boy boy song performed american singer songwriter beyoncé studio album fierce written handled production alongside beyoncé inspired difficult break romantic relationship song initially recorded jean record company rejected beyoncé recorded version jean upset learned beyoncé releasing single eventually reached agreement boy released columbia_records october album lead single alongside single ladies ring songs showcased contrast beyoncé personality aggressive onstage persona spanish version song titled digitally released mexico spain boy pop introspective ballad draws influences folk rock instrumentation includes acoustic guitars drums strings song lyrics lament male relationships boy received critics complimented beyoncé vocal performance called song best work date single commercial success placed different singles charts topped charts european countries including united_kingdom beyoncé best selling single boy peaked number billboard hot chart earned multi platinum certifications australia canada accompanying music video boy directed shot black white theme role reversal similar american comedy film friday video spanish version ballad edited original clip beyoncé promoted boy live performances venues including 52nd grammy awards world tour song covered times televised music competitions american singer sang country version ballad studio version released second single album women writing production boy written opening ballad disc double album fierce song disc beyoncé write lyrics written jean inspired break romantic relationship day jean visited times square new_york_city tempted jean eating pizza thought boy eaten regret reflecting idea concluded better man past lover captured jean ideas pocket recorder went studio day wrote lyrics melody minutes recorded song half hour guitar completing version boy jean presented record company rejected song jean written songs including boy singer debut album deal jean record company fell apart marketed songs established artists beyoncé liked boy recorded version album fierce beyoncé produced track new_york_city musical arrangements assisted recording music played instruments alongside brother perry recorded beyoncé vocals mixed track assistance record plant los_angeles boy placed disc ballad shows beyoncé love person underneath makeup underneath lights underneath exciting star drama interview essence magazine beyoncé explained boy broad different previous releases traditional song added try remember said great singer sing beyoncé motivated audience strong expectations singer preparing solo album beyoncé wanted experiment stronger lyrics record ballads like boy music emotion story told sic better better connection hear wanted people hear voice hear jean response jean version boy rejected record company upset beyoncé recorded released ballad wrote jean informed beyoncé recorded song stranger daily_telegraph reported beyoncé father manager pursued publishing rights boy realizing potential big hit jean myspace account express frustration reading comments set record straight horse mouth boy song yes wrote song story painful song dear hear original version myspace site later reported beyoncé jean come terms deal included promise beyoncé record duet jean debut album interview jean asked reaction heard beyoncé recording boy initially surprised people regarded songwriter envisioned ing artist thing jean added amazing compliment like great going album album didn realize worked got people didn know artist like songwriter boy song recorded initially intend hand singer jean said fact beyoncé recorded ballad provided opportunities approached people wanted purchase lyrics refused offers use songs album jean intends write artists composition lyrical interpretation boy pop ballad folk rock soft rock influences song composed common time key major moderate tempo beats minute written common verse chorus form verses supported chords follow chord progression form noted progression reminiscent song like teen spirit instrumentation provided piano acoustic guitars live drums strings hand song beyoncé vocals span range low high singing gets higher employs melodic critics noted beyoncé delivers performance sentiments lyrics boy gender thought experiment beyoncé analyses tense relationship sings things boy beyoncé highlights vulnerability woman things different men women sense ballad beyoncé role flawed partner better man verse love interest sings consuming beer men chasing girls treating lover adding confronted beyoncé sings chorus gives vision life better man think understand feels love girl swear better man knows hurts lose wanted cause taken granted got destroyed second verse beyoncé continues sing men inflict women imagining man highlights men switch phones avoid lovers having found girl beyoncé continues rules cause know faithful come home repeats chorus intensity sings gradually increases hits upper register close crying bridge beyoncé stops singing male behaviors man addresses lover directly beyoncé emphasizes feels cheated sings vocal lines octave higher rest song finally tells late come apologize verse beyoncé concludes boy bbc_music notes pushes voice thin pleading point voice repeats chorus final time fights remain strong allowing bring release boy single ladies ring released simultaneously double album lead singles songs taken different discs album demonstrate beyoncé conflicting personalities album central theme motif demonstrated placing ballads separate disc uptempo tracks boy single ladies initially planned debut radio stations october premiered following day boy debuted morning single ladies aired new_york mainstream urban radio station power singles added rhythmic contemporary radio october day boy sent contemporary hit radio single ladies sent urban contemporary radio november boy sent urban radio digital containing seven dance remixes boy released february ballad released internationally stand digital download oceania european countries october france united_kingdom boy serviced digitally october november track single including single ladies ring went sale european countries oceania canada canada different digital available february spanish version boy translated mixed beach house miami titled boy version included copies fierce mexico latin_america spain released stand single february critical reception boy widely acclaimed contemporary music critics applauded beyoncé vocal performance called song best billboard magazine critic wrote boy beyoncé affecting offering listen praised vocals breathtaking mature added song grammy award according los_angeles_times boy beyoncé moment tender fairly simple ballad uses prove great vocal actress powers concluded isn breakup song female empowerment beyoncé admission money fame skill solve basic man heart slant_magazine wrote boy commercially successful radio friendly appeal mtv_news complimented tear power boy noted reveals sides beyoncé knew existed remarked boy lyrics fit perfectly mature roles english actress played 1960s nick_levine digital spy wrote review album boy interesting lyrics entire record separate review boy awarded stars writing beyoncé vocals song passionate praised lyrics commended emotional punch strong melody said people feel known song pitchfork_media called boy effective affecting gender allmusic writer andy_kellman felt ballad sounds like backdrop singing competition finale outstanding song fierce thanks lyrics beyoncé performance popmatters felt boy highlight disc double album new_york_times described song greatest pop songs years beyoncé complicated vocal performances houston_chronicle commented boy elegant new musical direction beyoncé praised different songs played radio contrast unimpressed boy calling boring ballad noted musical composition boy spare cinematic quality beyoncé fills expansive voice times review intended feminist anthems noted song fresh perspective sense self awareness cast self pity broad billboard magazine placed boy number list beyoncé biggest billboard hits published beyoncé birthday wrote song found beyoncé honest drawing women men boy nominated awards croatia village_voice year end singles list boy ranked numbers respectively chart performance week ending october boy debuted number billboard hot chart based solely airplay charting week song rose number number hot chart digital download counterpart debuted hot chart selling units beyoncé fourth number hot digital songs chart following check beautiful boy tenth single hot solo artist november song fell fifth stayed week regained number position november returned spot hot digital songs chart selling units boy sold digital downloads weeks following week song fell number hot digital songs chart selling copies single ladies debuted number boy maintained position number hot chart single ladies number chart beyoncé seventh female songs positions hot chart october boy certified triple platinum recording_industry_association_of_america riaa shipping million copies october song sold digital units november boy highest debut week australian_singles_chart entering number song peaked number non consecutive weeks month certified triple platinum australian_recording_industry_association aria selling copies boy debuted number new_zealand october peaked number non consecutive weeks november december twelfth charting week certified platinum weeks recording_industry_association_of_new_zealand rianz representing shipment copies song debuted number singles chart selling downloads november following week fell number sales copies november rebounded number selling copies beyoncé fourth number single solo artist sixth including career destiny child boy remained end 16th highest selling single year ballad certified platinum british_phonographic_industry bpi sales copies highest selling single 2000s beyoncé highest selling solo single sales units november music video background concept music video boy directed shot black white new_york_city video single ladies ring spanish version music video titled released concepts main edited original spanish version song dubbed music video boy reflective stance independent woman beyoncé taken career interview billboard magazine beyoncé revealed concept video similar american comedy film friday theme role reversal said depict things men commonly hurt partners like answering phones adding video little things mean lot relationships beyoncé explained beginning video husband makes breakfast excited kind don time eat police officer male partner video goes days husband work attractive girls flirting declines advances guy flirting beyoncé said end video viewers realize husband police officer beyoncé female character things husband mtv_news writer analysis concept concluded saw different perspective beyoncé behavior abnormal guy previous scenes familiar beyoncé point synopsis video begins beyoncé husband saying words including intimacy honesty commitment saying words action starts beyoncé seen working police officer husband played nfl player supportive makes breakfast spends time work looking present attractive available wife arrives home beyoncé thinking instead spends free time officers particularly male partner husband calls ignores phone later husband gives puts dancing partner party husband upset sees confronts acts like making big deal act like don think realize makes look feel tells beyoncé asks tone jealous like sleeping guy story beyoncé starts cry husband situation actually experience police officer takes supportive wife granted reception accolades beyoncé premiered video alongside video single ladies ring mtv total request live october included beyoncé remix album beyoncé mtv_news described video meaningful comes twist requires repeat viewing noted video exist seen beyoncé writer rap commented beyoncé delivers year best videos black white clip online praised video writing melodramatic storyline noted slow sure catch end major twist probably change outlook dynamics male female relationships forever clip ranked number seventy bet videos countdown number countdown nominated video year bet awards lost beyoncé video single ladies video received nominations music awards japan image awards july video certified gold shipping units live performances beyoncé performed boy november later performed song sixth series british television strictly come dancing world music awards november followed performance november november backed live band beyoncé sang medley boy switched single ladies ring concluded crazy love final episode total request live song sung november appearance banks performance beyoncé begins cry nearing end song december pre taped performance aired eighth season french beyoncé appear busy schedule day beyoncé performed boy los spain performed ballad december live factor finale beyoncé sang medley boy song know january 52nd grammy awards ceremony wore futuristic black outfit matching shoes spun wine crowd approval according mtv_news beyoncé backed backup dancers dressed riot gear new_york_times commented beyoncé staged typically athletic performance spin magazine noted beyoncé owned night powerful performance billboard magazine performance number list beyoncé biggest performances beyoncé verse know performance boy festival june addition performances song television award ceremonies boy included set lists beyoncé world tour revue subsequently included live albums world tour intimate performance las prior performance song tour music video beyoncé later appeared performing boy wearing leather aviator shades looking piece asking crowd sing track bridge song included excerpts know california love imitating male person moves independent wrote review beyoncé whip quasi feminist rolling_stone noted singer ferocious onstage persona los_angeles_times compared beyoncé wardrobe dancing beyoncé performed boy presents beyoncé live revue new_jersey beyoncé started sing noted knows feels hurt lied performance iris reworked rhythm boy fit cover usa today noted ballad guitar pop number entertainment_weekly wrote attention grabbing moments night came artists boy included set list carter world tour featured string motif bitter fake tape january year old computer art student connecticut pitch correction software clip claimed recording boy beyoncé today appearance november tape beyoncé sang drastically key corresponding video leaked internet went viral played american radio stations april played recording describing board mix beyoncé live performance according weekly cast doubt recording authenticity saying tape altered added years beyoncé career thing questioning vocal ability like questioning shoot jump shot april reported tape hoax revealed spoken person modified tapes alleged culprit told little bit crazy right mind sound like cheer singing like following day beyoncé spoke allegations mtv_news stated report ridiculous timing video draw publicity upcoming television performances interview said surprised attention clip received beyoncé reaction admitted previously given treatment christina_aguilera britney_spears feel apologize hoax trying point wanted people easy manipulate voice clip pulled imagine records live performances entire industry manipulated emphasis perfection like happens causes stir knew happened jump fast wild story twisted fun manipulate artists sound crazy good laugh fun lot parodies youtube channel happens got little hand learned school fun fool people away lot people lot laughs apologize fun don know kind person formats track listings credits personnel charts certifications release history cover versions jamaican singer released reggae cover boy december covered boy episode shape things come sitcom aired october finale tenth season american idol lady contestants joined onstage perform boy medley beyoncé singles covered song second series version peaked number australian_singles_chart june singer covered song final seventh series britain glee cast member covered song fifth season episode end song released itunes store november praised rendition song fantastic flawless vulture baltimore sun described rendition best covers recorded series entertainment_weekly praised inclusion song episode described vocals incredible described cover absolutely stunning factor performances october season factor year old covered song auditions backed piano went sang performance brought judge tears mtv_news commented cover showed powerful range rolling_stone digital_spy noted crow performance executed despite young age billboard magazine commented performance sensational december eighth series british televised music competition factor girl band covered boy digital_spy noted cover contained little shouting september second season factor united_states covered boy entertainment_weekly praised singing writing stunned crowd vocal powerful song online praised powerful rendition wrote left judges blown away power beauty voice december covered song digital_spy noted sounded long notes shows lot restraint verses august fifth season covered song home visits round covered boy home visits round tenth season factor october december covered song week season performance version song covered american country singer television program cover accompanied music video premiered june depicted performing song live late recorded studio version added country radio january second single studio album women revealed originally wanted cover hits husband manager wanted cover song finally came idea record version beyoncé boy speaking version song said got song lyrics thought incredible song turned country song got instrumentation people world pop song think music music got good got bad try stay good cover generally met positive reception magazine described cover soulful look love male perspective boston_globe said translated song country billboard magazine praised cover comparing cover new_york_times noted sounds inhabiting role song allmusic critic favorable writing original adding contains original drama place failed attempt soft rock power ballad following live performance awards song debuted number charts album cut dated week ending november entered number chart dated week ending january peaked number april peaked number bubbling hot singles chart april official music video cover premiered february midnight followed exclusive interview directed performance song country music television performed song awards november mtv_news praised cover writing singing band onstage black dress signature red hair flowing shoulders legendary vocalist performance scored standing ovation billboard praised performance writing ballad boy wasn moving country queen stance turned song head noted simple powerful performance inspire tears country music television felt performance musical highlight evening added lesson country music days new_york_times gave mixed review performance writing unexpected delivery finding song beyoncé wings entertainment_weekly wrote lyrics young comes chorus want belt
If I Were a Boy