He Likes Boys

"He Likes Boys"
Single by Simone Battle
Released	October 24, 2011
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2011
Genre	Pop
Length	3:40
Label	SBE (self-released)
Writer(s)	Brian Kennedy, Ester Dean, Brett James, Dante Jones[1]
Producer(s)	Brian Kennedy,[2] Ester Dean
Simone Battle singles chronology
"Material Girl" (2009) "He Likes Boys" (2011)

"He Likes Boys" is the debut single of American recording artist Simone Battle. It was written by Brian Kennedy, Ester Dean, Brett James, Dante Jones.^[3] It was produced by Brian Kennedy^[2] and Ester Dean.

The song was the first and only single released by Battle before her death on September 5, 2014.

Background

Upon Steve Jones' announcement that she had been eliminated from The X Factor, Battle plugged the online release of her new music video "He Likes Boys".

Music video

Background and development

The video was shot and directed by Shane McLafferty.^[4] It was uploaded to YouTube on 24 October 2011.^[5]

Synopsis

The video opens up with various clips of Los Angeles at night, and then cuts to Simone stepping out of a car and walking through the streets of L.A. to meet her boyfriend (potrayed by Evan Mellows) for a date. As the date progresses, Simone notices her boyfriend flirting with the waiter. The next scene shows Simone being tutored by a boy she appears to like but ends up being shot down when he ignores her passes at him. The next scene shows Simone reenacting a scene from the cult film Clueless. Next she is seen mouthing the words to the song while laying in a bath tub wearing a bathing suit. The end of the video features a big party scene with streamers and balloons along with Simone coming to the conclusion that she has found her new best friend. "We both like vintage shopping," she sings, adding, "And we both like... boys."^[6]

Cultural references

At one point during the video, Battle is seen reenacting a classic scene from the cult movie Clueless.

References