Boyfriend (Ariana Grande and Social House song)

"Boyfriend" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande and American musical duo Social House. It was released by Republic Records on August 2, 2019.^[3] It is the second single from the latter's debut extended play, Everything Changed... (2019). It became Grande's 14th and Social House's first top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became the first song by a woman, and third overall, to top the Rolling Stone Top 100 Songs chart, achieving it in its debut week.^[4] It won the MTV Video Music Award for Song of Summer, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

"Boyfriend"
Single by Ariana Grande and Social House
from the EP Everything Changed...
Released	August 2, 2019 (2019-08-02)
Genre	Pop[1] R&B[2]
Length	3:06
Label	Republic
Songwriter(s)	Ariana Grande Charles Anderson Michael Foster Edgar Barrera Anthony M. Jones Steven Franks Tommy Brown
Producer(s)	Edgar Barrera Steven Franks Tommy Brown
Ariana Grande singles chronology
"Monopoly" (2019) "Boyfriend" (2019) "Don't Call Me Angel" (2019)
Social House singles chronology
"Haunt You" (2019) "Boyfriend" (2019) "Electric" (2020)
Music video
"Boyfriend" on YouTube

Background

The song was first teased by Grande on her social media on July 24, 2019, when she posted a picture of herself on a video set.^[5][6][7] She followed up the posts with pictures from the same video set, revealing the song to be a collaboration with Social House.^[8] Grande hinted at the title of the song on July 29, 2019, with the caption "u ain't my boyfriend".^[9] The first teaser was posted a day later.^[3][10] The cover art was revealed by Grande on her social media on July 30, 2019, and the song was simultaneously made available for pre-save.^[11]

Composition

The song is written in the key of B♭ minor, and it follows the chord progression of G♭_maj13—F₇—B♭m₁₁—E♭m₉—F₇. Grande's vocals span from a low A♭₃ to a high F₅.^[12]

Critical reception

Billboard's Jason Lipshutz called "Boyfriend" an "elastic pop track, a lovably low-stakes ode to romantic attraction but resistance to traditional labels".^[1] Amanda Mitchell of O, The Oprah Magazine opined that the song's lyrics "will hit home for anyone who's ever wanted to be coupled-up, but also enjoyed the freedom of not being in a relationship. It's the theme song for those who fear commitment—despite wanting to be someone's girlfriend".^[13] Writing for Esquire, Gabrielle Bruney stated that it is "a completely undeniable bop", adding that it is "an effortlessly hooky R&B-pop hybrid" which "captures that torturous liminal phase in relationships, before boundaries and definitions have been set in stone, but when feelings are still very much on the line".^[14]

Music video

The music video was directed by Hannah Lux Davis and was released alongside the song on August 2, 2019.^[15] In the video, Grande and Foster portray a dysfunctional couple seeking counseling from Anderson as they sing the song. Intermittent scenes show Grande and Foster at a party and both seeing the other flirt with other people. They each jealously fantasize about violently attacking their partner's other love interests: Grande tackles and beats one girl and pins another girl to a door by shooting an arrow into her palm; Foster kicks a guy in the face and pulls out his still-beating heart, giving it to Grande. Another sequence involves Grande pulling open her blazer and firing lasers shaped like pink hearts out of her bra, getting Foster's attention. The video ends with the couple passionately making out in the bathroom and subsequently destroying it. Anderson finds them, seemingly giving up on the couple and leaving them to their own devices.^[16] The video has since garnered over 267 million views as of May 2025.^[16]

Accolades

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref.
2019	MTV Video Music Award	Song of Summer	Won	[17]
2020	Grammy Awards	Best Pop Duo/Group Performance	Nominated	[18]

Live performances

The song was first performed live by Grande and Social House at Grande's performance at Lollapalooza on August 4, 2019, with Social House.^[19] Grande later added the song to the European leg of her Sweetener World Tour.^[20]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[21]

• Ariana Grande – vocals, songwriter, vocal producer, vocal arranger
• Charles Anderson – vocals, songwriter
• Michael Foster – vocals, songwriter
• Edgar Barrera – producer, songwriter, programmer
• Anthony M. Jones - producer, songwriter, programmer
• Steven Franks – producer, songwriter, programmer
• Tommy Brown – producer, songwriter, programmer
• Tarron Crayton – bass guitar
• Serban Ghenea – mixer, studio personnel
• John Hanes – mix engineer, studio personnel

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2019) Peak position Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[22] 80 Australia (ARIA)[23] 4 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[24] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[25] 33 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[26] 18 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[27] 5 China Airplay/FL (Billboard)[28] 3 Colombia (National-Report)[29] 69 Croatia (HRT)[30] 12 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[31] 11 Denmark (Tracklisten)[32] 20 Estonia (Eesti Ekspress)[33] 3 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[34] 12 France (SNEP)[35] 53 Germany (GfK)[36] 23 Greece (Billboard)[37] 10 Hungary (Single Top 40)[38] 3 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[39] 4 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[40] 1 Israel (Media Forest)[41] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[42] 3 Italy (FIMI)[43] 57 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[44] 38 Latvia (LAIPA)[45] 3 Lithuania (AGATA)[46] 3 Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20)[47] 13 Malaysia (RIM)[48] 3 Mexico (Billboard Ingles Airplay)[49] 36 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[50] 33 Netherlands (Mega Top 50)[51] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[52] 30 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[53] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[54] 16 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[55] 62 Portugal (AFP)[56] 19 Romania (Airplay 100)[57] 96 Scotland (OCC)[58] 4 Singapore (RIAS)[59] 2 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[60] 1 South Korea (Gaon)[61] 190 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[62] 64 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[63] 18 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[64] 13 UK Singles (OCC)[65] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[66] 8 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[67] 23 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[68] 12 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[69] 45 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[70] 8 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[71] 10 US Rolling Stone Top 100[72] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2019) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[73] 77 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[74] 74 Latvia (LAIPA)[75] 89 US Billboard Hot 100[76] 98 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[77] 44

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[78]	3× Platinum	210,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[79]	Gold	15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[80]	Diamond	160,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[81]	3× Platinum	240,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[82]	Gold	45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[83]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[84]	Gold	30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[85]	Platinum	50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[86]	Gold	5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[87]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[88]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
Streaming
Sweden (GLF)[89]	Gold	6,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Boyfriend"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	August 2, 2019	Digital download streaming	Republic	[21]
Australia		Radio airplay		[90]
Canada		Contemporary hit radio hot adult contemporary radio		[91]
Italy		Radio airplay	Universal	[92]
United States	August 6, 2019	Contemporary hit radio rhythmic contemporary radio	Republic	[93][94]
Various	December 6, 2019	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl cassette CD		[95][96][97][98]

See also

• List of UK top-ten singles in 2019
• List of top 10 singles in 2019 (Australia)
• List of Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles in 2019
• List of Rolling Stone Top 100 number-one songs of 2019