Gone is the world of possibility about how things could or would or should be different…if only. When it comes to the message of the song, this line is a game-changer. It's a little too late for you to come back But just after the second chorus, the song turns to the second person: The song becomes increasingly aggressive with lines like "If I were a boy… I'd put myself first, and make the rules as I go," attacking either boys in general, or a specific boy, for being selfish and thoughtless. In the chorus she asserts that she would also be more understanding and sensitive. It's also in the first person, with the singer only using "I." She begins by imagining the freedoms she would have as a boy (wearing whatever she wants, going out with whoever, and not caring what people think).
BEYONCE IF I WERE A BOY CRYING SERIES
Most of the song is written as a series of hypothetical statements: "If I were…I would…" is the basic structure. Like the flow of the song's lyrics, BC Jean's thought process went from wondering what it would be like to be a boy in general-and lamenting that she feels stuck in certain roles as a girl-to remembering her anger at her ex-boyfriend and imagining how she would act differently if she were him. She began to wonder whether, if she were a boy, she could snack on a hot dog "without regrets." ( Source) In order to tell both stories, the song has two layers throughout-one layer is about gendered dynamics in relationships in general, the second layer is about a specific relationship.Īs the lyrics progress, the first layer slowly peels away to reveal the second, and the conclusion ties both back together to turn "If I Were a Boy" into a poignant (if overly general) statement about gender in relationships.īC Jean, the young songwriter who originally penned the lyrics to "If I Were a Boy," says that the idea for the song came from "musing on how if she were a boy, she'd be so much better than her ex." Specifically, BC Jean says she was walking around Times Square with co-writer Toby Gad and wanted a hot dog. But on another level, it's a full-fledged heartbreak song in which a woman bemoans the loss of her lover. "If I Were a Boy" sounds like a song about gender. And once again, whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is a question of taste. Just like " Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "If I Were a Boy" seems engineered to get stuck in your head. People remember the melodic hook of "If I Were a Boy" even if they hate the song because it's a great melody. What comes of that is an emphasis on hooks and catchy progressions, both defining elements of this song. It might be appropriate to think about "If I Were a Boy" as part of the commercial pantheon of what some people call "corporate pop," pop written by behind-the-scenes producers who steer the music toward what market research and musical trends say is a radio-friendly and successful sound.
Gad, who co-wrote "Big Girls Don't Cry" with Fergie, is partially responsible for at least 12 other Billboard hits. To explain what's behind the repetition, we looked to Toby Gad, the co-writer with BC Jean. But in terms of melody and chords, the main feature in "If I Were a Boy" is repetition, not musical innovation. So, we're clear that Beyoncé gives a great performance. Melisma, a favorite of American Idol wannabes, is a technique in which a singer moves between several musical notes continuously while remaining on the same syllable. Singers like Knowles and Mariah Carey have been criticized for overusing the technique to the point that it detracts from the melodies, with one critic saying, "as judicious as singing can be, the effect in sum is still like being hit in the head with a fist in a velvet glove" ( source).īut it's largely a question of taste, and Bey puts melisma to good use in this song. Beyoncé isn't afraid to use a vocal technique called melisma. This lack of variation works because of Beyoncé's incredible singing. Musically speaking, "If I Were a Boy" hardly varies at all from the verses to the chorus.
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