If I Were A Boy

The song is about an ex-boyfriend! when writer BC Jean was asked about the song by AOL Music, she explained: “Having someone like Beyoncé record your song about an ex-boyfriend, kinda makes it the best break-up ever. It started off as a simple therapeutic writing session and it turned into the best thing that ever happened to me.” When Beyonce was asked about the song by Essence magazine, she said: “It’s broad. But I had to try it, because I remember Aretha Franklin said a great singer can sing anything and make it her own.” The inspiration came from role playing Etta James, Beyoncé added: “Etta expressed herself; she was bold. That inspired me to do a lot of things musically that no one else is doing.”

Release Date: October 12, 2008

Songwriter/s: BC Jean – Toby Gad

Label: Columbia

Chart Rankings:
UK – 1
US – 3
Germany – 3
In the UK, the song topped the Official Charts Company and the R&B Singles Charts. The British Phonographic Industry certified Platinum for sales over 887.000 copies. In the US, it peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and at number 6 on the US Pop 100 charts. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it Double Platinum for sales over 3 million copies, and Gold on the Masterstone certifications. ‘If i were a boy’ reached a global success by reaching number 1 on the charts in several countries including Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden. It was certified Triple Platinum in Australia, Double Platinum in Canada and Platinum in 3 countries (Denmark – New Zealand – Switzerland).

Artist’s Age on Release Date: Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter was 27 years old when she released this song.

Cover Versions: Ariana Grande – Althea Hewitt – Nicole Sullivan & Tisha Campbell-Martin – American Idol ladies group 2011 – Caterina Torres (The Voice Australia 2013) – Asanda (Britain’s Got Talent) – Alex Newell (Glee) – Reba McEntire – Rachel Crow – Christina Sladek – Ellona Santiago – Skylar Stecker – Roxanne Ilano – G.E.M – Sassa Dagdag – Asanda – Dinah Jane Hansen – Conor Maynard – Other amateur artists covered this song on Youtube.