1+1 (song)
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"1+1" is a song recorded by American recording artist
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
for her fourth studio album, '' 4'' (2011). It was released by
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
in the United States on May 25, 2011, as a
promotional single A promotional recording, or promo, or plug copy, is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as ...
. Serving as the opening track on ''4'', it was written and produced by
The-Dream Terius Youngdell Nash (born September 20, 1977), better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. His co-writing credits include songs with "Me Against the Music" (2003) for Britney Spears, " Rid ...
,
Tricky Stewart Christopher Alan "Tricky" Stewart (born January 4, 1974) is an American record producer, record executive, songwriter, and music publisher. In a career spanning over 30 years, Stewart has won 5 Grammys and is responsible for over 50 million rec ...
and Beyoncé. "1+1" was originally titled "Nothing But Love" and The-Dream had initially planned to include it on his second studio album, '' Love vs. Money'' (2009). A
down-tempo Downtempo (or downbeat) is a broad label for electronic music that features an atmospheric sound and slower beats than would typically be found in dance music. Closely related to ambient music but with greater emphasis on rhythm, the style may b ...
contemporary R&B Contemporary R&B (or simply R&B) is a popular music genre that combines rhythm and blues with elements of pop, soul, funk, hip hop, and electronic music. The genre features a distinctive record production style, drum machine-backed rhy ...
and
soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became ...
power ballad A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. ...
, "1+1" Beyoncé expressing her endless love to her soul mate; the lyrics make strong statements about the power of the relationship. "1+1" garnered acclaim from music critics, who noted its resemblance to the work of American singers
Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...
and
Sam Cooke Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is common ...
. It was also complimented for its subtle
instrumentation Instrumentation a collective term for measuring instruments that are used for indicating, measuring and recording physical quantities. The term has its origins in the art and science of scientific instrument-making. Instrumentation can refer to ...
, which provides emphasis on Beyoncé's vocals. "1+1" peaked at number 82 on the
Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. The Canadian Hot 100 was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007, and is currently the standard record ...
chart and at number 57 on the US ''Billboard''
Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming ...
chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by Beyoncé herself, alongside Lauren Briet and Ed Burke, and it premiered on August 26, 2011. The video was a "different" direction in the sense that it does not incorporate the heavy dance routines Beyoncé is known for, and that it experiments with
psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science o ...
visual effects as well as innovative lighting, which give the clip a cinematic feel. The clip met with generally positive reception from music critics, who praised its aesthetic and sexual theme 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 Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one o ...
with a camera phone and shows Beyoncé rehearsing "1+1" backstage at ''American Idol''. The ballad was included on Beyoncé's
set list A set list, or setlist, is typically a handwritten or printed document created as an ordered list of songs, jokes, stories and other elements an artist intends to present during a specific performance. A setlist can be made of nearly any materi ...
for a free concert as part of ''
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'' Summer Concert Series, the ITV special ''A Night With Beyoncé'', and her revue,
4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé was the second concert residency by American recording artist Beyoncé. Held during four non-consecutive nights in August 2011 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, the concerts were part of Beyoncé's campa ...
, held at the
Roseland Ballroom The Roseland Ballroom was a multipurpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theater district, on West 52nd Street in Manhattan. The venue, according to its website, accommodat ...
in New York City. Beyoncé's live performances of "1+1" have received positive reception; a writer from ''
HuffPost ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' described her live performance on ''American Idol'' as "an epic, emotionally-charged ne" American singers Dondria and Tiffany Evans have performed covers of the ballad, with lyrical modifications.


Conception and release

"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). He later gave it to
Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
for her fourth studio album '' 4'', where she and
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart Christopher Alan "Tricky" Stewart (born January 4, 1974) is an American record producer, record executive, songwriter, and music publisher. In a career spanning over 30 years, Stewart has won 5 Grammys and is responsible for over 50 million rec ...
did some additional writing. The song was produced by the trio at the
Studio at the Palms Palms Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located near the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned and operated by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. It includes 703 rooms and a casino. It was originally owned by th ...
in
Paradise, Nevada Paradise is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the city of Las Vegas. It was formed on December 8, 1950. Its population was 191,238 at the 2020 census, making it the fif ...
and Triangle Sound Studio in
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, Georgia, where Beyoncé recorded the song. The-Dream and Stewart did the musical
arrangement In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orches ...
s and Beyoncé worked on arranging the vocals. Lee Blaske, Nikki Gallespi and Pete Wolford played the instruments, while Brian Thomas alongside
Pat Thrall Patrick Thrall is an American rock guitarist. Thrall began his recording career in 1972. He played guitar, vocals, and percussion with the group Cookin' Mama, which had his brother, Preston Thrall, on percussion. They released the album ''New Day ...
assisted in
recording A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, ...
the music. Jordan Young then recorded Beyoncé's vocals.
Tony Maserati Tony Maserati is an American record producer and audio engineer specializing in mixing. He was involved in the development of the New York R&B and hip-hop scene in the 1990s, working with Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, and Queen ...
mixed the track with assistance from Val Brathwaite, and Jason Sherwood, Mark Gray, Steven Dennis and Wolford all assisted in the
audio engineering Audio most commonly refers to sound, as it is transmitted in signal form. It may also refer to: Sound * Audio signal, an electrical representation of sound *Audio frequency, a frequency in the audio spectrum * Digital audio, representation of sou ...
. Shortly after "1+1" was released online, Beyoncé debuted the
ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
by performing a piano version on the finale of the tenth season of ''
American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
'' on May 25, 2011. "1+1" was made available for download only a few hours after her performance; its
cover art Cover art is a type of artwork presented as an illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book (often on a dust jacket), magazine, newspaper ( tabloid), comic book, video game (box art), music album (album art), ...
was photographed by Anthony Duran. The song was released through the
iTunes Store The iTunes Store is a digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, as a result of Steve Jobs' push to open a digital marketplace for music. As of April 2020, iTunes offered 60 million songs, 2.2 million apps, 25,00 ...
as a
promotional single A promotional recording, or promo, or plug copy, is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as ...
from ''4'' in the United States. People who pre-ordered ''4'' at the iTunes Store received a free download of "1+1". The song was not sent for
airplay Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in n ...
in the US as "
Best Thing I Never Had "Best Thing I Never Had" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her fourth studio album, '' 4'' (2011). It was released by Columbia Records on June 1, 2011, as the second single from the album. "Best Thing I Never Had" was co ...
" was favored as the second single, following the release of the
lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...
"
Run the World (Girls) "Run the World (Girls)" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, from her fourth studio album '' 4'' (2011), released as the lead single from the album on April 21, 2011. It was written and produced by R&B singer The-Dream and Beyoncé, w ...
".


Composition and lyrical interpretation

"1+1" is a
downtempo Downtempo (or downbeat) is a broad label for electronic music that features an atmospheric sound and slower beats than would typically be found in dance music. Closely related to ambient music but with greater emphasis on rhythm, the style may ...
R&B and
soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became ...
power ballad with influences of
indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
music. The song features "a soft, almost non-existent" backing beat and makes use of a guitar and a piano as its foundation, while
wind chime Wind chimes are a type of percussion instrument constructed from suspended tubes, rods, bells or other objects that are often made of metal or wood. The tubes or rods are suspended along with some type of weight or surface which the tubes or rod ...
s, sprinkling
strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
,
synthesizer A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
s,
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
-influenced bass and a
pipe organ The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air (called ''wind'') through the organ pipes selected from a keyboard. Because each pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ''ranks ...
are also present. "1+1" is set in 12/8 time with a slow tempo of 50
beats per minute Beat, beats or beating may refer to: Common uses * Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area ** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols ** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men * Battery ( ...
and was written in the
key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...
of
G major G major (or the key of G) is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative minor is E minor and its parallel minor is G minor. The G major scale is: Notable compositi ...
. Beyoncé's voice spans from the low note of F#3 to the high note of C6. "1+1" essentially demonstrates her "urgent" and "raw" vocals; in an interview with Ray Rogers of ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' 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." Nadine Cheung wrote that the subtle instrumentation allows Beyoncé'ss voice to emphasise the emotional lyrics Amos Barshad of ''
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
'' magazine and Tim Finney of
Pitchfork Media ''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog. Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
described the vocals as similar to those of
Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...
's work. Several critics including Matthew Perpetua of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' noted that "1+1" is comparable to
Sam Cooke Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is common ...
's 1960 song " Wonderful World" and
Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...
's 1984 song " Purple Rain". Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork explained that "Wonderful World"s line, "don't know much about algebra", was retained during the conception of "1+1" by its producers, who however accentuated its "love song sentiment". Soderberg further wrote that "1+1" bears resemblance to "Purple Rain" as they both have similar "delicate guitars, melodramatic piano, and eyoncé affects Prince'shigh-register whimper a few times". Jillian Mapes of ''Billboard'' magazine wrote that the
guitar solo A guitar solo is a melodic passage, instrumental section, or entire piece of music, pre-written (or improvised) to be played on a classical guitar, electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. In 20th and 21st century traditional music and popular m ...
is similar to the ones in
Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald (American musician), Hugh McD ...
's power ballads. "1+1" begins with a low fidelity indie rock arrangement which is brought about by distorted guitar
arpeggios A broken chord is a chord broken into a sequence of notes. A broken chord may repeat some of the notes from the chord and span one or more octaves. An arpeggio () is a type of broken chord, in which the notes that compose a chord are played ...
and a discreet pipe organ. Beyoncé sings a meandering melody as she alternately references the pleasures of love and sex. Using simple
arithmetic Arithmetic () is an elementary part of mathematics that consists of the study of the properties of the traditional operations on numbers— addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, and extraction of roots. In the 19th ...
to describe her undying love for her partner, she begins the first verse as she affirms to her romantic interest that the only thing she is sure about are her feelings for him, "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 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 ain't got nothing without love / Darling, you got enough love for the both of us". Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork commented that Beyoncé mixes "vulnerability and confidence" while singing the chorus lines, where she repeatedly pleads her romantic interest, "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", while the music stays steady and soft with only a few piano chords and a baseline plucked guitar riff. As she continues to chant about making love in apocalyptic circumstances, "So when the world's at war / Let our love heal us all", she projects a universal "all you need is love" feeling, 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", as she pushes the final word "you" up at a full
octave In music, an octave ( la, octavus: eighth) or perfect octave (sometimes called the diapason) is the interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been refer ...
. She then 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". According to Thomas Conner of the ''
Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has the second largest circulation among Chicago newspapers, after the ''Chicago T ...
'', these lines are intended to show that love conquers all. The song ends with an intense
electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...
solo.


Critical reception

"1+1" was lauded by music critics, who complimented the effective display of Beyoncé's emotive vocals due to the use of light instrumentation, and approved that the ballad was the opening song on ''4''.
AOL Music AOL (stylized as Aol., formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City. It is a brand marketed by the current incarnation of Yahoo! Inc. ...
's Contessa Gayles called it "an achy, screechy ballad – in the best way possible" and Nadine Cheung from
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noted that the minimal instrumentation highlights the song's lyrics, and effectively show Beyoncé's "powerful voice and impressive control", further writing, "The professions are so intense that there's no need for a complicated bridge or dramatic key change." Brandon Soderberg from Pitchfork 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." Ryan Dombal, writing for the same music webzine, commented that
Adele Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (, ; born 5 May 1988), professionally known by the mononym Adele, is an English singer and songwriter. After graduating in arts from the BRIT School in 2006, Adele signed a reco ...
's ' Someone Like You' is the only recent pop ballad which comes close to "the power" of "1+1". Michael Cragg of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' called the song a "loved up ballad" and praised Beyoncé for showcasing her raw vocals. Describing "1+1" as " avingno interest in eyoncé'sstypical pursuit of forward-thinking, energetic fare, preferring to throw the emphasis on her radio-destroying vocal chords", David Amidon of
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
wrote that the song "is the best result of this, finally providing Beyoncé a song that can compete with the favorites of this generation's parents." Jocelyn Vena of
MTV News MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes ...
wrote, "Beyoncé may not know a thing about algebra, but when it comes to the math of power ballads, she totally gets it." Matthew Perpetua of ''Rolling Stone'' wrote that "the album '4''opens with its most tender ballad, a slow-burning number that calls back to both Sam Cooke's 'Wonderful World' and Prince's 'Purple Rain' without sounding like a retread of either tune ..it sounds best in the context of the album, where its slow, steady build to a cathartic guitar break is the perfect introduction to a set of mostly low-key tracks about love and heartbreak." Similarly considering "1+1" to be "the perfect opener" of ''4'', Joanne Dorken of
MTV UK MTV is a British pay television channel focusing on reality TV and music programming operated by Paramount Networks UK & Australia. The channel launched as part of MTV Networks Europe localisation strategy in 1997. MTV UK (previously MTV UK & I ...
wrote that it exposes a more vulnerable side of Beyoncé and that it will remain "a classic stripped-back slow jam from the diva." Praising Beyoncé's vocals, Jon Caramainca of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' stated that " 1+1'requires a vocal muscle few singers possess, and even fewer would care to deploy." Writing for ''
The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries. Founded in 1837, it is currently owned by Tr ...
'', 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". Case appreciated Beyoncé's sensitivity and concluded that it "fades to black like an ellipsis and it's so damn beautiful." Cameron Adams of the ''
Herald Sun The ''Herald Sun'' is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia, published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, itself a subsidiary of the Murdoch owned News Corp. The ''Herald S ...
'' wrote that "1+1" is an "amazing ndarguably the most honest and tender Beyoncé has sounded, singing 'help me let my guard down, make love to me'". Similarly, Claire Suddath of ''
Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...
'' magazine commented that "1+1" is probably the finest ballad Beyoncé has delivered in years. Amos Barshad of ''New York'' magazine described "1+1" as "a big grand love ballad". Andy Kellman of
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
picked "1+1" as one of the album's top songs, describing it as "a sparse and placid vocal showcase,
hich Ij ( fa, ايج, also Romanized as Īj; also known as Hich and Īch) is a village in Golabar Rural District, in the Central District of Ijrud County, Zanjan Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also ...
fades in with a somber guitar line, throws up occasional and brief spikes in energy, and slowly recedes." Chris Coplan of
Consequence of Sound ''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...
commented that in contrast to the geometry taught at school, there is something interesting in "1+1"; he further wrote that ballad focuses on Beyoncé's "amazing vocal range" as it is not upbeat like most of her previous offerings. Leah Collins of Canada's '' Dose'' described the song as a "melodramatic soul ballad". A reporter from ''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' 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 n '1+1'. He added that it is one of the first representations that "Beyoncé is keeping her promise that a whole new array of sounds will make their way into ''4''." Similarly, ''
Rap-Up ''Rap-Up'' is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the ...
'' favored the track stating that "If 'Run the World (Girls)' wasn't your thing, this should do the trick." By contrast, Katy Hasty from
HitFix HitFix, or HitFix.com, was an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information, and reviews and critiques of film, music, and television. In mid-2010 HitFix crossed the 1,00 ...
criticized the song's lyrics and wrote that it "seem the lyrics to '1+1' were penned by a second-grader."


Recognition

''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''s critic Sean Michaels ranked "1+1" at number one on his list of The 10 Best Tracks of 2011. The song was also ranked on ''The Guardian''s writers' year-end list of Best Songs of 2011 at number 30. Allison Stewart of ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' placed the ballad at number one on her list of the Special Year-End Best-of Edition, writing that Beyoncé "just kills this otherwise unremarkable ballad. Her obvious pride in her abilities, in her Beyonce-ness, informs every note, but it doesn't seem showoff-y. It's just sweet." On ''The Village Voice''s 2011 year-end
Pazz & Jop Pazz & Jop was an annual poll of top musical releases, compiled by American newspaper ''The Village Voice'' and created by music critic Robert Christgau. It published lists of the year's top releases for 1971 and, after Christgau's two-year abse ...
singles list, "1+1" was ranked at number 77. The staff members of Pitchfork placed the "1+1" at number 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 distraction until all that's left is her voice. Without it, "1+1" would be a muted ballad: Its simple guitar line and stardust-sprinkled strings serve no purpose other than to evoke a sense of familiar romantic intimacy, and then to elegantly step aside while Beyoncé delivers one of her most wonderfully impassioned performances ever. "1+1" possesses that slightly scary intensity that has been R&B's worst-kept secret weapon since Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing", but it also demonstrates perfectly how Beyoncé stands apart from every other big-chested diva 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 as sentimental as its subject matter requires. Beyoncé is R&B's field marshal, demanding of her listeners and herself an absolute fidelity to the music's emotional possibilities, with a perfectly modulated vehemence that is as captivating as it is tyrannical.
In 2019, the same publication listed ''1+1'' at number 157 on their greatest songs of the decade (2010s) list. Writing for ''
The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...
'', Jody Rosen credited the jarring timbral and tonal variations on the song for giving a new musical sound that didn't exist in the world before Beyoncé. He further wrote, "If they sound 'normal' now, it's because Beyoncé, and her many followers, have retrained our ears."


Chart performance

"1+1" entered the US
Hot Digital Songs The Digital Songs or Digital Song Sales chart (previously named Hot Digital Songs) ranks the best-selling digital songs in the United States, as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published by ''Billboard'' magazine. Although it originally start ...
chart at number 33 on June 11, 2011, having sold 57,000 downloads in the previous week. As a result, the song also appeared at number 57 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. The following week, it fell to number 89 on the Hot 100 chart. Overall, it charted for only two weeks. For the week ending June 11, 2011, the song charted on the US
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...
at number 5. That same week, "1+1" entered the
Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. The Canadian Hot 100 was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007, and is currently the standard record ...
chart at number 82. Following the release of ''4'' and based solely on digital downloads, "1+1" appeared on the
UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
at number 67 and on the
UK R&B Chart The UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and the UK Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart (also known as The Official UK Hip Hop and R&B Charts, the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Singles and the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Albums, or simply the UK Urban Chart) are 40-posi ...
at number 23 in the July 9, 2011 issue. After 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 following week, it reached a high point of number 21 on the R&B chart. 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.


Music video


Background and synopsis

It was reported in early August 2011 that Beyoncé was recording new
music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
s for several songs from ''4'', including "1+1" which was shot by August 3, 2011. The video premiered on August 26, 2011, on ''
E! News ''E! News'', previously known as ''E! News Daily'' and ''E! News Live'', is the entertainment news operation for the cable network E! in the United States. Its former on-air weekday newscast debuted on September 1, 1991, and primarily reports ...
'' at 7:00 pm EST/ PST and it was posted on Beyoncé's website one hour later. It was directed by Beyoncé herself, alongside Laurent Briet and Ed Burke. The video was described by her official website as "the story of love at its best. It's about commitment and fulfillment and it's Beyoncé at her most beautiful. The video experiments with psychedelic visual effects and innovative lighting that gives the clip a cinematic feel." The music video for the song is four and a half minutes long. The director's cut of "1+1" was released on November 1, 2011. It features slightly different scenes to the original. The song's video features close-up shots of Beyoncé and incorporates psychedelic light effects and symmetrical filming photography. As the acoustic guitar begins playing, Beyoncé's face comes into view. She stands with her blond hair draped just below her exposed shoulders. As she intently stares into the camera, her skin glistens as though it has been coated with a honey-like and glittery substance. 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 delicately against dripping water, gently brushing it with her lips and palms. The scenery changes and Beyoncé is back in the darkened chamber, where she removes her dress. A quick shot of the "IV" tattoo inked on Beyoncé's left ring finger is shown (a reference to her album's title, ''4''), before she bathes in a tub of flowers as well as berries and blows billows of smoke. As she continues to caress her upper-body, an array of light imagery is projected behind her, serving as a backdrop. During the second verse, the video begins to use symmetrical visual arts. Beyoncé appears standing in front of a purple background, draped by large and billowing garments. As the song progresses, her emotions are heightened; zoomed shots of tears trickling down her cheeks are shown. A man appears behind Beyoncé and begins closely embracing her in endearment. The man is nondescript, and his muscular arms grip Beyoncé's body before taking her through a series of dips and bends, while he remains mostly in the background. With tears still rolling down her cheeks, Beyoncé chants to her love interest to make love to her on the song's vocal finale. As the guitar melodies close the song, Beyoncé is seen engulfed by the colorful light and special effects. The video ends with the camera returning to a glistening Beyoncé with blackened scenery in the background.


Reception

Jennifer Cady of ''E! News'' found the video "sexy" and "pretty stripped down", further writing: "There are no catchy choreographed dances or freakum dresses, just Queen Bey looking gorgeous in lingerie and belting out her love and devotion to her man." Cady added that the video was entertaining because of Beyoncé "seriously magical hair" and her skin, which was sparkling like
Edward Cullen Edward Cullen ( né Edward Anthony Masen, Jr.) is a character in the ''Twilight'' book series by Stephenie Meyer. He is featured in the novels ''Twilight'', ''New Moon'', ''Eclipse'' and ''Breaking Dawn'', and their corresponding film adapta ...
. Tanner Stransky of ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' concluded that although the video was different from the previous "heavily produced spectacles" Beyoncé has made, "it's hard to take your eyes off it". Spencer Kornhaber of ''The Atlantic'' criticized the sex appeal which was used in the videos for
Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
's " You and I" (2011) and
Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Known for her influence on modern pop music and her Camp (style), campy style, she has been ...
's " Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" (2011) but felt that "Beyonce's game is unique in its reliance on pure visual magnetism". He wrote that even when Beyoncé is "inhabiting apocalyptic warzones or
Mad Men ''Mad Men'' is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate Television. It ran on the cable network AMC from July 19, 2007, to May 17, 2015, lasting for seven seasons and 92 episodes. Its fict ...
-era domestic scenes", she is always classical. Kornhaber concluded that the video for "1+1" is "catchy, fun dance, pretty face, pretty body", which according to him, is what "Beyonce asalways been about". Melinda Newman from the website HitFix found "some lovely kaleidoscopic shots and billowing sheets". She added that "we never see her '+1' other than an arm and back shot, but that works to the video's advantage". Similarly, Willa Paskin of ''New York'' magazine praised the final minute 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 A kaleidoscope () is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a regular symmetrical pattern when v ...
effects and capped off by Beyoncé staring into the camera "in postcoital contentment". Mawuse Ziegbe of ''
The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...
'' noted that Beyoncé'ss sex appeal was at its maximum in the video for "1+1". She compared the kaleidoscope effects with Lady Gaga's " Born This Way" (2011) and finished her review by writing, "ultimately, the clip shows the diva doesn't need the elaborate costumes, club-anthem rhythms and booty-quivering grooves to bring the heat. But a lustrous, fling-ready mane is always handy." Similarly, a writer for MTV UK praised the video's "light effects and symmetrical camera tricks" which " ellsex as art". Leah Collins of the Canadian magazine ''Dose'' commented that Beyoncé was "gifted with seemingly supernatural powers of hotness" in the video. A writer for ''Rolling Stone'' found the video for "1+1" to be "the moistest music video ever made", adding that it "perfectly matches the sultry, romantic tone of the song". Maura Johnston of ''
The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...
'' found a "'What
D'Angelo Michael Eugene Archer (born February 11, 1974), better known by his stage name D'Angelo (), is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He first garnered attention after co-producing the single "U Will Know" ...
's '
Untitled (How Does It Feel) "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" is a song by American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist D'Angelo. It was released on January 1, 2000, by Virgin Records as a radio single in promotion of his second studio album ''Voodoo (D'Angelo album ...
' Feels Like For A Girl' vibe" in the video for "1+1" and compared it to the one for " Sweet Dreams" (2009). Rob Markman of MTV News wrote that the choreography is very different from the Beyoncé's standard dance routines, which feature high-powered steps, swaying hips and "her patented bootylicious shake". He commented, "Instead, Beyoncé settles for ballet-style steps, moving in a leotard and long, flowing cape." 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) "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, from her third studio album, ''I Am... Sasha Fierce'' (2008). Columbia Records released "Single Ladies" as a Single (music), single on October 13, 2008, as a A-side ...
" (2008) and "
Crazy in Love "Crazy in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, featuring a rap verse and ad-libs from her future husband Jay-Z from her debut solo studio album '' Dangerously in Love'' (2003). The song was released as her official debut single ...
" (2003). He concluded that "much like the song, the visuals for '1+1' shouldn't be measured in terms of size, but rather in emotive presentation and subdued sexiness". A writer for ''The Huffington Post'' wrote that the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" was Beyoncé'ss most iconic visual work, but added that after the premiere of the video for "1+1", "it may now have company". David Malitz of ''The Washington Post'' stated that Beyoncé looks like
Hurricane Irene Hurricane Irene was a large and destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August 2011. The ninth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2011 At ...
at the beginning of the video, but added that she looks like "any number of chillwave videos" at the end. A more mixed review was given by '' OK!'' magazine, which described the video as cheesy. ''
L Magazine ''The L Magazine'' was a free bi-weekly magazine in New York City featuring investigative articles, arts and culture commentary, and event listings. It was available through distribution in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Hoboken. History ''Th ...
''s Mike Conklin was unsatisfied with the video, writing that since Beyoncé is rightfully considered to be among "the absolute best rtists, she can do better."


Live performances

Beyoncé first performed "1+1" live on ''American Idol'' on May 25, 2011. Wearing a purple gown, she sang the song surrounded by smoke and red lighting, declaring, "This is my favorite song". Towards the end of the performance, she fell to her knees and shook the hands of audience members. The performance earned her a
standing ovation A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim. In Ancient Rome returning military commanders (such as Marcus Licinius Crassus a ...
from the judges and members of the crowd. A writer from ''The Huffington Post'' called it "an epic, emotionally-charged performance" and praised the fact that Beyoncé "channel edevery particle of the room's energy into her lung-bursting calls and cries." Jillian Mapes of ''Billboard'' magazine noted, "The sheer force of the ballad literally brought eyoncéto her knees during the performance." Shortly after Beyoncé's performance on ''American Idol'', a video that surfaced online received considerable coverage from music critics. It became an instant viral video as soon as it hit the web. The clip was filmed using a camera phone and it shows Beyoncé rehearsing "1+1" backstage at ''American Idol'' with no microphone and simple keyboard accompaniment. The video was filmed by Beyoncé'ss husband,
Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one o ...
. In an introduction to the video on his Life + Times website he wrote: "Sometimes you need perspective. You've been right in front of 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 placed the video at number eight on their list of Beyoncé's ten best videos, writing that she sounds "perfect". While reviewing ''4'', Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal complimented the video, writing:
"One of the year's best music videos was directed by Jay-Z and cost about zero dollars to make. The video has a similar impromptu charm to the many intimate, one-shot performance clips popularized by
Vincent Moon Vincent Moon (real name Mathieu Saura, born 25 August 1979) is an independent filmmaker, photographer, and sound artist from Paris. He was the main director of the Blogotheque's Take Away Shows, a web-based project recording field work music vid ...
's Take-Away Shows, its appeal compounded by the shock of seeing such a notoriously manicured superstar without embellishment. It's all quite endearing and personal – two words one might not often associate with this superhumanly talented and famous couple."
On July 1, 2011, Beyoncé performed a free concert as part of ''
Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. ...
'' ''Summer Concert Series''. She sang "1+1" while kneeling on top of a white grand piano. Beyoncé also performed the song live on the TV show, '' The View''. She sang "1+1" live on August 14, 2011, during
4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé was the second concert residency by American recording artist Beyoncé. Held during four non-consecutive nights in August 2011 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, the concerts were part of Beyoncé's campa ...
, held in
Roseland Ballroom The Roseland Ballroom was a multipurpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theater district, on West 52nd Street in Manhattan. The venue, according to its website, accommodat ...
, New York City. Wearing a gold dress, she performed the song in front of 3,500 people while her band and orchestra were watching on. During the performance, Beyoncé climbed on top of a piano and sang on her knees. Erika Ramirez of ''Billboard'' magazine wrote that Beyoncé performed "1+1", "wrapped up in smoke and red hued lights, reminiscent of her live performance on the ''American Idol'' finale." Ramirez stated that Beyoncé sang the ballad with "impeccability." Mike Wass of Idolator praised how Beyoncé "wrung every ounce of emotion from the lyrics of '1+1' and hit each note perfectly", concluding that it was "an impressive display." ''Entertainment Weekly''s Brad Wete wrote that Beyoncé's voice "rang soulfully, only breaking to let the crowd fill in gaps for a sing-along feel." Joycelyn Vena of MTV News commented that on "1+1", Beyoncé's vocal abilities "outshined it all." On September 14, 2011, Beyoncé stopped at
Target Target may refer to: Physical items * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artillery, fi ...
perform at the managers meeting. Wearing a red dress, she sang "1+1" accompanied by three backup singers and a pianist. 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. In May 2012, Beyoncé performed "1+1" during her Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live revue in
Revel Atlantic City Ocean Casino Resort (formerly Revel Casino Hotel Atlantic City) is a resort, hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is the northernmost casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, located on of land, adjacent to the Showboat Hotel. It is ...
. She performed the song while kneeling on the piano. Jim Farber of '' Daily News'' commented that the song was sung with "precision and sweep, she tipped the balance decidedly softer, giving her power grounding". According to Chuck Darrow of ''
The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pennsy ...
'', the acoustic performance of the ballad, "proved a nice respite from the relentless thump-thump-thump of the many dance-pop numbers". Tris McCall of
New Jersey On-Line NJ.com is a digital news content provider and website in New Jersey owned by Advance Publications. According to a report in ''The New York Times'' in 2012, it was the largest provider of digital news in the state at the time. In 2018, comScore r ...
complimented the "magnificent run through the slow-burning" song. Ben Ratliff of ''The New York Times'' mentioned "1+1" in the "almost continuous high point" of the concert. Brad Wete of ''
Complex Complex commonly refers to: * Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe ** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'' magazine wrote that "B yoncés voice was stellar" during the performance of the song on the revue.


Other versions and usage in media

The-Dream's demo of "1+1", originally titled as "Nothing but Love", leaked onto the Internet in late May 2011. Michael Cragg of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' found it to be "Prince-esque". In late June 2011, American recording artist Dondria posted a video of herself, singing "1+1" while seated in front her computer. On July 12, 2011, ''
Rap-Up ''Rap-Up'' is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the ...
'' reported that the American singer, Tiffany Evans, who had previously covered "Speechless" from Beyoncé'ss first studio album, '' Dangerously in Love'' (2003), had also covered "1+1", with some lyrical modifications. Miss Murphy covered the song during the second series of Australian ''The Voice'' on May 20, 2013. Murphy's version peaked at number 49 on the
Australian Singles Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
. Beyoncé appeared on ''
Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Para ...
'' on June 16, 2011, to promote the exclusive-to-Target deluxe edition of ''4'' and gave fans a sneak preview of its television commercial. The 30-second commercial, which features "1+1" and "
Countdown A countdown is a sequence of backward counting to indicate the time remaining before an event is scheduled to occur. NASA commonly employs the terms "L-minus" and "T-minus" during the preparation for and anticipation of a rocket launch, and eve ...
" playing in the background, began airing in the United States on June 24, 2011. Rapper
Pusha T Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 20 ...
sampled the song on his song titled, 'Rock N' Roll', that was featured on his fourth studio album ''
It's Almost Dry ''It's Almost Dry'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper Pusha T. It was released on April 22, 2022, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album is Pusha T's final album with Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances fro ...
''.


Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from ''4''
liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes. Origin Liner notes are desce ...
. *Lee Blaske –
strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
*Val Brathwaite – mixer assistant *Steven Dennis – engineer assistant *Mark Gray –
engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...
assistant *Nikki Gallespi – drums *Beyoncé Knowles – vocals, producer, songwriter *
Tony Maserati Tony Maserati is an American record producer and audio engineer specializing in mixing. He was involved in the development of the New York R&B and hip-hop scene in the 1990s, working with Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, and Queen ...
– mixer * Terius "The-Dream" Nash – producer, songwriter *Jason Sherwood – engineer assistant *
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart Christopher Alan "Tricky" Stewart (born January 4, 1974) is an American record producer, record executive, songwriter, and music publisher. In a career spanning over 30 years, Stewart has won 5 Grammys and is responsible for over 50 million rec ...
– producer, songwriter * Brian "B- LUV" Thomas – recorder *
Pat Thrall Patrick Thrall is an American rock guitarist. Thrall began his recording career in 1972. He played guitar, vocals, and percussion with the group Cookin' Mama, which had his brother, Preston Thrall, on percussion. They released the album ''New Day ...
– recorder *Pete Wolford – engineer assistant, guitar * Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – vocals recorder


Charts


Certifications


References


External links


Beyoncé Knowles's Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:1 plus 1 2010s ballads 2011 songs Beyoncé songs Contemporary R&B ballads Soul ballads Song recordings produced by Beyoncé Song recordings produced by Tricky Stewart Songs written by Beyoncé Songs written by The-Dream Songs written by Tricky Stewart Song recordings produced by The-Dream