According to Smith, "Best Thing I Never Had" is a ballad but was not originally written so early demos sounded like late 1980s hip hop material. Que" Smith wrote "Best Thing I Never Had" in collaboration with its producers Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Symbolyc One, Antonio Dixon, Shea Taylor, and Caleb Sean. 3 Composition and lyrical interpretationīeyoncé and Patrick "J.The song was also included on the set list for her concert 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé and other shows. "Best Thing I Never Had" was promoted with several live performances by Beyoncé, notably at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival and on the televised ABC show The View. It shows Beyoncé getting ready for her wedding while she recalls her ex-lover, who never gave her the attention she deserved. The accompanying music video for "Best Thing I Never Had" was directed by Diane Martel.
It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). The song reached number one on the South Korea Gaon International Chart, the UK R&B Chart, and the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, and the top 30 in mainland Europe, Oceania, and Canada. It rose to number three on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Irish Singles Chart among others. "Best Thing I Never Had" peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number four on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The ballad was also likened to Vanessa Carlton's single " A Thousand Miles" (2002). However, some lyrics, including "showed your ass" and "sucks to be you right now", were criticized. Some critics viewed it as a sequel to Beyoncé's 2006 single " Irreplaceable" as the two songs are thematically similar. Not wanting to feel broken-hearted, the female protagonist sings that she feels happy to have left her lover, who did not recognize the potential for a happy life with her. Beyoncé said that both men and women should be able to relate to the song.Ī pop and R&B ballad, the subjects of "Best Thing I Never Had" are revenge and karma. The song was originally not written as a ballad, but was inspired by the drumming on Doug E. Que" Smith, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Symbolyc One, Caleb Sean McCampbell, Antonio Dixon, Beyoncé, and Shea Taylor.
"Best Thing I Never Had" was composed by Patrick "J. It was released by Columbia Records on June 1, 2011, as the second single from the album. " Best Thing I Never Had" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her fourth studio album, 4 (2011). 2011 single by Beyoncé "Best Thing I Never Had"