“1+1” is the first track on 4. It was released as the promotional single for her album on May 25, 2011 to critical acclaim. It peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video premiered on August 26, 2011.

The track showcases a relatively raw vocal performance from Beyoncé, presenting a side of her voice she told Billboard she wanted to use more of on her forthcoming album, 4;

I used a lot of the brassiness and grittiness in my voice that people hear in my live performances, but not necessarily on my records.

It’s certainly evident in this oddly intimate video shot by husband Jay-Z backstage before her American Idol performance. Filmed in her dressing room with no microphone and simple keyboard accompaniment (and with mum, nephew and various entourage watching), it’s a reminder that beneath all the extraneous stuff is a pretty jaw-dropping voice.

In 2024, Rolling Stone named the record the 27th best R&B song of the 21st century.