Beyonce Stole If I Were a Boy,From BC Jean?
Beyonce Stole If I Were a Boy,From BC Jean? - Fox News writer Roger Friedman published an article today entitled “Beyonce’s ‘Stolen’ New Hit Record” to say that Beyonce stole the song “If I Were a Boy” from a San Diego 21-year-old singer songwriter,named BC Jean.Friedman wrote:
BC Jean is a hot, up-and-coming, 21-year-old female singer songwriter from San Diego. Those who’ve met her says she’s smart and “gorgeous.” But BC (her initials, legend has it, are for “beautiful child”) got a cold dose of reality this summer when it comes to the record business. According to sources, she and her manager/mother have been strong-armed by Beyonce’s people and others who saw gold in “If I Were a Boy” and didn’t care how they got it.
You can hear BC Jean’s version of her own song, written with German pop-factory producer Toby Gad, at www.bcjean.net. It’s certainly as good as Beyonce’s if not better. It’s no wonder that this young woman is now the center of so much attention.
Altogether, I am told, BC Jean wrote and recorded about a dozen songs with Gad for an album the producer was planning to make of his own. When the deal fell apart, Gad — whose 300 plus credits are all co-written, never solo — took the songs and started marketing them to big name, established artists. Gad’s past “collaborators” include Fergie, on “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”
When I wrote about Beyonce’s version of “If I Were a Boy” last week, calls came pouring in from people who knew the real history of this story. BC Jean’s mother/manager, Lori Carlson, told me she couldn’t comment on the situation. But plenty of people knew the saga of Beyonce’s legendary manager/father Mathew Knowles’ aggressive pursuit of the publishing rights to the potential hit record. His goal was to get the rights to the song and to put Beyonce’s name on the writing credits.
Beyonce obviously paid for song ,so FOX is just spilling ink.
Listen to BC Jean’s version of “If I Were a Boy” HERE
Comment by djbaps on 14 October 2008:
daym fox are haters are they trying to get back at the knowles family for that solange incident???? well n e wayzz this is old news fox & beyonces version is a trillion more times better how dare they compares version to a unknown unestablished artist how dumb!
Comment by Sylvia aka Sweet on 15 October 2008:
No, B didn’t steal the song from BC jean. Bc Jean write the song for Beyonce and made a demo for how it was to be sung. Chris Brown did the same thing for PCD, with the song Nasty girl(check youtube for the song to confirm) BTW, Beyonce sang if I were a boy a trillion times better!
Comment by Jo on 15 October 2008:
what are you talking about of course she stoled it…you can by anything with money…didn’t she say it was going to be a personal album? how personal it is when somebody else writes it for you and you just record it…personal my ass!!1
Comment by Lynn on 17 October 2008:
She has to get songs from elsewhere cause she has no life story of interest. Plus, she hasn’t had anything to speak on from experience that would make a great song. That’s why when she does write is always on shallow boy/girl drama topics or butt dancing. So when I heard “If I were a boy” I thought, where did she get that one? No James Blunt lyrics or Quincy Jones arrangements are going to come from her (even if her father tries to get the credit in her name)…
Comment by Ja-Niece on 17 October 2008:
BC Jean lied!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BC Jean didn’t even write the song. All she did was sing it for the demo. The writer of the song is the same person that wrote “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie. BC Jean just said that to take credit away from Beyonce because no one would sign her and so she tried to get everybody turned away from Beyonce. Now no one in the Music Industry wants to sign her because they know she is nothing but a Liar and a fake bitch who wants to lie her way through.
Comment by Source on 17 October 2008:
Ja-Niece, you are misinformed. BC Jean co-wrote the song with Toby Gad, and Beyonce did in fact steal it.
Comment by danyelle on 17 October 2008:
Beyonce has done it again . What a low down thing to do . She kicked three girls out the group . Plegded to stay with Kelly and Michelle then left their asses hanging . She got so desperate to scan Myspace for music . Jay-z did the same shit with tupac music . Then acted like it was all good . Her sister got prego with the piece of shit she calls her son , then her family tired to cover it with marriage . Tisk . The whole family is corrupt . Pure high jackers . Beyonce karma will come . Your marriage will not last and your history as a “writer” is FOREVER tarnished .
Comment by shanita d on 18 October 2008:
it don’t matter cause they both stole songs major point from ciara. mathew knowles is the next chris stokes
Comment by MsJD on 19 October 2008:
This scenario is the same as “Irreplaceable.” Beyonce attempted to say she wrote the song, and Ne-Yo beasted her in interview after interview, because he in fact wrote it: she rearranged a few vocals, changed “Matter fact she’ll be here in a minute” to “Matter fact HE’LL be here in a minute.” That alone got her a writer’s credit.
Personally I don’t think Beyonce should label this song as “personal.” She doesn’t write her own music. She gets demos from other artists and then tweaks them. I think BC Jean’s version was more passion-filled. The punk rockish sound fit the song nicely.
Comment by lisa on 19 October 2008:
this is to “Jo”.. how can you say she “stole” it and then go on to say you can buy anything with money.. let’s think about that… she stole it but she bought it? hmmmmm… i’m guessing you dropped out 5th grade? maybe 6th?
Comment by Leo on 20 October 2008:
LISTEN EVERYONE!!! Shut up EVERYONE! Beyonce did not steal it… that would’ve costed a minimum of a million dollars in copyright infringement. BC Jean probably wrote it with Toby for herself but when someone as big as BEYONCE wants it for their first single… you’d b STUPID not to sell it to her because you’d make MILLIONS as the song’s writer. Neyo probably banked about 7 millions dollars on “Irreplaceable” alone… cmon people! Dont believe the F’n media
Comment by hanna-maria on 23 October 2008:
aparently beyonce has agreed to duet with her anyway, and tho i think BC Jeans version is better, dueting with beyonce will surely make sure she makes it?!
Comment by alicia4578 on 24 October 2008:
Beyonce stole the song and is not worried about the money. Just like in Dream Girls lol. BC Jean’s version is heartfelt. I knew that was not a Beyonce song when I first heard it. She doesnt sound rite singin it! She needs to pay that girl and stop stealin!
Comment by Janine on 25 October 2008:
BC Jean did write the song and the music. That’s not debatable. BUT, the Knowles did pay for it– although not to BC JEAN. They bought it from her producer (which is now not paying BC JEAN). It’s terrible, but Beyonce is not really at fault.
Comment by English Teacher on 25 October 2008:
Gosh you guys are some terrible writers. You can’t spell and you have horrible grammar. Less time on Beyonce, and more time in school people!
Comment by Talented Uh? on 25 October 2008:
I have to admit when I first heard this song sung by B, I knew she couldn’t have wrote it or arranged the music to it. No fence to B’s music but all of her songs (since Destiny’s Child) sounds alike, a hook sung 50 times over and a beat you’d swear sounds just like the last song. B writes trendy, at the moment, catchy songs that you hear in the club and go buck wild over. However this song probally took more than 15mins to write and arrange. If this is true I am very dissapointed in Beyonce and proves that she is not all that TALENTED
Comment by Sarah on 26 October 2008:
Beyonce bought the song from BC Jean’s producer who arranged later payment with BC Jean, she didn’t “steal” it. And all you people, I wish I could here you sing because I KNOW you can not sing better than Beyonce. She may not be a gifted in the writing but I know she is incredibly talented with singing. And you all should know by now that it’s managers and producers that buy and sell songs like that, Beyonce isn’t a bad guy here. I can’t believe you all are getting all mad about this when it happens everyday with other singers. Focus you anger on murderers or rapists or somebody who deserves it.
Comment by Jo on 26 October 2008:
this is to “Lisa”…i meant that she paid to get the songwriting credits to her…that she wrote the song…for crying out loud she changed 2 words in there and She’s the writer of this song?…YA Wright!!!! “Beyonce”:OMG! this is such a personal album…”Me” Aha sure it is!!!Bite me
her whole family is like a money making tornado spinning out of control!!!and the I Am Sasha thing…WTF is that???? Is she sick??now really!
Comment by chandra on 27 October 2008:
all who say beyonces version of the song is better are wrong when i heard b.c. jeans version it made sense to what she was singing about beyonces version blows compared to b.c. jeans an beyonce stole the song an changed some words around. so b.c. jean fuck all the haters ur version is way way better. an thats a damm shame beyonces greedy ass would stoop that low.
Comment by Jamesa on 28 October 2008:
HI HATERS….Now, i dont usually comment on dumb shit like this, but i had to do it, wow u people dont know shit about the music industry, beyonce NEVER said she wrote the damn song,it’s like damn give the girl a break damn she’s talented,she can sing, dance, and can perform her ass off, i swear people are always finding a reason to hate this woman,wtf rihanna doesnt write shit on her album and everybody knows that shit, everybody knows neyo’s ass wrote take a bow so does that make her thief,and everybody thinks she’s the hottest thing under the sun, i’m not gonna lie she can dress her ass off, but thats it she sucks as a performer and she cant sing but hey who am i to judge, its like people dont say shit about this chick and the only thing orignial about her is her sense of style and it had to take two damn albums just top figure out what works for her, and yet people call beyonce unorginal wtf, not everybody writes their own music, ciara,rihanna,even janet jackson and yet these people dont get called thiefs,i just believe that people should start looking at it from different point of views instead of just always hating off beyonce, mary j blige albums have always being personal but she never really actually wrote any of her songs but her writers have always wrote based on her personal issues, but damn leave her alone let her do her damn thing,cuz we all know she’s going to be herself no matter what anybody else sayS,cuz she still going to sell records and shut shit down…so GOODBYE HATERS
Comment by Whitney on 29 October 2008:
WOW…..STANNING TO THE EXTREME…..SHE DIDNT HAV TO VERBALLY SAY SHE WROTE THE SONG…….SHE ILLEGALLY SAID BY ADDING HER NAME TO THE LIST OF SONGWRITING CREDITS THAT YOU’LL FIND INSIDE OF THE ALBUM COVER WHEN U PURCHASE THE CD…….WHEN WEBSITES AND BLOGSITES UNVEILED THE ALBUM COVER THEY ALSO UNVEILED THE TRACKLISTING INCLUDING THE SONGS LENGTH AND SONGWRITERS AND HER NAME WAS LISTED AS A SONGWRITER ON EVERY CUT INCLUDING IIWAB…..SO “HATE” THAT. UGH BEYONCE FANS…..THEY’RE MORE ANNOYING THAN HER, JEEZ
Comment by a bitch on 30 October 2008:
yea for real tho. she changes 3 words of a song written for her and gets a credit as a songwriter wtf… she only changed ‘id make out wit who i wanted’ to ‘id kick it with who i wanted’ .woooow, what an amazing songwriting skill. jesus.
Comment by Jofunk76 on 6 November 2008:
man i am really pisssed. Will the real songwriter please stand up ???! If BC Jean wrote it and beyonce said she wrote it then BC Jean should stand up and tell the truth ! If Beyonce (or her camp) changed a few sentences on a song she should still credit the actual songwriter unless the actual songwriter sold off the rights to her song completely. If BC Jean did that then i think it was real stupid of her since it was such a brilliant song.So there i have said my peace.
Comment by Jofunk76 on 6 November 2008:
if i wrote that song i would want my name on it!!!!!
Comment by THE STRANGER on 13 November 2008:
I CONTACTED BC JEAN AND MANAGER LORI ON THE SONG COMING OUT ON BEYOUNCE CD. THEY HAD NO IDEA OF IT BEING RECORDED BY BEYOUNCE TILL I DID. I WILL SAY THAT BEYOUNCE, TOBY GAD, AND BC JEAN ARE MORE THEN LIKELY GOING TO WORK OUT ANY MIX UP REGARDING THIS SONG… AND THAT IS REALLY ALL THIS WAS FROM BEING A SONG WRITER MYSELF IS JUST A MIX UP, THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
BC IS NEW TO THE LARGER LABEL WORLD, AND TOBY AND BEYOUNCE ARE VERY VERY BUSY PEOPLE AND DIDN’T GET TIME TO TELL HER ON A ASAP BASIS IS ALL I BELIEVE. WILL SEE THIS ALL WORK OUT VERY POSITIVE FOR ALL 3 SHORTLY AFTER THE LAWYERS FILL OUT THE PAPER WORK OR COME TO AGREEMENTS FOR ALL 3 INVOLVED….
Comment by mob123 on 19 November 2008:
IN ALL HONESTY, THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS A COLD BUSINESS TO BECOME A PART OF! JUST FOR THE RECORD, BEYONCE IS WRONG IF SHE DID STEAL THIS SONG AND I THINK THAT BC JEAN SOUNDS BETTER THAN BEYONCE! EVEN IF SHE DID STEAL THE SONG, SHE SHOULD AT LEAST PAY HER ROYALTY FEES OR SOMETHING!
Comment by collegechick on 21 November 2008:
How do any of you know the story? Do you know Beyonce personally? Her dad/manager? How about BC Jean? Didn’t think you did! So basically everyone’s story is based off of sort for of bias for a particular person and media stories. So SHUT THE HELL UP until you have heard it directly from the source. The media tweaks info too
Comment by Take a bowyonce on 24 November 2008:
Beyonce stole Halo from LEONA LEWIS,the song was penned for leona by a guy from one republic and miss lewis was gonna release it nextyear but you know how the Knowles are,they just wanted the song for their robot Beyonce.Beyonce is scared of Rihanna,riri cant sing but she is coming out strong and she is young and has time to grow,ri must be careful of papa Knowles,he will destroy her career,this guys has traits of a Mafia.I miss Ciara already and hope this is Beyonce’s last album even the songs sound great bcoz she stole them,too much of her makes us sick,we are gonna become more sicker when she releases her 3 movies,she realy wants the Oscars,desperate,this girl is rich but she is not satisfied.she wants to sing for Obama whats next?….be the first lady?She is so insucured and it is beggining to show,fame and money is not everything,she is addicted to the approval she gets from her stans,her stans are as sick as her….take a bowyonce
Comment by whissper1 on 27 November 2008:
F**k the beyonce! rich,stupid girl! she can’t do nothing else but steal. she’s too stupid to write her own song… haha by her own she can write: lala bla bla… nothing more haha dumb b**ch!
Comment by kennedy on 29 November 2008:
lol..u guys are stupid..do u even know how the record industry works..for the most part she didnt steal the song..half the time singers dont even know how the songs get to them other than them just hearing it in the studio..as long as the song has been paid for its not stolen..or whatever the contract is between the artist..beyonce can take credit for writing the ne yo song just as well as he can…lyric writing is only half the part of writing a song…the other has to be giving it a melody and if thats all she did then thats all she wrote
Comment by Willee on 30 November 2008:
Ignorant fools and haters, even Elvis never wrote a (hit) song…
Comment by JG on 5 December 2008:
This is to Whitney. . . U really need 2 get ur facts straight, no where in Beyonce’s album does it say that she wrote “If I were a boy”, in fact BC Jean’s name is in there as song writer as well as Toby. What it says is that Beyonce helped produce the song, which simply means that she took part in the song recording and obviously since it is her singing it on her album she took part! For those that dont know, this happens all the time and it is not the singers fault. Unfortunately since they are connected to it directly it is always assumed that it is their fault. As far as her saying that it is a more personal album, one song does not determine the entire album and just because she didnt write it, doesnt mean that she does not relate to it.
Just because some of you like the way BC Jean sounds does not mean its better, everyone has different taste. Personally i like Beyonce’s version better, but thats only because I prefer R&B
Comment by DR on 6 December 2008:
I agree with JG, in one of Beyonce’s recent interviews she spoke about how this song was given to her to listen to and to try because it was outside of what she normally would sing. She went on to say how the mark of a goog singer was to be able to sing anything, a comment Aretha Franklin at said at some point. Point being, she did/does not take credit for writing the song.
For the record, songs get shopped around to multiple artists and sometimes multiple people record the same song (i.e. How do I live? - Trisha Yearwood and Leanna Rimes both recorded and release it). It’s part of the business people. The person attacks are so not necessary here.
Comment by lilkunta on 13 December 2008:
BK is getting personally attacked bc she lies. Since the days of DC she has claimed to the creative force, the songwriter of the group. We know this isnt true. Kandi Burruss & other helped DC w songwriting.
For her solo cd Rich Harrison wrote Crazy In Love.
For rushed crappy ‘bidet’ cd she claimed she wrote Irr when in reality NeYo wrote it.
If bk were honest she’d get better reception.
From day 1 Mariaah Carey has written her songs & there is no dispute abut her wonderful songs.
Comment by Mirah on 14 December 2008:
BC jean voice sounds terrible like a frog or something.
Beyonce prolli have stole it and she should get sued or whatever but BC jean still dont sound right singing it.
Comment by Chase on 19 December 2008:
“How do any of you know the story? Do you know Beyonce personally? Her dad/manager? How about BC Jean? Didn’t think you did! So basically everyone’s story is based off of sort for of bias for a particular person and media stories. So SHUT THE HELL UP until you have heard it directly from the source. The media tweaks info too”
Uh, yeah. I do know “the source”. Here’s the deal. Beyonce’s father pretty much blackmailed BC Jean. By threatening to blacklist her from everyone in the music business. Which, when you’re Beyonce’s father/manger, you do have some power to do that sort of thing.
There, you have it. That’s the truth.
BC Jean didn’t want Beyonce to have it, and BC Jean is still gonna sing HER song. Not saying it’s entirely Beyonce’s fault. Really it’s her fathers. Who knows? Maybe she doesn’t talk to her father? Bright side is, BC Jean is getting paid a LOT of money for that single being on the radio.
Comment by amee on 21 December 2008:
you people really need to grow up! Nobody in here knows the truth, and personally I don’t like eithers voice, but the words are great.
Comment by lilone on 21 December 2008:
BC stands for the artist’s real name, first and last. Jean is her middle name. It does not stand for “beautiful child.” She is an amazing song writer, and despite the fact that Beyonce made this song famous, BC is sure to have hits in her future.
Comment by mshawn on 30 December 2008:
I have the CD. It says that BC and Toby Gad wrote the song. The credit went to them not Beyonce.