If I Were a Boy

This article is about a 2008 single by Beyoncé. For other uses, see If I Were a Boy (disambiguation).

"If I Were a Boy"
A grayscale image of the upper bust of a woman. She is standing against a wall and she is looking forward, and she wears a T-shirt. At her left, the words "Beyoncé" and "If I Were a Boy" are written in silver capital letters.
Single by Beyoncé
from the album I Am... Sasha Fierce
A-side"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
ReleasedOctober 8, 2008 (2008-10-08)
Recorded2008
StudioRoc the Mic Studios, Strawberrybee Productions, GAD Studios
Genre
Length4:09
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Beyoncé singles chronology
"Love in This Club Part II"
(2008) 		"If I Were a Boy"
(2008) 		"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
(2008)
Music videos

"If I Were a Boy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé, from her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Jean and Gad also handled its production alongside Beyoncé. Inspired by the difficult break-up of a romantic relationship, the song was initially recorded by Jean, whose record company rejected it. Beyoncé then recorded her own version. Jean was upset when she learned that Beyoncé was releasing it as a single, but eventually, they reached an agreement. Columbia Records released "If I Were a Boy" to US radio on October 8, 2008, as a double A-side single alongside "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" as the lead singles. The two songs showcased the contrast between Beyoncé's personality and her aggressive onstage persona, 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 pop and R&B introspective ballad which draws influences from folk rock through its instrumentation of which includes acoustic guitars, drums and strings. The song's lyrics lament the misunderstandings between the genders and indict the male side of relationships. "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 single was a commercial success as it placed in the top ten on twenty-five different singles charts.[1] It topped the charts in numerous countries, including Brazil, the Netherlands, Sweden, as well as the United Kingdom, where it is Beyoncé's best-selling single, though it only comes in third once streaming data is included.[2] "If I Were a Boy" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada, and the US, as well as a diamond one in Brazil.

The accompanying music video for "If I Were a Boy" was directed by Jake Nava and shot in black-and-white. With a theme of role reversal, it is conceptually similar to the Disney comedy film Freaky Friday (1976). A video for the Spanish version of the ballad was edited from the original clip. Beyoncé promoted "If I Were a Boy" through live performances at venues including The Oprah Winfrey Show, the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, and the I Am... World Tour (2009–10). The song has been covered several times 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.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference pizza was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "United Kingdom Units Figures – BeyScan". Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.