If I Were a Boy: Difference between revisions

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''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine reviewer Chuck Taylor gave the song a very positive review, writing: "'If I Were a Boy' is Beyoncé's most affecting offering since "[[Listen (song)|Listen]]" from ''[[Dreamgirls]]''. Her vocal performance is breathtaking: exquisitely emotive, mournful and mature. Lyrically, the stunning ballad is a tome of torment, as she offers, 'If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl/I swear I'd be a better man.' Boy, Beyoncé delivers. This is the kind of all-encompassing song that exudes the fragrance of a [[Grammy Award]] nod."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3i3d6467ccde294720d62fc987272af147|title=If I Were a Boy: BEYONCÉ|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|month=October|year=2008|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|accessdate=2008-10-20}}</ref>
''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine reviewer Chuck Taylor gave the song a very positive review, writing: "'If I Were a Boy' is Beyoncé's most affecting offering since "[[Listen (song)|Listen]]" from ''[[Dreamgirls]]''. Her vocal performance is breathtaking: exquisitely emotive, mournful and mature. Lyrically, the stunning ballad is a tome of torment, as she offers, 'If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl/I swear I'd be a better man.' Boy, Beyoncé delivers. This is the kind of all-encompassing song that exudes the fragrance of a [[Grammy Award]] nod."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3i3d6467ccde294720d62fc987272af147|title=If I Were a Boy: BEYONCÉ|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|month=October|year=2008|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|accessdate=2008-10-20}}</ref>


Bill Lamb of [[About.com]], stated that: "Stylistically, the pair ["If I Were a Boy"/"Single Ladies"] are very distinctive from each other, but both are pure Beyoncé. To my ears, "If I Were a Boy" sounds like an "[[Irreplaceable]]" size smash. However, that is only if it doesn't get overshadowed by the power bounce of "Single Ladies," an extension of the style of "[[Get Me Bodied]]" from ''[[B'Day]]'' "<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/b/2008/10/09/beyonce-swings-for-the-fences-on-new-singles-if-i-were-a-boy-and-single-ladies.htm|title=Beyonce Swings for the Fences on New Singles "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies"|last=Lamb|first=Bill|date=2008-10-09|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2008-10-20}}</ref>.
Bill Lamb of [[About.com]], stated that: "Stylistically, the pair ["If I Were a Boy"/"Single Ladies"] are very distinctive from each other, but both are pure Beyoncé. To my ears, "If I Were a Boy" sounds like an "[[Irreplaceable]]" size smash. However, that is only if it doesn't get overshadowed by the power bounce of "Single Ladies," an extension of the style of "[[Get Me Bodied]]" from ''[[B'Day]]'' "<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/b/2008/10/09/beyonce-swings-for-the-fences-on-new-singles-if-i-were-a-boy-and-single-ladies.htm|title=Beyonce Swings for the Fences on New Singles "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies"|last=Lamb|first=Bill|date=2008-10-09|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2008-10-20}}</ref>.In a seperate review, Lamb continued to praise the song: " 'If I Were a Boy' is her greatest achievement yet, and that is certainly saying something." Lamb also said that the song is "Beyonce's best effort yet. The song is one which fits perfectly into her growing repertoire and features a stellar vocal performance.", he continued, "Beyonce's controlled but emotional vocal performance is the stuff of which award-winning records are made. "Irreplaceable" was defeated when nominated for the Record of the Year Grammy. It's quite possible that "If I Were a Boy" could bring the trophy home. This is a song and recording for the ages."<ref>[http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/beyonceboy.htm]</ref>


==Controversy==
==Controversy==

Revision as of 22:11, 22 October 2008

"If I Were a Boy"
Song

"If I Were a Boy" is a song sung by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Britney Carlson and Toby Gad; and co-produced by Gad and Knowles for her third solo album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Alongside "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", the song was released as the album's leading to U.S. radios on October 8, 2008, with a CD single to be released on November 11, 2008. The single has already been made available for downloads on iTunes.

Critical reception

Billboard magazine reviewer Chuck Taylor gave the song a very positive review, writing: "'If I Were a Boy' is Beyoncé's most affecting offering since "Listen" from Dreamgirls. Her vocal performance is breathtaking: exquisitely emotive, mournful and mature. Lyrically, the stunning ballad is a tome of torment, as she offers, 'If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl/I swear I'd be a better man.' Boy, Beyoncé delivers. This is the kind of all-encompassing song that exudes the fragrance of a Grammy Award nod."[2]

Bill Lamb of About.com, stated that: "Stylistically, the pair ["If I Were a Boy"/"Single Ladies"] are very distinctive from each other, but both are pure Beyoncé. To my ears, "If I Were a Boy" sounds like an "Irreplaceable" size smash. However, that is only if it doesn't get overshadowed by the power bounce of "Single Ladies," an extension of the style of "Get Me Bodied" from B'Day "[3].In a seperate review, Lamb continued to praise the song: " 'If I Were a Boy' is her greatest achievement yet, and that is certainly saying something." Lamb also said that the song is "Beyonce's best effort yet. The song is one which fits perfectly into her growing repertoire and features a stellar vocal performance.", he continued, "Beyonce's controlled but emotional vocal performance is the stuff of which award-winning records are made. "Irreplaceable" was defeated when nominated for the Record of the Year Grammy. It's quite possible that "If I Were a Boy" could bring the trophy home. This is a song and recording for the ages."[4]

Controversy

When the song initially premiered, Fox News ran a story stating that the song was written by up and coming singer "BC Jean" (born Britney Carlson). Jean worked with Toby Gad, who then sold the song to Knowles without Jean's permission. Jean was unaware that Knowles recorded the track and later sued. Neither Jean nor Gab have released statements concerning this matter.[5] Sources say an agreement has been reached and Knowles will now duet with Jean on her debut album.

Chart performance

"If I Were a Boy" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the last spot, making it Knowles' lowest first-week position in her solo career history.[6] The debut was, however, based strictly on two days of radio airplay.

Music video

Knowles portraying an NYPD officer.

The music video for "If I Were a Boy" was directed by Jake Nava and portrays Knowles a NYPD officer. It begins with Knowles and her husband reciting words such as "honesty" and "commitment". It later shows Knowles on patrol with her male partner. Knowles and her male partner form a relationship throughtout the song. Her boyfriend doesn't know and is singled out since she constantly ignores his calls while hanging with her partner. She is then showed at a party nearly kissing her male friend when she sees her boyfriend watching them. Then her and her boyfriend go home and talk about what just happened. During that scene, they both switch places which was the messsage of the whole song: Beyonce was the one being cheated on and her boyfriend (the real police officer) is the one cheating. The video tells of the ways both men and women hurt each other in a relationship.

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Canadian Hot 100[7] 76
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] 100
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[9] 54
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[10] 61

Release history

Country Date Format
United States October 21, 2008 Digital download
United States November 11, 2008 CD Single
United Kingdom November 2, 2008 Digital download,CD Single

References

  1. ^ Willman, Chris (2008-10-15). "Split personality for new Beyoncé album". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-10-15. "Halo" and "Ego" will be the second singles for those formats, respectively.
  2. ^ Taylor, Chuck (2008). "If I Were a Boy: BEYONCÉ". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Lamb, Bill (2008-10-09). "Beyonce Swings for the Fences on New Singles "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies"". About.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Friedman, Roger (2008-10-14). "Beyonce's 'Stolen' New Hit Record". FOX News. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  6. ^ Bonson, Fred (2008-10-16). "Chart Beat: Britney Spears, Beyonce, Labelle, Jennifer Hudson, Bob Dylan, Lindsay Lohan". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  7. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  8. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  9. ^ "Billboard Pop 100". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  10. ^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-16.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_I_Were_a_Boy&oldid=247044437"