When Ariana Grande first announced the tracklist for her seventh studio album , Eternal Sunshine , the internet was immediately hooked on the eighth track, "The Boy Is Mine." It caused an uproar. Not only does it share the same name as the classic '90s duet, but fans also think it's a reference to Grande's tumultuous relationship with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.
Despite what some fans may think, Grande's song doesn't feature Brandi and Monica's 1998 man-stealing anthem "The Boy Is Mine."
However, she did reimagine the lyrics to fit her experiences. Grande indirectly responded to the public attention surrounding her romance with Slater, who had filed for divorce from wife Lily Jay when their relationship was first reported, and capitalized on the public image some had bestowed upon her.
In the R&B-pop-influenced song, Grande opens up about her undeniable attraction to a man she wasn't supposed to be with. "Something about him was made for people like me," she sings. "God knows I'm trying, but there's no use denying it, this boy is mine."
In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Grande called "The Boy Is Mine" her "bad girl anthem" and felt releasing it wasn't a good idea in the first place. “But I have a big fan base that loves bad girl anthems, and I think this is an updated version of that,” she said.
Grande also confirmed that the song's '90s girl group sound is an evolution of "Fantasize," one of her unreleased songs that leaked and went viral on TikTok. She criticized this in another interview on "The Zach San Show." "I gave them Ariana's version on the album," she said. "So even though you heard them - because you stole them - they are very different now."
"The Boy Is Mine" full lyrics
how so? you and me
Might be intentional, can't undo it
But I don't want to cause any drama
I'm usually so okay
so independent
tell me why
Because this boy is mine, mine
Some of his stuff is made for people like me
Baby, come here, come here (oh my God)
God knows I'm trying, but there's no use denying it
this boy is mine
I can't wait to try him
Let's get entangled
stars, they align
this boy is mine
Watch me take my time
I can't believe my thoughts
boys are divine
boy is mine
Please know this was not my plan
Probably wouldn't gamble a dime or my life
There must be a reason
My girls, they're always in trouble
Say: "It's okay" (It's okay)
Happens all the time
Some of his stuff is made for people like me
Baby, come here, come here (oh my God)
God knows I'm trying, but there's no use denying it
this boy is mine
I can't wait to try him
Let's get entangled
stars, they align
this boy is mine
Watch me take my time
I can't believe my thoughts
boys are divine
The boy is——
I know it's just for
And I, I take full responsibility for these years
I assure you I usually don't
Like this, shit, this is like news to me
But I can't ignore my heart, boy
this boy is mine
I can't wait to try him
Let's get entangled
stars, they align
this boy is mine
Watch me take my time
I can't believe my thoughts
boys are divine
boy is mine
