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My Boy (Billie Eilish song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = My Boy
| cover = Myboysinglecover.jpg
| alt = Eilish is seen posing on a ladder
| type = single
| artist = Billie Eilish
| EP = Don't Smile at Me
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length =
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Finneas O'Connell
| prev_title = Idontwannabeyouanymore
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = &Burn
| next_year = 2017
| misc =
}}
"'My Boy'" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer Billie Eilish. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the sixth single from Eilish's debut extended play (EP), 'Don't Smile at Me' (2017). Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production. A pop track with jazz-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by boys who broke Eilish's heart.
"My Boy" has been awarded several certifications, including a platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and Music Canada (MC). It was performed live by Eilish during her 2018 1 by 1 tour. A Troyboi remix was released on March 9, 2018.
Background and composition
"My Boy" was released on July 28, 2017, as the sixth single on Eilish's debut EP 'Don't Smile at Me'. The track was written by the singer and Finneas O'Connell, her brother and the track's sole producer. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively. A remix of the song by TroyBoi titled "MyBoi" was released on March 9, 2018. Claire Ruder writing for 'Earmilk' praised TroyBoi's remix, saying it "was able to successfully transform a tempo-changing short-and-sweet pop song into bass-laden and explosive EDM." And further mentions "'MyBoi,' turns chopped vocals from Billie into an instrument for the chorus of the track, paired with intricate layers of hi-hats, heavy kicks, and bass."
According to sheet music published by Universal Music Publishing Group at Musicnotes.com, "My Boy" has a moderately slow tempo of 69-72 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of B minor. Eilish's vocals span a range of F3 to B4. Critical commentary described "My Boy" as a jazz-influenced pop track. "My Boy" features a minimalist production consisting of a hi-hat and keyboard. According to Baeble Music's Olivia Lewis, the track begins with a "chiller, jazz-like vibe, and a layer of darkness and mystery": "My boy's being sus', he was shady enough, but now he's just a shadow/My boy loves his friends like I love my split ends." After the lyrics: "And by that, I mean, he cuts 'em off", a "funky" tempo change happens. The song soon becomes more upbeat while maintaining the heaviness of the intro: My boy's being sus' and he don't know how to cuss/He just sounds like he's tryna be his father (Who are you?)/My boy's an ugly crier but he's such a pretty liar/And by that I mean he said he'd 'change'".
Reception and promotion
"My Boy" was praised by 'Insider' Callie Ahlgrim, who called the track "slow" and "mysterious" and felt its chorus "is so springy and elastic that it's almost distractingly danceable." "My Boy" experienced limited success on record charts, only reaching number 20 on the US 'Billboard' Alternative Digital Song Sales chart. It, however, has been awarded several certifications; being certified platinum in Australia, Canada, and the United States by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), Music Canada (MC), and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively. "My Boy" was performed live during Eilish's North American 1 by 1 tour in 2018.
Covers
In 2019, American punk rock band, the SWMRS, covered "My Boy" at the Blondies in London for 50 of their biggest fans. The staff of 'Kerrang!' called the SWMRS cover a "healthy dose of surfer punk rock".
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of 'Don't Smile at Me'.
* Billie Eilish vocals, songwriter
* Finneas O'Connell producer, songwriter
* John Greenham mastering engineer
* Rob Kinelski mixer
Charts
Certifications
Release history
References
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