Irreplaceable

## Video

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"**Irreplaceable**" is the ninth track from Beyoncé's second studio album, B'Day.

## Background

"Irreplaceable" was written for Chrisette Michele. Production team Stargate and  Ne-Yo had it written for *B'Day*, but Tor Erik Hermansen said that they might not have gone in the direction they did on the song. The tune did not suit Beyoncé's voice, and Ne-Yo wrote the lyrics from a male perspective,although it was not based upon his personal experiences. While Beyoncé worked on material for *B'Day*, she was pleased with the demo of the "Irreplaceable" that was presented to her. However, it did not seem to fit on *B'Day*. Swizz Beatz, who was working on the album, declared that Beyoncé would be crazy not to include the song on the record. Beyoncé asked for changes to the song, including the addition of drums, vocal arrangements, and singing in a higher register than the demo. "Irreplaceable" is a mid-tempo ballad with pop and R&B influences. The lyrics of "Irreplaceable" concern the breakdown of a woman's relationship with her boyfriend after she discovers his infidelity.

## Reception

"Irreplaceable" was released in the United Kingdom on October 23, 2006, as the second single there. In the US, it was the third single from *B'Day*', and followed "Ring the Alarm". The single was released on December 5, 2006, and featured the album and instrumental versions of the track. Beyoncé recorded a Spanish version of the song, called "Irreemplazable", with additional lyrical contributions from Rudy Pérez and was included on the second disc of the deluxe edition of *B'Day* released on June 12, 2007. Jody Rosen of *Entertainment Weekly* noted "Irreplaceable" to be "a lilting tune unlike anything Beyoncé has ever performed". Sarah Rodman of *The Boston Globe*wrote that the song is "gentle but maddeningly hook-y". "Irreplaceable" entered various charts worldwide, and became the most successful single released from *B'Day*. The single debuted on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 chart on November 4, 2006, at number eighty-seven. It reached number one on December 16, becoming Beyoncé's fourth number one single as a solo artist.

## controversy

A controversy arose over the writing credits on "Irreplaceable". Ne-Yo told MTV: "Apparently Beyoncé was at a show somewhere and right before the song came on she said, 'I wrote this for all my ladies' and then the song came on ... The song is a co-write. I wrote the lyrics, I wrote all the lyrics. Beyoncé helped me with the melodies and the harmonies and the vocal arrangement and that makes it a co-write. Meaning my contribution and her contribution made that song what it is." In 2011, Ne-Yo said that he wrote the song for himself, but thought that it would be better suited for Beyoncé, and later regretted giving the song to her. However, he clarified his comment later through Twitter, writing, "I said I originally wrote the song for me. ... Once I realized how the song comes across if sung by a guy, that's when I decided to give it away."

## Lyrics

To the left, to the left

To the left, to the left

To the left, to the left

Everything you own in the box to the left

In the closet that's my stuff, yes

If I bought it please don't touch

And keep talking that mess, that's fine

But could you walk and talk at the same time?

And it's my mine name that is on that tag

So remove your bags let me call you a cab

Standing in the front yard telling me

How I'm such a fool, talking about

How I'll never ever find a man like you

You got me twisted

You must not know 'bout me

You must not know 'bout me

I could have another you in a minute

Matter fact he'll be here in a minute, baby

You must not know 'bout me

You must not know 'bout me

I can have another you by tomorrow

So don't you ever for a second get

To thinking you're irreplaceable

So go ahead and get gone

And call up that chick and see if she's home

Oops, I bet ya thought that I didn't know

What did you think I was putting you out for?

Because you was untrue

Rolling her around in the car that I bought you

Baby you dropped them keys

Hurry up before your taxi leaves

Standing in the front yard telling me

How I am such a fool, talking about

How I'll never ever find a man like you

You got me twisted

You must not know 'bout me

You must not know 'bout me

I can have another you in a minute

Matter fact he'll be here in a minute, baby

You must not know 'bout me

You must not know 'bout me

I'll have another you by tomorrow

So don't you ever for a second

Get to thinking you're irreplaceable

So since I'm not your everything

How about I'll be nothing, nothing at all to you

Baby I won't shed a tear for you

I won't lose a wink of sleep

'Cause the truth of the matter

Is replacing you is so easy

To the left, to the left

To the left, to the left

To the left, to the left

Everything you own in the box to the left

To the left, to the left

Don't you ever for a second get

To thinking you're irreplaceable

You must not know 'bout me

You must not know 'bout me

I can have another you in a minute

Matter fact he'll be here in a minute, baby

You must not know 'bout me

You must not know 'bout me

I can have another you by tomorrow

So don't you ever for a second

Get to thinking, baby

You must not know 'bout me

You must not know 'bout me

I can have another you in a minute

Matter fact he'll be here in a minute

You could pack all your things, we're finished

(You must not know 'bout me)

'Cause you made your bed, now lay in it

(You must not know 'bout me)

I can have another you by tomorrow

Don't you ever for a second

Get to thinking you're irreplaceable