"Start Over" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé taken from her fourth studio album, 4 (2011). It was written by Shea Taylor, Knowles and Ester Dean and produced by the former two. The song's development was motivated by the fact that Knowles traveled around the world and experienced different cultures which inspired love and purity inside her. A mid-tempo pop, pop rock and soul-influenced R&B ballad, "Start Over" finds the female protagonist affirming her individuality and expressing her love for a man with whom she attempts to start a relationship all over again. Knowles' vocals are accompanied by electric and enticing beats; the song's instrumentation includes drums and synthesizers.