Jump to content

1+1 (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 83.0.235.180 (talk) at 08:17, 14 June 2011 (→References). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"1+1"
Song

"1+1" is a song recorded as by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles for her fourth studio album, 4, for which it serves as the opening song. The song was debuted by Knowles on the season ten finale of American Idol on May 25, 2011. Knowles' live performance was critically acclaimed for the variation of her voice. A few hours before the live performance, "1+1" was released by Columbia Records as a promotional single in the United States. the song was written by Knowles, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart and Corey Jackson Carter, and production was handled by The-Dream. Originally called "Nothing But Love", The-Dream planned to include it on his second studio album Love vs. Money (2009).

A downtempo power ballad, "1+1" is a R&B-soul song which finds the female protagonist expressing her endless love to her love interest. The lyrics make sweeping statements about the power of her relationship. The song's title is based on the line: "I don’t know much about algebra, but I know that one plus one equals two". "1+1" has been generally well received by music critics who noted its flagrant resemblance to Knowles' own 2009 single, "Halo". The song was also complimented for its low-key instrumentations, which lay maximum emphasis on Knowles' vocals filled with intense emotion. "1+1" charted on the Canadian Hot 100 chart as well as the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 82 and at number 57 respectively.

Background

"1+1" was written by Knowles, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart and Corey Jackson Carter,[1] and was produced by The-Dream, who originally planned to include it on his second studio album Love vs. Money (2009).[2][3] The song was originally called "Nothing But Love" and a demo version of the song with The-Dream's vocals was sent on the internet on May 28, 2011.[4] While The-Dream's version is very similar to the one by Knowles, his demo contains a little more instrumentation and backing vocals. Knowles "1+1" takes The-Dream's demo and strips it down to a raw and emotional song.[5]

Knowles' version was released on May 25, 2011 through the United States iTunes Store as a promotional single from 4, following the release of the lead single "Run the World (Girls)" (2011).[6] Fans who pre-ordered 4 on the iTunes Store received a free download of "1+1" on May 25.[2] "1+1" was not sent for airplay, with "Best Thing I Never Had" favored as the second single from 4, following "Run the World (Girls)".[7]

Composition

"1+1" is a downtempo power ballad drawn from the genres of R&B and soul.[1][8] The song features "a soft, almost non-existent" backing beat,[9] and makes use of a guitar as well as a piano as its essential instrumentations.[10][11] These low-key instrumentations allow Knowles' voice to display all the emotional points,[12] in a way similar to that of Whitney Houston as stated by Amos Barshad of New York Magazine.[13] According to the sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, "1+1" is set in 12/8 time with a slow tempo of fifty beats per minute. It is written in the key of G♭ major, and Knowles voice spans from G♭2 to C♭6.[14] "1+1" generally demonstrates the raw vocals of Knowles, presenting a side of her voice she told Billboard she wanted to use more of on her then forthcoming album, 4: "I used a lot of the brassiness and grittiness in my voice that people hear in my live performances, but not necessarily on my records."[15] Erika Brooks Adickman Idolator of noted that the song bears similarities to Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" (2004) and Schoolhouse Rock!'s "Three Is a Magic Number" (1996), and compared Knowles' on vocals on "1+1" to Knowles' own ones on "Halo" (2009).[16] On the other hand, Gabi Gregg from MTV TJ said the track is "reminiscent" of Knowles' Dangerously in Love era.[17] According to a journalist from The Huffington Post, "1+1" contrasts with "Run the World (Girls)", with Knowles "replacing the defiance [of 'Run the World (Girls)'] with devotion."[18]

"1+1"
A sample of the song.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song's title is based on the line, "I don’t know much about algebra, but I know that one plus one equals two".[16] Using simple arithmetic to describe her undying love for her partner, Knowles sings to the former,[10][19] and "explains that the only thing she's sure about is her feelings for this man".[12] Contessa Gayles from AOL Music wrote "'1+1' is about making love in apocalyptic circumstances".[20] Adopting a breathy, orgasmic voice, Knowles repeatedly pleads her love interest: "Make love to me when the world's at war" in the hook lines as well as the chorus lines.[11] Building an even more intense "make-love-not-war sentiment" in the second verse,[21] Knowles goes on singing: "Hey! I don't know much about guns but I [...] I've been shot by you / Hey! And I don't know when I'm gonna die, but I hope that I'm gonna die by you / Hey! And I don't know much about fighting, but I, I know I will fight for you / Hey! Just when I ball up my fist, I realize that I'm laying right next to you."[15][19]

Critical reception

"1+1" was universally well received by critics who complimented the effective display of Knowles's emotive vocals thanks to the use of only light instrumentation on the song. Nadine Cheung from AOL Radio praised the low-key instrumentation, which highlights Knowles' vocals,[12] and AOL Music's Contessa Gayles called it "an achy, screechy ballad — in the best way possible".[20] Brandon Soderberg from Pitchfork Media wrote: "[...] she really digs in and sells the song's knotty qualities, and when that over-the-top guitar break appears exactly when it should, it's cathartic. At that precise moment, this passionate pastiche of timeless pop becomes a classic all its own." [22] Awarding the song with four-stars, Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush complimented the song's spare instrumentation stating that Knowles' "beautiful voice is only complimented by a simple piano beat."[11] Sciarretto additionally compared the track to the I Am... Sasha Fierce era's lead single, "If I Were A Boy", "not in tone or mood, but in its sparsity and its existence to be a vehicle for Beyoncé's attention-getting and emotive displays."[23] Michael Cragg of The Guardian called the song a "loved up ballad" and praised Knowles for showcasing raw vocals.[15] Rap-Up favored the track stating that "If 'Run the World (Girls)' wasn’t your thing, this should do the trick."[24] Amos Barshad of New York magazine described the song as "a big grand love ballad" stating that the song is reminiscent of a "Whitney Houston–esque vocal showcase".[13]

Chris Coplan of the Chicago-based music website Consequence of Sound described Knowles' vocals as "amazing" and favored the switch of tempo between tracks, stating that although Knowles usually "[rides] the back of some amazing beats, she shifts the focus over to the purity of her voice backed by a simple piano."[9] Erika Brooks of Idolator gave the song a mixed review, complimenting the track as an "achy, rafter-reaching ballad".[25] Brooks later dismissed the track as a "grower" such as lead single "Run the World (Girls)" and added that "as far as songs that combine relationships with arithmetic, we prefer the Spice Girls’ '2 Become 1'".[25] Leah Collins of Canada's Dose named the song a "melodramatic soul ballad" adding that "1+1" is "packed with make-love-not-war sentiment".[21] Barshad concluded by adding that "Vulture certainly will not judge you if you want to pretend that you are '1' and Beyoncé is the other '1'."[13] A reporter from The Huffington Post stated that the song is a departure from "Run the World (Girls)" and that "1+1" represents one of the first shreds of evidence that "Knowles is keeping her promise that a whole new array of sounds will make their way into 4."[18] Nick Neyland of Prefix Magazine added that "['1+1'] functions as a vehicle for Beyoncé to show off her undoubtedly impressive vocal range, and will make for a showstopping album opener."[26] Jocelyn Vena of MTV News wrote: "Beyoncé may not know a thing about algebra, but when it comes to the math of power ballads, she totally gets it."[19]

Wesley Case of The Baltimore Sun praised the whole concept of the song in his list of Five Great Songs issued on June 8, 2011, writing:

When Beyonce debuted this gut-wrenching, gorgeous song on 'American Idol', I can’t say I was giving it the attention it deserved. (Too many pissed-off thoughts of Scotty McCreery winning the competition, I guess.) But the next morning I listened to the LP version and I was shattered, practically moved to tears. It’s The-Dream’s stark, nearly haunting production. It’s the simple demands of the lyrics ('make love to me / when my days look low, pull me in close / and don’t let me go / make love to me'). But most of all, and to the surprise of no one, it’s Beyonce’s voice that makes '1+1' a classic ballad of the highest order. She maneuvers a tightrope of audible clues to the song’s emotional core — vulnerability, desire, uncertainty and a credible sense of knowing what love feels like. The song fades to black like an ellipsis and it’s so damn beautiful.

— Wesley Case, [27]

Chart performance

"1+1" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-seven on the chart dated June 11, 2011, selling 57,000 downloads that week,[7] and thereby appeared at number thirty-three on the Hot Digital Songs chart.[28] "1+1" entered the Canadian Hot 100 at number eighty-two on the chart dated June 11, 2011.[29]

Live performance

Knowles debuted "1+1" by performing a piano version on the season ten finale of American Idol held at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre on May 25, 2011. Wearing a purple gown, she sang the song surrounded by smoke and red lighting, and declared, "This is my favorite song".[30] Towards the end of the performance she fell to her knees and shook the hands of audience members.[31] The performance earned her a standing ovation from the judges and members of the crowd.[30] A writer for The Huffington Post called the performance "epic" as well as "emotionally charged", and went on praising how Knowles "channel[led] every particle of the room's energy into her lung-bursting calls and cries."[18] Becky Bain of Idolator wrote: "Beyoncé, you are our American Idol. (Sorry, Scotty.) [Knowles] completely steals the whole show. She sounds and looks amazing, and though we were iffy when we first heard the song (about a half hour before the Idol finale began), this live performance sealed the deal for us."[32] Jolie du Pre of Yahoo! News commented: "The American Idol finale poured out superstar performances by Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, Beyoncé and more. Who delivered the most? It's hard to deny that "Sasha Fierce" took the honors. [...] the icing on the cake [the] debut of '1+1', a ballad [...] the '1+1' performance showed us a superstar who has made it, but in more ways than one. Yes, she's one of the richest and most successful contemporary singers, but she is also comfortable in her own skin [...] We can connect to a song better when we can connect to the singer. Beyoncé inspires us and is the total package. She's a star who will continue to shine."[33]

Track listing

  • Digital download
  1. "1+1" – 4:32

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Canadian Hot 100[29] 82
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 57

References

  1. ^ a b Corner, Lewis (May 26, 2011). "Beyonce releases new song '1+1'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Anthony (May 26, 2011). "Beyonce debuts new single "1 + 1"". All Headline News. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  3. ^ Ramirez, Erika (May 26, 2011). "Beyonce Performs New Song, '1 + 1': Watch". Billboard. New York: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  4. ^ "Hear The-Dream's Original Demo Version Of Beyonce's "1+1″". Idolator. Buzz Media. May 28, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  5. ^ Kaufman, Spencer (May 28, 2011). "Beyonce's "1+1″ Was Originally The Dream's Demo, "Nothing But Love"". PopCrush. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ Corne, Lewis (May 26, 2011). "Beyoncé releases new song '1+1'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c Trust, Gary (June 1, 2011). "'Idols' Scott McCreery & Laura Alaina Top Hot 100 Debuts, Adele Still No. 1". Billboard. New York: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  8. ^ Mansfield, Brian (May 25, 2011). "'Idol': Lauren sings with Carrie; Beyonce debuts a single". USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Coplann, Chris (May 25, 2011). "Check Out: Beyoncé – "1+1″". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved Juine 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ a b "New Music: Beyonce – '1+1'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c Sciarretto, Amy (May 25, 2011). "Beyonce, '1+1′ – Song Review". PopCrush. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  12. ^ a b c Cheung, Nadine (May 26, 2011). "Beyonce, '1+1' — New Song". AOL Radio. AOL Inc. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c Barshad, Amos (May 26, 2011). "Beyoncé Performed a New Song on American Idol Last Night". New York. New York Media Holdings. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  14. ^ "Beyoncé – 1+1 Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c Cragg, Michael (May 27, 2011). "New music : Beyoncé – 1+1". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  16. ^ a b Adickman, Erika Brooks (May 25, 2011). "Listen To Beyonce Add Up Love In "1+1"". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  17. ^ Gregg, Gabi (May 26, 2011). "Beyonce, Lady Gaga and More on American Idol Finale". MTV TJ. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  18. ^ a b c "Beyonce: '1+1' Song Premiere On 'American Idol' (Video)". The Huffington Post. AOL Inc. May 25, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  19. ^ a b c Vena, Jocelyn (May 25, 2011). "Beyonce Does The Math On New '1+1' Track". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  20. ^ a b Gayles, Contessa (May 26, 2011). "Beyonce's '1+1' = One Sexy New Single". AOL Music. AOL Inc. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  21. ^ a b Collins, Leah (May 26, 2011). "Watch Beyonce Debut New Song '1+1' on American Idol". Dose Magazine. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  22. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (May 31, 2011). "Playlist: Beyoncé – '1+1'". Pitchfork Media. Ryan Schreiber. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  23. ^ "Beyoncé, '1+1′ – Song Review". PopCrush. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  24. ^ "New Music: Beyoncé – '1+1'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. May 25, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  25. ^ a b Brooks, Erika (May 25, 2011). "Listen To Beyonce Add Up Love In "1+1″". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  26. ^ Neyland, Nick (May 26, 2011). ""1+1" (Live On American Idol) (Video)". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  27. ^ Case, Wesley (June 8, 2011, 2011). ""Five Great Songs: Beyonce, Bon Iver, Jamie xx, Lil Wayne and Nipsey Hussle". The Baltimore Sun. Timothy E. Ryan. Tribune Company. Retrieved June 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Digital Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  29. ^ a b Tuch, Paul (June 3, 2011). "Lady Gaga Scores Second No. 1 Album". Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  30. ^ a b "Beyoncé Debuts '1+1' on American Idol [Video]". Rap-Up. May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  31. ^ Graham, Adam (May 25, 2011). "Beyoncé Dons Her Diva Crown On 'American Idol' Finale". MTV News. MTV News. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  32. ^ Bain, Becky (May 26, 2011). "'American Idol' Finale: We Judge The Performances″". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  33. ^ du Pre, Jolie (May 26, 2011). "'1+1' is Beyoncé's Favorite Song; Is it Yours?". Yahoo! News. Yahoo!. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1%2B1_(song)&oldid=434199014"