Boys (Charli XCX song)

"Boys" is a single by British singer Charli XCX, released on 26 July 2017 by Asylum Records and Atlantic Records UK. The song was originally intended to be the second single from her then-upcoming third studio album. However, the song became a stand-alone single when the projected third album was leaked on the internet and cancelled.^[4] The song makes use of a sample from the Nintendo video game Super Mario Bros.^[5]

A cover of the song by one of its writers, Ingrid Andress, is included on the deluxe edition reissue of Andress' debut studio album, Lady Like (2020), with a mandolin being used to replicate the video game sample.^[6]

In 2018, Charli XCX recorded a Mandarin version of the song which was produced by Beijing DJ Howie Lee and released on Chinese social media sites. The remix, which featured a verse by Jeanie, was eventually released on streaming and digital download in the Chinese market.^[7]

"Boys" was written by Cass Lowe, Jerker Hansson, Lauv, Emily Warren, Ingrid Andress, and Michael Pollack.^[8] Pollack described “Boys” as “one of those Frankenstein songs”, referencing the number of contributors involved at various stages of its development.^[9] According to Pollack, the track originated with Jerker Hansson, who composed the chorus, instrumental track, and a distinctive Foley-style sound effect placed between the chorus lines.^[9] Pollack later received the track from Brandon Davis, who had intended for him to use it for a different artist he was working with at the time.^[9] Impressed by the scale and impact of its chorus, Pollack invited singer Lauv, with whom he was staying at the time, along with Andress, to collaborate on the song.^[9]

Andress took credit for the song’s lyrical concept, having confronted her two male co-writers about her belief that women are seldom afforded the same freedom as men to openly discuss their sexual experiences.^[10] She recalled joining Pollack and Lauv after leaving an earlier songwriting session where men had been sharing stories about various women they had been involved with, which prompted her to approach the topic from a female perspective.^[11][12] She described the writing process for "Boys" as unique due to the absence of a recording artist in the writers room, which allowed her and her collaborators the freedom "to write about something that resonated with us".^[13] Lauv, meanwhile, appreciated the opportunity to work on a song that was "a little bit outside of my typical wheelhouse", compared to the emotionally-charged music he writes for himself.^[14] Together, they completed the verses and pre-chorus.^[9] When they next heard the song, it had undergone further revisions from Warren and Lowe, who had contributed a rewritten pre-chorus and the addition of a bridge.^[9]

"Boys" is one of the few songs in Charli XCX's discography that she did not write.^[15] The singer received the song while traveling across the United States on a promotional radio tour.^[16] Despite rarely accepting or performing songs she didn't write herself,^[15][17] she thoroughly enjoyed "Boys" once she heard it.^[16][18] Due to her lack of involvement in the writing process, she explained that lyrically, to her, the song is simply "about genuinely just thinking about boys".^[15]

"Boys" received positive reviews. Pitchfork named the song the 'Best New Track', and in a review contributor Eve Barlow wrote that "Boys" is "deceptively simple-sounding and unfussy," and "a reminder that [Charli XCX is] one of the best at knowing how to have fun; her convivial bop sounds as effortless as something dreamed up between lunch and dinner."^[19] The track was placed on several magazines' best songs of the year lists.

The music video for "Boys" was released on 26 July 2017. It was directed by Charli XCX, with additional direction from Sarah McColgan, and began production in April 2017. It features a multitude of different celebrity cameos from figures within the music, fashion and social media industries.^[1] It was filmed in London and Los Angeles. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Charli XCX said that the intention of the music video was to "flip the male gaze on its head".^[33]

• Digital download^[34]

1. "Boys" – 2:42

• Digital download^[35]

1. "Boys" (Acoustic) – 2:55

• Digital download^[36]

1. "Boys" (Coldabank Remix) – 3:56

• Digital download^[37]

1. "Boys" (Droeloe Remix) – 3:36

• Digital download^[38]

1. "Boys" (Nevada Remix) – 3:08

• Digital Download — Remix EP^[39]

1. "Boys" (Droeloe Remix) – 3:36
2. "Boys" (Nevada Remix) – 3:08
3. "Boys" (Acoustic) – 2:55
4. "Boys" (Coldabank Remix) – 3:56

• Digital Download — Chinese version^[40]

1. "Boys" feat. Jeanie (Howie Lee Remix) – 2:43

Taken from Tidal.^[41]

• Charli XCX – lead vocals
• Jerker Hansson – songwriting, production
• Cass Lowe – songwriting, production
• Emily Warren – songwriting
• Ingrid Andress – songwriting
• Michael Pollack – songwriting
• Ari Leff – songwriting