Boyfriend (Big Time Rush song)

"Boyfriend" was written and produced by Lucas Secon while Wayne Hector, credited as Wayne Anthony Hector, also provided writing. In addition to writing and producing, Secon programmed and arranged the song while performing on drums and synthesizers. Recording sessions took place at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, headed by Rob Kinelski, and at Mux Music Studios in London, England, headed by Secon and Pete Hoffman, both of which mixed the song. Editing through ProTools was done by Hoffman. Mintman performed on the guitars, bass and keys, which was recorded at the Westlake Recording Studios. "Boyfriend" was released as Big Time Rush's second single on February 8, when the remix featuring Snoop Dogg was released through digital distribution. A week later, Columbia Records serviced it to contemporary hit radio and the version featuring the New Boyz to rhythmic crossover in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |title=Airplay Archive |work=FMQB |publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services |access-date=November 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723053722/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |archive-date=July 23, 2013 }} On April 19, 2011, a new version of the song featuring the New Boyz was released for digital distribution.

"Boyfriend" features the use of monochromatic beats, condensed instrument sounds, layered and tuned vocals and autotune.{{cite web|last=Gallo|first=Phil|title=Album: Big Time Rush, "BTR" (Nickelodeon/ Columbia)|url=http://www.soundspike.com/story/838/album-review-big-time-rush-btr-nickelodeon-columbia/|work=SoundSpike|publisher=SoundSpike Media, LLC|access-date=27 June 2012|date=October 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215209/http://www.soundspike.com/story/838/album-review-big-time-rush-btr-nickelodeon-columbia/|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} According to the digital music sheet published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is composed in a key of E major. It is set in common time and has a moderate 4 tempo of 80 beats per minute. The band's vocals range from E₃ to B₅. It begins with a basic sequence of A-E-F#m-E and transitions to F#m-G#m-C#m as it chord progression.{{cite web|title=Big Time Rush – Boyfriend Sheet Music (Digital Download)|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0103072&|work=Musicnotes.com| date=11 May 2012 |publisher=Sony/ATV Music Publishing|access-date=27 June 2012}} The single versions feature rap verses from Snoop Dogg and the New Boyz. The lyrics pertain to being the ideal boyfriend for someone, indicated in lines like, "I don't care at all what you've done before, all I really want is to be your boyfriend."

"Boyfriend" received a generally mixed response from contemporary music critics. Matt Collar of AllMusic called the "head-bobbin'" tune one of the album's highlights.{{cite web|last=Collar|first=Matt|title=Big Time Rush – Big Time Rush|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/big-time-rush-mw0002043789|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=27 June 2012}} Jessica Dawson of Common Sense Media called the song a "catchy single" that "lingers in your head, with the boys pouting, "B-b-boy-boy-boy-boy-boyfriend," and the tune's easy, hip-pop rhythm." Dawson also commented, " No doubt fans will be wishing the guys were singing to them", awarding the song a three star rating.{{cite web|last=Dawson|first=Jessica|title="Boyfriend" (CD Single) – Music Review|url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/music-reviews/boyfriend-cd-single|work=Common Sense Media|publisher=Common Sense Media Inc.|access-date=27 June 2012}} Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian praised Snoop Dogg's verses, commenting that they add "pizzazz" to "an otherwise anodyne dance-pop tune."{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|title=Big Time Rush: BTR – Review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/14/big-time-rush-btr-review|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|access-date=27 June 2012|date=July 14, 2011}} Alistair McGeorge of Female First called it a "safe, by-the-numbers pop track that heavily relies on over-production and autotone."{{cite web|last=McGeorge|first=Alistair|title=Album Review: Big Time Rush – BTR|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/reviews/Big+Time+Rush+review-16275.html|work=Female First|publisher=First Active Media Ltd|access-date=27 June 2012|date=July 14, 2011}} Brandon Soderberg of Popdust gave "Boyfriend" a three star rating, commending Snoop Dogg for providing a contrast to the "oddball charm" he presents on his guest features on pop songs. Soderberg credited Snoop Dogg for "inject[ing] specificity into an otherwise pretty ordinary song" and further praised his verses for their placement, writing that they provide "a crucially rewarding sense of narrative."{{cite web|last=Soderberg|first=Brandon|title=@ The Singles Bar: Big Time Rush Feat. Snoop Dogg, "Boyfriend"|url=http://popdust.com/2011/01/18/the-singles-bar-big-time-rush-feat-snoop-dogg-boyfriend/|work=Popdust|publisher=Popdust Inc|access-date=27 June 2012|date=January 18, 2011}}

In the United States, "Boyfriend" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number seventy-nine in the issue dated March 12, 2011. The song ascended and descended on the chart for several weeks before reaching its peak at number seventy-two in the issue dated May 7, 2011. "Boyfriend" shipped over 1,000,000 copies in the United States, earning a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The single was also certified gold in New Zealand in March 2024 for denoting consumption sales of over 15,000 units. It also peaked at number thirty-two on the Pop Songs chart and at number fifty-eight on Hot Digital Songs. Across Europe, "Boyfriend" fared better on the charts. In Austria, the song peaked at number fifty-five on the singles chart. In Germany, the song debuted at number fifty-one and rose to number forty-nine in the next week.

The video features with Snoop Dogg living in the year 2099, and inviting Big Time Rush from the present to perform and join a party from a portal. At the party, Kendall is drinking a futuristic drink with a girl, James is dancing with two girls outside, and briefly showing him cross dressing. Logan is floating around with a girl outside on a light board, and Carlos is dancing with another girl. Solo shots of the boys performing the song and scenes of the entire group performing the song on a stage is intercut throughout the video. After Snoop Dogg performs his verse, he later waves good-bye and the group exit out of the portal into 2011.

• Digital download{{cite web|title=Big Time Rush: Boyfriend (feat. Snoop Dogg) - Single|website=iTunes |date=8 February 2011 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/417021288}}

1. "Boyfriend" (featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:35

• Maxi CD{{cite web|title=Big Time Rush: Boyfriend Single, Maxi|website=Amazon UK |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004UHPTSW}}

1. "Boyfriend" (featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:35
2. "Boyfriend" (Jump Smokers remix radio edit; featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:07
3. "Boyfriend" – 3:21
4. "Boyfriend" (video; featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:41

• CD{{cite web|title=Big Time Rush: Boyfriend Single|website=Amazon Germany |url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B004QQDUTC}}

1. "Boyfriend" (featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:35
2. "Boyfriend" – 3:21

• Digital download{{cite web|title=Big Time Rush: Boyfriend - Single|website=iTunes |date=April 2011 |url=https://music.apple.com/de/album/427598846}}

1. "Boyfriend" (featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:35
2. "Boyfriend" – 3:21
3. "Boyfriend" (video; featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:41

• Digital download (remixes){{cite web|title=Big Time Rush: Boyfriend (Remixes) - Single|website=iTunes |date=15 April 2011 |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/430814574}}

1. "Boyfriend" (Jump Smokers remix radio edit; featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:07
2. "Boyfriend" (Jump Smokers remix radio edit) – 2:52
3. "Boyfriend" (Jump Smokers remix extended version; featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:33

• Lucas Secon – songwriting, production, arrangement, programming, recording engineer, drums, synths, mixing
• Recorded at Mux Music Studios in London, England
• Wayne Anthony Hector – songwriting
• Rob Kinelski – recording engineer
• Recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California
• Pete Hoffman – recording engineer, ProTools editing, mixing
• Recorded at Mux Music Studios in London, England
• Mintman – additional guitars, bass, keys
• Instruments recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California

Credits adapted from BTR liner notes, Columbia Records.{{cite AV media notes |title=BTR |publisher=Columbia Records |year=2010}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Boyfriend"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=Big Time Rush feat. Snoop Dogg|title=Boyfriend|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=December 21, 2024|refname=rmnz}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Big Time Rush|title=Boyfriend|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2022|access-date=November 30, 2022|refname=riaa}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120308051302/http://www.btrband.com/us/video/boyfriend-feat-snoop-dogg Page for the song on the official Big Time Rush site]

{{Big Time Rush (group)}}

{{Snoop Dogg songs}}

{{New Boyz}}

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Category:2011 singles

Category:Big Time Rush songs

Category:Snoop Dogg songs

Category:Songs written by Lucas Secon

Category:2011 songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Songs written by Wayne Hector