First Listen: Beyoncé, ‘If I Were A Boy’, ‘Single Ladies’
Z100 in NYC brings us the world premiere of Beyoncé’s new single If I Were A Boy for our listening pleasure. Many folks assumed that the track might be similar to (if not a total rip-off of) Ciara’s song Like A Boy but I think that after listening to the track it becomes clear that the songs are not really that similar at all. Ciara’s single is an upbeat track, Beyoncé’s new single is a slower jam … check it out:
I think the track is a bit unexpected, I anticipated a more poppy, upbeat song … but I think I like this track. The lyrics (which you can read HERE) are interesting. I’m not sure if the link above will work for those of you outside of the US. If the link above does not work for you, click HERE to hear a shorter clip of If I Were A Boy that should work for everyone. I will update the links if they either stop working or if better ones come along. I’m not crazy in love with the song but I like it … do you?
UPDATE: Head on over to IHeartMusic.com to hear in full Beyoncé’s other new track Single Ladies. The song is much more upbeat, much more the type of song that I expect Beyoncé to release. I’m not sure if the site is authorized to offer the track so check it out while you can in case it gets pulled. Of the two, I think I still prefer If I Were A Boy … which do you prefer?
UPDATE 2: Pink reader Lizette enlightens that If I Were A Boy is a cover song! Singer/songwriter BC Jean already wrote and recorded the track, you can hear her original version HERE on her official website or HERE on her official My Space profile. Um … WTF?! No offense to BC Jean (who wrote a really great song) but why is Beyoncé covering her song when, as a self-professed “legend”, she should be writing and recording her own music? Anyone?
[Source]
Tags: 'If I Were A Boy', 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)', Beyoncé Knowles, Z100
RSS
Feedburner
October 8th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Beyonce: If I were a boy…..my name would be Jay-Z.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I don’t think this is the kinda song that we would expect Beyonce to sing. It’s more of the type of song that Avril Lavigne would sing. But I like the song nevertheless. I just feel that Beyonce didn’t do justice to it because of her vocal strengths.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Eh. The lyrics are good. The beat threw it all off. Her voice is amazing tho.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:35 am
What a pile of shite…It’s an awful song…the lyrics are really rubbish…but thats just my opinion. Sorry to any Beyonce fans out there!! No offence meant.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Her last album was such a pile of shit she should have really done something amazing to ‘come back’ to the pop scene. I guess she feels a slow jam will be a hit because her only song that was a hit recently was that ‘To the left, to the left’ song… i forget the name of it.. aw crap.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:37 am
love the song….nice to hear her do something a little different.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:45 am
well, she’s not the original performer or writer so i guess it doesnt matter.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:47 am
http://www.bcjean.net/
October 8th, 2008 at 8:48 am
i dunno….doesnt seem like anything special…
October 8th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I normally like Beyonce’s music, but this new one is just kind of…boring.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I don’t like it………….maybe it will grow on me.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I love If I Were A Boy!! I’m so happy. It’s a totally different side from Beyonce, especially as a lead single from a new album. I’m in love with it and the lyrics are so great.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Didn’t Beyonce say she wanted to be a legend not that she was a legend? So what if she covered a song. Madonna has too and massacred it as opposed to making it better which I think Beyonce did.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Totally not trying to dog Beyonce but, to become legendary it makes sense to mebbe cover a famous song (like Don McClean’s ‘American Pie’ that Madonna covered) rather than an unknown singer/songwriter. It just doesn’t make sense to me at all.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:20 am
i agree with trent, usually you pick a bigger song. when artist you songs like this…copyright lawsuits usually follow..
October 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Well she has done this before remember on the bday album the song kissing you was a rip of desirees kissing you from romeo and juliet and also resentment was a victoria beckham song
October 8th, 2008 at 11:01 am
OMG — you’re right! I guess it never registered since those songs weren’t released singles.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I think Beyonce needs to loose the whole “legend” idea. Yeah she is super talented but don’t you think its just a wee bit cocky to declare your self a legend?
October 8th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I would like to hear Single Ladies, but the weblink won’t permit Canadian listeners. Help Trent!
October 8th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Ooh Ooh (raises hand)….I can answer that…..Because Beyonce always has and always will be UN-ORIGINAL!!!! She copies everyone…..no one really knows who the real B is….Ask Sasha!!!!!!
October 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
By the way….Liz, I couldn’t agree w/ you more!
October 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Honestly, even though I have had a lot of respect for Beyonce, this song just doesn’t fit her right. Seriously… I listened to the first 2 minutes and thought to myself: “Beyonce… Really?” No really, this isn’t a horrible song, but at the same time, its not the best. Beyonce can do better and this song can do better.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
just so you know, this BC Jean girl gave the song to Beyonce. It was a demo and Beyonce agreed to sing it. Everyone stop hating. Her album is going to be HUGE!!!! Love her!
October 8th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Ok i really love both songs is amazing you have the big ballad with if i were a boy and then the club song single ladies.!!!
The album is going to be huge i see something different in a possitive way.
And she didnt call herself a legend, she only said that she would like to be one in the future.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
The fact that she does not cover songs that have already achieved popularity makes more sense to me, Trent; why use a song that is already popular and has beaucoup fans? You wouldn’t be achieving anything, just leeching off of someone else’s accomplishment. That’s what I love about B, she is willing to test the waters instead of playing it safe with the “same ole same ole”–devoid of any artistic representation; that, IMHO, truly shows originality. Keep in mind that music is in a constant state of evolution.
BTW “self-professed” and “aspiring” are two completely different things. She never claimed to be a legend, she wishes to be seen as a legend in the future. I didn’t know that having dreams negatively affected artistic ability. Wow!
October 8th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I like the original girl’s version. Her raspy voice beats Beyonce’s any day.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
BC Jeans is a DEMO! Ok people.
Beyonce would not be the first to record a song that was written and recorded by another artist as a demo. Relax. You people look for anything to slam this girl with. It’s so sad.
Do you like it or not? Simple, all that extra shit is so not needed.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Ok…i am SOOO totally over that knd of beat, i’ve heard the same beat in like a million songs “irreplaceable”, “Hate that i love you” and many others, i tried to listen to this new song but it’s just too ugh, i couldn’t even listen to the 1st minute…sorry beyonce but i expected better from you…I’m looking forward to listening “single ladies” though, i won’t play for me, so i’mma have to wait haha…
ohh and Britney’s the Shit
Womanizer #1 in The U.S. & Canada y’all =)
October 8th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I think it sounds fine and Trent..it’s honestly pretty whack on my opinion how you bust on Beyonce for such things but fail to care about the mess known as Britney..making way too much for money for way too little talent. You are all about her though and then make all these comments about a more talented, as well as great dancer/entertainer girl–Beyonce. And Beyonce said she wants to be an icon/legend..not that she IS one. Nothing wrong with doing a cover song here and there.
When it comes to Britney, you let ANYthing slide…
October 8th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
All I can say is …eyebrows.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:14 am
SHE FUCKIN BOUGHT THAT SONG FROM BC JEANS!! BC JUST SANG THE DEMO FOR GODS SAKE!!! Ya’ll are stupid!
October 9th, 2008 at 10:55 am
see.people compare britney and beyonce here again…it doesnt make sense.lets focus on music,if the song is good,give credits to the producer.and dont judge for the singer.beyonce.she,choose these two songs,she loves it so she put it out,at least i think,and maybe people wont like it cause its not catchy enough,and she will still have fans cause beyonce,does can sing.while for britney,she chooses womanizer,gimme more,which is way catchier than beyonce’s recent works.they create the result themselves.dont judge britney and her song and say shes a mess.its just childish and shallow.if u like it then buy it,dont like it also no need to bring down britney since she does deserve credits too.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:04 am
but honestly single ladies is ok,guess it will receive good response
October 9th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
i really like it!