"Boyfriend " is a song by English singer Mabel , released on 26 February 2020. The song appears as a digital reissue 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]
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]
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.
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]
Digital download[ 1] Title 1. "Boyfriend" 3:46
Digital download - Tiësto Remix[ 11] Title 1. "Boyfriend" (Tiësto Remix) 2:57
Digital download - Endor Remix[ 12] Title 1. "Boyfriend" (Endor Remix) 2:51
Digital download - Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix[ 13] Title 1. "Boyfriend" (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix) 3:01
Digital download – Remixes EP[ 14] Title 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
Digital download – Acoustic version[ 15] Title 1. "Boyfriend" (acoustic) 3:59
Credits and personnel
edit
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
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^ "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 https://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 .
^ a b c 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 .
^ a b "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 .
^ a b "Boyfriend (Endor Remix) - Single" . Apple Music . Retrieved 10 April 2020 .
^ a b "Boyfriend (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix) - Single" . Apple Music . Retrieved 10 April 2020 .
^ a b "Boyfriend (Remixes) - EP by Mabel on Apple Music" . Apple Music . Retrieved 21 February 2021 .
^ a b "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.
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^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 30. týden 2020 in the date selector . 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: Select 16. týden 2020 in the date selector . 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 .
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 30 November 2023 .
^ "Brazilian single certifications – Mabel – Boyfriend" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 14 July 2024 .
^ "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 .