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"'''If I Were a Boy'''" is a song recorded by American [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer [[Beyoncé Knowles]] for her third studio album, ''[[I Am... Sasha Fierce]]'' (2008). It was written by [[Toby Gad]] and [[BC Jean]], and produced by Gad and Knowles. Inspired by a bad break-up, the song was initially recorded by Jean, whose version was rejected by her record company. Knowles then recorded her own version of "If I Were a Boy". However, Jean was upset when she learnt that Knowles had recorded and was releasing the song as a single. Eventually, they came to terms. "If I Were a Boy" was released by [[Columbia Records]] on October 12, 2008, as the album's [[lead single]] alongside "[[Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)]]", showcasing the contrast between Knowles' persona as herself and her aggressive onstage [[alter ego]] Sasha Fierce. A Spanish version of the song, titled "Si Yo Fuera un Chico", was digitally released in Mexico and Spain.
"'''If I Were a Boy'''" is a song recorded by American [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer [[Beyoncé Knowles]] for her third studio album, ''[[I Am... Sasha Fierce]]'' (2008). It was written by [[Toby Gad]] and [[BC Jean]], and produced by Gad and Knowles. Inspired by the bad break-up of a relationship, the song was initially recorded by Jean, whose version was rejected by her record company. Knowles then recorded her own version of "If I Were a Boy". However, Jean was upset when she learned that Knowles had recorded and was releasing the song as a single. Eventually, they came to terms. "If I Were a Boy" was released by [[Columbia Records]] on October 12, 2008, as the album's [[lead single]] alongside "[[Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)]]", showcasing the contrast between Knowles' persona as herself and her aggressive onstage [[alter ego]] Sasha Fierce. A Spanish version of the song, titled "Si Yo Fuera un Chico", was digitally released in Mexico and Spain.


"If I Were a Boy" is different from Knowles' previous songs as it is not a traditional R&B one; it is a [[pop music|pop]] and [[folk rock]] [[Ballad (music)|ballad]], and its [[instrumentation]] is based on [[acoustic guitar]]s, [[drum]]s and [[String instrument|strings]]. The song's lyrics are both a lament for misunderstanding between the genders and an indictment of the male side of relationships. "If I Were a Boy" was generally well received by music critics, who complimeted Knowles' tormented and emotive vocal performance, and called the song her best work to date. It was a commercial success, topping the charts in over eight European countries, and peaking at number three on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart. "If I Were a Boy" peaked at number one in the United Kingdom, where it stands as Knowles' best-selling single to date. It landed in the top 10 on 25 different singles charts around the world,<ref name="pizza"/> and earned multi-platinum certifications in Canada and the US.
"If I Were a Boy" differs from Knowles' previous songs as it is not traditional R&B; it is a [[pop music|pop]] and [[folk rock]] [[Ballad (music)|ballad]], and its [[instrumentation]] is based on [[acoustic guitar]]s, [[drum]]s and [[String instrument|strings]]. The song's lyrics are both a lament for misunderstanding between the genders and an indictment of the male side of relationships. "If I Were a Boy" was generally well received by music critics, who complimeted Knowles' tormented and emotive vocal performance, and called the song her best work to date. It was a commercial success, topping the charts in over eight European countries, and peaking at number three on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart. "If I Were a Boy" peaked at number one in the United Kingdom, where it stands as Knowles' best-selling single to date. It landed in the top 10 on 25 different singles charts around the world,<ref name="pizza"/> and earned multi-platinum certifications in Canada and the US.


The accompanying music video for "If I Were a Boy" was directed by [[Jake Nava]], and shot in [[black-and-white]]. With a theme that concerns role reversal, it is conceptually similar to American [[comedy film]] ''[[Freaky Friday (1976 film)|Freaky Friday]]'' (1976). A video for Spanish version of the ballad was edited from the original clip. Knowles promoted "If I were a Boy" through several live performances, including the ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'', the [[52nd Grammy Awards]], and during the [[I Am... Tour]] (2009–10). In April 2009, a fake screeching tape showing Knowles singing the the song off-[[Key (music)|key]] on a ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today show]]'' appearance, was [[Internet leak|leaked]] online by Matthew Zeghibe, who later refused to apologize for the hoax. "If I Were a Boy" was covered twice on televised music competitions. American singer [[Reba McEntire]] sang a [[country music|country version]] of the ballad on [[Country Music Television]] (CMT), and a studio version was released as the second single from her 2010 album, ''[[All the Women I Am]]''.
The accompanying music video for "If I Were a Boy" was directed by [[Jake Nava]], and shot in [[black-and-white]]. With a theme that concerns role reversal, it is conceptually similar to American [[comedy film]] ''[[Freaky Friday (1976 film)|Freaky Friday]]'' (1976). A video for Spanish version of the ballad was edited from the original clip. Knowles promoted "If I were a Boy" through several live performances, including the ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'', the [[52nd Grammy Awards]], and during the [[I Am... Tour]] (2009–10). In April 2009, a fake screeching tape showing Knowles singing the the song off-[[Key (music)|key]] on a ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today show]]'' appearance, was [[Internet leak|leaked]] online by Matthew Zeghibe, who later refused to apologize for the hoax. "If I Were a Boy" was covered twice on televised music competitions. American singer [[Reba McEntire]] sang a [[country music|country version]] of the ballad on [[Country Music Television]] (CMT), and a studio version was released as the second single from her 2010 album, ''[[All the Women I Am]]''.

Revision as of 22:40, 2 February 2012

"If I Were a Boy"
Song

"If I Were a Boy" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). It was written by Toby Gad and BC Jean, and produced by Gad and Knowles. Inspired by the bad break-up of a relationship, the song was initially recorded by Jean, whose version was rejected by her record company. Knowles then recorded her own version of "If I Were a Boy". However, Jean was upset when she learned that Knowles had recorded and was releasing the song as a single. Eventually, they came to terms. "If I Were a Boy" was released by Columbia Records on October 12, 2008, as the album's lead single alongside "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", showcasing the contrast between Knowles' persona as herself and her aggressive onstage alter ego Sasha Fierce. A Spanish version of the song, titled "Si Yo Fuera un Chico", was digitally released in Mexico and Spain.

"If I Were a Boy" differs from Knowles' previous songs as it is not traditional R&B; it is a pop and folk rock ballad, and its instrumentation is based on acoustic guitars, drums and strings. The song's lyrics are both a lament for misunderstanding between the genders and an indictment of the male side of relationships. "If I Were a Boy" was generally well received by music critics, who complimeted Knowles' tormented and emotive vocal performance, and called the song her best work to date. It was a commercial success, topping the charts in over eight European countries, and peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. "If I Were a Boy" peaked at number one in the United Kingdom, where it stands as Knowles' best-selling single to date. It landed in the top 10 on 25 different singles charts around the world,[1] and earned multi-platinum certifications in Canada and the US.

The accompanying music video for "If I Were a Boy" was directed by Jake Nava, and shot in black-and-white. With a theme that concerns role reversal, it is conceptually similar to American comedy film Freaky Friday (1976). A video for Spanish version of the ballad was edited from the original clip. Knowles promoted "If I were a Boy" through several live performances, including the The Oprah Winfrey Show, the 52nd Grammy Awards, and during the I Am... Tour (2009–10). In April 2009, a fake screeching tape showing Knowles singing the the song off-key on a Today show appearance, was leaked online by Matthew Zeghibe, who later refused to apologize for the hoax. "If I Were a Boy" was covered twice on televised music competitions. American singer Reba McEntire sang a country version of the ballad on Country Music Television (CMT), and a studio version was released as the second single from her 2010 album, All the Women I Am.

Writing and production

"If I Were a Boy" was written by BC Jean and Toby Gad;[2] it is the opening ballad of the I Am ... disc of the double album I Am... Sasha Fierce, and is the only song on either disc that Knowles did not co-write.[3] Most of the lyrics were written by Jean, who was inspired by a bad break-up.[1] One day while Jean and Gad (her producer) were strolling around Times Square, they came across a pizzeria.[1] Although tempted, Jean refrained from eating pizza because she was dieting. She then started thinking about how if she were a boy, she would have eaten pizza without regret.[1] After reflecting on the idea, she thought that if she were indeed a boy, she would have been a better man than her past lover.[1] Gad captured Jean's ideas on a pocket recorder, and they went to the studio the same day. Once there, she came up with the lyrics and melody in about 15 minutes. She then recorded the song in less than half an hour, with Gad on the guitar.[1] After completing her version, Jean's record company rejected the song.[4]

Gad and Jean had co-written 12 songs, including "If I Were a Boy". As the deal with Jean's record company fell apart, Gad took back the songs and marketed them to established artists.[4] Knowles liked "If I Were a Boy" and recorded her own version of it for her then-upcoming album I Am... Sasha Fierce.[4] Gad and Knowles produced it in 2008 at Roc the Mic Studios and Strawberry Productions in New York City and at GAD Studios in Ibiza.[2] Gad did the musical arrangements, assisted in recording the music, and played the instruments alongside his brother Jens Gad and Reggie Syience Perry.[2] Jim Caruana recorded Knowles' vocals at Roc the Mic Studios.[2] Mark "Spike" Stent mixed the track with assistance from Matt Green at The Record Plant in Los Angeles.[2] "If I Were a Boy" was placed on the I Am... disc of I Am... Sasha Fierce, as it is a ballad that shows Knowles' insecurities about love,[3][5] and the person she is "underneath all the makeup, underneath the lights and underneath all the exciting star drama".[6]

In an interview with Essence magazine, Knowles said that "If I were a Boy" is "broad" and different from her previous releases[7] in the sense that it is not a traditional R&B song.[3] She added "I had to try it, because I remember Aretha Franklin said a great singer can sing anything and make it her own."[7] Knowles was also motivated by the fact that people had strong expectations from her as a singer.[3] At that point of her career, she wanted to experiment with stronger lyrics, and record ballads in the vein of "If I Were a Boy" because, "... the music and the emotion in the story is told [sic] so much better. It's a better connection because you can hear it and it's not all these other distractions. I really wanted people to hear my voice and hear what I had to say."[3]

Controversy

After Jean's version of "If I Were a Boy" was rejected by her record company, she was upset that Knowles had recorded the ballad and was releasing it.[4][8] Roger Friedman wrote on the Fox News Channel website that Jean was not aware that Knowles recorded the song until a stranger informed her.[8] The Daily Telegraph reported that Knowles' father and then-manger Mathew Knowles had pursued the publishing rights of "If I Were a Boy" after realizing that it had the potential to become a big hit.[4] Jean used her Myspace account to express her frustration: "I have been reading some of these comments and to set the record straight from the horse's mouth – IF I WERE A BOY is my song; YES, I wrote this song; It is my story; a painful one, and the song is very dear to me. You can hear the original version on my myspace site."[4] Friedman later reported that Knowles and Jean had come to terms. Part of their deal was that Knowles would record a duet for Jean's debut album, once she gets her own recording deal.[8]

In an interview with Eric R. Danton of Hartford Courant, Jean was asked about her reaction when she heard that Knowles was recording "If I Were a Boy".[1] She replied that she was initially surprised as people started to regard her as a songwriter, while she had always envisioned herself as "do[ing] the whole artist thing as well".[1] Jean said, "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 ... At first when I got this, people didn't know that I was an artist, so it was, like, 'Oh, this songwriter BC.' "[1] "If I Were a boy" was the first song she ever recorded, and she initially did not intend to hand it to another singer.[1] She added that Knowles recording her ballad "opened so many doors".[1] She was approached by many people who wanted to purchase songs she had written, but refused because she wanted to keep them for her own album.[1] However, Jean told Danton that she intends to write for other artists.[1]

Composition and lyrical interpretation

"If I Were a Boy"
A 24-second sample "If I Were a Boy", an acoustic guitar-driven midtempo pop ballad, featuring Knowles deliver a tormented vocal performance as she ornaments her vocal lines with melodic crescendos.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"If I Were a Boy" is a midtempo pop and folk rock ballad,[9][10][11] using common time in the key of G major with a moderate tempo of 90 beats per minute.[12] The song is written in the common verse-chorus form;[12] the verses are supported by four chords and follow a vi-IV-I-V chord progression.[13] Instrumentation is provided by acoustic guitars, live drums, and strings.[2][14] Knowles' vocals span the range from a low of G♯3 to the high of E5.[12] Her singing gets higher and louder as she employs melodic crescendos.[15] Critics noted that Knowles delivers a tormented performance with unwavering sentiments.[14][15]

The lyrics of "If I Were a Boy" are about a gender-swapping thought experiment,[16] where Knowles analyses the dynamics of a tense relationship.[17] As she sings about all the things she would do if she were a boy,[18] Knowles also highlights the vulnerability of a woman,[4] and ponders how things would be different if men had women's sense of empathy.[18] During the first part of the ballad, Knowles alternates between the role of her do-wrong man and that of the better man she affirms she would be.[16] In the first verse, she envisions herself impersonating her unfeeling love interest[19] as she sings about consuming beer with other men, chasing after girls,[20] and treating her lover cruelly,[4] before adding that she would never be confronted for it.[21] Knowles then belts the chorus where she implores,[18] "I think I could understand / How it feels to love a girl / I swear I'd be a better man",[15] because she knows "how it hurts when you lose the one you wanted / 'cause he's taken you for granted and everything you had got destroyed".[22][23]

In the second verse Knowles is in a resigned state, though she continues "ticking off more cruelties that male empowerment allows", according to Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times.[18] She also sings, "I'd put myself first / And make the rules as I go / 'Cause I know that she'd be faithful / Waitin' for me to come home".[19][22] Knowles repeats the chorus;[18] the intensity with which she sings gradually increases until she hits her upper register, and seems to be on the verge of crying.[18][24] During the bridge, the script flips—she stops singing about what she would do if she were a man, and addresses her callous lover directly, telling him that it is too late to come back and apologize.[18] The last verses end with Knowles concluding, "But you're just a boy",[18] as she stays strong, not allowing her agony bring her down.[18]

Release

"If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" were released simultaneously as the double album's two lead singles.[21] The songs were taken from different discs; the intention was to demonstrate that Knowles has conflicting personalities, the central theme of the album.[21] This motif was demonstrated by placing the album's ballads on a separate disc from the uptempo tracks.[6] "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies" were initially planned to debut on US radio stations on October 7, 2008,[25] but both premiered the following day.[26] "If I Were a Boy" debuted on Z100's Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,[19] while "Single Ladies" aired on New York mainstream urban radio station Power 105.1.[22] Both singles were added to rhythmic contemporary radio playlists on October 12, 2008.[27] however that same day, "If I Were a Boy" was classifed for adult contemporary and contemporary hit radio playlists,[28] while "Single Ladies" was added to urban contemporary radio playlists.[29] Two digital EPs, each containing seven dance remixes of "If I Were a Boy" were released on February 10, 2009 in the US.[30][31]

In Oceania and Europe, the digital component of the ballad and a two-track CD single, including "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" as the B-side single, was released on October 17, 2008,[32][33][34] and November 7, 2008 respectively.[35][36][37] On the same date, a similar CD single was serviced in Germany[38] and in Canada,[39] where two different digital EPs were later made available on February 3, and February 10, 2009.[40][41] In France and the United Kingdom, "If I Were a Boy" was first digitally released on October 26, 2008,[42][43] and later as a CD single on November 7, 2008.[44][45] and in mainland Europe on November 18, 2008.[37] A Spanish version of the song, titled "Si Yo Fuera un Chico", was translated by Rudy Pérez, and mixed by Andrés Bermúdez at The Beach House in Miami.[46] It was included on the version of the album sold on the iTunes Stores of Mexico and Spain,[47] where it was marketed as "Si Yo Fuera un Chico (If I Were a Boy)", and released as a stand-alone single on February 3, 2009.[48]

Critical reception

"Her tone is gentle, open: Instead of the snap of 'Single Ladies' and 'Irreplaceable,' there's real sadness as she shuts this door ... In the end, Beyoncé can't resist arching her eyebrow; she's a survivor, and she won't let her pain completely unmake her. But that's the final, poignant point of this excellent song. In Beyoncé's world view, an independent woman must sacrifice the princess fantasy she was sold as a child, and keep that steely edge, even when her world is melting around her. The compassion Beyoncé's vocal conveys as 'If I Were a Boy' concludes is as much for the man who can't fulfill romance's impossible dream as it is for herself."

—Los Angeles Times' Ann Powers reviewing "If I Were a Boy".[18]

"If I Were a Boy" was generally well received by contemporary music critics, who praised Knowles' vocal performance and called the song her best yet. Billboard magazine's critic Chuck Taylor wrote that "If I Were a Boy" is Knowles' "most affecting offering" since "Listen" (2006). He praised her vocals, describing them as "breathtaking, exquisitely emotive, mournful, and mature". He added that the song "exudes the fragrance of a Grammy Award".[49] According to Ann Powers of Los Angeles Times, "If I Were a Boy" is Knowles' Streisand moment and "a tender, fairly simple ballad that [she] uses to prove she's a great vocal actress".[18] Powers concluded, "This isn't just another breakup song; it's an elegy for female empowerment, Beyoncé's admission that no amount of money, fame or skill can solve the basic inequity between her man's heart and her own."[18] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote that "If I Were a Boy" has the potential to become as commercially successful as "Irreplaceable" because of its radio-friendly appeal.[50]

James Montgomery of MTV News complimented that "tear-jerking power" of "If I Were a Boy" and highlighted that it reveals "sides of Beyoncé we never knew existed".[51] Allmusic writer Andy Kellman felt that even though "If I Were a Boy" sounds like "the watery backdrop for a singing competition finale", it turns out to be most outstanding song on I Am... Sasha Fierce thanks to its lyrics and Knowles' tormented performance.[14] Matos Michaelangelo of The A.V. Club remarked that "If I Were A Boy" has "boilerplate lyrics" that would fit perfectly in mature roles that English actress Hayley Mills used to play in the late 1960s.[52] Nick Levine of Digital Spy wrote on his review of the album that "If I Were a Boy" has the "most interesting lyrics" on the entire record.[53] On a separate review for the single, Levine awarded it four stars out of five, writing that Knowles' vocals on the song are passionate. He praised the lyrics for not being overwritten and commended their "emotional punch" and "very strong melody" which, according to him, have the ability to make people feel that they have always known the song.[54] Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal called the song an "effective and affecting gender-bender".[55]

Colin McGuire of PopMatters felt that "If I Were a Boy" was the only highlight of the first disc of the double album.[56] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times described the song as one of the greatest pop songs of the last few years, and one of Knowles' most complicated vocal performances.[10] Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle commented that "If I Were a Boy" is an "elegant new musical direction" for Knowles, and praised it for being different from the songs being played on Top 40 radio at that moment.[17] By contrast, Stacey Anderson of Spin magazine was unimpressed with "If I Were a Boy", calling it a glistening and boring ballad.[57] Adam Mazmanian of The Washington Times noted that the musical composition of "If I Were a Boy" has "a spare [and] cinematic quality that [Knowles] fills with an expansive voice", which nevertheless falters at times.[58] On the occasion of Knowles' thirtieth birthday, Erika Ramirez and Jason Lipshutz of Billboard magazine placed the song at number 19 on their list of Knowles' 30 biggest Billboard hits, writing that it "found Beyoncé at her most honest, drawing in both women and men".[59] "If I Were a Boy" was nominated for the Best Foreign Song at the 2009 Porin Awards in Croatia.[60]

Chart performance

For the week ending October 25, 2008, "If I Were a Boy" debuted at number 100 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, based solely on airplay.[61] In its third charting week, the song rose from number 68 to number three on the Hot 100 chart[62] as its digital download counterpart debuted at the top of the US Hot Digital Songs chart, selling 190,000 units.[63] It became Knowles' fourth number-one on the Hot Digital Songs chart, following "Check on It" (2005), "Irreplaceable" (2006), and "Beautiful Liar" (2007).[63] "If I Were a Boy" also became her tenth top-five single on the Hot 100 as a solo artist.[63] On November 15, 2008, the song fell to number five,[64] where it stayed for one further week.[65] However, it regained its number three position on November 29, 2008[66] as it came back to the top spot of the Hot Digital Songs chart,[67] selling 170,000 units.[68] "If I Were a Boy" sold 654,000 digital downloads in four weeks.[68] The following week, the song fell to number two on the Hot Digital Songs Chart, selling 44,000 less copies than "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", which debuted at number one.[69] "If I Were a Boy" maintained its position at number three on the Hot 100 chart while "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" soared to number two on the chart. Knowles became the seventh female to have two songs in the top five positions of the Hot 100 chart.[70] On October 13, 2009, the song was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping over two million copies.[71] As of mid-July 2010, "If I Were a Boy" had sold 2,393,000 units in the US.[72]

On November 2, 2008, "If I Were a Boy" was the highest debut of the week on the Australian Singles Chart, entering at number 12.[73] The song peaked at number three for three non-consecutive weeks during the same month,[74] and was certified platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling over 70,000 copies.[75] "If I Were a Boy" debuted at number eight in New Zealand on October 27, 2008[76] and peaked at number two for four non-consecutive weeks in November and December 2008.[77] It was certified platinum after twelve weeks, representing shipment of 15,000 copies.[36] The song opened at number two on the UK Singles Chart, selling 64,554 downloads on November 15, 2008.[78] The following week, it fell to number three with sales of 57,917 copies.[79] However, on November 23, 2008, "If I Were a Boy" rebounded to number one, selling 47,949 copies,[80][81] becoming Knowles' fourth number-one single in the UK as a solo artist and her sixth taking into account her career with Destiny's Child.[82] "If I Were A Boy" remained in the top five until the end of 2008,[83] and emerged as the 16th highest-selling single of that year.[84] The ballad was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipping over 400,000 copies.[85] It was the 68th highest selling single of the 2000s in the UK,[86] where it stands as Knowles' highest-selling solo single, with sales of 683,083 units as of December 2011.[87]

Music video

Background and concept

Beyoncé acting like a police officer. She wears the uniform of the New York Police, and she is putting the cap. On the background, a striped wall is visible.
Knowles portraying an NYPD officer in the official music video for "If I Were A Boy"

The music video for "If I Were a Boy" was directed by Jake Nava and was shot in black-and-white in New York City together with the video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".[88] A Spanish version of the music video, titled "Si Yo Fuera Un Chico", was released utilizing the same concepts as the main music video. It was edited from the original with the Spanish version of the song dubbed over it.[89] The music video for "If I Were a Boy" is both compelling and reflective of the independent woman stance that Knowles has exhibited throughout most of her career.[3] In an interview with Billboard magazine, Knowles revealed that the concept of the video is similar to the American comedy film Freaky Friday (1976); its theme is role reversal.[90] She also said that it would depict common things that men do to hurt their significant others, like not answering their phones, before adding that the video is about all the little things that mean a lot in relationships.[90] Knowles explained:

In the beginning of the video, my husband makes me breakfast and he's excited about it, and I kind of don't have time to eat. As a police officer, I have a male partner and the video goes through our days. My husband's at work and has attractive girls flirting with him but he declines their advances. I have a guy flirting with me, and I flirt back.[90]

Knowles said that at the end of the video, viewers would realize the husband is a police officer and what Knowles, as the female character, has been doing throughout the video is what her husband has actually done to her all along.[90] MTV News writer Jennifer Vineyard's analysis of the concept concluded, "when we first saw it from a different perspective, [Knowles'] behavior seemed more abnormal. And when it's the guy doing everything she just did in the previous scenes, it becomes all too familiar—which is Beyoncé's point."[21]

Synopsis

The video begins with Knowles and her husband saying a few words, including "intimacy", "honesty", and "commitment", and then they start saying the words "you", "me", and "us" together. When the action starts, Knowles is seen working as a police officer. Her husband (played by NFL player Eddie Goines[91]) is very supportive. He makes her breakfast, spends time at work looking for the perfect present to brighten her day and forgoes hanging out with his attractive coworkers so he can be available when her wife gets off her shift. However, Knowles is not thinking about him at all. Instead, she is spending her off-hours with her fellow officers, particularly her male partner, who she seems enamored with. Her husband tries calling, but she ignores the phone. And later, when her husband gives her a present—earrings—she puts them on to go dancing with her partner at a party. Her husband gets upset when he sees them, and when he confronts her about this at home, she acts like he is making a big deal out of nothing. "When you act like that, I don't think you realize how it makes me look or feel," he tells her. Knowles then asks him in a condescending tone, "Why are you so jealous? It's not like I'm sleeping with the guy." Then the story reverses, and Knowles starts to cry. The situation that she put her husband in, it turns out, is the situation she is in—he is the police officer, and she is the supportive wife who is taken for granted.

Release and accolades

Knowles premiered the music video, alongside the video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", on MTV's Total Request Live show on October 13, 2008.[21] It was later included on Knowles' remix album with videography, Above and Beyoncé.[92] Jennifer Vineyard of MTV News described the video as a "meaningful one—and it comes with a twist that requires repeat viewing".[21] She further commented that if the video did not exist, she would not have seen the tomboy side of Knowles.[21] A writer for Rap-Up commented that "[Beyoncé] delivers one of the year's best videos with the black and white clip."[93] Jennifer Cady of E! Online praised the music video, saying that it has a "serious melodramatic storyline".[94] She further said that it was "slow and everyone overacts, but be sure to catch the end where a major twist will probably change your outlook on the dynamics of male–female relationships forever".[94] It was ranked at number 72 on BET: Notarized Top 100 Videos of 2008 countdown and at number 25 on BET J's Last Call 2008! Top 50 Countdown.[95] The video was nominated for "Video of the Year" at the 2009 BET Awards but lost to Knowles's other video for "Single Ladies".[96] It also received nominations for "Best Female Video" at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Japan[97] and for "Outstanding Music Video" at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards.[98] In July 2009, the music video was certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for shipping over 5,000 units.[99]

Live performances

Three women are standing in front of many musicians and a big television screen. From left to right, the first and third women are wearing a black suit. It consist of a cap, glasses, a jacket, a leotard, gloves and boots. They hold a tonfa with their right hand. The second woman is wearing a gray dress (styled like a Roman war-suit) and black glasses. She raises her left hand and point with her index finger. She holds a microphone with her other hand.
Knowles performing "If I Were a Boy" on the O2 Arena, in London, England

Knowles first performed "If I Were a Boy" on November 6, 2008, at the MTV Europe Music Awards.[100] She then took to the stage of The Oprah Winfrey Show to perform the song on November 13, 2008.[101] On November 16, 2008, backed by a live band, Knowles sang a medley of "If I Were a Boy", then switched to "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", and ended up with "Crazy in Love" during the final episode of Total Request Live.[102] She later performed the song on December 16, 2008 at the The X Factor finale in the United Kingdom.[103] Knowles also performed "If I Were a Boy" on January 31, 2010 at the 52nd Grammy Awards ceremony, where she also covered Alanis Morissette's 1995 song "You Oughta Know".[104] She was wearing a "futuristic, spiked black" outfit with matching shoes, and "pranced, spun and did the Dutty Wine while the crowd cheered in approval", according to Jayson Rodriguez of MTV News.[105] Ben Sisario of The New York Times commented that Knowles "was elaborately staged and typically athletic" during the performance.[106] Knowles lifted a verse from"You Oughta Know" while singing "If I Were a Boy" live at the Glastonbury Festival on June 26, 2011.[107]

In addition to her numerous performances of the song on television and at award ceremonies, "If I Were a Boy" was a part of Knowles' set list on her I Am... Tour (2009–10).[108] Eventually, the song was included on Knowles' live album, I Am... World Tour as the 29th track.[109] On her tour, Knowles was accompanied by two drummers, two keyboardists, a percussionist, a horn section, three backup vocalists called the Mamas and a lead guitarist, Bibi McGill.[110] Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone noted that during the performances of the song on her tour, Knowles appears with her "ferocious onstage persona", her alter ego, Sasha Fierce.[108] Alice Jones of The Independent added that "Beyoncé dons Ray Bans and a leather breastplate to whip up a quasi-feminist singalong."[111] MTV News' Jayson Rodriguez said that Knowles donned "aviator shades and a bulletproof-looking one-piece".[112]

Fake screeching tape

"Despite the denials—and even as the original Today broadcast below shows—every time Beyoncé hits the high notes the camera jumps to a far away wide shot spotlighting the audience. So that's kind of suspicious. But it also seems evident that the fake recording simply pitch-shifts at random—not even American Idol's worst rejects sound that awful. So we're not going to throw B[eyoncé] into a club that features Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias and Ashlee Simpson as blatant abusers of prerecorded material just yet."

—Rolling Stone's Daniel Kreps.[113]

In January 2009, Matthew Zeghibe, a 26-year-old computer art student from Connecticut, used pitch-correction software to make a clip which he claimed to be the real soundboard recording of "If I Were a Boy" from a Today show appearance in November 2008.[114] It showed Knowles singing drastically off-key.[115] The video of the alleged performance was then leaked onto the internet and it went viral.[114][116] It even got played on American radio stations on April 21, 2009;[116] when Howard Stern played the recording, he described it as "the unedited board mix" of Knowles' live performance.[115] According to Us Weekly, Matthew Knowles was the first to shoot down the authenticity of the recording, saying in a statement that the tape seemed to have been tampered with:[113] He added that "at 12 years into [Knowles'] career, the last thing someone should be questioning is her vocal ability. That would be like questioning if Kobe Bryant could shoot a jump shot."[115]

During the afternoon, TMZ.com reported late Wednesday afternoon that the tape was a hoax.[115] They revealed that they had spoken to the person who modified the soundboard tapes, with the alleged culprit telling them, "It's a little bit crazy. No one in their right mind would sound like that, and no one would cheer for someone singing like that."[113] The following day, Knowles spoke about the allegations to MTV News. She stated that the report was ridiculous, before adding that the timing of the video was perfect as it would draw publicity to two upcoming television performances she was gearing up for.[115] In an interview with Chris Harris of Rolling Stone, Zeghibe said that he was surprised by how much attention the clip received and by Knowles' reaction to it.[114] He admitted that he had previously given the same treatment to Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears before stating that he did not feel he had to apologize for the hoax:

I was just trying to make a point. I wanted to show people how easy it is to manipulate someone's voice. If I can do it with a clip I pulled off of TV, imagine what they are doing on records and during live performances. The entire industry has been so manipulated, because there's such an emphasis on perfection, so when something like this happens, it causes such a stir. I knew something had to have happened to make it jump so fast. It's wild how much the story's been twisted. It's just always been fun for me to manipulate artists, and make it sound crazy. It was just for a good laugh. It was a goof, just for fun. I do a lot of parodies on my YouTube channel, and it just so happens this one got a little out of hand. It was just what I've learned in school, and it's fun I could fool so many people and get away with it. A lot of people had a lot of laughs because of it, so why should I apologize? If you can't poke fun at yourself, I don't know what kind of person you are.[114]

Formats and track listings

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart precession and succession

Order of precedence
Preceded by Norwegian VG-lista number-one single
November 4, 2008 – November 18, 2008
November 25, 2008 – December 9, 2008
December 16, 2008 – January 6, 2009 		Succeeded by
"Chinese Democracy" by Guns N' Roses
"Oro jaska, beana" by The Blacksheeps
"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry
Preceded by Swedish Singles Chart number-one single
November 7, 2008 – November 27, 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
"Love Lockdown" by Kanye West
"Live Your Life" by T.I. feat. Rihanna
"Live Your Life" by T.I. feat. Rihanna
 UK R&B Chart number-one single
November 16, 2008 – November 30, 2008
December 20, 2008 – December 27, 2008
January 4, 2009 – January 18, 2009 		Succeeded by
"Live Your Life" by T.I. feat. Rihanna
"Live Your Life" by T.I. feat. Rihanna
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by Beyoncé
Preceded by UK Singles Chart number-one single
November 23, 2008 – November 30, 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian Urban Chart number-one single
November 24, 2008 – December 1, 2008 		Succeeded by
Live Your Life by T.I. Feat. Rihanna
Preceded by
"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry
 Danish Singles Chart number-one single
November 28, 2008 – December 5, 2008 		Succeeded by
"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry
Preceded by
"Infinity 2008" by Guru Josh Project
"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry
 European Hot 100 Singles number-one single
December 6, 2008 – December 19, 2008
January 12, 2009 – January 19, 2009 		Succeeded by
"Womanizer" by Britney Spears
"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry
Preceded by
"Dochters" by Marco Borsato
 Dutch Top 40 number-one single
December 6, 2008 – January 2, 2009 		Succeeded by
"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry

Release history

Cover versions

Jamaican dancehall singer Althea Hewitt released a reggae cover of "If I Were a Boy" to iTunes Stores on December 19, 2008.[166] Nicole Sullivan and Tisha Campbell-Martin covered "If I Were a Boy" during the episode "The Shape of Things to Come" on the sitcom Rita Rocks which aired on October 13, 2009.[167] On October 6, 2011, during the first season of The X Factor US, 13-year-old Rachel Crow covered the song during one of her auditions.[168] She was backed by a piano and went sombre as she sang.[169] Her performance brought judge Nicole Scherzinger to tears. Gil Kaufman of MTV News commented that the cover showed off "her preternaturally powerful [and] growly range".[170] Both Joe Berkowitz of Rolling Stone and Jennifer Still of Digital Spy noted that Crow's performance was well executed despite her young age.[169][171] Sarah Maloy of Billboard magazine commented that her performance was "sensational as always".[172] On December 3, 2011, during the eighth series of the British televised music competition The X Factor, girl band Little Mix covered the "If I Were a Boy".[173][174] Digital Spy's Daniel Sperling noted that the cover contained "a little Amelia Lily-esque shouting".[175]

Reba McEntire version

"If I Were a Boy"
Song

The song was covered by American country singer Reba McEntire on the television program Unplugged on Country Music Television.[176] The cover was accompanied by a music video that premiered on June 18, 2010, which depicted McEntire performing the song live.[177] In late 2010, she recorded a studio version, and released it as the second single for her November 2010 album All the Women I Am, which is her second release on the Valory Music Group division of Big Machine Records.[178] McEntire revealed that she originally wanted to only cover her own hits. However, her husband and manager, Narvel Blackstock wanted her to do a cover song. Blackstock finally came up with the idea that she should record her own version of Knowles' "If I Were a Boy".[179] Speaking about her version of the song, McEntire said:

"When I got the song and the lyrics, I thought it was an incredible song ... And, to me, it turned out to be a country song, when we got our instrumentation on it and everything. And some people go, 'Well, why in the world would you do a pop song?' I just think music is music. You've got good and you've got bad, and I try to stay on the good side."[180]

McEntire's cover has generally been met with positive reception. Jessica Phillips of Country Weekly magazine described her cover as a "soulful countrified look at love from a male perspective".[181] Steve Morse at The Boston Globe said that McEntire translated the song "artfully into country".[182] Bilboard magazine's Mikael Wood praised the cover, comparing it with McEntire's other cover of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You".[183] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times noted that McEntire "sounds as if she's already inhabiting the role" in the song.[10] Allmusic critic Thom Jurek was less favorable, writing that it was unrecognizable to the original, before adding, "It contains none of the original's drama; in its place is a failed attempt at a soft rock power ballad."[184] Following McEntire's live performance at the CMA awards, the song debuted at number 60 on the Hot Country Songs charts as an album cut dated for the week ending November 27, 2010.[185] It re-entered at number 60 on the chart dated for the week ending January 29, 2011,[186] and peaked at number 22 in April 2011.[187]

The official music video for the cover premiered on Oprah.com on February 28 at midnight, followed by an exclusive interview.[188] It was directed by Peter Zavadil.[179] After her first performance of the song on Unplugged on the Country Music Television, McEntire also performed the song at the Country Music Association (CMA) awards on November 10, 2010.[189] Mawuse Ziegbe of MTV News praised her cover, writing, "Singing with no band onstage, donning a glittery black dress with her signature red hair flowing to her shoulders, the legendary vocalist's performance scored a standing ovation."[190] Jillian Mapes and Megan Vick of Billboard praised the performance, writing, "As if Beyonce's 2008 ballad 'If I Were a Boy' wasn't moving enough, country queen Reba McEntire's smokey twang and solemn stance turned the song on its head."[191] They also noted that the simple and powerful performance "is enough to inspire tears, or at least goosebumps."[191] Country Music Television's Chet Flippo felt that McEntire's performance was "the musical highlight of the evening" and added that it was "a lesson of what country music should be striving for these days".[192] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times gave a mixed review of her performance, writing that "[McEntire] did something unexpected, softening her delivery and finding the creases in the song, as if Beyoncé were whispering to her from the wings."[10] However, Entertainment Weekly's Mandi Bierly wrote that the lyrics were "just too young for [McEntire], and when it comes to the chorus, I want someone to belt it".[193]

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