If I Were A Boy. SMS

If I Were A Boy
If I were a Boy, is a song written by Beyonce, a well known R&B artist. In this song Beyonce convinces the reader that, she would be a better man than her boyfriend. She backs this up by using the lyrics for the song as well as the video. Before watching the video, I liked the song a lot, which was different, because this isn't my typical genre of music I listen to. The lyrics really caught my attention, for several reasons. First, I have always liked the slower songs, and I also like things to do with relationships, good or bad. Also, because I have actually thought the same way Beyonce has several times in my life. Sometimes when I'd get in a fight with my boyfriend, I would think that I could be the better boyfriend for me, since I know exactly what I like and how I like to be treated. Once I watched the video, it made the understanding of the song a bit unclear. For me, the video was different than many other's I've watched before. It is actually a bit confusing at first to understand. I had to watch it several times and still could be wrong with my own interpretation of it. However, I do think this helps her. Because the music video is different, it can drawl more attention to it, and get a bigger audience.
The lyrics of the song help back up Beyonce's thesis. She uses pathos as a form of rhetoric to connect her audience emotionally with the song. At first, she would say ways her boyfriend wasn't so good. For an example, she says that he drinks with his friends and chases after other girls. These, obviously are examples of a poor relationship. This could really help the reader connect emotionally to the song. I think all or at least many people, boy or girl, has gone through a relationship like this, where they have been treated badly or unfair, making them less of a person. I believe another aspect that helps connect the audience to this song is the tone or the way Beyonce sings. You can almost hear the pain in her voice as she sings, it sort of makes us think, “Yeah, I've been through that too,” or “ I know how it feels”, which all help us connect with her emotionally.
The music video for this song, can really change it up a bit, or make you understand it more. Beyonce used a lot of imagery, to help persuade the reader of her thesis. At the beginning, for example, the video showed her and her boyfriend say, “Intimacy. Honesty. Commitment.You. Me. Us,”. This meant a lot to me, and showed a lot of imagery because all of the things they said are parts that contribute to a good and healthy relationship. By saying these at the beginning of the song, it can show the reader in their mind what a good relationship includes. Later, while watching the video, you see how bad their relationship is. I think the part in the beginning really helps this, because you can compare in your heads the big difference between what was said in the beginning and what the video tells you.
Like I said before, the video was the more confusing part. It showed Beyonce as the girl, but acting rude, dishonest, and unloving towards the boyfriend. She would be the one going to work, flirting with her partner, and not answering her boyfriends phone call. This was all confusing at first, then near the end of the video it paused. He started asking her why she acts that way, and she comes back by saying, “What? It's not like I'm sleeping with the guy.” This is where everything changes. Beyonce then reverses it and is now the one asking him this, who then comes back and says the same thing about him not sleeping with the girl... After this, you now watch the real situation that occurred, having the guy go to work, flirting and possibly cheating on her with other girls. Although this was a little weird or different, and definitely confusing, I think it works well and was a good way to illustrate the song. By having a video like that, it puts the guy in her place, he was the one who gets hurt, which in real life we might sometimes wish we could do.
I think the argument does have a clear purpose, which is to inform other couples that treating each other like this will not get you anywhere, and for them to realize how it would hurt each other. I also think that the song's main audience would be teenagers. And even though it seems to be geared towards girls, it could also be reversed and be for boys as well, because it is not always the girl who is being treated this way in a relationship. Although this song or argument could be something for older couples as well, I think it is still mainly geared towards the younger audience. I believe this because, for one, the singer is Beyonce, who is younger and makes music that is mainly listened to by young people. Also, because I believe younger couples would have more problems like this, rather than older couples. I usually see older couples as more mature and responsible, not to be found in the same situation. I think Beyonce's song or argument was an accomplishment, because of some of the responses by teens on Youtube, saying that they loved it, and that they know how it feels to be treated like that. Also, because it has become a popular song, watched and listened to by millions. I think this song is important because the argument can relate to many peoples relationships today. I think that it can possibly help people who treat their spouse like this, really think about how the other person feels. Which could possibly help make many relationships better.


Lyrics...
If I were a boyEven just for a dayI’d roll outta bed in the morningAnd throw on what I wanted then goDrink beer with the guysAnd chase after girlsI’d kick it with who I watedAnd I’d never get confronted for it.Cause they’d stick up for me.
[Chorus]If I were a boyI think I could understandHow it feels to love a girlI swear I’d be a better man.I’d listen to herCause I know how it hurtsWhen you lose the one you wantedCause he’s taken you for grantedAnd everything you had got destroyed
If I were a boyI could turn off my phoneTell evveryone it’s brokenSo they’d think that I was sleepin’ aloneI’d put myself firstAnd make the rules as I goCause I know that she’d be faithfulWaitin’ for me to come home (to come home)
(Chorus)
It’s a little too late for you to come backSay its just a mistakeThink I’d forgive you like thatIf you thought I would wait for youYou thought wrong
(Chorus)
But you’re just a boyYou don’t understandYeah you don’t understandHow it feels to love a girl somedayYou wish you were a better manYou don’t listen to herYou don’t care how it hurtsUntil you lose the one you wantedCause you’ve taken her for grantedAnd everything you have got destroyedBut you’re just a boy