We’ve all heard of Katy Perry’s 2008 smash hit “I Kissed a Girl”, but have you heard of its modern antithesis, “Boy” by FLETCHER? This nuanced single precedes her third studio album, Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?, which will be released on July 18th. While Katy expressed an excitement in experimenting with queerness, FLETCHER has a much more complicated relationship with her identity. She is conflicted by an inner turmoil over disappointing others, particularly her fans, who previously looked to her for lesbian representation in a heteronormative pop industry. Certainly in the wake of the rise of queer female pop stars such as Chappell Roan and Renee Rapp, this narrative does feel quite unprecedented. Perhaps in Pride Month you would desire something more celebratory of queerness, but FLETCHER has written a song that is nonetheless extremely necessary.
The vocal delivery almost feels remorseful, like a sigh or quiet confession. Furthermore, the use of reverb on the drums and guitars creates the sense of echoing thoughts and indecisiveness. The single feels akin to Kacey Musgraves or Lizzy McAlpine and is certainly a far cry from the more electronic, drum heavy singles such as “Bitter” with Kito which was released in 2020. Personally, I prefer this sonic direction for FLETCHER, but the emotional, lyrical focus has caused a bit of controversy amongst her fans. In her comment sections lately there has been discourse surrounding how the artist has potentially weaponised lesbian identity as a marketing tool, and this reaction is exactly what FLETCHER expresses her fear of in the single. The lyrical flow feels almost like a stream of consciousness; there are no fluffy, pretty metaphors to detract from the brutal truth of the messaging. It’s not the most vocally challenging song, either, but it has no need to be when its laced with such honesty. The lyrical content of the chorus feels like a direct address to her fans: "I kissed a boy/And I know it's not what you wanted to hear... I fell in love/And it wasn't with who I thought it would be/And I'm scared to think of what you'll think of me."
In spite of the negativity in the comment sections of the single, the album trailer thankfully seems to have received a more hopeful and positive response. Queer expression is not linear. No artist should ever be punished for being honest. Was this single the perfect choice for Pride Month? Probably not. However, I would counter that argument with the concept that the people who will empathise with this song are probably not those criticising FLETCHER in her comment section. “Boy” is raw and honest, and I hope the upcoming album provides lyrical content to disarm the ammunition some of her fans are holding against her.
