Music / 4 (Album)

The deluxe edition cover of 4.

When I leave this world
I'll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember
So they won't forget
I was here

—"I Was Here"

4 is the fourth studio album by American singer Beyoncé. It was released on June 24, 2011.

This album sees Beyoncé making a return to her R&B roots after I Am... Sasha Fierce's foray into electropop and adult contemporary. At the time, this was a big deal. EDM and other electronic and dance-oriented forms of pop music had become commonplace.

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Tracklist (Standard Edition)

1. "1+1"
2. "I Care"
3. "I Miss You"
4. "Best Thing I Never Had"
5. "Party" (featuring André 3000)
6. "Rather Die Young"
7. "Start Over"
8. "Love On Top"
9. "Countdown"
10. "End of Time"
11. "I Was Here"
12. "Run the World (Girls)"

Singles

• "Run the World (Girls)", "Best Thing I Never Had", "Party", "Love On Top", "Countdown", "I Care", "End of Time"

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What goes around tropes back around

• Arc Number: The number four holds great importance to Beyoncé, so she made sure to reflect that with the album's title; she was born on September 4th, her mother Tina Knowles was born on January 4th, her husband Jay-Z was born on December 4th, she was married to Jay-Z on April 4th (4/4), Destiny's Child started with four members, you get the idea. Her daughter Blue Ivy was born sometime after this album cycle, and is named after the number four, as in the Roman numeral IV.
• Breaking Old Trends: After three albums of Contemporary R&B/Pop with a strong Hip-Hop influence, this album leans harder into traditional R&B and Soul, is very ballad-heavy, and has several mid-tempo songs. The only high-energy dance songs are "Countdown," "End of Time," and "Run The World (Girls)".
• Counting Song: In "Countdown," Beyoncé counts down from ten explaining how happy her lover makes her.
• Female Empowerment Song: "Run the World (Girls)" is this, so much so that is serves as the page's quote source.
  Boy you know you love it
  How we smart enough to make these millions
  Strong enough to bear the children
  Then get back to business!
• Grief Song: "I Was Here" is a bit morbid, especially in comparison to other songs on the album.
• Intercourse with You: "1+1" is a beautifully sensual song about this very subject.
  Make love to me
  When my days look low
  Pull me in close
  And don't let me go
• Mood Whiplash: 4 is a mostly happy album about love. "I Was Here" shifts the tone of the album to one that is much more serious and reflective than previous tracks. It doesn't help that it is the Album Closure on the expanded edition, leaving the listener on a somber note.
  • "Run the World (Girls)" and "Start Over" are this to lesser extents.
• Silly Love Songs: "Love On Top," "End of Time," and "Countdown" qualify as such.
• Truck Driver's Gear Change: "Love On Top" does this 4 times towards the end of the song before the fadeout.
• Updated Re-release: In 2013, 4 was rereleased with a new tracklist order along with the inclusions of "Dance for You" and "Schoolin' Life."
• A Wild Rapper Appears!: André 3000 is featured on "Party." He is the album's sole featured artist.
  • J. Cole appears on the music video version of the song.
• "When I'm Gone" Song: "I Was Here" serves as this.