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My Boy (Billie Eilish song)

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"My Boy"
Eilish is seen posing on a ladder
Single by Billie Eilish
from the EP Don't Smile at Me
ReleasedJuly 28, 2017 (2017-07-28)
GenrePop
Length2:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilish singles chronology
"Idontwannabeyouanymore"
(2017) 		"My Boy"
(2017) 		"&Burn"
(2017)
Audio video
"My Boy" on YouTube

"My Boy" 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

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"My Boy" was released on July 28, 2017, as the sixth single on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me.[1] 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.[2] A remix of the song by TroyBoi titled "MyBoi" was released on March 9, 2018.[3] 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."[4]

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 F♯3 to B4.[5] Critical commentary described "My Boy" as a jazz-influenced pop track.[6][7] "My Boy" features a minimalist production consisting of a hi-hat and keyboard.[7] 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."[6] After the lyrics: "And by that, I mean, he cuts 'em off", a "funky" tempo change happens.[7] 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'".[6][7]

Reception and promotion

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"My Boy" was praised by Insider's Callie Ahlgrim, who called the track "slow" and "mysterious" and felt its chorus "is so springy and elastic that it's almost distractingly danceable."[7] "My Boy" experienced limited success on record charts, only reaching number 20 on the US Billboard Alternative Digital Song Sales chart.[8] It, however, has been awarded several certifications; being certified double platinum in Australia by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and platinum in Canada and the United States by the Music Canada (MC), and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively.[9][10][11] "My Boy" was performed live during Eilish's North American 1 by 1 tour in 2018.[12]

Covers

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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".[13]

Track listing

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Digital download[1]
No.TitleLength
1."My Boy"2:50
Digital download – TroyBoi Remix[3]
No.TitleLength
1."MyBoi" (TroyBoi Remix)3:31

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Don't Smile at Me.[2]

Charts

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Chart position for "My Boy"
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[8] 20

Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "My Boy"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[9] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[14] Gold 15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[15] Platinum 60,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[16] Gold 45,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[17] Gold 10,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[18] Gold 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[11] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "My Boy"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
Various July 28, 2017
Original
[1]
March 9, 2018 TroyBoi Remix [20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "dont smile at me". Tidal. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Don't Smile at Me (booklet). Billie Eilish. Darkroom/Interscope Records. 2019. B0030752-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ a b "MyBoi (TroyBoi Remix)". Spotify. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Ruder, Claire (March 9, 2018). "Troyboi turns Billie Eilish's song 'my boy' into 'MyBoi' with an official remix". Earmilk. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "Billie Eilish 'My Boy' Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. 14 November 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Olivia (July 31, 2017). "Billie Eilish Continues to Impress with New Track 'my boy'". Baeble Music. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e Ahlgrim, Callie (March 18, 2020). "Every Billie Eilish song, ranked". Insider. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Billie Eilish: Chart History - Alternative Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilsih – My Boy". Music Canada. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  11. ^ a b "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – My Boy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  12. ^ "Billie Eilish Announces North American 1 By 1 Tour". Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  13. ^ "Here's A Punk Rock Cover Billie Eilish's My Boy". Kerrang!. March 29, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Billie Eilish – My Boy" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Billie Eilish – My Boy" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Danish single certifications – Billie Eilish – My Boy". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Billie Eilish – My Boy" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "British single certifications – Billie Eilish – My Boy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "MyBoi (TroyBoi Remix) - Single by Billie Eilish on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
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