Boyfriend (Mabel song)
"Boyfriend" is a song by English singer Mabel, released on 26 February 2020. The song appears as a digital and streaming bonus track on Mabel's debut studio album High Expectations (2019).[2] "Boyfriend" samples "Remember Me" (1997) by Blue Boy which in turn sampled "Woman of the Ghetto" (1969) by Marlena Shaw.[3]
"Boyfriend" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Mabel | ||||
Released | 26 February 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2019 | |||
Genre | Pop[1] | |||
Length | 3:46 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Steve Mac | |||
Mabel singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Boyfriend" on YouTube |
Background
Mabel announced the song's release on 21 February 2020.[4] She described the song as "wanting someone in your life doesn't mean you can't still be dat bitchh".[5]
Composition
Musically, "Boyfriend" is an empowering upbeat pop anthem with a bumping production.[6][7][1] Lyrically, the song sees Mabel wanting a boyfriend, but saying how she doesn't necessarily need one "I want a boyfriend... Even though a man ain't something I need".
This song is written in the key of B minor and has a tempo of 100 beats per minute.
Music video
The song's accompanying music video was directed by Isaac Rentz and was released on 26 February 2020.[8][9] According to Mabel the video for "Boyfriend" was inspired by late American singer Aaliyah.[10] It sees Mabel make her ideal boyfriend in an underground computer laboratory.[6] It is a gender-reverse flip of the 1985 film Weird Science.[6]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boyfriend" | 3:46 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boyfriend" (Endor Remix) | 2:51 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boyfriend" (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix) | 3:01 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boyfriend" (Tiësto remix) | 2:57 |
2. | "Boyfriend" (220 Kid remix) | 3:14 |
3. | "Boyfriend" (Endor remix) | 2:51 |
4. | "Boyfriend" (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin remix) | 3:01 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boyfriend" (acoustic) | 3:59 |
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]
- Mabel – songwriting, vocals
- Steve Mac – production, songwriting, keyboards
- Camille Purcell – songwriting, backing vocals
- Marlena Shaw – songwriting
- Richard Evans – songwriting
- Robert Miller – songwriting
- Chris Laws – drum programming, recording, studio personnel
- Bill Zimmerman – engineering, studio personnel
- Phil Tan – mixing, studio personnel
- Dann Pursey – percussion, recording, studio personnel
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 26 February 2020 | Original | Polydor | [1] | |
United Kingdom | 28 February 2020 | Contemporary hit radio | [34] | ||
Australia | 2 March 2020 | Universal | [35] | ||
Italy | 6 March 2020 | [36] | |||
Various | 27 March 2020 |
|
Tiësto Remix | Polydor | [11] |
3 April 2020 | Endor Remix | [12] | |||
10 April 2020 | Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix | [13] | |||
1 May 2020 | Remixes EP | [14] | |||
12 June 2020 | Acoustic | [15] |
References
- "Mabel Releases Brand New Single, "Boyfriend"". Umusic. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- High Expectations by Mabel, archived from the original on 2020-03-03, retrieved 2020-02-27
- "Mabel delivers powerful message of self empowerment on 'Boyfriend'". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2020-02-26. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- @Mabel (21 February 2020). "NEW MUSIC LOADINGGGGGG ARE YOU READY?! 26.02 Mabel.lnk.to/BoyfriendPreSave ...pic.twitter.com/GO2iaHvtmh" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 February 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Mabel explains message behind new single Boyfriend". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- Stavropoulos, Laura (2020-02-26). "Mabel Releases Anthemic New Single "Boyfriend" | uDiscover". uDiscover Music. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- Roth, Madeline. "Mabel Makes Her '90s Aaliyah Dreams Come True In "Boyfriend" Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- "Pick Up the Phone: Mabel Wants a 'Boyfriend'". MuuMuse. 2020-02-26. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- "Mabel - Boyfriend (Official Video)". MabelVEVO. Feb 26, 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2002 – via YouTube.
- "Mabel Makes Her '90s Aaliyah Dreams Come True In 'Boyfriend' Video". MTV News. 2020-02-26. Archived from the original on 2020-03-15. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- "Boyfriend (Tiësto Remix) - Single by Mabel on Apple Music". Apple Music. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- "Boyfriend (Endor Remix) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "Boyfriend (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "Boyfriend (Remixes) - EP by Mabel on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- "Boyfriend (Acoustic) - Single by Mabel on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- "Boyfriend / Mabel". Tidal. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- "Mabel %5BUK%5D – Boyfriend" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- "Mabel %5BUK%5D – Boyfriend" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202030 into search. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- "Mabel Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- "Mabel Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- Arvunescu, Victor (27 April 2020). "Top Airplay 100 - Saint Jhn face legea!" [Top Airplay 100 – Saint Jhn makes the rules!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202016 into search. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 10". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020". Mahasz. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- "British single certifications – Mabel – Boyfriend". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- "BBC - Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
- "Singles To Radio". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- "MABEL "Boyfriend" | (Radio Date: 06/03/2020)". radiodate.it. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-03-03.