One of my favourite songs from Beyoncé, and I think this is one of Ne-Yo’s best songs . It gets the mood across even if you read it on paper and ignore the voice that is carrying the tune. You get pieces of the story about why he has to leave as the song goes on, without being too obvious from the start. By the end of it, you’re also thinking this guy needs to go!
Plus, Ne-Yo was able to write it from a woman scorned’s perspective while still being very much a man! This is exactly how a woman would react in a similar situation (who is not a ruff-neck that will start scratching cars and burning clothes that is).
He writes songs that do not need profanities, degradation of women, or explicit circumstances; I always thought a true songwriter will not need to add that in any way, as the play on ordinary words is enough to get the point across.
My favourite part of the song
“And keep talking that mess, that’s fine, but could you walk and talk at the same time and, it’s my name that’s on that jag, so remove your bags, let me call you a cab.”
While Ne-Yo also has vocal talent and can dance, I belive what stands out is his songwriting, the thing that made him well-known in the industry in the first place. Sometimes, when songwriters come out from the shadows they gain success, but lose some of the uniqueness that was there in the songwriting before. Maybe due to the pressures of banging out hit after hit for the record label, or just having to compete with others for the fame.
Maybe there’s more politics than I know about in the industry that got him annoyed and he wanted more credit for what he is producing, but for me, this song was one of Beyoncé’s best, and that is due to Ne-Yo.
“Irreplaceable”
To the left, to the left
To the left, 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 name that’s on that jag
So remove your bags, let me call you a cabStanding in the front yard
Tellin’ me, how I’m such a fool
Talkin’ ’bout, I’ll never ever find a man like you
You got me twistedYou must not know about me, you must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
Matter of fact, he’ll be here in a minute, baby
You must not know about me, you must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
So don’t you ever for a second get to thinking
You’re irreplaceableSo go ahead and get gone
Call up that chick and see if she’s home
Oops, I bet you thought, that I didn’t know
What did you think I was putting you out for?
Because you was untrue
Rollin’ her around in the car that I bought you
Baby drop them keys…
Hurry up before your taxi leavesStanding in the front yard
Tellin’ me, how I’m such a fool
Talkin’ bout, I’ll never ever find a man like you
You got me twistedYou must not know about me, you must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
Matter of fact, he’ll be here in a minute, baby
You must not know about me, you must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
So don’t you ever for a second get to thinking
You’re irreplaceableSo 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 easyTo 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 about me, you must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
Matter of fact, he’ll be here in a minute, baby
You must not know about me, you must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
So don’t you ever for a second get to thinking (baby)
You must not know about me, you must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
Matter of fact, he’ll be here in a minute
You can pack all your bags
We’re finished
‘Cause you made your bed
Now lay in it
I can have another you by tomorrow
Don’t you ever for a second get to thinking
You’re irreplaceable
Did you know he also wrote these songs?
- Let me love you – Mario (He has mentioned many times in interviews that this is the song he wished he kept for himself)
- Truth (Saigo no shinjitsu) – Japanese boyband W-inds
- Take a Bow – Rihanna
- Spotlight – Jennifer Hudson
- Unfaithful – Rihanna
- Gallery – Mario Vasquez
And of course, here is the result and video for Irreplaceable, sung by Beyoncé Knowles.
