I Miss You (Beyoncé song)

"I Miss You"
Song by Beyoncé from the album 4
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011, MSR Studios
(New York City; New York)
Genre
Length 2:59
Label Columbia
Writer Beyoncé Knowles, Frank Ocean, Shea Taylor
Producer Beyoncé Knowles, Shea Taylor
4 track listing

"I Miss You" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé, taken from her fourth studio album, 4 (2011). It was written by Beyoncé, Frank Ocean and Shea Taylor while production was handled by Beyoncé and Taylor. The song's development was motivated the fact that Beyoncé 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 Beyoncé, as the protagonist, thinking deeply over her relationship with her love interest from whom she parted; however, she still pines for him and feels self-conscious for doing so.

"I Miss You" was generally praised 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 Beyoncé's 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 Beyoncé's set list for her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé, held in Roseland Ballroom, New York City in August 2011.

Background and development

Frank Ocean (pictured) co-wrote "I Miss You".

"I Miss You" was written by Beyoncé, Odd Future collective member Frank Ocean, and Shea Taylor while production was handled by Beyoncé and Taylor themselves.[1] In early March 2011, Ocean made known that Beyoncé was back in the studio working on her then upcoming fourth studio album, 4. Ocean posted a snap of Beyoncé in his studio on Twitter, fuelling reports that he had worked with Beyoncé on the new record. As well as posting a picture of Beyoncé 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]."[2]

In July 2011, Beyoncé sat for an interview with Gabriel Alvarez of Complex magazine, where she elaborated on how she came to know about Ocean:[3] "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."[3] In this way, Ocean ended up co-writing "I Miss You".[4] Beginning on June 16 to June 27, 2011, the songs from 4 were available to listen to in full each day on Beyoncé's official website, paired with its accompanying photo spread from the album packaging and an insightful quote.[5] On June 18, 2011, "I Miss You"" was the third song to be chosen. The quote found Beyoncé 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.[6]

Composition

"I Miss You" is a mid-tempo ballad[7][8] that draws from the genres of R&B and contains elements of pop music and trip hop.[9][10] Michael Cragg, writing for both The Guardian and The Observer, noted that it is heavily influenced by the 1980s ballads.[10][11] This was further noted by Charles Ubaghs of The Quietus and Priya Elan of NME, who commented that "I Miss You" is influenced by the 1980s electro soul[12] and neo soul music styles respectively.[13] A generally low-key song,[14] "I Miss You" is built on a simple puttering metronomic beat,[15][16][17] which has been further described as a "minimal, geiger-counter-sounding click-pop [one]".[7] "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.[7] The song's instrumentation consists of "layers of atmospheric keyboards",[17] ambient synthesizers,[18] and tinny 808 drums[19][20] The synthesizers expand and contract as they progress through their chords, maintaining an even level of intensity throughout.[18]
"I Miss You"
An 18-second sample of part of the chorus lines of "I Miss You", demonstrating how Knowles' voice is doubled, with her regular tone voice singing softly over the ambient synthesizers, while her more prominent and higher pitched vocals are laid over it.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

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.[7] Additionally, Rich Juzwiak of The Village Voice commented that Martika's 1991 song "Love… Thy Will Be Done" is conjured in "I Miss You".[18] 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).[21] Jim Farber of Daily News added that "'I Miss You' contrasts a soft bed of synth[esizers] and heavily echoed drums" in a way similar to Phil Collins' 1981 song "In the Air Tonight".[22]

Described by Matthew Horton as a song that "tug[s] heartstrings",[21] "I Miss You" finds Beyoncé, 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 the Chicago Sun-Times's Thomas Conner.[15] Even though they have parted, Beyoncé "still cannot let go and her needs are vexing her", according to Melinda Newman of HitFix.[23] Also, Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone added that the song features Beyoncé "at her most understated".[17] Throughout the song, her phrasing is "cool, calm and collected".[17] Ian Walker of AbsolutePunk stated that the lyrics of "I Miss You" are a mixture of "hopeful longing and loneliness."[24]

Beyoncé 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.[7] In the chorus lines, she questions herself, "I miss you / But if I got with you, could it feel the same?"[25] From the second verse and onwards, the song finds Beyoncé "vocalizing an internal battle, alternately desperate and calm", as stated by Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle.[26] She 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.[16][26] In the second verse, she sings, "The words don’t ever seem to come out right / But I still mean [th]em",[16] 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?".[27] The bridge features Beyoncé chanting, "No matter who you are / It is so simple / A feeling / But it’s everything."[7]

Critical reception

"I Miss You" received generally positive reviews. David Amidon of PopMatters who stated that "1+1 provides Beyoncé 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 Beyoncé is "head and shoulders above her Clear Channel competition in R&B".[9] 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".[8] 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".[28] 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".[26] Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun wrote that "I Miss You" is a nocturnal and experimental ballad due to its synth washes.[29] Michael Cragg of The Observer called "the minimal 'I Miss You' the highlight [of 4]".[11] Brandon Lewis of Blogcritics found "I Miss You" both "haunting and gorgeous, with an ominous vocal and very sparse production".[20] Showing high favoritism for "I Miss You", Roberts Randall of Los Angeles Times 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 xx by using silence as a weapon, a notion that extends across the 12-song album.[30]

Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly was also positive, writing that Beyoncé "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".[31] 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."[19] 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.[19] Andrew Unterberger of PopCrush praised the way Beyoncé 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."[7] 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."[10] Ian Walker of AbsolutePunk commented that the "[the] hollow beat and dismal synthesizers, allow[ed] Beyoncé and her morosely beautiful voice center stage. [...] Beyoncé delivers a believable performance effortlessly."[24] 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."[14] Similarly, Consequence of Sound writer Chris Coplan felt that the ballad is "too-saccharine-for-its-own-good."[32] The Guardian's critics Ben Beaumont Thomas and Rebecca Nicholson ranked "I Miss You" at numbers four and nine respectively on their lists of The 10 Best Tracks of 2011.[33]

Live performances

Beyoncé performing during the 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé revue.

Beyoncé performed "I Miss You" live for first time on August 14, 2011 during her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé in Roseland Ballroom, New York City.[34] 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.[35] During the ITV special A Night With Beyoncé which aired on December 4 in the United Kingdom, Beyoncé performed "I Miss You" to a selected crowd of fans.[36]

In May, 2012, Beyoncé performed "I Miss You" during her Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live revue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States' entertainment resort, hotel, casino and spa, Revel.[37][38] An electronic backdrop behind Beyoncé and a male dancer in kinetic, black-and-white stripes accompanied Beyoncé on stage.[39] Dan DeLuca of The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that "the set list tipped too heavily at times toward bombastic balladry like 'I Care' and 'I Miss You'".[40] 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".[41] Tris McCall of New Jersey On-Line wrote, "Even 'I Miss You,' perhaps the least flashy song in her catalog, felt like a necessary breather, and an occasion for her to break out her conversational lower register."[42]

Cover versions

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 of Rolling Stone found his performance to be "warm and soulful".[43] British indie pop band The xx covered the song on February 14, 2013 during their concert in Austin, Texas and later posted the cover on their official blog.[44][45] Their cover of the song was a duet between Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim accompanied by spare guitar and bass.[46] Their cover of the song was described as "great" by Jenn Pelly of Pitchfork Media,[47] while Sam Weiss of Complex magazine praised the performance saying that the band made the song sound similar to their own material from the album Coexist (2012).[48] Chris Martins of Spin magazine commented that "It's exactly what you'd expect to hear, and it's exactly as beautiful as you'd hope it would be."[46]

Chart performance

Selling 16,032 digital downloads, "I Miss You" opened at number 34 on the South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart for the week ending July 2, 2011.[49] 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.[50]

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Portuguese Ringtone Chart[51] 20
South Korea Gaon International Singles Chart[49] 34
UK Singles Chart[50] 184

References

  1. ↑ 4 (Media notes). Beyoncé Knowles. Columbia Records. 2011.
  2. ↑ "Beyoncé Dives Into Studio with Frank Ocean". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. March 12, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Alvarez, Gabriel (July 19, 2011). "Beyoncé: Mighty Fly (2011 Cover Story & Gallery)". Complex. Complex Media Network. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  4. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (July 19, 2011). "Beyonce Shares Her Love For Frank Ocean, Kanye West". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Join Us As We Count Down To '4'". Beyoncé Knowles' Official Website. Archived from the original on June 18, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Beyoncé's New Album Out Now & Streaming In Full | The Official Beyoncé Site". Beyoncé Knowles' Official Website. Note that you have to click on the cover art of 'I Miss You' to see the quote. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unterberger, Andrew (June 7, 2011). "Beyoncé's 'I Miss You' Reviewed". PopCrush. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  8. 1 2 Dorken, Joanne (June 21, 2011). "Beyoncé '4' Track By Track Review". MTV UK. MTV Networks. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Amidon, David (June 27, 2011). "Beyoncé: 4 < PopMatters". PopMatters. Sarah Zupko. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 Petridis, Alexis (June 23, 2011). "Beyoncé: 4 – review | Music". The Guardian (London: Guardian Media Group). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  11. 1 2 Cragg, Michael (June 26, 2011). "Beyoncé: 4 – review". The Observer (London: Guardian Media Group). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  12. ↑ Ubaghs, Charles (June 30, 2011). "Beyonce album review; 4". The Quietus. John Doran. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  13. ↑ Elan, Priya (June 10, 2011). "Beyonce, ‘4’ – First Listen". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  14. 1 2 Kot, Greg (June 24, 2011). "Beyonce album review; 4". Chicago Tribune (Tribune Company). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  15. 1 2 Conner, Thomas (June 22, 2011). "CD review: Beyonce, '4' – Music: Via Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times (Sun-Times Media Group). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  16. 1 2 3 Richards, Chris (June 27, 2011). "Album review: ‘4’ by Beyonce". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Matthew Perpetua (June 8, 2011). "Beyonce's '4': A Track-by-Track Breakdown | Rolling Stone Music". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 Juzwiak, Rich (June 28, 2011). "Beyonce's Odes to Joy". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  19. 1 2 3 "Beyonce – 4 Music Review". Tiny Mix Tapes. June 28, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  20. 1 2 Lewis, Brandon (June 10, 2011). "Music Review: Beyoncé – 4 – Page 2". Blogcritics. Eric Olsen and Phillip Winn. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  21. 1 2 Horton, Matthew (June 22, 2011). "BBC – Music – Review of Beyoncé – 4". BBC Online. BBC. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  22. ↑ Farber, Jim (June 28, 2011). "Beyonce review: Singer shows softer side and lyrical power with new album '4'". Daily News (Mortimer Zuckerman). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  23. ↑ Newman, Melinda (June 9, 2011). "Listen: Beyonce kicks it old style with delicious Love On Top". HitFix. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  24. 1 2 Walker, Ian (June 24, 2011). "Beyoncé Knowles – 4". AbsolutePunk. Buzz Media. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  25. ↑ Ramirez, Erika (June 28, 2011). "Beyonce's '4:' Track-by-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  26. 1 2 3 Guerra, Joey (June 26, 2011). "Review: It figures Beyoncé's 4 is another jewel | Life | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  27. ↑ Kornhaber, Spencer (June 8, 2011). "Snap Review: The Mixed Message of Beyoncé's '4'". The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  28. ↑ Cardew, Ben (June 20, 2011). "First Listen: Beyonce's eclectic album 4 is much better than its first singles". Music Week. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  29. ↑ Adams, Cameron (June 23, 2011). "Album review: 4 by Beyonce". Herald Sun (The Herald and Weekly Times). Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  30. ↑ Randall, Roberts (June 28, 2011). "Album review: Beyonce's 4". Los Angeles Times (Eddy Hartenstein. Tribune Company). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  31. ↑ Markovitz, Adam (July 10, 2011). "4 review – Beyoncé Review | Music Reviews and News". Entertainment Weekly (Time Inc.). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  32. ↑ Coplan, Chris (June 24, 2011). "Album Review: Beyoncé – 4". Consequence of Sound. Complex Media Network. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Best albums of 2011: how Guardian critics voted". The Guardian (London: Guardian Media Group). December 16, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  34. ↑ Newman, Jason (August 15, 2011). "Concert Review: Beyoncé Reigns at Roseland Ballroom". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  35. ↑ Wete, Brad (August 15, 2011). "Beyonce performs first of four-night run of her new '4' album at small NYC theater – an EW review". Entertainment Weekly (Time Inc.). Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  36. ↑ Beyoncé Knowles (December 4, 2011). A Night With Beyoncé (video) (ITV1). The Fountain Studios, London, United Kingdom: Victory Television Network in co-production with Sony Music Entertainment. Event occurs at 9pm.
  37. ↑ Sheridan, Emily (May 26, 2012). "'Feels so good to be back home on stage': Beyonce shows off her post-baby curves as she performs for first time since Blue's birth". Daily Mail (London: Associated Newspapers). Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  38. ↑ Johnston, Maura (May 27, 2012). "Live: Beyoncé Brings The House Down At Atlantic City's Newest Casino". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  39. ↑ Darrow, Chuck (May 27, 2012). "Beyonce dazzles at Revel". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  40. ↑ DeLuca, Dan (May 27, 2012). "Beyoncé rocks Revel: Passion, hard work, and a call for respect". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  41. ↑ Farber, Jim (May 26, 2012). "Beyoncé matures as she dazzles with depth". Daily News (New York: Daily News L.P). Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  42. ↑ McCall, Tris (May 29, 2012). "Beyonce opens Revel with fanfare". New Jersey On-Line. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  43. ↑ Rawls, Alex (November 6, 2011). "Frank Ocean Flies Solo at The House of Blues in New Orleans". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  44. ↑ Copsey, Robert (February 15, 2013). "The xx cover Beyoncé's 'I Miss You' - listen". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  45. ↑ "The xx cover Beyoncé's 'I Miss You' – listen". NME. IPC Media. February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  46. 1 2 Martins, Chris (February 14, 2013). "See the xx Cover Beyonce and Frank Ocean's 'I Miss You' for Valentine's Day". Spin. Spin Media LLC. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  47. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (February 14, 2013). "Watch the xx Cover Beyoncé's "I Miss You"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  48. ↑ Weiss, Sam (February 14, 2013). "Watch the xx Cover Beyoncé's "I Miss You" Live in Austin". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  49. 1 2 "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: June 26, 2011 to July 2, 2011)". Gaon Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  50. 1 2 Alex Kyuss. "Chart Log UK: July 9, 2011". Zobbel.de. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  51. ↑ "Top 30 Ring Tones – Semana 43 De 2011" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved November 14, 2011.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 23, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.