Ariana Grande has included the 1998 Brandy and Monica classic, “The Boy Is Mine” in her new album “Eternal Sunshine.”
During a recent appearance on The Zane Lowe Show, Grande delved into the inspiration behind her rework of the iconic track.
Describing it as a “bad girl anthem,” she explained to Lowe that the song, titled “True Story,” serves as a setup for her reinterpretation of “The Boy Is Mine.”
Grande revealed that the idea for the song came about after the positive reception to “Fantasize,” a leaked track from last year that gained viral popularity on TikTok.
Despite initial reservations about reimagining such a well-known song, Grande was motivated by her fans’ enthusiasm for a “bad girl anthem.”
Reflecting on the leaked track, Grande expressed disappointment but also saw it as an opportunity to channel its energy into something new for her album.
She acknowledged that elements of “Fantasize” influenced the direction of “The Boy Is Mine,” giving her fans a taste of her own take on a ’90s girl group vibe.
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While Grande did not specify whether her version of “The Boy Is Mine” samples or interpolates the original, her reinterpretation has stirred discussion, particularly given Monica’s previous comments about the song remaining untouched in music history.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter last December, Monica expressed her belief that “The Boy Is Mine” should be preserved as a sacred part of music history.
While she acknowledged the creative freedom for artists to reinterpret songs, she emphasized the importance of making it their own rather than attempting to replicate the original magic created by herself and Brandy.
