“Boy Bye” Playlist
“Boy Bye”
Black Female Empowerment Playlist
- Beyoncé: Sorry (2016)
Now you know I had to start the playlist of with Queen Bee herself. It wouldn’t be a black female empowerment playlist without her! In the song Sorry Beyoncé is basically telling us that she is over the bs. After finding out that her significant other has been unfaithful, instead of breaking down and acting irrational, she surprises him with a strong and empowering “ I ain’t thinking bout you” as well as the famous saying “Boy bye”. I feel like this song is a refreshing take on a black woman’s reaction to infidelity in her relationship. I feel like usually black women in this instance are expected to lash out in retaliation and sometimes even run right back to the person who cheated on him. But in Sorry Queen Bee defies all of those stereotypes and chucks her deuces up and tells that boy bye.
2. Erykah Badu: Tyrone (1997)
This song right here is probably the OG “Boy Bye” song. I can’t even count how many times my mom has jokingly told me to “Call Tyrone” and to tell him to come on! Ms. Badu blesses us with another classic neo-soul hit with Tyrone. In her song Erykah shares with us her frustration of dealing with and being with, to put it bluntly, an “ ain’t shit” dude. Her man is lazy, manipulative, and overall just has her twisted. So finally she has enough of his bs and tells him to call his friend Tyrone to tell him to come help him move out of her place. If that’s not the most boss way to say “Boy Bye” then I don’t know what is!
3. Queen Naija: Karma (2018)
“ What goes around, comes back around”. In her song Karma Queen Naija talks about how that exact principle of karma will teach her ex man a lesson. Similar to Beyoncé’s story, Queen’s significant other has been unfaithful. Throughout her song she recollects and thinks back to all the times she has been by his side when no one else was and all the stuff he put her through. Finally though she comes to the realization that what goes around comes around, and she isn’t worried about exacting revenge on her ex because Karma will handle that part. Just like Queen Bee in her song Sorry, this Queen isn’t thinking about her ex man anymore and tells that boy bye as she moves on to a brighter future.
4. Fantasia: Free Yourself (2004)
This soulful ode to the art of saying, you guessed it, “BOY BYE”, is a certified R&B classic. Honestly this is just another case of a man not realizing the value his woman has in his life and his woman finally appreciating herself and all she has to offer and leaving his stupid ass. In her song, Fantasia sings her heart out about how it seems like day after day her man seems less and less interested to be with her. Finally realizing that she doesn’t need this in her life, she (metaphorically) looks him in the eyes and simply says “If you don’t want me then don’t talk to me…Go ahead and free yourself.”. She’s basically telling dude that if he doesn’t want to be with her that’s fine! Just don’t try to talk to her, and you can take the first train out of her life…BOY BYE! I know you knew that was coming.
5. Beyoncé: Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2008)
You know I had to do it to em. You know I had to put this anthem on the playlist! We started off with the Queen Bee and it’s only right that we end with her! I don’t even think this songs needs a description, even my 90 year old great- grandmother knows this song and what it means. “ If you like it then you should have put a ring on it.”. Man, if that is not one of the ultimate “Boy Bye’s” of this millennium then I don’t know what is. Once again Beyoncé shows us how a boss bitch keeps it moving and doesn’t let some buster interrupt her peace of mind.
