"1+1" is a song by American singer Beyoncé from her fourth studio album, 4 (2011). It was released by Columbia Records in the United States on May 25, 2011, as a promotional single. The song was the first track on the album 4 and was written and produced by The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, and Beyoncé. "1+1" was originally named "Nothing But Love" and was planned to be included on The-Dream's second studio album, Love vs. Money (2009). The song is a slow-tempo R&B and soul ballad that describes Beyoncé's deep love for her partner. The lyrics highlight the strength of their relationship.
"1+1" received praise from music critics, who compared it to the work of American singers Prince and Sam Cooke. Critics also appreciated the simple musical arrangement, which focused on Beyoncé's singing. The song reached number 82 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart and number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The music video for "1+1" was directed by Beyoncé, along with Lauren Briet and Ed Burke, and it was released on August 26, 2011. The video was different from Beyoncé's usual style because it did not include her typical dance routines. Instead, it used psychedelic visual effects and creative lighting to give the video a movie-like appearance. Critics generally praised the video for its artistic style and themes.
After Beyoncé performed "1+1" on American Idol, a video of her rehearsing the song backstage was shared online and received widespread attention. The video was filmed by Jay-Z using a phone camera. The ballad was also performed during Beyoncé's free concert for Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series, the ITV special A Night With Beyoncé, and her concert series, 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé, at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Beyoncé's live performances of "1+1" were well-received. A writer from HuffPost described her performance on American Idol as "an epic, emotionally-charged performance." American singers Dondria and Tiffany Evans have also performed covers of the song with changes to the lyrics.
Conception and release
The song "1+1" was first written and named "Nothing but Love" for Terius "The-Dream" Nash. He planned to include it on his second album, Love King (2010). Later, he gave the song to Beyoncé Knowles for her fourth album, 4. Beyoncé and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart added more lyrics to the song. The song was produced by a group of people at the Studio at the Palms in Paradise, Nevada, and Triangle Sound Studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Beyoncé recorded the song at these studios. The-Dream and Stewart arranged the music, and Beyoncé helped arrange the vocals. Lee Blaske, Nikki Glaspie, and Pete Wolford played instruments. Brian Thomas and Pat Thrall helped record the music. Jordan Young recorded Beyoncé's vocals. Tony Maserati mixed the track, with help from Val Brathwaite. Jason Sherwood, Mark Gray, Steven Dennis, and Wolford also helped with audio engineering.
After "1+1" was shared online, Beyoncé performed a piano version of the song on the finale of the tenth season of American Idol on May 25, 2011. The song was made available for download shortly after her performance. The cover art was photographed by Anthony Duran. "1+1" was released as a promotional single from 4 on the iTunes Store in the United States. People who bought 4 early on iTunes received a free download of "1+1." The song was not played on radio in the U.S. because "Best Thing I Never Had" was chosen as the second single after the lead single, "Run the World (Girls)."
Composition and lyrical interpretation
"1+1" is a slow R&B and soul song with some indie rock influences. The song has a very soft and barely noticeable beat, with guitar and piano as its main sounds. Other instruments include wind chimes, strings, synthesizers, a funky bass, and a pipe organ. The song is in 8-beat rhythm and has a slow tempo of 50 beats per minute. It was written in the key of G♭ major. Beyoncé's voice in the song ranges from the low note F#3 to the high note C6. The song shows her ability to sing with urgency and emotion. In an interview, Beyoncé said she wanted to use her album 4 to highlight her rougher and more powerful vocal style, which is often heard in her live performances but not as much on her recordings. Nadine Cheung said the simple background music lets Beyoncé's voice stand out and focus on the emotional lyrics. Amos Barshad and Tim Finney compared her singing style to that of Whitney Houston.
Several critics, including Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone, said "1+1" is similar to Sam Cooke's 1960 song "Wonderful World" and Prince's 1984 song "Purple Rain." Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork explained that the line "don't know much about algebra" from "Wonderful World" was used in "1+1," but the producers focused more on the song's love theme. He also said "1+1" shares similarities with "Purple Rain" because both songs use gentle guitar playing, emotional piano, and Beyoncé's high-pitched singing style, which resembles Prince's. Jillian Mapes of Billboard noted that the guitar solo in "1+1" is similar to those in Bon Jovi's songs.
The song starts with a simple indie rock sound, using distorted guitar notes and a quiet pipe organ. Beyoncé sings a flowing melody, talking about love and relationships. She uses simple math to describe her love for her partner, beginning the first verse with, "I don't know much about algebra, but I know that one plus one equals two… If I ain't got something, I don't give a damn / 'Cause I got it with you." In the pre-chorus, she sings, "And it's me and you, that's all we'll have when the world is through / Because baby we ain't got nothing without love / Darling, you got enough love for the both of us," showing her dependence on her partner.
Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork said Beyoncé mixes feelings of being vulnerable and strong while singing the chorus, where she repeats, "Make love to me when my days look low / Pull me in close and don't let me go / Make love to me when the world's at war / That our love will heal us all." The music stays calm, with only piano and a soft guitar sound. As she sings about love in difficult times, "So when the world's at war / Let our love heal us all," she expresses a message of universal love, as noted by Jillian Mapes. In the second verse, Beyoncé sings, "Hey! I don't know much about guns but I… I've been shot by you," raising the word "you" to a higher pitch. She continues: "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." Thomas Conner of the Chicago Sun-Times said these lines show that love can overcome everything. The song ends with a strong electric guitar solo.
Critical reception
The song "1+1" from Beyoncé's album 4 received praise from music critics. They highlighted Beyoncé's strong and emotional singing, which was supported by simple musical arrangements. AOL Music's Contessa Gayles described the ballad as "achy and screechy" in a positive way, while Nadine Cheung from AOL Radio noted that the minimal instrumentation helped listeners focus on the lyrics and showed Beyoncé's "powerful voice and impressive control." Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork wrote that Beyoncé's performance made the song's complex qualities feel meaningful, especially during a dramatic guitar break. Ryan Dombal of the same website compared "1+1" to Adele's "Someone Like You" as one of the most powerful recent pop ballads. Michael Cragg of The Guardian called it a "loved up ballad" and praised Beyoncé's raw vocals. David Amidon of PopMatters wrote that the song avoided typical energetic styles and instead focused on Beyoncé's vocal strength, creating a track that could compete with classic songs.
Jocelyn Vena of MTV News said Beyoncé understood the "math of power ballads" well. Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone noted that the song opened 4 with a tender, slow-burning melody that echoed songs by Sam Cooke and Prince without copying them. Joanne Dorken of MTV UK called it "the perfect opener" and highlighted Beyoncé's vulnerable side. Jon Caramainca of The New York Times praised Beyoncé's vocal strength, stating few singers could match her ability. Wesley Case of The Baltimore Sun included "1+1" in his list of Five Great Songs, calling it "gut-wrenching" and "gorgeous."
Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun said the song showed Beyoncé's most honest and tender side. Claire Suddath of Time magazine called it the finest ballad Beyoncé had delivered in years. Amos Barshad of New York described it as a "big grand love ballad." Andy Kellman of AllMusic called it a "sparse and placid vocal showcase." Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound noted the song's focus on Beyoncé's vocal range, contrasting it with her usual upbeat style. Leah Collins of Dose called it a "melodramatic soul ballad." A Huffington Post reporter said "1+1" differed from "Run the World (Girls)" by showing devotion instead of defiance. Rap-Up praised the track as an alternative to "Run the World (Girls)." Katy Hasty of HitFix criticized the lyrics, saying they seemed too simple.
Sean Michaels of The Guardian ranked "1+1" number one on his list of The 10 Best Tracks of 2011. The song also ranked number 30 on The Guardian's Best Songs of 2011 list. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post placed it number one on her year-end list, calling Beyoncé's performance "sweet" and powerful. The Village Voice ranked it number 77 on its 2011 Pazz & Jop singles list. Pitchfork ranked it number 26 on their Top 100 Tracks of 2011 list.
In 2019, Pitchfork listed "1+1" at number 157 on their greatest songs of the 2010s list. In 2024, Rolling Stone named it the 27th best R&B song of the 21st century. Jody Rosen of The New Yorker credited the song's unique sounds and tones for creating a new musical style that influenced future music.
Chart performance
The song "1+1" appeared on the US Hot Digital Songs chart at position 33 on June 11, 2011, after selling 57,000 downloads in the previous week. It also reached number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The next week, the song dropped to number 89 on the Hot 100 chart. In total, it charted for only two weeks. For the week ending June 11, 2011, the song was listed at number 5 on the US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. At the same time, "1+1" entered the Canadian Hot 100 chart at position 82. After the release of the album 4, and based only on digital downloads, the song reached number 67 on the UK Singles Chart and number 23 on the UK R&B Chart in the July 9, 2011, issue. Following the release of its music video, "1+1" moved from number 125 to number 71 on the UK Singles Chart on September 11, 2011. The next week, it reached its highest position of number 21 on the R&B chart. With 18,263 downloads, the song debuted at number 25 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart for the week ending July 2, 2011.
Music video
In early August 2011, it was reported that Beyoncé was working on new music videos for songs from her album 4, including "1+1," which was filmed by August 3, 2011. The video premiered on E! News on August 26, 2011, at 7:00 pm EST/PST and was posted on Beyoncé's website one hour later. Beyoncé directed the video with help from Laurent Briet and Ed Burke. Her official website described the video as "the story of love at its best," focusing on commitment and fulfillment. It used colorful and unusual visual effects and lighting to create a cinematic look. The video is four and a half minutes long. A longer version, called the director's cut, was released on November 1, 2011, with slightly different scenes.
The video includes close-up shots of Beyoncé and uses symmetrical images and colorful light effects. As the acoustic guitar plays, Beyoncé is shown with her hair flowing below her shoulders. She stares directly at the camera, and her skin appears shiny, as if covered in a glittery substance. She turns her head and sings the first verse. During the chorus, scenes show Beyoncé in a dark room and gently touching water. Later, she removes her dress. A quick shot of the "IV" tattoo on her left ring finger appears (a reference to her album 4). She then bathes in a tub filled with flowers and berries and blows smoke. As the song continues, light effects are shown behind her. In the second verse, symmetrical images are used, with Beyoncé standing in front of a purple background wearing flowing clothing. As the song progresses, close-up shots show tears on her face. A man appears behind her and embraces her, but he remains in the background. Beyoncé sings to her love interest, asking him to make love to her. The video ends with Beyoncé surrounded by colorful lights and effects, with the camera returning to a shiny Beyoncé against a dark background.
Critics described the video in different ways. Jennifer Cady of E! News called it "sexy" and "stripped down," noting Beyoncé looked beautiful in lingerie and sang about love. Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly said the video was different from Beyoncé's usual high-energy videos but was still captivating. Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic noted that Beyoncé's video used visual appeal rather than other styles. Melinda Newman of HitFix praised the colorful and flowing images. Willa Paskin of New York magazine highlighted the final minute, which used split-screen effects to show a romantic scene. Mawuse Ziegbe of The Boston Globe said Beyoncé's sex appeal was strong, comparing the effects to Lady Gaga's work. A writer for MTV UK praised the use of light and symmetrical shots. Leah Collins of Dose said Beyoncé looked "supernaturally attractive." A Rolling Stone writer called the video "the moistest music video ever made," matching the song's romantic tone. Maura Johnston of The Village Voice compared the video to D'Angelo's "Untitled (How Does It Feel)."
Rob Markman of MTV News said the choreography was different from Beyoncé's usual high-energy dance moves, instead using ballet-style steps. He believed the video might not be as widely noticed as her other videos, such as "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "Crazy in Love." A writer for The Huffington Post said "Single Ladies" was Beyoncé's most iconic video but noted "1+1" could now be considered alongside it. David Malitz of The Washington Post said Beyoncé looked like Hurricane Irene at the start of the video but like "chillwave" videos at the end. OK! magazine called the video "cheesy," and L Magazine's Mike Conklin said Beyoncé, as one of the best artists, could do better.
Live performances
Beyoncé first performed "1+1" live on American Idol on May 25, 2011. She wore a purple gown and sang the song with smoke and red lighting. She said, "This is my favorite song." Near the end of the performance, she knelt and shook hands with audience members. The judges and crowd gave her a standing ovation. A writer from The Huffington Post called the performance "very powerful and emotional" and said Beyoncé used the energy in the room to sing with great power. Jillian Mapes of Billboard magazine noted that the strength of the song made Beyoncé kneel during the performance.
Soon after her American Idol performance, a video appeared online and became very popular. The video was filmed with a phone camera and shows Beyoncé rehearsing "1+1" backstage without a microphone or with simple keyboard music. The video was made by Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z. On his website, he wrote: "Sometimes you need perspective. You’ve seen greatness so often that you need to step back and see it again for the first time." In 2013, John Boone and Jennifer Cady of E! Online ranked the video as number eight on their list of Beyoncé’s ten best videos, saying she sounded "perfect." Pitchfork’s Ryan Dombal praised the video in a review.
On July 1, 2011, Beyoncé performed a free concert as part of Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series. She sang "1+1" while kneeling on a white grand piano. She also performed the song on the TV show The View. On August 14, 2011, during 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé in New York City’s Roseland Ballroom, she wore a gold dress and performed "1+1" in front of 3,500 people. Her band and orchestra watched from the audience. During the performance, she climbed onto a piano and sang on her knees. Erika Ramirez of Billboard wrote that Beyoncé performed "1+1" "wrapped in smoke and red lights, similar to her American Idol finale performance." Ramirez said she sang the song with "perfect skill." Mike Wass of Idolator praised how Beyoncé "used every emotion in the lyrics and hit each note perfectly," calling it "impressive." Entertainment Weekly’s Brad Wete said her voice "sounded soulful, with moments for the crowd to sing along." Joycelyn Vena of MTV News said Beyoncé’s voice "stood out the most" on the song. On September 14, 2011, Beyoncé performed "1+1" at a Target managers’ meeting while wearing a red dress. She was joined by three backup singers and a pianist. During the ITV special A Night With Beyoncé, which aired on December 4, 2011, in the United Kingdom, Beyoncé performed "1+1" for a group of fans.
In May 2012, Beyoncé performed "1+1" during her Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live revue in Revel Atlantic City. She sang the song while kneeling on a piano. Jim Farber of Daily News said she sang with "precision and grace," making the song feel softer and more grounded. Chuck Darrow of The Philadelphia Inquirer said the acoustic version of the song "offered a break from the fast-paced dance songs." Tris McCall of New Jersey On-Line praised the "beautiful performance" of the slow song. Ben Ratliff of The New York Times mentioned "1+1" as one of the concert’s "high points." Brad Wete of Complex magazine said Beyoncé’s voice was "excellent" during the performance.
The song has also been included in the setlists for the 2013 and 2014 shows of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, The Formation World Tour, and The Renaissance World Tour.
Other versions and usage in media
The-Dream's demo of "1+1," originally named "Nothing but Love," was shared online in late May 2011. Michael Cragg from The Guardian described the demo as "similar to Prince's style." In late June 2011, American singer Dondria posted a video of herself singing "1+1" while sitting in front of her computer. On July 12, 2011, Rap-Up reported that American singer Tiffany Evans, who had previously performed a cover of "Speechless" from Beyoncé's first album, Dangerously in Love (2003), also performed a version of "1+1" with some changes to the lyrics. Miss Murphy performed the song during the second season of Australian The Voice on May 20, 2013. Her version reached number 49 on the Australian Singles Chart.
Beyoncé appeared on Entertainment Tonight on June 16, 2011, to promote the Target-exclusive deluxe version of her album 4 and showed fans a preview of its television commercial. The 30-second commercial, which includes "1+1" and "Countdown" playing in the background, began airing in the United States on June 24, 2011.
Rapper Pusha T used the song in his track titled "Rock N' Roll," which appeared on his fourth studio album, It's Almost Dry.