"Irreplaceable" song analysis

Rhythm and Blues, better known as R&B, came out of the jazz, blues and gospel music that was played by African Americans in the 1930s and 40s. In the 1980s, a newer style of R&B was developed, becoming known as contemporary R&B. Throughout the years there have been many a talented R&B artist. 1980s artists include Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson while in the 90s, Mariah Carey, Aaliyah, Boyz II Men were the most popular. Still today, Beyonce Knowles was one of the many popular R&B artists to come about in the 2000s. She was a part of the R&B group, Destiny's Child who began their life in the music industry in their pre-teen years, under the name “Girls' Tyme”. They were signed to Columbia Records and then changed their name to what is known as “Destiny's Child”, and soon released their best-selling second album, The Writing's on the Wall. During the hiatus of Destiny's Child, Beyonce released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love in 2003 which became one of the most successful albums of that year. After “Destiny's Child” went their separate ways, Beyonce released her second solo album, B'Day in 2006 which included the hits “Irreplaceable” and “Beautiful Liar”. Beyonce admits, some of her songs are autobiographical and were taken from personal experiences, as well as her friends. In “Irreplaceable”, the aftermath of a relationship gone bad is put in perspective by Beyoncé's use of a first and second person point of view and offers insight through her own experiences.

Beyonce's use of first and second person point of view gives listeners a chance to feel as though this song came from their own life experiences with troubled relationships. Beyonce uses “you” to let the song talk about anyone that is at the end of this type of relationship, “Everything you own in the box to the left” (stanza 1. line 2). She addresses the person as if her entire song was a conversation between her and a boyfriend at the time, making the song narrative. Beyonce sings, “Standing in the front yard, telling me/ How I'm such a fool, talking 'bout/ How I'll never ever find a man like you/ You got me twisted,” (stanza 3) to create a conversation and express different point of views (her own and her significant other's). Beyonce's heartbreak turns to power and independence when she says, “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” (stanza 10). Beyonce lets her “boyfriend” know that she will not continue to sit around and be second on his priority list, and takes away the choice of her being in his life at all. She reinds him that he is not irreplaceable whatsoever. Obviously through this breakup, Beyonce has learned a sense of self-reliance and independence, thus giving her listener a positive outlook via her usage of first and second point of views.