A Boy Is a Gun explained

A Boy Is a Gun
Type:song
Artist:Tyler, The Creator
Album:Igor
Released:May 17, 2019
Genre:
Label:Columbia
Producer:Tyler Okonma

An accompanying music video directed by Tyler himself is centered around Igor - Tyler's alter ego. It is set in a mansion. Igor is interested in a love interest, while the love interest is disinterested. Igor appears to have a mental breakdown and fights with the interest, ending the video.

Background and composition

The song is inspired by the 1971 French western film Une Aventure de Billy le Kid, also known as "A Girl is a Gun".[1] "A girl is a gun" was popularized by a clothing brand, Pleasure, which printed the phrase in shirts. The phrase was further popularized when Playboi Carti wore it in his single Magnolia.[2] The video style is inspired by another movie, 2017's Call Me by Your Name, from which Tyler is a fan of.[3] On May 13, 2019, Tyler released a 28-second snippet on the song in social media.[4] The song was sampled from "Bound", by the Ponderosa Twins Plus One, with vocals from Solange Knowles.[5] Tyler has history with the sample, co-producing "Bound 1", by Kanye West.[6]

Music video and lyrics

The music video was directed by Wolf Haley, with an appearance by Tracee Ellis Ross.[7] The video is centered to Igor, Tyler's alter ego. Igor is placed in a mansion, walking around the balcony, ending up in a bathtub.[8] [9] He is spotted to be interested in a love interest, while the love interest is "disinterested" in him. After, Igor appears to have a mental breakdown, throwing clothes and running across the lawn.

Critical reception

The song received relatively positive reviews from critics, with American magazine Pitchfork stating that the song was where Tyler is at his "most creative", with the end stating that the song ended unnaturally. Furthermore, the song was praised for its varied tone and tempo, reflecting the "volatility" of Tyler's feelings.[10] The song was described containing "minimalist, looping, eyes-to-the-sky aesthetic" by the Music website Sputnikmusic.[11] British website NME stated that the song "put its' own spin" on the Ponderosa Twins Plus One track, Bound.[12]

Personnel

Music

Video

Charts

Chart!scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 56
scope="row"
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 72
US Billboard Streaming Songs[15] 47

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Morris . Ashley . 2019-09-17 . Tyler, The Creator Releases Stunning Visual for "A BOY IS A GUN*" . 2024-09-19 . EUPHORIA. . en-US.
  2. Web site: How Tyler, The Creator’s “A BOY IS A GUN” Flips A Feminist Idiom . 2024-09-20 . Genius . en.
  3. Web site: 2019-09-20 . Tyler, The Creator’s “A BOY IS A GUN*” Video Explained Song Stories 24HourHipHop . 2024-09-19 . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2019-05-19 . “A Boy Is A Gun” by Tyler, the Creator . 2024-09-20 . Song Meanings and Facts . en-US.
  5. Web site: Tyler, The Creator Navigates A Love Triangle In The "A Boy Is A Gun" Video . 2024-09-20 . Genius . en.
  6. Web site: Tyler, The Creator’s “A BOY IS A GUN” Samples Ponderosa Twins Plus One’s “Bound” . 2024-09-20 . Genius . en.
  7. Web site: Kim . Michelle Hyun . 2019-09-16 . Watch Tyler, the Creator’s New “A BOY IS A GUN*” Video . 2024-09-20 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  8. Web site: Reed . Ryan . 2019-09-16 . Tyler, the Creator Channels Igor Alter-Ego in 'A Boy Is a Gun' Video . 2024-09-19 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2019-09-16 . Tyler, The Creator Becomes IGOR for New "A BOY IS A GUN*" Video - . 2024-09-20 . mxdwn Music . en-US.
  10. Web site: Strauss . Matthew . Tyler, the Creator: Igor . 2024-11-02 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  11. Web site: Review: Tyler, the Creator - IGOR Sputnikmusic . 2024-09-27 . www.sputnikmusic.com.
  12. Web site: Moore . Sam . 2019-05-20 . Tyler, The Creator – 'IGOR' review . 2024-09-27 . NME . en-GB.
  13. Web site: Grant . Every ARIA Top 100 Single in 2019 . 2024-10-09.
  14. Web site: Billboard Hot 100 Week of June 1, 2019 . 1 June 2019. 19 September 2024.
  15. Web site: Billboard Streaming Songs June 1, 2019 . 2019-06-01 . 2024-09-20 . subscription.

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