Beyonce's 1+1 named Best song of 2011 by Pretty Much Music
Beyoncé has hits to spare. Her two biggest rank among the last decade’s best. Confetti cannons heralded her 2003 debut single “Crazy in Love,” and her arrival as a solo artist. Her dominance was undeniable by 2008, thanks to an inescapable anthem (do really I need to name it?) and its instantly iconic music video. “1+1,” the shiniest jewel in Beyoncé’s (not Sasha Fierce’s) tiara, was somehow met with a shrug. It reached #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. Time will no doubt rectify this injustice.
Oft-repeated comparisons to Sam Cooke and Prince are apt, but they miss the point. “1+1” is an achievement of Knowles’ own. Beyoncé may not know much about algebra, but taken together, the song’s 3/4-time arpeggios, tender strings, howling electric-guitar solo, and superb vocal performance yield a deeply affecting four-and-a-half minutes of pop balladry. That The-Dream gave this song away is insane, an example of artistic generosity (or maybe regret) on par with “Because the Night” and “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
Beyonce’s version, so far superior to The-Dream’s demo, only confirms her own talent. Its definitive version was taken backstage and was recorded on a phone. No sampled horns or elaborate choreography were needed: just a pop star with an insanely good song. Or better put: an artist with a classic.
Hey, I don't know much about guns but I
I've been shot by you (hey)
And I don't know when I'm gonna die but I hope
That I'm gonna die by you (hey)
And I don't know much about fighting but I
I know I will fight for you (hey)
And just when I ball up my fists I realize
I'm laying right next to you baby
Hey, I don't know much about guns but I
I've been shot by you (hey)
And I don't know when I'm gonna die but I hope
That I'm gonna die by you (hey)
And I don't know much about fighting but I
I know I will fight for you (hey)
And just when I ball up my fists I realize
I'm laying right next to you baby
One of the few songs that can make me cry. The fact that 1+1 isn't even "algebah" doesn't take away from the song shows how beautiful it is. It's just an instant classic.
