Bones UK – Boys Will Be Girls

Marking their first single since the release of the 2020 Unplugged EP is “Boys Will Be Girls.” The catchy “future-rock” anthem explores gender binaries and the complete freedom that comes with escaping them. This is reflected in the chorus, which chants, “Boys will be girls, girls will be boys effortlessly / Come as you are, come as you want, completely.” The verses are a touch more direct, with lyrics such as, “I wanna be a Barbie / I wanna be a thug / I'm gonna shave my head, be rose coloured though / I wanna be a stranger / I wanna be familiar.” Through the binary contrast in the verses and the call to action in the chorus, the single breaks down the walls of gender, calling for complete, unrestricted self-expression.

“‘Boys Will Be Girls’ is about our lack of desire to conform to gender norms.” The duo explains, “It’s about how we (and so many others) want to be absolutely, unapologetically who we are as individuals, wear and do whatever we want… and none of that has anything to do with our sex. There are so many wonderful greys between black and white, and we love exploring all of them and this track is the opportunity to do so, moving like water through them all.”

The accompanying video, by Jason Lee Denton, was filmed at Studio 615. The wardrobe, concept, and art direction were all handled by Rosie Bones herself, while the defining yet minimal stage design was created by Albert Kuhne. The scenes are all on-brand in Bones UK’s classic black-and-white. The cinematic shots depict members on a rotating motorcycle, performing, and wearing various outfits. The video is simple and completely synchronised with both the lyrical content and overall musical aura.