Review Revue: Critics React To Beyonce’s “Best Thing I Never Had”

Let’s face it, folks — Beyonce’s lead 4 single “Run The World (Girls)” ran right off the pop track, crashed through a 15-foot-high brick wall, barreled through a dank, murky swamp and then went flinging off a cliff faster than you can say “flop-a-doodle-doo”! But fear not, Bey fans, because her Symbolyc One-produced follow-up single, the “The Best Thing I Never Had,” has arrived, and it’s a much-more radio-friendly offering. Head below to see what the Internet at large had to say about the kiss-off jam!

:: Entertainment Weekly‘s Music Mix noted the lackluster chart performance of Bey’s previous single before adding, “‘Best Thing I Never Had’ feels like the kind of crossover hit that will help 4 join the rest of Beyonce’s discography in multiplatinum land.”

:: On the flip side, The Prophet Blog noted how safe Beyonce is playing it now: “‘Best Thing I Never Had’ could fit anywhere alongside ‘Irreplaceable’ or Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow’ — there’s nothing particularly amazing nor awful about it either way, but it’s got the type of mass appeal that will probably ensure hit status and save 4 from tanking under the weight of ‘Run The World’.”

:: The Los Angeles Times Pop & Hiss blog quipped, “Beyonce certainly knows how to dump a man in style.”

:: Pop Crush bowed down to her majesty: “The Queen B reigns supreme yet again with another excellent pop song from 4.”

:: Vulture also found the tune to be comparable to Bey’s own “Irreplaceable”: “Once again, our hero takes her time dismissing a former lover, this time in language (‘Sucks to be you right now’) agreeable to a nation of tweens and in a manner agreeable to anyone who likes yelping along in unison to ascendant pop choruses.”

:: HitFix, however, wasn’t impressed with the “suck” line: “Unfortunately–and, for me, this is a big sticking point—the glaring, train wreck line of ‘It sucks to be you right now,’ repeated throughout, threatens to ruin the song. That’s some lazy, horrible songwriting right there. (Beyonce told JustJared that the brilliant Babyface wrote the song. He knows ways better than that.)”

:: Pop Trash Addicts pointed out the singer’s history with slow tracks: “I think it’s her most commercial single since ‘Sweet Dreams’ but she has a hit-and-miss track record with ballads. Hopefully radio plays it after completely ignoring the genre-defining flawlessness of ‘Run The World (Girls)’.”

:: AOL Music saw the plusses Beyonce’s single offers: “Beyonce showcases her vocal strength in this song, ripping through the scorn verses with grit, but treating the confessional chorus and bridge with restraint.”

:: Perhaps Pop Dust summed it up best?: “‘Best Thing I Never Had’ might not be as triumphant as ‘Irreplaceable,’ or as catchy (will a hook like ‘to the left, to the left’ ever be recreated or topped?), but for those looking for a good track to pump in your car while singing about overcoming your recent broken heart, we think you’ve found your answer.”

Let us know what you think of Beyonce’s latest below!