<P> "If I Were a Boy" is a pop and R&B introspective ballad which draws influences from folk rock through its instrumentation of which includes acoustic guitars, drums and strings . The song's lyrics lament the misunderstandings between the genders and indict the male side of relationships . "If I Were a Boy" was well received by critics, who complimented Beyoncé's tormented and emotive vocal performance and called the song her best work to date . The single was a commercial success as it placed in the top ten on twenty - five different singles charts . It topped the charts in more than eight European countries, including the United Kingdom, where it is Beyoncé's best - selling single . "If I Were a Boy" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada, and the US . </P> <P> The accompanying music video for "If I Were a Boy" was directed by Jake Nava and shot in black - and - white . With a theme of role reversal, it is conceptually similar to the American comedy film Freaky Friday (1976). A video for the Spanish version of the ballad was edited from the original clip . Beyoncé promoted "If I Were a Boy" through live performances at venues including The Oprah Winfrey Show, the 52nd Grammy Awards, and the I Am...World Tour (2009--10). The song has been covered several times on televised music competitions . American singer Reba McEntire sang a country version of the ballad on Country Music Television (CMT), and a studio version was released as the second single from her 2010 album, All the Women I Am . </P> <P> "If I Were a Boy" was written by BC Jean and Toby Gad . It is the opening ballad of the I Am...disc of the double album I Am...Sasha Fierce . It is the only song on either disc that Beyoncé did not co-write . Most of the lyrics were written by Jean, who was inspired by the break - up of a romantic relationship . One day Jean and Gad visited a pizzeria in Times Square in New York City . Although tempted, Jean refrained from eating pizza because she was dieting . She then thought that if she were a boy, she would have eaten without regret . After reflecting on the idea, she concluded that she would have been a better man than her past lover . Gad captured Jean's ideas on a pocket recorder, and they went to the studio the same day . Once there, she wrote the lyrics and melody in about 15 minutes . She then recorded the song in less than half an hour, with Gad on the guitar . </P> <P> After completing her version of "If I Were a Boy", Jean presented it to her record company, which rejected the song . Gad and Jean had co-written 12 songs, including "If I Were a Boy", for the singer's debut album . As the deal with Jean's record company fell apart, Gad marketed the songs to established artists . Beyoncé liked "If I Were a Boy" and recorded her own version of it for her album I Am...Sasha Fierce . Gad and Beyoncé produced the track in 2008 at Roc the Mic Studios and Strawberry Productions in New York City and at GAD Studios in Ibiza . Gad did the musical arrangements, assisted in recording the music, and played the instruments alongside his brother Jens Gad and Reggie Syience Perry . Jim Caruana recorded Beyoncé's vocals at Roc the Mic Studios . Mark "Spike" Stent mixed the track with assistance from Matt Green at The Record Plant in Los Angeles . "If I Were a Boy" was placed on the I Am...disc of I Am...Sasha Fierce, as it is a ballad that shows Beyoncé's insecurities about love and the person she is "underneath all the makeup, underneath the lights and underneath all the exciting star drama". </P>

The meaning of the song if i were a boy
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