20 Years Ago Britney Spears Released ‘Boys’ Ft Pharrell Williams

[Cqleb]

20 years ago today, Britney and Pharrell released "Boys (The Co-Ed Remix)". 

The final single off "Britney", the song was also featured on the soundtrack of the movie "Austin Powers in Goldmember".

 

[agustinmalandra]

Team CON seems to love this song... for me is one of the weakest singles of Britney.

tbh Boys and Anticipating are the worst singles, emphasis on Anticipating 

Picking these lame songs instead of "Cinderella" "WILTBM" "Bombastic Love" "Before The Goodbye"??? crime. 

[bitbitboi]

I LOVE "Boys"! And I love how she's so good and versatile at always giving us such different versions of one song, both with "Boys" (also, the Femme Fatale Tour version, which is amazing!) as well as with "Crazy". Talented queen!

PS: Did you know or remember that the top she's wearing in the single cover was originally black? They photoshopped it to white for the cover.

[Ofcoursenot]

7 minutes ago, bitbitboi said:

They photoshopped it to white for the cover.

But in the reflection is still black  

[bitbitboi]

4 hours ago, Ofcoursenot said:

But in the reflection is still black  

Yes omg don't remind me, her team was the WORST 

 

PS: If anything, they should at least have been smart and taken advantage of that and release new copies with the correction, just so the original pressings become unique and therefore more valuable, but I feel like they haven't even noticed the error in all these years...

[Ofcoursenot]

50 minutes ago, bitbitboi said:

Yes omg don't remind me, her team was the WORST 

 

PS: If anything, they should at least have been smart and taken advantage of that and release new copies with the correction, just so the original pressings become unique and therefore more valuable, but I feel like they haven't even noticed the error in all these years...

haha true but you can hardly notice tho 

[that's hot y'all]

im so old ! damn 

[Rex]

Not a big fan of the remix. Pharrell isn't my favorite and the song didn't need his addition. Overall, I like the original track as is, of course, I wouldn't of picked it for a single in any regard.

[davelivesfree]

One of my absolutely favorites! The Remix version. And Britney loves it too. 

[Stefani]

An awful day for music. Pharrell's vocals add nothing to the song and the updated instrumental annoys me because it's less catchy than the original. There's basically no hook in the remix.

[lane j.]

3 hours ago, that's hot y'all said:

im so old ! damn 

Was thinking the same thing, I still remember when the video premiered. A fierce video for sure. I enjoy both versions of the track. 

[ElectricPlatypusLove]

The only issue I have with remix is the removal of her melodic "come with me..." bridge. The Onyx Hotel Tour edit is perfect for including both mixes and giving the oomph needed.

 

[princessmimi]

Probably one of my least fave singles from her

however I will admit I prefer the original version over the remix, if I had to choose.

 

She looks phenomenal on the cover btw!

[breathe_on_me_toxic]

omg remember buying the single in summer 2003. there were some left in the store

[ElectricPlatypusLove]

1 hour ago, breathe_on_me_toxic said:

omg remember buying the single in summer 2003. there were some left in the store

I bought it too, at Tower Records. I had the one with the remix, album version, and both instrumentals.

[MikeHunt]

Sorry but I’ve always HATED the co-Ed remix! The only good thing that came out of it was the iconic dance break. I don’t like Pharrell as a singer. I thought the original version had more resonance and quality. And maybe unpopular opinion, but I like the tour video for Boys more than the actual video release for the single. 
 

 

[ElectricPlatypusLove]

The SNL performance not being on Youtube is a crime. It's up there with her best. 

[breathe_on_me_toxic]

2 hours ago, ElectricPlatypusLove said:

I bought it too, at Tower Records. I had the one with the remix, album version, and both instrumentals.

yeah exactly this one. so it was the eu version

[DignifiedLove]

So many tasteless rats in this thread.

anyway chile… always loved this song and video. The beat is sick and Pharrell adds a nice little twist to it. Great urban exposure as well since 2002-04 was dominated with hip-hop beats and male/female collabs. Like someone previously mentioned, the only thing that would have made the song better is if they didn’t remove the “come with me” bridge section. 

[GlitterRain]

This song is a Britney classic and we are getting old.