"Boyfriend" is a song by American singer Selena Gomez, included on the deluxe edition of her third studio album Rare (2020). The song was released as the album’s fourth and final single overall on April 9, 2020.

Background[edit]

Gomez wrote "Boyfriend" after having a text message conversation with co-writer Julia Michaels. "I want a boyfriend" was the original title of the song.^[2] Gomez first revealed the song in an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 14, 2020, where she said it was an unreleased song from Rare.^[3] She later announced the song would appear on the deluxe edition of Rare on April 6, 2020.^[4] The next day she teased the song's lyrics "There's a difference between a want and a need. Some nights I just want more than me" on social media.^[5] She wrote about the song's background saying:

Many of you know how excited I have been to release a song called 'Boyfriend.' It's a lighthearted song about falling down and getting back up time and time again in love, but also knowing that you don't need anyone other than yourself to be happy. We wrote it long before our current crisis, but in the context of today, I want to be clear that a boyfriend is nowhere near the top of my list of priorities. Just like the rest of the world, I'm praying for safety, unity and recovery during this pandemic.^[6]

Composition[edit]

The song features a house beat^[7] and an electropop pre-chorus.^[8] In terms of music notation, "Boyfriend" was composed using ⁴
₄ common time, with a tempo of 92 beats per minute.^[9] Gomez's vocal range spans from the low note of G♯₃ to the high note of E₅.^[9]

Music videos[edit]

The official music video premiered on YouTube on April 10, 2020. It features Gomez meeting boys in choosing who will be her new lover, but she realizes the boys are not sincere. Hence, Gomez uses magic perfume that transforms the boys into frogs and then puts them into a small cage and takes the boys who are turned into frogs with her to the car.^[10] It was directed by Matty Peacock.^[11] The video was nominated for Best Art Direction at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.^[12] Billboard named it one of the best music videos of 2020.^[13]

Doll version[edit]

A doll music video for the song, directed by a fan, was released on April 29, 2020.^[14]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[15]

Selena Gomez – vocals, songwriting

The Roommates – production, vocal production, percussion

Julia Michaels – songwriting, backing vocals

Justin Tranter – songwriting

Jon Wienner – songwriting, recording, studio personnel

Sam Homaee – songwriting, synthesizer

Dante Hemingway - mix engineer, vocal production

Bart Schoudel – vocal production

Will Quinnell – assistant mastering engineer, studio personnel

Chris Gehringer – mastering, studio personnel

Miles Comaskey – mix engineer, studio personnel

Tony Maserati – mixing, studio personnel

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Boyfriend"
Chart (2020)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[16]	54
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[17]	60
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[18]	41
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[19]	15
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[20]	66
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[21]	59
Estonia (Eesti Ekspress)^[22]	36
France (SNEP)^[23]	159
Germany (Official German Charts)^[24]	86
Greece (IFPI)^[25]	29
Hungary (Stream Top 40)^[26]	19
Ireland (IRMA)^[27]	35
Lithuania (AGATA)^[28]	22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[29]	17
Netherlands (Single Tip)^[30]	7
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[31]	1
Portugal (AFP)^[32]	68
Scotland (OCC)^[33]	60
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[34]	38
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)^[35]	3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[36]	63
UK Singles (OCC)^[37]	55
USBillboard Hot 100^[38]	59

Certifications[edit]

Certifications and sales for "Boyfriend"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[39]	Platinum	40,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for "Boyfriend"
Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	April 9, 2020	Digital download streaming	Interscope	^[40]
Australia	April 13, 2020	Contemporary hit radio	Universal	^[41]
Russia	April 17, 2020		Universal	^[42]
United Kingdom	April 17, 2020		Interscope	^[43]
Italy	May 1, 2020		Universal	^[44]

References[edit]

^ Bailey, Alyssa (April 10, 2020). "Selena Gomez's 'Boyfriend' Music Video Is Like The Bachelorette With A Dark Twist". Elle. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

^ Rowley, Glenn (April 10, 2020). "Selena Gomez's New Song 'Boyfriend' Was Born From a Text Message". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

^ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (January 14, 2020). "Selena Gomez Reacts to Wizards of Waverly Place Theme Inspiring Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy"". YouTube. Retrieved April 9, 2020.

^ @selenagomez (April 6, 2020). "The deluxe version of Rare, featuring 'Boyfriend,' 'She' and 'Souvenir,' is out April 9. You can presave it now and learn more about how to donate to the PLUS1 COVID-19 Fund in at the link in my bio. 🌹" (Tweet). Retrieved April 9, 2020 – via Twitter.

^ @selenagomez (April 7, 2020). "There's a difference between a want and a need. Some nights I just want more than me" (Tweet). Retrieved April 9, 2020 – via Twitter.

^ Kaufman, Gil (April 9, 2020). "Selena Gomez Unveils Deluxe Edition of 'Rare' With Three Unreleased Tracks: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2020.

^ Roth, Madeline (April 9, 2020). "Selena Gomez's Three New Rare Songs: Breaking Down The Fresh Bops". MTV. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

^ Pierre, Mekishana (April 10, 2020). "Selena Gomez Goes Back to Her Wizard Ways by Turning Dates Into Frogs in "Boyfriend" Video". PopSugar. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

^ ^a ^b "Selena Gomez "Boyfriend" Sheet Music in D Major". Musicnotes.com. April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

^ Spanos, Brittany (April 10, 2020). "Selena Gomez Endures Endless Bad Dates in Twisty 'Boyfriend' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

^ Rowley, Glenn (April 10, 2020). "Selena Gomez's 'Boyfriend' Video Involves a Bunch of Frogs and It's Pure Art". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

^ Mauch, Ally. "Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga Lead 2020 VMA Noms as Show Introduces New Categories amid Pandemic". People. Retrieved July 31, 2020.

^ Billboard Staff (December 9, 2020). "The 25 Best Music Videos of 2020". Billboard.

^ Rowley, Glenn (April 29, 2020). "Selena Gomez's 'Boyfriend' Video Re-Created Entirely With Dolls: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2020.

^ "Credits / Rare (Deluxe) / Selena Gomez - TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved April 9, 2020.

^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 20 April 2020". No. 1572. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 20, 2020. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)

^ "Selena Gomez – Boyfriend" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 22, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez – Boyfriend" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez – Boyfriend" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 8, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2020.

^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202016 into search. Retrieved April 21, 2020.

^ "EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS: nublul on uus esikohahitt". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved April 22, 2020.

^ "Top Singles (Week 16, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 21, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez – Boyfriend" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 17, 2020.

^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 16/2020". IFPI Greece. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 23, 2020.

^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 18, 2020.

^ "2020 16-os SAVAITĖS (balandžio 10-16 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.

^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 18, 2020" [Tip parade list from week 18, 2020] (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Selena Gomez – Boyfriend". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Retrieved April 24, 2020.

^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez – Boyfriend". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 23, 2020.

^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 18, 2020.

^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202016 into search. Retrieved April 21, 2020.

^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 16". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 17, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez – Boyfriend". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 20, 2020.

^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 18, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2020.

^ "Brazilian single certifications – Selena Gomez – Boyfriend" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 13, 2024.

^ "Rare (Deluxe) by Selena Gomez". Apple Music. Retrieved April 9, 2020.

^ "Singles to Radio". The Music Network. Australia. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez — Boyfriend". Tophit.

^ "BBC - Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.

^ "Selena Gomez "Boyfriend"". radiodate.it. Retrieved April 28, 2020.