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The Boy Is Mine (Ariana Grande song)

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"The Boy Is Mine"
A black and white picture of Ariana Grande dressed as Catwoman.
Single by Ariana Grande
from the album Eternal Sunshine
ReleasedJune 11, 2024 (2024-06-11)
Recorded2023
Genre
Length2:53
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Ariana Grande singles chronology
"We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)"
(2024) 		"The Boy Is Mine"
(2024) 		"The Boy Is Mine" (remix)
(2024)
Music video
"The Boy Is Mine" on YouTube

"The Boy Is Mine" is a song by American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande from her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine (2024). It impacted American contemporary hit radio on June 11, 2024, as the third single from the album. The song was written by Grande, Max Martin, Shintaro Yasuda, and Davidior, who produced the song alongside Ilya. Inspired by a leaked demo Grande made for a comedy sketch, the song is an R&B track that reimagines the 1998 duet of the same name by American singers Brandy and Monica.

"The Boy is Mine" received positive reviews from music critics for its '90s R&B sound and peaked within the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100. A music video directed by Christian Breslauer was released on June 7, 2024 starring Grande as Catwoman and American actor Penn Badgley as her love interest, with additional cameos from Brandy and Monica. A remix of the song with Brandy and Monica was released on June 21, 2024.

Background

Main article: Fantasize (song)

An unreleased song by Grande entitled "Fantasize" by fans was leaked in full to Spotify in 2023. Recorded in 2021, Grande said that the song was a demo that was not intended to be released as a single by her and that she wrote it for a comedy sketch about a girl group that ultimately was not released. Upon learning of the leak, she commented under a TikTok video that she was disheartened and asked people to stop spreading the leaks.[1]

"Fantasize" received positive fan reception, inspiring Grande to include elements of the song in her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine (2024). During an interview about the album, Grande referred to "The Boy Is Mine" as her version of "Fantasize" and stated about her leaked songs "although you've heard them — because you stole them — they're very different now."[2][3]

Music and lyrics

"The Boy Is Mine" is two minutes and 53 seconds long.[4] As intended by Grande when creating the parent album's tracklist, the song follows and plays off the same idea of the album's seventh track, "True Story", playing the role the media expects her to play.[5] The song is described as an R&B song[6] with bass-heavy instrumentation[7] echoing late 90's and early 2000's R&B music.[8]

Grande described "The Boy Is Mine" as a reimagining of the similarly titled 1998 single by Brandy and Monica, which was about two women fighting over the affection of one man.[9][10] She was inspired by her fans' appreciation for "Fantasize" because of what she called its "bad bitch" energy, and she told Zane Lowe during an Apple Music 1 interview: "there is a large group of my fans that really do love a bad girl anthem, and this is an elevated version of that."[11] In the lyrics, Grande expresses her affection for a man with whom she believes she is destined to be in a romance.[11]

Music video

Grande announced on May 27 that the music video for "The Boy Is Mine" would be released on June 7.[12] Christian Breslauer, who worked on the visuals for both "Yes, And?" and "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" from Eternal Sunshine, commented on Grande's teaser and shared the sneak peek on his own Instagram account.[13] "Get your popcorn, take your seats," Breslauer wrote on Grande's post; "ACT III… soon", said the music video director on his personal Instagram page.[13]

The music video features Grande as Catwoman, and Penn Badgley as the mayor of the city who has released feral cats into the streets to eradicate a rat infestation. R&B singers Brandy and Monica make a cameo appearance as news anchors reporting on the rat crisis.[14] The video features Grande's Victorious co-star, Elizabeth Gillies, providing the sound effects for the rats.[15]

Synopsis

The video begins with a garbage collector complaining about the mayor before getting attacked by rats. Grande is seen looking at a glowing pink potion, later turning her attention to two news reporters on the television. It is revealed that the mayor, Max Starling, has a plan to exterminate the city's rodent infestation by using the large numbers of stray cats roaming around. A cat sneaks into Grande's open apartment window and knocks over the potion, alarming Grande.

The song begins and Grande starts gathering the spilled potion with a syringe and putting into a vial. During the chorus, she runs over to her personal shrine of the mayor, who she is in love with. She spins around, before grabbing black clothing from her closet. She is seen cutting the fabrics of the clothes and sewing. The next scene is set at night, atop a building complex in front of a city skyline. Grande is donning brunette shoulder-length hair and a black cat mask covering her eyes. Her attire is now an all black dominatrix outfit with a skirt and a whip, which she cracks. She then is seen running and jumping over buildings before arriving to the mayor's apartment overhead window. With her glove's cat-like sharpened nails, she traces a circle on the window glass and licking her hand to cut it out.

The music stops and the scene is set inside Mayor Starling's apartment, where he soaks his face into ice bath. Grande sneaks up to the bathroom door, admiring him until he catches a glimpse of her. She runs off and he follows, looking shocked and dropping a glass of alcohol. The song's chorus continues and Grande is seen on his bed, laid out seductively and displaying cat-like actions. Mayor Starling attempts to make an escape before Grande strikes her whip at him, grabbing his foot. During the bridge, she pulls him over to the bed slowly. She walks over to him, holding the love potion in an attempt to have him consume it. He stops her, and reaching over to her mask to reveal her face. He throws the potion at the wall and the song ends.

During the credits, Grande and Starling are now together in an apartment, feeding a cat in their lap. Surrounding them are many cats roaming around.

Live performances

The first time Grande performed "The Boy Is Mine" was at the 2024 Met Gala.[16] Grande's full performance at the 2024 Met Gala was not officially published online. On June 6, Grande performed the song for the first time on live television at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and she was accompanied by the show's house band The Roots.[17] This was Grande's first late night interview since 2021 and her 11th appearance on The Tonight Show.[17]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics upon release of the parent album. In a ranking of tracks from the parent album, Kyle Denis of Billboard ranked the song at number four in a track ranking of the album. Denis received the song positively, noting its tongue-in-cheek nature and the '90s R&B sound similar to "Fantasize".[18] Rolling Stone called the song a "late Nineties, early Aughts, R&B-pop moment" also commenting on the fact that the song might bring controversy amongst rumors involving Grande and Ethan Slater.[19] Jem Aswad of Variety called the song "comparatively sprightly" and felt the song was an outlier amongst the rest of the album.[20] Laura Snappes of The Guardian referred to the song as "trap-Aaliyah hauteur", also calling it "possessive".[21] Poppie Platt of The Daily Telegraph claimed the song stands on its own against the song of the same name, describing as a "silky ode to love and lust".[22] Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times described it as "a lusty song about a forbidden crush" and likened its "stuttering" percussion to that of the boy-bands Max Martin has worked with before.[23]

Commercial performance

Prior to its release as a single, "The Boy Is Mine" debuted at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 as the highest charting album track.[24] Globally, "The Boy Is Mine" charted on the Billboard Global 200 chart, at number eleven, on the issue dated March 23, 2024.

Several months later, "The Boy Is Mine" debuted at number 38 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart, rising to number 31 in its second week.

Credits

Recording

  • Mixed at Mixstar Studios (Virginia Beach)
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel

  • Ariana Grande – vocals, lyrics, composition, production
  • Max Martin – lyrics, production, composition, drums, keyboards, bass, programming, background vocals
  • Ilya Salmanzadeh – production, composition, drums, keyboards, bass, programming, background vocals
  • Shintaro Yasuda – production, composition, keyboards, drums, programming
  • Davidior – production, composition, drums, programming
  • Sam Holland – engineering
  • Lou Carrao – engineering
  • Eric Eylands – engineering assistance
  • Rob Sellens – engineering assistance
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance

Charts

Chart performance for "The Boy Is Mine"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 28
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)[26] 69
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[27] 15
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 37
France (SNEP)[29] 58
Global 200 (Billboard)[30] 11
Greece International (IFPI)[31] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[32] 72
Lithuania (AGATA)[33] 52
Malaysia (Billboard)[34] 21
Malaysia International (RIM)[35] 16
MENA (IFPI)[36] 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 23
Philippines (Billboard)[38] 22
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[39] 64
Portugal (AFP)[40] 25
Saudi Arabia (IFPI)[41] 15
Singapore (RIAS)[42] 17
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[43] 82
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44] 99
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 1
UAE (IFPI)[46] 20
UK Singles (OCC)[47] 61
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 16
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[49] 31

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[50] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Remix

"The Boy Is Mine" (remix)
Single by Ariana Grande, Brandy and Monica
ReleasedJune 21, 2024 (2024-06-21)
Length3:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Ariana Grande
  • Brandy Norwood
  • DaviDior
  • Max Martin
  • Monica Arnold
  • Shintaro Yasuda
Producer(s)
  • Max Martin
  • Ilya
  • Shintaro Yasuda
  • DaviDior
  • Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande singles chronology
"The Boy Is Mine"
(2024) 		"The Boy Is Mine" (remix)
(2024)
Brandy singles chronology
"Christmas Party for Two"
(2023) 		"The Boy Is Mine" (remix)
(2024)
Monica singles chronology
"Letters"
(2023) 		"The Boy Is Mine" (remix)
(2024)

On June 17, 2024, Ariana Grande announced that a remix of "The Boy is Mine" with American singers Brandy and Monica would be released on June 21. Brandy and Monica, whose 1998 duet of the same name inspired Grande's song, made cameo appearances as newscasters in the music video for her song. The cover art for the remix depicts the two on a television screen in their newscaster roles, with a projection of Grande as Catwoman in the background.[51] Grande first teased the remix when she interpolated the hook of Brandy and Monica's original duet at the end of her performance of her song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 6.[52]

Release history

Release dates and formats for "The Boy Is Mine"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
United States June 11, 2024 Contemporary hit radio Original Republic [53]
Various June 21, 2024
Remix [51]

References

  1. ^ Carter, Ashleigh (September 17, 2023). "Ariana Grande Calls Music Leaks 'Disheartening,' Urges Fans to 'Please Stop'". Teen Vogue. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Dailey, Hannah (March 7, 2024). "Ariana Grande Says Her Song 'The Boy Is Mine' Is the 'Bad Girl Anthem' Fans Want from Her". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Aswad, Jem (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande Returns, Older and Wiser, With the Sparkling, Sarcastically Titled 'Eternal Sunshine': Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Grande, Ariana (March 8, 2024). "eternal sunshine". Apple Music (US). Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Turner-Williams, Jaelani. "Ariana Grande Reworking Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" Into 'Elevated' Version of a 'Bad Girl Anthem'". Complex. Retrieved March 9, 2024. Around the 24-minute mark of the interview above, Lowe asked Grande about "True Story," which Grande said "sets up 'The Boy Is Mine.'" —"It's kind of like, 'I'll play the bad girl; now here's your bad girl anthem,'" Grande told Lowe about the song.
  6. ^ Brown, Helen (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine review: Clues and confessions bubble up from the slow-fizz pop". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Spanos, Brittany (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande is Gorgeously Exposed on 'Eternal Sunshine'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Spanos, Brittany (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande is Gorgeously Exposed on 'Eternal Sunshine'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024. "The Boy Is Mine" is another late Nineties, early Aughts R&B-pop moment.
  9. ^ Travis, Emlyn (March 7, 2024). "Ariana Grande to 'Reimagine' Brandy and Monica's 'The Boy Is Mine' on New Album: 'A Bad-Girl Anthem'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Denls, Kyle; Lipshutz, Jason; Unterberger, Andrew (March 13, 2024). "Ariana Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine' Keeps Shimmering on Streaming, While Reheating a '90s R&B Classic". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Gonzalez, Alex (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande Reimagines a '90s Classic with Her New Song, 'The Boy Is Mine'". Uproxx. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (May 27, 2024). "Ariana Grande Teases 'The Boy Is Mine' Music Video: See the Preview". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Trav. "Ariana Grande Teases 'The Boy Is Mine' Music Video". Hot 96-7. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  14. ^ Garcia, Thania; Shafer, Ellise (June 7, 2024). "Ariana Grande's Catwoman Stalks Mayor Penn Badgley in 'The Boy Is Mine' Video". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  15. ^ Gonzales, Erica (June 7, 2024). "Ariana Grande Plays Catwoman Opposite Penn Badgley in Her 'The Boy Is Mine' Video". Elle. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Vogue (May 7, 2024). "Ariana Grande Closed Out The 2024 Met Gala With An Epic Performance – And A Special Guest Appearance From Cynthia Erivo". British Vogue. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Ariana Grande's Bringing "the boy is mine" to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". NBC Insider Official Site. May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  18. ^ Denis, Kyle (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine': All 13 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  19. ^ Spanos, Brittany (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande is Gorgeously Exposed on 'Eternal Sunshine'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024. "The Boy Is Mine" — sure to be a point of stan Twitter controversy given chatter around the timeline of her and current partner Ethan Slater's relationship.
  20. ^ Aswad, Jem (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande Returns, Older and Wiser, With the Sparkling, Sarcastically Titled 'Eternal Sunshine': Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  21. ^ Snapes, Laura (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande: Eternal Sunshine review – perceptive post-divorce album is nearly spotless". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  22. ^ Platt, Poppie (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine, review: pop at its sexiest". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  23. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (March 8, 2024). "Ariana Grande Spins Heartbreak Into Gold on 'Eternal Sunshine'". The New York Times. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  24. ^ Zellner, Xander (March 18, 2024). "Ariana Grande Charts 12 Songs on Hot 100 From New Album 'Eternal Sunshine'". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  25. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  27. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  28. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  29. ^ "Top Singles (Week 11, 2024)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  30. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  32. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  33. ^ "2024 11-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  34. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  35. ^ "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 13 (22/03/2024-28/03/2024)". RIM. April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024 – via Facebook.
  36. ^ "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20 from 08/03/2024 to 14/03/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  37. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  38. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  39. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 08.03.2024–14.03.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  40. ^ "Ariana Grande – The Boy Is Mine". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  41. ^ "This Week's Official Saudi Arabia Chart Top 20: from 08/03/2024 to 14/03/2024". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. March 8, 2024. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  42. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 12 (15 - 21 Mar 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  43. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202411 into search. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Songs – Week 11". El Portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  45. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 11". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  46. ^ "This Week's Official UAE Chart Top 20: from 08/03/2024 to 14/03/2024". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. March 8, 2024. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  47. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  48. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  49. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  50. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Ariana Grande – The Boy Is Mine". Music Canada. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  51. ^ a b Aswad, Jem (June 17, 2024). "Ariana Grande Teams With Brandy and Monica for 'Boy Is Mine' Remix". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  52. ^ Dailey, Hannah (June 17, 2024). "Ariana Grande Announces 'The Boy Is Mine' Remix Featuring Brandy & Monica: 'Cannot Believe This Is Real'". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  53. ^ Citations:
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