Boys (Charli XCX song)

"Boys" is a single by English singer Charli XCX, released on 26 July 2017 by Asylum Records and Atlantic Records UK. The song was originally intended to be the second single from her then-upcoming third studio album. However, the song became a stand-alone single when the projected third album was leaked on the internet and cancelled. The song makes use of a sample from the Nintendo video game Super Mario Bros.

A cover of the song by one of its writers, Ingrid Andress, is included on the deluxe edition reissue of Andress' debut studio album, Lady Like (2020), with a mandolin being used to replicate the video game sample.

Critical reception
"Boys" received positive reviews. Pitchfork named the song the 'Best New Track', and in a review contributor Eve Barlow wrote that "Boys" is "deceptively simple-sounding and unfussy," and "a reminder that [Charli XCX is] one of the best at knowing how to have fun; her convivial bop sounds as effortless as something dreamed up between lunch and dinner." The track was placed on several magazines' best songs of the year lists.

Music video
The music video for "Boys" was released on 26 July 2017. It was directed by Charli XCX, with additional direction from Sarah McColgan, and began production in April 2017. It features a multitude of different celebrity cameos from figures within the music, fashion and social media industries. It was filmed in London and Los Angeles. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Charli XCX said that the intention of the music video was to "flip the male gaze on its head".

Track listing

 * Digital download
 * 1) "Boys" – 2:42


 * Digital download
 * 1) "Boys" (Acoustic) – 2:55


 * Digital download
 * 1) "Boys" (Coldabank Remix) – 3:56


 * Digital download
 * 1) "Boys" (Droeloe Remix) – 3:36


 * Digital download
 * 1) "Boys" (Nevada Remix) – 3:08


 * Digital Download — Remix EP
 * 1) "Boys" (Droeloe Remix) – 3:36
 * 2) "Boys" (Nevada Remix) – 3:08
 * 3) "Boys" (Acoustic) – 2:55
 * 4) "Boys" (Coldabank Remix) – 3:56

Credits and personnel
Taken from Tidal.
 * Charli XCX – lead vocals
 * Jerker Hansson – songwriting, production
 * Cass Lowe – songwriting, production
 * Emily Warren – songwriting
 * Ingrid Andress – songwriting
 * Michael Pollack – songwriting
 * Ari Leff – songwriting