"Boyfriend" is a song by English singer Mabel, released on 26 February 2020. The song appears as a digital reissue bonus track on Mabel's debut studio album High Expectations (2019).[2] "Boyfriend" samples "Remember Me" (1997) by Blue Boy which in turn sampled "Woman of the Ghetto" (1969) by Marlena Shaw.[3]
Background
Mabel announced the song's release on 21 February 2020.[4] She described the song as "wanting someone in your life doesn't mean you can't still be dat bitchh".[5]
Composition
Musically, "Boyfriend" is an empowering upbeat pop anthem with a bumping production.[6][7][1] Lyrically, the song sees Mabel wanting a boyfriend, but saying how she doesn't necessarily need one "I want a boyfriend... Even though a man ain't something I need".
This song is written in the key of B minor and has a tempo of 100 beats per minute.
Music video
The song's accompanying music video was directed by Isaac Rentz and was released on 26 February 2020.[8][9] According to Mabel the video for "Boyfriend" was inspired by late American singer Aaliyah.[10] It sees Mabel make her ideal boyfriend in an underground computer laboratory.[6] It is a gender-reverse flip of the 1985 film Weird Science.[6]