“Boyfriend” is the lead single to Dove Cameron’s debut studio album Alchemical: Volume 1. The song was originally not planned to be released in February until it later started drawing attraction on TikTok through one of her posts, which garnered over five million likes. Through her Instagram, Dove later announced the song would be released on February 11, 2022. She has stated that

In writing ‘Boyfriend,’ I feel like I finally found my sound, my perspective and myself in a way I wasn’t sure I ever would,” she said in a press release. “I am so immensely happy to have this song and this part of me out in the world. I hope you feel access to yourself when you listen to it too.”

Highlighting her queerness, “Boyfriend” emphasizes the speaker telling the object of their affection just how much better a partner they’d be than their current boyfriend. As in, maybe what the girl in question needs… is a girlfriend.