I Miss You (Beyoncé Knowles song)
Encyclopedia
"I Miss You" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles
, taken from her fourth studio album, 4
(2011). It was written by Knowles, Frank Ocean
and Shea Taylor while production was handled by Knowles and Taylor. The song's development was motivated the fact that Knowles wanted to focus on songs being classics, songs that would last, and songs that she could sing when she becomes old. A mid-paced R&B
ballad, "I Miss You" is influenced by the ballads of the 1980s. Its instrumentation
consists essentially of synthesizers and keyboards
. "I Miss You" finds Knowles, as the protagonist, thinking deeply over her relationship with her love interest from whom she parted; however, she still pins for him and feels self-conscious for doing so.
"I Miss You" was generally well-received by music critics who complimented its very sparse production as well as its aurally remarkable 1980s influence. Some of them also described the song as a "haunting" ballad and called it the highlight of the record. Critics also complimented how Knowles' vocals keep on alternating from desperate and calm throughout the song, and highlighted the vulnerability in her voice. Following the release of 4 in early July 2011, "I Miss You" charted at number 184 on the UK Singles Chart
and at number 34 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart
, based on downloads alone. The song was part of Knowles' set list
for her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé
, held in Roseland Ballroom
, New York City in August 2011.
band member Frank Ocean
, and Shea Taylor while production was handled by Knowles and Taylor themselves. In early March 2011, Ocean made known that Knowles was back in the studio working on her then upcoming fourth studio album, 4
. Ocean posted a snap of Knowles in his studio on Twitter
, fuelling reports that he had worked with Knowles on the new record. As well as posting a picture of Knowles recording new material, he also accompanied the image with the comment: "This is the room i am working in this day. not to brag but man, this is surreal. like [...] she is singing my songs. If time were to stop right now, the past couple weeks would be near the top of the highlight reel for my short time on earth [sic]."
In July 2011, Knowles sat for an interview with Gabriel Alvarez of Complex magazine, where she elaborated on how she came to know about Ocean: "Jay[-Z] had a CD playing in the car one Sunday when we were driving to Brooklyn. I noticed his tone, his arrangements, and his storytelling. I immediately reached out to him—literally the next morning. I asked him to fly to New York
and work on my record. In this way, Ocean ended up co-writing "I Miss You". Beginning on June 16 to June 27, 2011, the songs from 4 were available to listen to in full each day on Knowles' official website, paired with its accompanying photo spread from the album packaging and an insightful quote. On June 19, 2011, "I Miss You"" was the fourth song to be chosen. The quote found Knowles elaborating on what motivated her to record a song like "I Miss You":
and contains elements of pop music
. Michael Cragg, writing for both The Guardian
and The Observer
, noted that it is heavily influenced by the 1980s ballads. This was further noted by Charles Ubaghs of The Quietus
who commented that "I Miss You" draws influence form the 1980s electro
soul
music styles. A generally low-key song, "I Miss You" is built on a simple puttering metronomic beat
, which has been further described as a "minimal, geiger-counter-sounding click-pop [one]." "I Miss You" feels "light and understated", sparing the musical histrionics of "Dangerously in Love
" (2003) or "If I Were a Boy
" (2008), according to Andrew Unterberger of PopCrush. The song's instrumentation consists of "layers of atmospheric keyboards
", ambient synthesizers, and tinny 808 drums
The synthesizers expand and contract as they progress through their chords
, maintaining an even level of intensity throughout.
As stated by Unterberger, owing to its "same kind of vocal longing, late-night desperation lyrics, and most importantly, thick, moody synth[esizers]", "I Miss You" bears resemblance to a mid-1980s Foreigner
ballad. Additionally, Rich Juzwiak of The Village Voice
commented that Martika
's 1991 single, "Love... Thy Will Be Done
", is conjured in "I Miss You". Matthew Horton of BBC
felt that "I Miss You" features "the kind of subtle tension" achieved by Alicia Keys
' Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
(2010). Jim Farber of The Daily News added that "'I Miss You' contrasts a soft bed of synth[esizers] and heavily echoed drum
s" in a way similar to Phil Collins
' 1981 single, "In the Air Tonight
".
Described by Matthew Horton as a song that "tug[s] heartstrings", "I Miss You" finds Knowles, as the female protagonist, ruminating over her relationship with her ex-love interest without firm verdicts; she is "confused, conflicted, very human", as stated by Chicago Sun-Times
s Thomas Conner. Even though they have parted, Knowles "still cannot let go and her needs are vexing her", according to Melinda Newman of HitFix
. Also, Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone
added that the song features Knowles "at her most understated." Throughout the song, her phrasing is "cool, calm and collected. Ian Walker of AbsolutePunk stated that the lyrics of "I Miss You" are a mixture of "hopeful longing and loneliness."
Knowles begins the first verse of the song in a near-whisper, "I thought that things like this get better with time / But I still need you / Why is that?" The latter rhetorical question reappears throughout the song. In the chorus lines
, she also questions herself: "I miss you / But if I got with you, could it feel the same?" From the second verse and onwards, the song finds Knowles "vocalizing an internal battle, alternately desperate and calm", as stated by Joey Guerra of The Houston Chronicle
. In other words, Knowles starts to sing in a double voice; her lower vocal notes are set as the song's base, while her voice in a heightened key
is played over it. In the second verse, she sings about pining for her ex-love interest and feeling self-conscious for doing so: "It hurts my pride to tell you how I feel, but I still need to" before asking again, "Why is that?". The bridge
features Knowles chanting, "No matter who you are / It is so simple / A feeling / But it’s everything."
who stated that "1+1
provides Knowles a song that "can compete with the favorites of this generation’s parents", came to the conclusion that "1+1" and "I Miss You" are "equally competent, if safer, attempts at the same formula." He concluded that these songs make it clear that Knowles is "head and shoulders above her Clear Channel competition in R&B." Joanne Dorken of MTV UK who described "I Miss You" as "heartfelt ballad" with her vocals being "on point", as she delivers the song with "raw emotion." Ben Cardew of Music Week
appreciated "the influence of Frank Ocean", which according to him, made it feel like "the first track on the album to have a modern feel." He went on praising the fact that the ballad is constructed from "a stripped down beat and washes of synth, making a very simple track but one that benefits from its simplicity." Describing "I Miss You" as a "gently pulsing, sci-fi ballad", Joey Guerra of The Houston Chronicle
called the song "one of the most fascinating moments amid a dozen tracks." Michael Cragg of The Observer
called "the minimal 'I Miss You' the highlight [of 4]." Brandon Lewis of Blogcritics
found "I Miss You" both "haunting and gorgeous, with an ominous vocal and very sparse production." Showing high favoritism for "I Miss You", Roberts Randall of The Los Angeles Times
wrote:
Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly
was also positive, writing that Knowles "pants and sweats and grunts (except, you know, sexy-like), her voice climbing ever higher in search of an octave big enough to hold it." Ricky Schweitzer of One Thirty BPM
commented that "I Miss You" will earn "[a] deserved spot in the Beyoncé pantheon once fans take the time to grow attached to [it]." Embling of Tiny Mix Tapes
wrote that "[...]" if sung by anyone else, 'I Miss You' would be a thin wisp of a ballad, but Beyoncé allows her voice to crack at the right moments, moving tenuously, self-consciously through the soft, circular melody. He concluded that songs like "I Miss You" and "Start Over
" would earn deserved spots in "the Beyoncé pantheon" once fans take the time to grow attached to them. Andrew Unterberger of PopCrush praised the way Knowles delivers the line "Why is that?", writing that it is "a nice little nod to the confusion of heartbreak, and a rare, welcome glimpse of vulnerability for an artist who too often seems to have all of the answers." Referring to "I Miss You", Alexis Petridis of The Guardian
wrote that "the [19]80s influence is not always a bad thing." He considered the song to be "a woozy update of an old-fashioned slow jam", further stating that "it is probably pushing it a bit to call it an R&B equivalent of Ariel Pink
's hypnagogic pop, but there's something enveloping and dream-like about it." Ian Walker of AbsolutePunk commented that the "[the] hollow beat and dismal synthesizers, allow[ed] Knowles and her morosely beautiful voice center stage. [...] Knowles delivers a believable performance effortlessly." By contrast, Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune was negative, writing that "['I Miss You' is] easily overlooked with its forlorn keyboard and beat-box chintziness." Similarly, Consequence of Sound
writer Chris Coplan felt that the ballad is "too-saccharine-for-its-own-good."
in Roseland Ballroom
, New York City. She performed the song in front of 3,500 people wearing a gold dress and backed by her all-female band and her backing singers, called the Mamas. On November 5, 2011, Ocean performed "I Miss You" at the House of Blues in New Orleans. Dressed in a black suit with a red-and-white bandana around his head, he sat down at an electric piano to perform it live to end the evening.The crowd also sang along. Alex Rawls found his performance to be "warm and soulful".
for the week ending July 2, 2011. Following the release of 4, "I Miss You" also charted at number 184 on the UK Singles Chart
on July 9, 2011, based on downloads alone.
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, taken from her fourth studio album, 4
4 (Beyoncé Knowles album)
4 is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, released through Columbia Records on June 24, 2011. Three weeks before its scheduled release, 4 leaked in full. The twelve-song set marks the first release by Knowles since separating professionally with father and manager,...
(2011). It was written by Knowles, Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean
Christopher Francis Ocean , better known by his stage name Frank Ocean, is an American singer-songwriter and rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a member of OFWGKTA.-2005-2010: Career beginnings:...
and Shea Taylor while production was handled by Knowles and Taylor. The song's development was motivated the fact that Knowles wanted to focus on songs being classics, songs that would last, and songs that she could sing when she becomes old. A mid-paced R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
ballad, "I Miss You" is influenced by the ballads of the 1980s. Its instrumentation
Instrumentation
Instrumentation is defined as the art and science of measurement and control of process variables within a production, or manufacturing area....
consists essentially of synthesizers and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. "I Miss You" finds Knowles, as the protagonist, thinking deeply over her relationship with her love interest from whom she parted; however, she still pins for him and feels self-conscious for doing so.
"I Miss You" was generally well-received by music critics who complimented its very sparse production as well as its aurally remarkable 1980s influence. Some of them also described the song as a "haunting" ballad and called it the highlight of the record. Critics also complimented how Knowles' vocals keep on alternating from desperate and calm throughout the song, and highlighted the vulnerability in her voice. Following the release of 4 in early July 2011, "I Miss You" charted at number 184 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and at number 34 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart
Gaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
, based on downloads alone. The song was part of Knowles' set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
for her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé
4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé
4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé was a revue by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. Held in four non-consecutive nights in August 2011, the concerts were part of Knowles' campaign in support of her fourth studio album 4 . Knowles performed to a standing room-only audience at the Roseland...
, held in Roseland Ballroom
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom is a multi-purpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theatre district, on West 52nd Street....
, New York City in August 2011.
Background and development
"I Miss You" was written by Knowles, Odd FutureOFWGKTA
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, often abbreviated OFWGKTA and also known simply as Odd Future or Golf Wang, is an alternative hip hop collective from Los Angeles, California...
band member Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean
Christopher Francis Ocean , better known by his stage name Frank Ocean, is an American singer-songwriter and rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a member of OFWGKTA.-2005-2010: Career beginnings:...
, and Shea Taylor while production was handled by Knowles and Taylor themselves. In early March 2011, Ocean made known that Knowles was back in the studio working on her then upcoming fourth studio album, 4
4 (Beyoncé Knowles album)
4 is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, released through Columbia Records on June 24, 2011. Three weeks before its scheduled release, 4 leaked in full. The twelve-song set marks the first release by Knowles since separating professionally with father and manager,...
. Ocean posted a snap of Knowles in his studio on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, fuelling reports that he had worked with Knowles on the new record. As well as posting a picture of Knowles recording new material, he also accompanied the image with the comment: "This is the room i am working in this day. not to brag but man, this is surreal. like [...] she is singing my songs. If time were to stop right now, the past couple weeks would be near the top of the highlight reel for my short time on earth [sic]."
In July 2011, Knowles sat for an interview with Gabriel Alvarez of Complex magazine, where she elaborated on how she came to know about Ocean: "Jay[-Z] had a CD playing in the car one Sunday when we were driving to Brooklyn. I noticed his tone, his arrangements, and his storytelling. I immediately reached out to him—literally the next morning. I asked him to fly to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and work on my record. In this way, Ocean ended up co-writing "I Miss You". Beginning on June 16 to June 27, 2011, the songs from 4 were available to listen to in full each day on Knowles' official website, paired with its accompanying photo spread from the album packaging and an insightful quote. On June 19, 2011, "I Miss You"" was the fourth song to be chosen. The quote found Knowles elaborating on what motivated her to record a song like "I Miss You":
[4] is definitely an evolution. It is bolder than the music on my previous albums because I’m bolder. The more mature I become and the more life experiences I have, the more I have to talk about. I really focused on songs being classics, songs that would last, songs that I could sing when I’m 40 and when I’m 60.
Composition
"I Miss You" is a mid-tempo ballad that draws from the genres of R&BContemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and contains elements of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. Michael Cragg, writing for both The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, noted that it is heavily influenced by the 1980s ballads. This was further noted by Charles Ubaghs of The Quietus
The Quietus
The Quietus is a British online rock music and pop culture magazine, focusing on arts news, reviews, and features. The site is an editorially independent publication led by John Doran and a group of freelance journalists and critics, some of whom have worked for other media outlets...
who commented that "I Miss You" draws influence form the 1980s electro
Electro (music)
Electro is a genre of electronic dance music directly influenced by the use of TR-808 drum machines, Moog keytar synthesizers and funk sampling...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
music styles. A generally low-key song, "I Miss You" is built on a simple puttering metronomic beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
, which has been further described as a "minimal, geiger-counter-sounding click-pop [one]." "I Miss You" feels "light and understated", sparing the musical histrionics of "Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love 2
"Dangerously in Love 2" is a song written and produced by Beyoncé Knowles and Errol McCalla, Jr. The ballad was first recorded by Destiny's Child for their third studio album Survivor , under the title "Dangerously in Love", and is one of the few songs on Survivor that Knowles sings almost...
" (2003) or "If I Were a Boy
If I Were a Boy
"If I Were a Boy" is a pop song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It was composed by Toby Gad and BC Jean. Jean initially recorded her version of the song which was rejected by Jean's record company. Knowles then recorded a new version for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce...
" (2008), according to Andrew Unterberger of PopCrush. The song's instrumentation consists of "layers of atmospheric keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
", ambient synthesizers, and tinny 808 drums
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
The synthesizers expand and contract as they progress through their chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
, maintaining an even level of intensity throughout.
As stated by Unterberger, owing to its "same kind of vocal longing, late-night desperation lyrics, and most importantly, thick, moody synth[esizers]", "I Miss You" bears resemblance to a mid-1980s Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
ballad. Additionally, Rich Juzwiak of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
commented that Martika
Martika
Martika is an American pop singer-songwriter and actress. As a singer she released two internationally successful albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, selling over four million copies worldwide.-Early life and career:Martika entered mainstream show business in an uncredited role as one of the...
's 1991 single, "Love... Thy Will Be Done
Love... Thy Will Be Done
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" was the first single released from Martika's second album, Martika's Kitchen. The single, written and produced by Prince, reached the top ten of the pop charts in the U.S., UK, France and Australia. The single was released on July 25, 1991.-Background:This song introduced...
", is conjured in "I Miss You". Matthew Horton of BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
felt that "I Miss You" features "the kind of subtle tension" achieved by Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
' Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
"Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" is a song performed by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio album, The Element of Freedom . The ballad has been hailed by many music critics as the best track from the album. It marks a departure in...
(2010). Jim Farber of The Daily News added that "'I Miss You' contrasts a soft bed of synth[esizers] and heavily echoed drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s" in a way similar to Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
' 1981 single, "In the Air Tonight
In the Air Tonight
"In the Air Tonight" is a song by Phil Collins that first appeared on his 1981 album Face Value. It was recorded in 1979 and was the first single of Collins' solo career, and remains one of his best-known hits. The music video, directed by Stuart Orme, was released in 1981.-The song/recording:The...
".
Described by Matthew Horton as a song that "tug[s] heartstrings", "I Miss You" finds Knowles, as the female protagonist, ruminating over her relationship with her ex-love interest without firm verdicts; she is "confused, conflicted, very human", as stated by Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
s Thomas Conner. Even though they have parted, Knowles "still cannot let go and her needs are vexing her", according to Melinda Newman of HitFix
HitFix
HitFix, or the HitFix.com is an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information and providing reviews and critiques of film, music and television...
. Also, Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
added that the song features Knowles "at her most understated." Throughout the song, her phrasing is "cool, calm and collected. Ian Walker of AbsolutePunk stated that the lyrics of "I Miss You" are a mixture of "hopeful longing and loneliness."
Knowles begins the first verse of the song in a near-whisper, "I thought that things like this get better with time / But I still need you / Why is that?" The latter rhetorical question reappears throughout the song. In the chorus lines
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
, she also questions herself: "I miss you / But if I got with you, could it feel the same?" From the second verse and onwards, the song finds Knowles "vocalizing an internal battle, alternately desperate and calm", as stated by Joey Guerra of The Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
. In other words, Knowles starts to sing in a double voice; her lower vocal notes are set as the song's base, while her voice in a heightened key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
is played over it. In the second verse, she sings about pining for her ex-love interest and feeling self-conscious for doing so: "It hurts my pride to tell you how I feel, but I still need to" before asking again, "Why is that?". The bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
features Knowles chanting, "No matter who you are / It is so simple / A feeling / But it’s everything."
Critical reception
David Amidon of PopMattersPopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
who stated that "1+1
1+1 (song)
"1+1" is a song recorded by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles for her fourth studio album, 4 . Knowles debuted the song on May 25, 2011, on American Idol, and digitally released it as a promotional single in the United States through Columbia Records...
provides Knowles a song that "can compete with the favorites of this generation’s parents", came to the conclusion that "1+1" and "I Miss You" are "equally competent, if safer, attempts at the same formula." He concluded that these songs make it clear that Knowles is "head and shoulders above her Clear Channel competition in R&B." Joanne Dorken of MTV UK who described "I Miss You" as "heartfelt ballad" with her vocals being "on point", as she delivers the song with "raw emotion." Ben Cardew of Music Week
Music Week
Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
appreciated "the influence of Frank Ocean", which according to him, made it feel like "the first track on the album to have a modern feel." He went on praising the fact that the ballad is constructed from "a stripped down beat and washes of synth, making a very simple track but one that benefits from its simplicity." Describing "I Miss You" as a "gently pulsing, sci-fi ballad", Joey Guerra of The Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
called the song "one of the most fascinating moments amid a dozen tracks." Michael Cragg of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
called "the minimal 'I Miss You' the highlight [of 4]." Brandon Lewis of Blogcritics
Blogcritics
Blogcritics is a blog network and online magazine of news and opinion. The site—a self-proclaimed "sinister cabal of superior writers"—was founded in 2002 by Eric Olsen and Phillip Winn...
found "I Miss You" both "haunting and gorgeous, with an ominous vocal and very sparse production." Showing high favoritism for "I Miss You", Roberts Randall of The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
wrote:
Beyoncé Knowles is not worried chasing fads, though she is well aware of them. Over the years, she has learned how to harness them so effortlessly that they seem like her ideas. Take the standout track on her new album, 4, 'I Miss You', a slow-burn jam of desire co-written by Odd Future-affiliated crooner Frank Ocean. In its beginning moments, the song draws on the sparse wave of recent music by British band The xxThe xxThe xx are an English indie pop band, formed in London in 2005. The band's members met while studying at Elliott School, the same school that produced Hot Chip, Burial and Four Tet. They became a trio when their second guitarist and keyboardist, Baria Qureshi, departed in late 2009. In September...
by using silence as a weapon, a notion that extends across the 12-song album.
Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
was also positive, writing that Knowles "pants and sweats and grunts (except, you know, sexy-like), her voice climbing ever higher in search of an octave big enough to hold it." Ricky Schweitzer of One Thirty BPM
One Thirty BPM
One Thirty BPM is a New York-based online publication providing reviews, news, media, interviews, features, and more from both the independent and mainstream spheres of the music world...
commented that "I Miss You" will earn "[a] deserved spot in the Beyoncé pantheon once fans take the time to grow attached to [it]." Embling of Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
wrote that "[...]" if sung by anyone else, 'I Miss You' would be a thin wisp of a ballad, but Beyoncé allows her voice to crack at the right moments, moving tenuously, self-consciously through the soft, circular melody. He concluded that songs like "I Miss You" and "Start Over
Start Over
"Start Over" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles taken from her fourth studio album 4 . It was written by Shea Taylor, Knowles and Ester Dean and produced by the first two. The song's development was motivated by the fact that Knowles traveled around the world and experienced...
" would earn deserved spots in "the Beyoncé pantheon" once fans take the time to grow attached to them. Andrew Unterberger of PopCrush praised the way Knowles delivers the line "Why is that?", writing that it is "a nice little nod to the confusion of heartbreak, and a rare, welcome glimpse of vulnerability for an artist who too often seems to have all of the answers." Referring to "I Miss You", Alexis Petridis of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
wrote that "the [19]80s influence is not always a bad thing." He considered the song to be "a woozy update of an old-fashioned slow jam", further stating that "it is probably pushing it a bit to call it an R&B equivalent of Ariel Pink
Ariel Pink
Ariel Pink is a Los Angeles-based recording artist who is sometimes associated with the freak folk scene.-Biography:...
's hypnagogic pop, but there's something enveloping and dream-like about it." Ian Walker of AbsolutePunk commented that the "[the] hollow beat and dismal synthesizers, allow[ed] Knowles and her morosely beautiful voice center stage. [...] Knowles delivers a believable performance effortlessly." By contrast, Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune was negative, writing that "['I Miss You' is] easily overlooked with its forlorn keyboard and beat-box chintziness." Similarly, Consequence of Sound
Consequence of Sound
Consequence of Sound, also known often as CoS, is a Chicago-based music website featuring news, album and concert reviews, and editorials. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook micro-site, which serves as an on-line database for music festival news and rumors...
writer Chris Coplan felt that the ballad is "too-saccharine-for-its-own-good."
Live performances
Knowles performed "I Miss You" live for first time on August 14, 2011 during her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé
4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé was a revue by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. Held in four non-consecutive nights in August 2011, the concerts were part of Knowles' campaign in support of her fourth studio album 4 . Knowles performed to a standing room-only audience at the Roseland...
in Roseland Ballroom
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom is a multi-purpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theatre district, on West 52nd Street....
, New York City. She performed the song in front of 3,500 people wearing a gold dress and backed by her all-female band and her backing singers, called the Mamas. On November 5, 2011, Ocean performed "I Miss You" at the House of Blues in New Orleans. Dressed in a black suit with a red-and-white bandana around his head, he sat down at an electric piano to perform it live to end the evening.The crowd also sang along. Alex Rawls found his performance to be "warm and soulful".
Chart performance
Selling 16,032 digital downloads, the song opened at number 34 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles ChartGaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
for the week ending July 2, 2011. Following the release of 4, "I Miss You" also charted at number 184 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on July 9, 2011, based on downloads alone.
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart Gaon Chart The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts... |
34 |
| Portuguese Ringtone Chart Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa The Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa is currently the only recording industry association in Portugal. Created in 1989, it succeeded GPPFV and UNEVA .... |
20 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
184 |