-back ponytail and razor-sharp heels, she twists, shakes and hypnotizes through lyrics soaked in desire. Midway through the video, she breaks into a crunk-style sequence—a nod to the explosive choreography that helped define her early career. The entire video is minimal in production, yet deeply effective anchored by Ciara’s physicality and framed by production that doesn’t overpower, but amplifies.
Directed by Diane Martel—the same visionary behind “Promise”—and choreographed by Taylor Terry, with creative direction from longtime collaborator Jamaica Craft, “Ecstasy” is rooted in legacy. Terry’s résumé includes work with Beyoncé, Teyana Taylor, Chris Brown, Pharrell and Kanye West, and here, her work with Ciara results in choreography that feels both familiar and freshly invigorated. Sonically, “Ecstasy” echoes the percussive patterns of “Promise,” grounding the visual in a soundscape that’s as rhythmic as it is restrained.
Off-camera, Ciara continues to make headlines for her matchmaking skills. It was recently revealed that she and husband Russell Wilson played a role in introducing Normani to her now-fiancé, NFL star DK Metcalf, a moment the singer confirmed on The Jennifer Hudson Show. When asked who she’d want to officiate her wedding, Normani didn’t hesitate: “Ciara.”
While the world loves Ciara as a wife, mother, and matchmaker, “Ecstasy” is a potent reminder that she remains a dynamic force in R&B—still fluid, still fierce, and still moving in ways only she can.
