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It topped the charts in more than eight European countries, including the United Kingdom, where it is Beyoncé's best-selling single, though it only comes in third once streaming data is included. The single was a commercial success as it placed in the top ten on twenty-five different singles charts. "If I Were a Boy" was well received by critics, who complimented Beyoncé's tormented and emotive vocal performance and called the song her best work to date. The song's lyrics lament the misunderstandings between the genders and indict the male side of relationships. "If I Were a Boy" is a pop and R&B introspective ballad which draws influences from folk rock through its instrumentation of which includes acoustic guitars, drums and strings. A Spanish version of the song, titled " Si Yo Fuera un Chico", was digitally released in Mexico and Spain. The two songs showcased the contrast between Beyoncé's personality and her aggressive onstage persona, Sasha Fierce. Columbia Records released "If I Were a Boy" to US radio on October 8, 2008, as a double A-side single album's alongside " Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" as the lead singles. Jean was upset when she learned that Beyoncé was releasing it as a single, but eventually, they reached an agreement. Inspired by the difficult break-up of a romantic relationship, the song was initially recorded by Jean, whose record company rejected it. "If I Were a Boy" was written by BC Jean and Toby Gad, who also handled its production alongside Beyoncé. I remember Toby looking at me and going, “We just wrote a smash.” I thought he was crazy." If I Were a Boy" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, from her third studio album I Am.
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We recorded it that day it was so simple. So we were walking through Times Square, and I said, “I wish I were a boy,” and he’s like, “Why would you say that? That’s very weird to me.” I said, “That pizza smells really good, and I’m trying not to eat carbs, and I wish I were a boy so I didn’t care.” That’s how the song started, and he was like, “What else would you do if you were a boy?” And I was going through a really hard breakup with my first real love, so I said, “I’d be a better man than my ex-boyfriend!” And he asked, “How would you sing it?” So I’m just singing in Times Square into his recording thing, and we went back to the studio, and he had a guitar part. Our communication was very interesting – he’s European. Whenever I said anything interesting, he would take out a little tape recorder and start recording me just talking. Toby and I had written about 11 songs together over a week or two.
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The song started because I had the title. She went on to explain the song’s background, and how she and Gad came up with the idea. It was not my initial intention, but it’s opened so many doors, it’s amazing. This was my first cut ever I’ve never written for anybody else. It’s an amazing compliment, but I was like, “That’s great, but it’s going to be on my album!” And it can be on my album, too, I just didn’t realize how it worked. I had always written for myself and was trying to get signed and do the whole artist thing as well. I love singing ballads because I feel like the music and the emotion in the story is told so much better.īC Jean, who co-wrote the song with Toby Gad, told Hartford Courant about her reaction when she got a phone call saying that Beyoncé would be recording her song.Īt first I was confused, because I never thought of myself as writing songs for other people. I feel like at this point, I wanted people to hear songs with stronger lyrics and songs that made you feel. It’s difficult to grow and to break out and do new things because people have strong expectations. You can hear with ‘If I Were A Boy,’ it’s not a traditional R&B song. When discussing all the different elements and styles of music she incorporated in I Am…Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé said of this track: