Wikipedia

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
Released26 February 2020 (2020-02-26)
Recorded2019
GenrePop[1]
Length3:46
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Mac
Mabel singles chronology
"Loneliest Time of Year"
(2019) 		"Boyfriend"
(2020) 		"West Ten"
(2020)
Music video
"Boyfriend" on YouTube

Background edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

Digital download[1]
No.TitleLength
1."Boyfriend"3:46
Digital download - Tiësto Remix[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Boyfriend" (Tiësto Remix)2:57
Digital download - Endor Remix[12]
No.TitleLength
1."Boyfriend" (Endor Remix)2:51
Digital download - Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix[13]
No.TitleLength
1."Boyfriend" (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix)3:01
Digital download – Remixes EP[14]
No.TitleLength
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]
No.TitleLength
1."Boyfriend" (acoustic)3:59

Credits and personnel edit

Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[33] Gold 35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 26 February 2020
Original Polydor [1]
United Kingdom 28 February 2020 Contemporary hit radio [35]
Australia 2 March 2020 Universal [36]
Italy 6 March 2020 [37]
Various 27 March 2020
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 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 edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Mabel Releases Brand New Single, "Boyfriend"". Umusic. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  2. ^ High Expectations by Mabel, archived from the original on 2020-03-03, retrieved 2020-02-27
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ @Mabel (February 21, 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.
  5. ^ "Mabel explains message behind new single Boyfriend". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Pick Up the Phone: Mabel Wants a 'Boyfriend'". MuuMuse. 2020-02-26. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  9. ^ "Mabel - Boyfriend (Official Video)". MabelVEVO. Feb 26, 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2002 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b "Boyfriend (Endor Remix) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Boyfriend (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Boyfriend (Remixes) - EP by Mabel on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Boyfriend (Acoustic) - Single by Mabel on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Boyfriend / Mabel". Tidal. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Mabel %5BUK%5D – Boyfriend" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Mabel %5BUK%5D – Boyfriend" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "Mabel Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  23. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Mabel Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  25. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  28. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202016 into search. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 10". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020". Mahasz. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  32. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  33. ^ "Oct 2023 Single Accreds" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  34. ^ "British single certifications – Mabel – Boyfriend". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  35. ^ "BBC - Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  36. ^ "Singles To Radio". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  37. ^ "MABEL "Boyfriend" | (Radio Date: 06/03/2020)". radiodate.it. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
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