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If I Were a Boy

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"If I Were a Boy"
Song

"If I Were a Boy" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Toby Gad and BC Jean ; and 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 single to U.S. radios on October 8, 2008.

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."[1]

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 "[2].In a separate 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."[3]

The song will be released in the UK on November 3, 2008 as part of whats been labelled Super-Monday by the British tabloids as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Leona Lewis are also releasing singles on the same day.

Controversy

The song was first featured in media press on August 4, 2008 on music industry site Crazed Hits, as a feature for up-and-coming singer BC Jean.[4] Accordingly, she collaborated with hit record-producer Toby Gad. Fox News ran an article claiming that the song was written by Jean. Jean initially was unaware that Knowles recorded the track but, contrary to rumors that Beyonce "stole" the song, Jean signed a contract allowing Beyonce to release it. Neither Jean nor Gad have released statements concerning this matter.[5]

Chart performance

"If I Were a Boy" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 100, solely based on airplay. The next week the song climbed 32 places to number 68 and, as expected, it rose considerably the next week, as the digital download counterpart had been released, jumping 65 spots to number three, making it her 10th Hot 100 top 5 single as a solo artist.[6]

On the 26th of October 2008, "If I Were A Boy" was the highest debut of the week, and Beyonce's second highest debut ever, debuting at number 12 on the ARIA Singles Chart based solely on downloads. The song debuted at number eight in New Zealand on October 27, 2008.[7]

In the UK, according to midweek sales, Beyonce and Britney are leading in the 'Super-Monday' chart battle for the third spot, behind Girls Aloud (#2) and The X Factor's Hero (currently number one). This is based on digital dowloads only.[8] It reached the #1 spot on the official Norwegian track chart on November 4th, 2008. [9]

Music video

Knowles portraying an NYPD officer.

The music video for "If I Were a Boy", directed by Jake Nava, was shot in black and white and portrays Knowles as an NYPD officer. It begins with Knowles and her husband reciting words such as "intimacy", "honesty" and "commitment". The song starts as her husband prepares breakfast and Knowles takes off. It later shows Knowles on patrol with her male partner. Knowles and her male partner form a close relationship throughout the song. Her husband is unaware and is singled out since she constantly ignores his calls while with her male partner. She is then shown at a party dancing with her male partner, when she sees her husband watching them. She and her husband return home and confront each other. The characters switch lines and it is revealed that Knowles had been acting out her husband's day and how he mistreats her and never takes her call. The video ends with the couple now acting out their real roles in life.

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[10] 3
Canadian Hot 100[11] 4
Denmark Singles Chart[12] 8
Dutch Mega Single Top 100[13] 4
Irish Singles Chart[14] 12
Israeli Singles Chart[15] 6
Italian Singles Chart[16] 11
Japan Hot 100 Singles[17] 22
New Zealand Singles Chart[18] 4
Norwegian Singles Chart[19] 1
Portuguese Singles Chart[20] 30
Swedish Singles Chart[21] 1
Turkey Top 20 Chart[22] 7
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[23] 3
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[24] 29
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[25] 8

References

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ "Artist of the Week: BC Jean". Crazed Hits'. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Friedman, Roger (2008-10-14). "Beyonce's 'Stolen' New Hit Record". FOX News. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  6. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-10-30). "T.I. Continues Hot 100 Dominance". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  7. ^ http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp
  8. ^ http://www.heatworld.com/Article/7856/Britney+Spears/Ooh%2c+this+whole+%e2%80%9cBattle+of+the+divas%e2%80%9d+isn%e2%80%99t+shaping+up+quite+as+we+thought%e2%80%a6
  9. ^ http://lista.vg.no/
  10. ^ "Top 50 Singles Chart - Australian Recording Industry Association". ARIA. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  11. ^ "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  12. ^ "Denmark singles chart".
  13. ^ http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Beyonc%E9&titel=If+I+Were+A+Boy&cat=s
  14. ^ "Irish singles chart".
  15. ^ Israeli Singles Chart
  16. ^ [2]
  17. ^ "Japan Hot 100 Singles - If I Were A Boy - Beyoncé". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  18. ^ http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp
  19. ^ [3]
  20. ^ "Beyoncé - If I Were A Boy - Music Charts". αCharts. Retrieved 2008-11-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  21. ^ [4]
  22. ^ Turkey Top 20 Chart Retrieved on 2008-11-03
  23. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  24. ^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  25. ^ "Billboard Pop 100". Billboard Magazine (Online). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
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