Portal:R&B and Soul Music/Selected article/8
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"Irreplaceable" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles. The song was written by Beyoncé, Ne-Yo, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Espen Lind, Amund Bjørklund, and co-produced by Stargate and Beyoncé for her second solo album, B'Day (2006). Originally not created for her, Beyoncé re-arranged the demo presented by the producers—a country-turned-R&B-pop song. The lyrics refer to breaking up with an unfaithful man, part of Beyoncé and Ne-Yo's vision of creating a record that people could relate to, and was considered an anthem to female empowerment.
Following the less successful chart performances of "Déjà Vu" and "Ring the Alarm", "Irreplaceable" was released on December 5, 2006 in the United States as the album's third single, and the second single in most international music markets. "Irreplaceable" was a worldwide commercial and critical success, becoming Beyoncé's second best-selling single in her solo career after "Crazy In Love" and B'Day's most successful release. The single performed well on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, remaining at the top spot for ten consecutive weeks. Certified as multi-platinum, "Irreplaceable" was one of the best-selling singles in 2007, and its addition to Beyoncé's achievements establishes her among the most successful female artists to date.
"Irreplaceable" was lauded by contemporary critics, citing its distinct production compared with most tracks featured on the album. The song won awards, including one during the 2007 Soul Train Music Award. The single's music video features the debut performance of Beyoncé's all-female band Suga Mama, and earned Beyoncé additional awards.
