2011 song by Beyoncé Knowles

2011 promotional single by Beyoncé
1+1 “ is a song recorded by american recording artist Beyoncé for her fourthly studio apartment album, 4 ( 2011 ). It was released by Columbia Records in the United States on May 25, 2011, as a promotional individual. Serving as the open chase on 4, it was written and produced by The-Dream, Tricky Stewart and Beyoncé. “ 1+1 ” was primitively titled “ nothing But Love ” and The-Dream had initially planned to include it on his second base studio album, Love vs. Money ( 2009 ). A down-tempo contemporary R & B and soul music might ballad, “ 1+1 ” Beyoncé expressing her endless love to her soul mate ; the lyrics make hard statements about the power of the relationship.

“ 1+1 ” garnered applaud from music critics, who noted its resemblance to the work of american singers Prince and Sam Cooke. It was besides complimented for its elusive orchestration, which provides vehemence on Beyoncé ‘s vocals. “ 1+1 ” peaked at number 82 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart and at act 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its accompanying music video recording was directed by Beyoncé herself, aboard Lauren Briet and Ed Burke, and it premiered on August 26, 2011. The video was a “ different ” direction in the smell that it does not incorporate the heavy dance routines Beyoncé is known for, [ 1 ] and that it experiments with psychedelic ocular effects vitamin a well as innovative lighting, which give the clip a cinematic feel. The trot met with by and large positive reception from music critics, who praised its aesthetic and intimate subject and claimed that it will be remembered as one of Beyoncé ‘s most iconic visuals. soon after Beyoncé ‘s performance on American Idol, a video that surfaced online received considerable coverage from different media. It was filmed by Jay-Z with a television camera phone and shows Beyoncé rehearsing “ 1+1 ” wing at American Idol. The ballad was included on Beyoncé ‘s specify list for a unblock concert as part of Good Morning America ‘s Summer Concert Series, the ITV special A Night With Beyoncé, and her revue, 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé, held at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Beyoncé ‘s be performances of “ 1+1 ” have received plus reception ; a writer from HuffPost described her live performance on American Idol as “ an epic, emotionally-charged [ one ]. ” [ 2 ] american singers Dondria and Tiffany Evans have performed covers of the ballad, with lyric modifications .

conception and free [edit ]

“ 1+1 ” was initially written and titled “ nothing but Love ” for Terius “ The-Dream ” Nash, who intended to include it on his second studio album, Love King ( 2010 ). [ 3 ] He former gave it to Beyoncé Knowles for her fourth studio album 4, where she and Christopher “ Tricky ” Stewart did some extra write. The song was produced by the trio at the Studio at the Palms in Paradise, Nevada and Triangle Sound Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, where Beyoncé recorded the birdcall. [ 4 ] The-Dream and Stewart did the musical arrangements and Beyoncé worked on arranging the vocals. [ 4 ] Lee Blaske, Nikki Gallespi and Pete Wolford played the instruments, while Brian Thomas alongside Pat Thrall assisted in recording the music. [ 4 ] Jordan Young then recorded Beyoncé ‘s vocals. [ 4 ] Tony Maserati mixed the track with aid from Val Brathwaite, [ 4 ] and Jason Sherwood, Mark Gray, Steven Dennis and Wolford all assisted in the audio engineering. [ 4 ] shortly after “ 1+1 ” was released on-line, Beyoncé debuted the ballad by performing a piano adaptation on the stopping point of the tenth season of American Idol on May 25, 2011. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] “ 1+1 ” was made available for download only a few hours after her performance ; [ 7 ] its covering art was photographed by Anthony Duran. [ 4 ] The song was released through the iTunes Store as a promotional single from 4 in the United States. [ 7 ] People who pre-ordered 4 at the iTunes Store received a spare download of “ 1+1 ”. [ 3 ] The sung was not sent for airplay in the US as “ Best matter I Never Had “ was favored as the second individual, following the liberation of the star individual “ Run the World ( Girls ) “. [ 8 ]

composition and lyrical interpretation [edit ]

“1+1” (

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27

) A 27-second sample of the chorus of “ 1+1 ”, an aroused contract of love and co-dependency. Knowles allows her voice to soar on the world power ballad that instrumentally includes a guitar-dripped tune, a discreetly piping organ and a few piano chords .

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“ 1+1 ” is a downtempo R & B and soul music power ballad with influences of indie rock music. [ 7 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] The song features “ a soft, about non-existent ” backing beat [ 11 ] and makes use of a guitar and a piano as its basis, [ 10 ] [ 12 ] while scent chimes, sprinkling strings, synthesizers, [ 13 ] funk -influenced freshwater bass and a pipe organ are besides deliver. [ 6 ] [ 14 ] “ 1+1 ” is set in 12/8 time with a boring tempo of 50 beats per infinitesimal and was written in the key of G♭ major. [ 15 ] Beyoncé ‘s part spans from the gloomy note of F # 3 to the senior high school note of C6. [ 15 ] “ 1+1 ” basically demonstrates her “ pressing ” and “ raw ” vocals ; [ 16 ] [ 17 ] in an interview with Ray Rogers of Billboard magazine, Beyoncé stated that she wanted to use her album 4 to showcase this side of her vocal abilities : “ 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. ” [ 17 ] Nadine Cheung wrote that the insidious instrumentation allows Beyoncé’ss voice to emphasise the emotional lyrics [ 18 ] Amos Barshad of New York magazine and Tim Finney of Pitchfork Media described the vocals as alike to those of Whitney Houston ‘s make. [ 14 ] [ 19 ] several critics including Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone noted that “ 1+1 ” is comparable to Sam Cooke ‘s 1960 song “ fantastic World “ and Prince ‘s 1984 sung “ Purple Rain “. [ 20 ] Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork explained that “ fantastic World ” ‘s lineage, “ do n’t know much about algebra ”, was retained during the concept of “ 1+1 ” by its producers, who however accentuated its “ love birdcall opinion ”. [ 21 ] Soderberg promote wrote that “ 1+1 ” bears resemblance to “ Purple Rain ” as they both have exchangeable “ finespun guitars, histrionic piano, and [ Beyoncé affects Prince ‘s ] high-register whimper a few times ”. [ 21 ] Jillian Mapes of Billboard magazine wrote that the guitar solo is like to the ones in Bon Jovi ‘s exponent ballads. [ 6 ] “ 1+1 ” begins with a low fidelity indie rock arrangement which is brought about by deformed guitar arpeggios and a discerning pipe organ. [ 10 ] Beyoncé sings a weave melody as she alternately references the pleasures of love and sexual activity. [ 10 ] Using elementary arithmetic to describe her deathless love for her partner, [ 12 ] [ 22 ] she begins the first verse as she affirms to her romantic interest that the merely thing she is certain about are her feelings for him, [ 18 ] [ 22 ] “ I do n’t know much about algebra, but I know that one plus one equals two … If I ai n’t got something, I do n’t give a blasted / ‘Cause I got it with you ”. [ 13 ] [ 18 ] In the pre-chorus lines, Beyoncé expresses her reliance on her man without whom she believes to be incomplete as she sings, “ And it ‘s me and you, that ‘s all we ‘ll have when the world is through / Because baby we ai n’t got nothing without love / Darling, you got enough sexual love for the both of us ”. [ 18 ] [ 23 ] Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork commented that Beyoncé mixes “ vulnerability and confidence ” while singing the choir lines, [ 21 ] where she repeatedly pleads her romanticist interest, [ 23 ] “ Make love to me when my days look gloomy / Pull me in close up and do n’t let me go / Make love to me when the universe ‘s at war / That our sleep together will heal us all ”, [ 10 ] [ 16 ] [ 21 ] while the music stays steady and soft with only a few piano chords and a baseline plucked guitar riff. [ 14 ] As she continues to chant about making beloved in apocalyptic circumstances, [ 18 ] “ thus when the global ‘s at war / Let our love bring around us all ”, she projects a universal “ all you need is love ” find, as noted by Jillian Mapes. [ 6 ] In the second poetry, [ 24 ] Beyoncé sings, “ Hey ! I do n’t know a lot about guns but I … I ‘ve been shot by you ”, as she pushes the final word “ you ” up at a entire octave. [ 25 ] She then continues : “ Hey ! And I do n’t know when I ‘m gon na die, but I hope that I ‘m gon na die by you / Hey ! And I do n’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 future to you ”. [ 17 ] [ 22 ] According to Thomas Conner of the Chicago Sun-Times, these lines are intended to show that beloved conquers all. [ 16 ] The song ends with an acute electric guitar solo. [ 6 ] [ 26 ]

critical reception [edit ]

“ 1+1 ” was lauded by music critics, who complimented the effective display of Beyoncé ‘s affectional vocals due to the use of inner light instrumentation, and approved that the ballad was the opening sung on 4. AOL Music ‘s Contessa Gayles called it “ an aching, screaky ballad – in the best way potential ” [ 27 ] and Nadine Cheung from AOL Radio noted that the minimal instrumentation highlights the song ‘s lyrics, and efficaciously show Beyoncé ‘s “ mighty voice and impressive manipulate ”, further write, “ The professions are indeed intense that there ‘s no necessitate for a complicated bridge or dramatic key change. ” [ 18 ] Brandon Soderberg from Pitchfork wrote, “ she in truth digs in and sells the song ‘s knotty qualities, and when that extraordinary guitar break in appears precisely when it should, it ‘s cathartic. At that precise here and now, this passionate medley of dateless pop becomes a classic all its own. ” [ 21 ] Ryan Dombal, writing for the same music webzine, commented that Adele ‘s ‘ person Like You ‘ is the only recent pop ballad which comes close to “ the baron ” of “ 1+1 ”. [ 13 ] Michael Cragg of The Guardian called the sung a “ loved up ballad ” and praised Beyoncé for showcasing her raw vocals. [ 17 ] Describing “ 1+1 ” as “ [ having ] no interest in [ Beyoncé’ss ] typical pastime of forward-thinking, energetic fare, preferring to throw the emphasis on her radio-destroying vocal chords ”, David Amidon of PopMatters wrote that the song “ is the best solution of this, last providing Beyoncé a song that can compete with the favorites of this genesis ‘s parents. ” [ 28 ] Jocelyn Vena of MTV News wrote, “ Beyoncé may not know a matter about algebra, but when it comes to the mathematics of world power ballads, she wholly gets it. ” [ 22 ] Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone wrote that “ the album [ 4 ] opens with its most attendant ballad, a slow-burning total that calls binding to both Sam Cooke ‘s ‘Wonderful World ‘ and Prince ‘s ‘Purple Rain ‘ without sounding like a rework of either tune [ … ] it sounds best in the context of the album, where its slow, sweetheart human body to a cathartic guitar break is the perfective introduction to a set of by and large low-key tracks about love and grief. ” [ 20 ] similarly considering “ 1+1 ” to be “ the perfect opener ” of 4, Joanne Dorken of MTV UK wrote that it exposes a more vulnerable side of Beyoncé and that it will remain “ a classic stripped-back slowly jam from the prima donna. ” [ 29 ] Praising Beyoncé ‘s vocals, Jon Caramainca of The New York Times stated that “ [ ‘1+1 ‘ ] requires a vocal muscle few singers possess, and even fewer would care to deploy. ” [ 25 ] Writing for The Baltimore Sun, Wesley Case included “ 1+1 ” in his list of Five Great Songs and praised song ‘s concept, writing that he began crying when he heard the album version and called it “ gut-wrenching ” and “ gorgeous ”. [ 30 ] Case appreciated Beyoncé ‘s sensitivity and concluded that it “ fades to black like an ellipsis and it ‘s so bloody beautiful. ” [ 30 ] Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun wrote that “ 1+1 ” is an “ amazing [ and ] arguably the most honest and tender Beyoncé has sounded, singing ‘help me let my precaution down, make love to me ‘ ”. [ 31 ] Similarly, Claire Suddath of Time cartridge holder commented that “ 1+1 ” is credibly the finest ballad Beyoncé has delivered in years. [ 32 ] Amos Barshad of New York magazine described “ 1+1 ” as “ a adult thousand love ballad ”. [ 19 ] Andy Kellman of Allmusic picked “ 1+1 ” as one of the album ‘s top songs, describing it as “ a sparse and placid song showcase, [ which ] fades in with a drab guitar telephone line, throws up episodic and brief spikes in energy, and lento recedes. ” [ 33 ] Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound commented that in contrast to the geometry teach at school, there is something interesting in “ 1+1 ” ; he further wrote that ballad focuses on Beyoncé ‘s “ amazing outspoken range ” as it is not cheerful like most of her previous offerings. [ 11 ] Leah Collins of Canada ‘s Dose described the birdcall as a “ histrionic soul ballad ”. [ 24 ] A reporter from The Huffington Post stated that “ 1+1 ” is a departure from “ Run the World ( Girls ) ”, noting that Beyoncé replaces the defiance of Run the World (Girls) with devotion [ in ‘1+1 ‘ ] ”. [ 2 ] He added that it is one of the beginning representations that “ Beyoncé is keeping her promise that a hale new array of sounds will make their way into 4. ” [ 2 ] similarly, Rap-Up favored the track express that “ If ‘Run the World ( Girls ) ‘ was n’t your thing, this should do the antic. ” [ 34 ] By contrast, Katy Hasty from HitFix criticized the song ‘s lyrics and wrote that it “ seem [ randomness ] the lyrics to ‘1+1 ‘ were penned by a second-grader. ” [ 35 ]

recognition [edit ]

The Guardian ‘s critic Sean Michaels ranked “ 1+1 ” at act one on his tilt of The 10 Best Tracks of 2011. [ 36 ] The sung was besides ranked on The Guardian ‘s writers ‘ year-end number of Best Songs of 2011 at issue 30. [ 37 ] Allison Stewart of The Washington Post placed the ballad at issue one on her list of the special year-end Best-of Edition, writing that Beyoncé “ just kills this differently everyday ballad. Her obvious pride in her abilities, in her Beyonce-ness, informs every eminence, but it does n’t seem showoff-y. It ‘s just sweet. ” [ 38 ] On The Village Voice ‘s 2011 year-end Pazz & Jop singles list, “ 1+1 ” was ranked at number 77. [ 39 ] The staff members of Pitchfork placed the “ 1+1 ” at total 26 on their list of The Top 100 Tracks of 2011, writing :

Following Beyoncé ‘s work on “ 1+1 ” is like a journey to the center of her craft, a stripping away of every beguilement until all that ‘s left is her voice. Without it, “ 1+1 ” would be a dull ballad : Its bare guitar line and stardust-sprinkled strings serve no purpose other than to evoke a sense of familiar amatory familiarity, and then to elegantly step away while Beyoncé delivers one of her most wonderfully ardent performances ever. “ 1+1 ” possesses that slenderly chilling intensity that has been R & B ‘s worst-kept secret weapon since Whitney Houston ‘s “ I Have Nothing ”, but it besides demonstrates absolutely how Beyoncé stands apart from every other big-chested prima donna getting her Whitney on. She lets the song sing through her with a clarity that is never clinical, a strength that never sabotages, and an expressiveness that is precisely equally bathetic as its subject matter requires. Beyoncé is R & B ‘s field marshal, demand of her listeners and herself an absolute fidelity to the music ‘s emotional possibilities, with a absolutely modulated ferocity that is angstrom capture as it is authoritarian. [ 14 ]

In 2019, the like publication listed 1+1 at numeral 157 on their greatest songs of the decade ( 2010s ) number. [ 40 ] Writing for The New Yorker, Jody Rosen credited the jar timbral and tonal variations on the song for giving a modern musical sound that did n’t exist in the global before Beyoncé. He foster wrote, “ If they sound ‘normal ‘ now, it ‘s because Beyoncé, and her many followers, have retrained our ears. ” [ 41 ]

Chart performance [edit ]

“ 1+1 ” entered the US Hot Digital Songs chart at number 33 on June 11, 2011, having sold 57,000 downloads in the previous week. As a result, the song besides appeared at act 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. [ 8 ] [ 42 ] The postdate workweek, it fell to number 89 on the Hot 100 chart. Overall, it charted for lone two weeks. [ 43 ] For the week ending June 11, 2011, the song charted on the US Bubbling Under R & B/Hip-Hop Singles at count 5. [ 44 ] That like week, “ 1+1 ” entered the Canadian Hot 100 chart at number 82. [ 45 ] Following the release of 4 and based entirely on digital downloads, “ 1+1 ” appeared on the UK Singles Chart at number 67 [ 46 ] and on the UK R & B Chart at number 23 in the July 9, 2011 issue. [ 47 ] After the release of its music television, “ 1+1 ” moved from act 125 to number 71 on the UK Singles Chart on September 11, 2011. [ 48 ] The follow week, it reached a high point of issue 21 on the R & B chart. [ 49 ] Selling 18,263 downloads, the song opened at number 25 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart for the week ending July 2, 2011. [ 50 ]

music video [edit ]

Background and outline [edit ]

An image of Beyoncé in the video recording for “ 1+1 ”, which is given a cinematic feel by experiments with unhorse and symmetrical film photography. It was reported in early August 2011 that Beyoncé was recording new music video recording for respective songs from 4, including “ 1+1 ” which was shot by August 3, 2011. [ 51 ] The video recording premiered on August 26, 2011 on E! News at 7:00 autopsy EST / PST and it was posted on Beyoncé ‘s web site one hour late. [ 52 ] It was directed by Beyoncé herself, aboard Lauren Briet and Ed Burke. [ 1 ] [ 53 ] [ 54 ] The television was described by her official web site as “ the story of love at its best. It ‘s about commitment and fulfillment and it ‘s Beyoncé at her most beautiful. The television experiments with psychedelic ocular effects and advanced light up that gives the nip a cinematic feel. ” [ 52 ] The music video for the song is four and a half minutes long. [ 55 ] The film director ‘s cut of “ 1+1 ” was released on November 1, 2011. It features slenderly unlike scenes to the original. [ 56 ] The song ‘s television features close-up shots of Beyoncé and incorporates psychedelic light effects and harmonious film photography. As the acoustic guitar begins playing, Beyoncé ‘s boldness comes into opinion. She stands with her blond haircloth draped just below her expose shoulders. As she intently stares into the television camera, her skin glitter as though it has been coated with a honey-like and aglitter substance. [ 1 ] Turning her head from right to left, with her eyes fixed off-camera, Beyoncé starts belting out the first verse. As the chorus is reached, scenes of Beyoncé in a darkened room are shown. additionally, she places her face finely against dripping urine, gently brushing it with her lips and palms. The scenery changes and Beyoncé is back in the darken chamber, where she removes her dress. A quick shot of the “ IV ” tattoo inked on Beyoncé ‘s exit closed chain finger is shown ( a reference to her album ‘s entitle, 4 ), [ 57 ] before she bathes in a tub of flowers ampere well as berries and blows billows of smoke. As she continues to caress her upper-body, an align of inner light imagination is projected behind her, serving as a backdrop. During the second verse, the video begins to use symmetrical ocular arts. Beyoncé appears standing in front of a purple background, draped by big and billowy garments. As the song progresses, her emotions are heightened ; zoomed shots of tears trickling down her cheeks are shown. A serviceman appears behind Beyoncé and begins closely embracing her in endearment. The man is characterless, and his muscular arms grip Beyoncé ‘s body before taking her through a series of dips and bends, while he remains largely in the backdrop. With tears still rolling down her buttock, Beyoncé chants to her love pastime to make sleep together to her on the song ‘s vocal stopping point. As the guitar melodies close the song, Beyoncé is seen engulfed by the colorful inner light and special effects. The video ends with the camera returning to a glistening Beyoncé with char scenery in the background .

reception [edit ]

Jennifer Cady of E! News found the video “ sexy ” and “ reasonably stripped down ”, far publish : “ There are no attention-getting choreographed dances or freakum dresses, just Queen Bey looking gorgeous in lingerie and belting out her love and idolatry to her man. ” Cady added that the video recording was entertaining because of Beyoncé “ badly charming hair’s-breadth ” and her hide, which was sparkling like Edward Cullen. [ 58 ] Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly concluded that although the video was different from the previous “ heavy produced spectacles ” Beyoncé has made, “ it ‘s hard to take your eyes off it ”. [ 59 ] Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic criticized the sexual activity appeal which was used in the video recording for Lady Gaga ‘s “ You and I “ ( 2011 ) and Katy Perry ‘s “ survive Friday Night ( T.G.I.F. ) “ ( 2011 ) but felt that “ Beyonce ‘s game is singular in its reliance on arrant ocular magnetism ”. [ 23 ] He wrote that even when Beyoncé is “ inhabiting apocalyptic warzones or Mad Men -era domestic scenes ”, she is always classical. Kornhaber concluded that the video for “ 1+1 ” is “ catchy, fun dance, reasonably face, pretty body ”, which according to him, is what “ Beyonce [ has ] constantly been about ”. [ 23 ] [ 60 ] Melinda Newman from the web site HitFix found “ some cover girl kaleidoscopic shots and billowing sheets ”. [ 61 ] She added that “ we never see her ‘+1 ‘ other than an arm and back blastoff, but that works to the video ‘s advantage ”. [ 61 ] similarly, Willa Paskin of New York magazine praised the final infinitesimal of the video in which “ we are treated to what is supposed to be the instrumental equivalent of an orgasm ”, illustrated by split-screen kaleidoscope effects and capped off by Beyoncé staring into the camera “ in postcoital contentment ”. [ 55 ] Mawuse Ziegbe of The Boston Globe noted that Beyoncé’ss sex solicitation was at its maximum in the video for “ 1+1 ”. [ 62 ] She compared the kaleidoscope effects with Lady Gaga ‘s “ Born This Way “ ( 2011 ) and finished her review by writing, “ ultimately, the clip shows the prima donna does n’t need the detailed costumes, club-anthem rhythm and booty-quivering grooves to bring the hotness. But a glistening, fling-ready mane is always handy. ” [ 62 ] Similarly, a writer for MTV UK praised the video ‘s “ unhorse effects and harmonious camera tricks ” which “ [ sell ] sexual activity as art ”. [ 63 ] Leah Collins of the Canadian magazine Dose commented that Beyoncé was “ gifted with apparently supernatural powers of hotness ” in the video. [ 64 ] A writer for Rolling Stone found the video recording for “ 1+1 ” to be “ the moistest music video ever made ”, adding that it “ absolutely matches the sultry, romantic tonicity of the birdcall ”. [ 65 ] Maura Johnston of The Village Voice found a “ ‘What D’Angelo ‘s ‘ Untitled ( How Does It Feel ) ‘ Feels Like For A Girl ‘ vibration ” in the video recording for “ 1+1 ” and compared it to the one for “ Sweet Dreams “ ( 2009 ). [ 66 ] Rob Markman of MTV News wrote that the choreography is very different from the Beyoncé ‘s standard dance routines, which feature high-octane steps, swaying hips and “ her patent bootylicious rock ”. He commented, “ alternatively, Beyoncé settles for ballet-style steps, moving in a leotard and long, flowing cape. ” [ 1 ] Markman added that the video will most likely remain “ under the radar ” in comparison to the highlights in her high-budgeted reel, which includes clips like “ Single Ladies ( Put a ring on It ) “ ( 2008 ) and “ Crazy in Love “ ( 2003 ). He concluded that “ much like the song, the visuals for ‘1+1 ‘ should n’t be measured in terms of size, but rather in affectional presentation and subdued amorousness ”. [ 1 ] A writer for The Huffington Post wrote that the music video for “ Single Ladies ( Put a ring on It ) ” was Beyoncé’ss most iconic ocular work, but added that after the premier of the video recording for “ 1+1 ”, “ it may now have caller ”. [ 67 ] David Malitz of The Washington Post stated that Beyoncé looks like Hurricane Irene at the beginning of the video, but added that she looks like “ any count of chillwave videos ” at the end. [ 68 ] A more shuffle recapitulation was given by OK! cartridge holder, which described the video as bum. [ 69 ] L Magazine ‘s Mike Conklin was unsatisfied with the video, writing that since Beyoncé is rightfully considered to be among “ the absolute best [ artists ] ”, she can do better. ” [ 70 ]

live performances [edit ]

Beyoncé first performed “ 1+1 ” live on American Idol on May 25, 2011. [ 5 ] Wearing a empurpled gown, she sang the song surrounded by fastball and crimson light, declaring, “ This is my favorite song ”. [ 5 ] Towards the end of the performance, she fell to her knees and shook the hands of audience members. [ 71 ] The performance earned her a standing ovation from the judges and members of the crowd. [ 5 ] A writer from The Huffington Post called it “ an epic poem, emotionally-charged performance ” and praised the fact that Beyoncé “ groove [ led ] every particle of the board ‘s energy into her lung-bursting calls and cries. ” [ 2 ] Jillian Mapes of Billboard cartridge holder noted, “ The plain military unit of the ballad literally brought [ Beyoncé ] to her knees during the performance. ” [ 6 ] shortly after Beyoncé ‘s operation on American Idol, a television that surfaced online received considerable coverage from music critics. [ 13 ] It became an instant viral television a soon as it hit the vane. [ 52 ] The time was filmed using a television camera telephone and it shows Beyoncé rehearsing “ 1+1 ” backstage at American Idol with no microphone and simple keyboard accompaniment. [ 13 ] The television was filmed by Beyoncé’ss husband, Jay-Z. In an insertion to the television on his Life + Times web site he wrote : “ sometimes you need position. You ‘ve been correct in front of enormousness therefore much that you need to step back and see it again for the first base clock time. ” [ 13 ] In 2013, John Boone and Jennifer Cady of E ! on-line placed the video at number eight on their list of Beyoncé ‘s ten best videos, writing that she sounds “ perfective ”. [ 72 ] While reviewing 4, Pitchfork ‘s Ryan Dombal complimented the television, spell :

“ One of the class ‘s best music video was directed by Jay-Z and cost about zero dollars to make. The video has a like ad lib charm to the many intimate, one-shot performance clips popularized by Vincent Moon ‘s takeout Shows, its appeal compounded by the shock of seeing such a notoriously manicured ace without embellishment. It ‘s all quite adorable and personal – two words one might not much associate with this superhumanly talented and celebrated couple. ” [ 13 ]

On July 1, 2011, Beyoncé performed a barren concert as partially of Good Morning America ‘s Summer Concert Series. She sang “ 1+1 ” while kneeling on top of a whiten august piano. [ 73 ] Beyoncé besides performed the song live on the television show, The View. [ 74 ] She sang “ 1+1 ” know on August 14, 2011 during 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé, held in Roseland Ballroom, New York City. [ 75 ] Wearing a gold trim, she performed the song in front of 3,500 people while her band and orchestra were watching on. [ 75 ] [ 76 ] During the performance, Beyoncé climbed on exceed of a piano and whistle on her knees. [ 77 ] Erika Ramirez of Billboard magazine wrote that Beyoncé performed “ 1+1 ”, “ wrapped up in smoke and crimson imbue lights, evocative of her alive performance on the American Idol finale. ” [ 78 ] Ramirez stated that Beyoncé sang the ballad with “ impeccability. ” [ 78 ] Mike Wass of Idolator praised how Beyoncé “ extort every snow leopard of emotion from the lyrics of ‘1+1 ‘ and hit each note absolutely ”, concluding that it was “ an impressive expose. ” [ 79 ] Entertainment Weekly ‘s Brad Wete wrote that Beyoncé ‘s voice “ ring soulfully, merely breaking to let the push fill in gaps for a sing-along feel. ” [ 75 ] Joycelyn Vena of MTV News commented that on “ 1+1 ”, Beyoncé ‘s song abilities “ outshined it all. ” [ 80 ] On September 14, 2011, Beyoncé stopped at Target do at the managers meet. Wearing a crimson dress, she sang “ 1+1 ” accompanied by three stand-in singers and a pianist. [ 81 ] During the ITV special A Night With Beyoncé which aired on December 4 in the United Kingdom, Beyoncé performed “ 1+1 ” to a selected crowd of fans. [ 82 ] In May 2012, Beyoncé performed “ 1+1 ” during her revel Presents : Beyoncé Live revue in Revel Atlantic City. [ 83 ] She performed the song while kneeling on the piano. [ 84 ] [ 85 ] Jim Farber of Daily News commented that the song was sung with “ preciseness and slam, she tipped the balance decidedly softer, giving her power prime ”. [ 86 ] According to Chuck Darrow of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the acoustic performance of the ballad, “ proved a nice respite from the persistent thump-thump-thump of the many dance-pop numbers ”. [ 87 ] Tris McCall of New Jersey On-Line complimented the “ brilliant run through the slow-burning ” song. [ 88 ] Ben Ratliff of The New York Times mentioned “ 1+1 ” in the “ about continuous high distributor point ” of the concert. [ 89 ] Brad Wete of Complex magazine wrote that “ B [ eyoncé ] ‘s voice was stellar ” during the performance of the song on the revue. [ 90 ]

early versions and usage in media [edit ]

The-Dream ‘s demonstration of “ 1+1 ”, originally titled as “ Nothing but Love ”, leaked onto the Internet in late May 2011. [ 91 ] [ 92 ] Michael Cragg of The Guardian found it to be “ Prince-esque ”. [ 17 ] In late June 2011, American recording artist Dondria posted a video of herself, singing “ 1+1 ” while seated in movement her calculator. [ 93 ] On July 12, 2011, Rap-Up reported that the american english singer, Tiffany Evans, who had previously covered “ speechless ” from Beyoncé’ss first studio album, Dangerously in Love ( 2003 ), had besides covered “ 1+1 ”, with some lyric modifications. [ 94 ] Miss Murphy covered the song during the second serial of australian The Voice on May 20, 2013. [ 95 ] Murphy ‘s interpretation peaked at number 49 on the australian Singles Chart. [ 96 ] Beyoncé appeared on Entertainment Tonight on June 16, 2011 to promote the exclusive-to-Target deluxe edition of 4 and gave fans a sneak preview of its television receiver commercial. [ 97 ] The 30-second commercial, which features “ 1+1 ” and “ Countdown “ playing in the backdrop, began airing in the United States on June 24, 2011. [ 98 ] [ 99 ]

Credits and personnel [edit ]

Credits adapted from 4 liner notes. [ 4 ]

Charts [edit ]

References [edit ]