Boys (Britney Spears song)

"Boys"
Single by Britney Spears featuring Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D.
from the album Britney
Released August 2, 2002
Format CD single
Recorded 2001
Genre R&B, hip hop
Length 3:45
Label Jive
Writer(s) Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams
Producer The Neptunes
Britney Spears singles chronology
"Anticipating"
(2002)		 "Boys"
(2002)		 "Me Against the Music"
(2003)
Pharrell singles chronology
"Formal Invite"
(2002)		 "Boys"
(2002)		 "When the Last Time"
(2002)

"Boys" is a song performed by American recording artist Britney Spears. It was written and produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams of the production team The Neptunes and American rap group N.E.R.D.. A version of the song, "The Co-ed Remix" was released as the sixth single from Spears' third studio album, Britney (2001), and it features added vocals from Williams. It also served as the second single from the Austin Powers in Goldmember OST. "Boys" is a R&B and hip hop piece, deriving also of dance-pop music, and including funk and soul influences. The remix carries a slower tempo than the album version, and both versions are said to be reminiscent of Janet Jackson. Some critics praised Williams and Spears' chemistry, as well as the production on the track, while others did not think the song worked well.

While the song did not perform well on the Billboard charts in the United States, it reached the top ten on the Belgian charts and in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and charted in the top twenty in Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. The song would later be certified Gold in Australia. The song's accompanying music video, directed by Dave Meyers, was nominated at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Video from a Film." The clip features Spears and Williams at a party. The singer has performed "Boys" a number of times including at the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, on Saturday Night Live, and on several of her concert tours.

Contents

Background

The song was originally included on Spears' third, self-titled studio album.[1] It was written and produced by The Neptunes (Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams) — members of American rap group N.E.R.D..[1] The song was re-recorded as "The Co-Ed Remix", with a slightly different sound, and added featured vocals from Pharrell Williams.[1] Following its inclusion on the Austin Powers in Goldmember OST, it was released as the second single from the soundtrack, following "Work It Out", performed by one of the film's stars', Beyoncé Knowles.[1] The release also made it the sixth single release to come from Britney. A press release for Maverick Records called the track a standout from the film's soundtrack, and said that Spears' cameo in the film "brings superstar status to the Fembot brigade."[2] The release also stated that the song and video "stays true to the fractured funk [at] the heart of the film."[2] AOL Music premiered the new track on June 13, 2002, and it was streamed more than 1.35 million times, setting a new record an AOL Music "First Listen."[1] The song was first released on August 2, 2002.[3]

Composition

"Boys" is a R&B/hip hop piece which incorporates dance-pop.[4][5] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, it is set in the time signature of common time and has a tempo of 108 beats per minute.[6] While the original Britney version features Spears solely, "The Co-ed Remix" which was released as a single, sees the singer and the song's co-producer, rapper Pharrell Williams trading lines.[4] The remix version of the track contains a slower tempo then that of the original.[4] According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Williams and Spears put on a "rap-lite teen-pop tease."[7] The song also includes influences of funk music.[2] During the time of the album's release, her official site stated that the song had aspects of 70's soul music and influences of Prince's music.[8] According to Alex Needham of New Musical Express, the track takes influence from Janet Jackson.[4] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said the song was "cut-rate '80s Janet Jackson."[5] Lyrical content sees Spears eying a guy with an intent to "get nasty."[9]

Reception

Critical reception

Calling the song a "a decidedly lubricious duet", Alex Needham of New Musical Express said that "She sings about boys, he sings about girls. A simple concept, but an effective one, resulting in Britney ’s best single for ages."[4] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said that The Neptunes' productions on the album, "I'm a Slave 4 U" and "Boys" "swaddle her in writhing, kick-the-can beats, but never have a groove and a verse been so betrayed by a limp chorus."[5] Nicki Tranter of PopMatters said that the remainder of the album was "tried and tested" dance-pop, noting "Boys" and "Cinderella" revisiting "old Britney territory exploring predictable issues including her love being irreplaceable, her use of the dance floor as an appropriate courting place, and her much-loved girl-ness."[10] Yale Daily News writer Catherine Halaby considered the song "an envelope-pushing (when you consider her claims of wholesomeness) smutfest."[11]

Chart performance

The song failed to make a major impact in the United States, only appearing on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, where it appeared at number twenty-two. "Boys" is so far Britney Spears least successful single in the U.S.[12] It appeared on the Billboard Pop Songs chart at number thirty-two.[13] In Canada, on the Canadian Singles Chart, the song performed better, reaching number twenty-one.[14] "Boys" fared better in internationally, appearing in the top-twenty in several markets in which it charted. On the UK Singles Chart, the song peaked at number seven.[15] It also peaked in the top ten of the Irish Singles Chart and both the Belgian Flanders and Wallonia Ultratop charts.[16] On the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia, the song spent twelve weeks on the chart, peaking at number fourteen.[16] "Boys" would go on to be certified Gold in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association.[17] Furthermore it peaked in the top twenty of the charts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.[18]

Music video

The music video for "Boys" was directed by Dave Meyers.[19] It starts with an intro showing a guy, DJ Qualls, trying to get into the castle where a party, which Britney is attending, is being held. However, he is stopped by the guards at the entrance. He tells them that the night before, he was "eating Fruity Pebbles with P. Diddy." The guards still refuse to let him past and he begins to scream for Spears. As the music starts, the camera zooms into a room in one of the castle's towers, where Spears, adorned in a dress and readying herself for a party, is inside dancing with a group of women in white outfits around her. The next scene takes place in one of the courtyards where Spears and a man are sitting at opposite ends of a long table. Following this, Spears walks around a pool, where she spots a man, portrayed by Justin Bruening swimming around. They begin to interact with each other; at the same time, Pharrell is at the bar with a woman. Spears walks over to him and they begin to talk. Following this, Spears dances with a group of people, including Mike Myers as Austin Powers. Actors Jason Priestley and Taye Diggs also make cameo appearances in the video. The video was nominated for at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Video from a Film, but lost to Eminem's "Lose Yourself."[20]

Live performances

Spears performed "Boys" on multiple occasions. She performed the song on February 10, 2002 at the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.[21] She also performed it on the twenty-seventh season of Saturday Night Live on February 2, 2002.[22] She performed the song as a mash-up with "I'm a Slave 4 U" on her ABC special, In the Zone, to promote her fourth album In the Zone.[23] In the United Kingdom, Spears performed the song on CD:UK. The singer has performed the song on all of her tours since its inception, which include Dream Within a Dream Tour, The Onyx Hotel Tour and The Circus Starring Britney Spears. When Spears performed the song on the Dream Within a Dream Tour, and this was the only occasion where she performed the original track as in the following tour performances she performed "The Co-Ed Remix."[24] In the tour's extension in 2002, she replaced the original version with the remix on the tour.[24] On the Dream Within a Dream Tour, Spears performed it wearing a tank-top and suspenders.[24] While performing it on The Onyx Hotel Tour, it featured male dancers pushing her while she was standing in luggage carts.[25] During her performance of the song on The Circus Starring Britney Spears Spears performed wearing a military costume, while surrounded by her dancers, some of them riding bicycles.[26] On 2011's Femme Fatale Tour, Spears wears a golden cape for a snake charming number of the song.[27]

Track listing

  1. "Boys" (The Co-Ed Remix) – 3:45
  2. "Boys" (The Co-Ed Remix – Instrumental) – 3:45
  3. "Boys" – 3:28
  4. "I'm a Slave 4 U" – 3:23
  • Brazilian CD Single[30]
  1. "Boys" (The Co-Ed Remix) – 3:45
  2. "Boys" (The Co-Ed Remix – Instrumental) – 3:45
  3. "Boys" – 3:28
  4. "Boys" (Instrumental) – 3:28

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[31] 14
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[18] 18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[16] 10
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 21
Denmark (Tracklisten)[33] 14
France (SNEP)[34] 55
Germany (Media Control AG)[35] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 10
Japan (Oricon)[37] 63
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[38] 38
New Zealand (RIANZ)[39] 39
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40] 16
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 20
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[15] 7
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[12] 22
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[13] 32

Certifications

Country Certification
Australia Gold[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Britney Spears World Debut of `Boys -Co-Ed Remix- From Austin Powers in Goldmember Streamed 1.35 Million Times in 24 Hours, Smashing AOL Musics Previous `First Listen Records.". Business Wire. Goliath Business/The Gale Group. 2002-06-13. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-1855380/Britney-Spears-World-Debut-of.html. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  2. ^ a b c "Get Funky With "Austin Powers" Sizzling Soundtrack". About.com. The New York Times Company. 2002-07-02. http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aa062902a.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  3. ^ "Boys – Britney Spears". AOL Music. AOL, Inc. http://music.aol.com/album/boys/550052. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  4. ^ a b c d e Needham, Alex (2002-07-22). "Spears, Britney : Boys". New Musical Express. http://www.nme.com/reviews/britney-spears/6574. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  5. ^ a b c Browne, David (2001-11-12). "Britney (2001)". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,183907~4~~britney,00.html. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  6. ^ Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams (2001). "Boys: Britney Spears Digital Sheet Music" (Musicnotes). Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. SC0012017 (Product Number). 
  7. ^ "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel : CD SPOTLIGHT". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. NewsBank. 2002-07-26. http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=Britney+Spears+Boys+Co-Ed+remix&scoring=a&sa=N&sugg=d&as_ldate=2002&as_hdate=2003&lnav=hist6. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  8. ^ "Britney The Album". Britneyspears.com. NVU Productions. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. http://web.archive.org/web/20020803075143/http://www.britneyspears.com/album/review.php. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  9. ^ "Britney – Plugged In Online Album Reviews". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. http://www.pluggedin.com/music/albums/2001/britneyspears-britney.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  10. ^ Tranter, Nicki (2001-11-06). "Britney Spears: Britney". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/spearsbritney-britney.shtml. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  11. ^ Halaby, Catherine (2001-11-09). "For Spears, maturity is, like, cool". Yale Daily News (The Yale Daily News Publishing Company). http://www.yaledailynews.com/scene/music/2001/11/09/for-spears-maturity-is-like-cool/. Retrieved 2010-01-06. 
  12. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2005). Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100: 1959–2004: Joel Whitburn Presents. Record Research. ISBN 9780898201628. 
  13. ^ a b "Britney Spears Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Britney Spears. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  14. ^ a b "Britney Spears Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Britney Spears. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  15. ^ a b "Britney Spears – The Official Charts Company". The Official Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/BRITNEY%20SPEARS/. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  16. ^ a b c "Ultratop.be – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  17. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2002.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  18. ^ a b "Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  19. ^ "Boys Co-Ed Remix – Britney Spears – Music Video". MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom). http://www.mtv.com/videos/britney-spears/53857/boys-co-ed-remix.jhtml#artist=501686. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  20. ^ "2003 MTV Video Music Awards Winners List". MTV. MTV Networks (Viacom). http://www.mtv.com/bands/v/news_feature_vma_noms03/vma03frame.html. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  21. ^ "All-Star 2002". NBA.com. http://www.nba.com/allstar2002/. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  22. ^ "Saturday Night Live: Britney Spears [2: Synopsis"]. MSN Movies. MSN. http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie-synopsis/saturday-night-live-britney-spears-2/. Retrieved 2011-01-12. 
  23. ^ "In the Zone (+ Bonus CD) (2003)". Amazon.com. Amazon, Inc. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001BXYUG. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  24. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem; Moss, Corey (2001-11-02). "Britney Goes Bald, Plays Tiny Dancer, Gets Caught In The Rain At Tour Kickoff". MTV (MTV Networks). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1450487/20011102/spears_britney.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  25. ^ Stout, Gene (2004-03-13). "Britney ready for Vegas in a show rated 'R' for racy". Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Hearst Corporation). http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/164745_britneyq.html. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  26. ^ Shriver, Jerry (2009-03-04). "Britney in concert: The Circus is finally back in town". USA Today (Gannett Company, Inc.). http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-03-04-britney-concert_N.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  27. ^ Meyer, Carla (2011-06-17). "Spears finds groove, Minaj mesmerizes in Sacramento concert". The Sacramento Bee. The McClatchy Company. http://blogs.sacbee.com/ticket/archives/2011/06/spears-finds-gr.html. Retrieved 2011-06-17. 
  28. ^ "Boys [12" VINYL [Single]"]. Amazon.co.uk. Amazon, Inc. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00006BCN7. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  29. ^ "Boys [Single, Maxi"]. Amazon.co.uk. Amazon, Inc. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000069JAY. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
  30. ^ (2001) "Boys" (Brazilian Single liner notes). Release notes for "Boys [The Co-Ed Remix Featuring Pharrell Williams]" by Britney Spears. Globo (6385925402-2).
  31. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  32. ^ "Ultratop.be – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  33. ^ "Danishcharts.com – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys". Tracklisten. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  34. ^ "Lescharts.com – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  35. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  36. ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  37. ^ / "ブリトニー・スピアーズのCDシングルランキング、ブリトニー・ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/145326/ranking/cd_single /. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
  38. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Stichting Nederlandse Top 40.
  39. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  40. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – boys" Canciones Top 50. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  41. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  42. ^ "Britney Spears feat. Pharrell Williams – Boys – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
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