Latest news with #MrElectricBlue
USA Today
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
When the internet turns on Benson Boone, he responds in the most Gen Z way
"I'm not used to Moonbeam positivity," Boone said in a recent TikTok video, commenting on widespread support for his album "American Heart" and upcoming tour. What do chevron mustaches, crowd-pleasing backflips and Moonbeam Ice Cream have in common? There's only one answer: Benson Boone. The jumpsuit-wearing pop star who first gained fame on TikTok has been topping charts since the release of his single "Beautiful Things" in 2024, and is preparing for the start of his sold-out U.S. American Heart Tour on Aug. 22. But parts of the internet have been quick to criticize the 23-year-old, saying he is gimmicky and inauthentic with over-the-top performances and empty lyrics. Boone has seen the criticism and found his own way to respond. Just look at his "Mr Electric Blue" music video, which starts with Boone walking into the office of his "manager," who wants a new "gimmick." He poses the question, "New songwriting?" To this, Boone responses sheepishly, "You know I can't do that." On his birthday on June 25, Boone posted a video on TikTok, asking for his haters to lighten up for the day. "It's my birthday. Stop the hate for a day and let me relax. We can continue tomorrow," Boone said in the video, which as of Aug. 8, had more than 7 million views. Review: Benson Boone misses a beat on 'American Heart', but still manages to land a fun album Looking back at Boone's first flip on screen Benson James Boone is a pop musician from Monroe, Washington. Before the release of his TikTok-pleasing hit "Beautiful Things," Boone attended Brigham Young University-Idaho for a semester before dropping out to pursue a music career full-time. Around this time, Boone also auditioned for "American Idol" in 2021. Despite impressing Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan with his cover of Aidan Martin's "Punchline," Boone voluntarily pulled out of the competition after making the Top 24. And to no one's surprise, yes, he backflipped on television. Internet questions Boone's authenticity The bulk of criticism Boone faces is claims that his brand is disingenuous. TikTok user JLC said in a recent video that though Boone resembles artists like Harry Styles, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie, specifically in his sparkly, one-piece jumpsuits, he lacks their same "aura." "Look at Harry, very comfortable in his skin. There's no hesitation. It's just another day," JLC said in a video displaying side-by-side photos of Styles and Boone. "Benny Boone over here, he looks like he's in a costume. It looks like it's a screenshot from Halloween." Content creator and podcast host Sam Murphy went a bit further in analyzing the persona of Boone's new album, "American Heart," which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's 200. Murphy and others have ripped the album's cover, which features a shirtless Boone holding an American flag. "'American Heart' could kind of give like Bruce Springsteen, 'Born in the U.S.A.,' but Bruce Springsteen wasn't using the flag as this symbol of patoritism," Murphy said in a recent video. The cover of "Born in the U.S.A." features Springsteen standing in front of an American flag, ballcap in his back pocket. "He was using it to critique the country, the treatment particularly of the working class and veterans of the Vietnam War," Murphy continued. "Using this (American flag) as your cover at this very time without saying anything at all really is kind of the equalivalent of a white Australian wearing a 'Straight Out of Compton' T-shirt." Murphy argues that Boone doesn't make reference to the United States in his album, other than a mention of being young and free in the album's concluding track, "Young American Heart." Critics take aim at Boone's albums, too Pitchfork Deputy Director Jeremy Larson gave "American Heart" a 3.7 out of 5 and The Needle Drop's Anthony Fantano ranked it a "light 3" out of 5. Both reviewers spent a significant amount of time (and word count) diving into Boone's lyrics. Of course, everyone is curious about what exactly is "Moonbeam Ice Cream" in Boone's "Mystical Magical," but Fantano appeared more bothered by the song's story as a whole. "A lot of the lyrics on this song are all about pestering a woman that's rejecting you again and again and again and again until what? She just like drops the will to resist you and just let's your love, that you're so convinced is going to be amazing, happen?" Fantano said in his review. "Ew." For what it's worth, Boone has explained where "Moonbeam Ice Cream" came from. During his appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon, Boone said the lyric was actually crafted up by his songwriting partner Jack LaFrantz. "As we get on through the session, we kind of came to what's called writer's block. Jack's sitting there and we're kind of goofing off and he just goes, 'You know, what if you just did this?' And it looked like he was going to say something really good, and we've been sitting there for an hour. I'm like, 'This is it,'" Boone said of LaFrantz. "And he goes, 'Moonbeam Ice Cream, taking off your blue jeans.' It was a placeholder for the day and then we went home and listened to it and I was like, 'You know what? Moonbeam Ice Cream. Hell yeah.'" Coachella: Benson Boone pays homage to Queen during Coachella set with help of guitarist Brian May Boone spins internet hate to his benefit Boone's go-to tactic seems to be responding to criticism with sarcasm and humor, especially with how he pokes fun at the hate in the "Mr Electric Blue" music video. More recently, the pop artist posted a TikTok video expressing sarcastic confusion for a "switch up" in more widespread support. "I'm not used to Moonbeam positivity," the video's on-screen caption read. In June, Boone partnered with Crumbl Cookie to create the "Moonbeam Ice Cream Cookie," a chocolate cookie with cookies and cream pieces, "Moonbeam Ice Cream-inspired" lemon, berry and marshmallow toppings, and a sweet, white drizzle. Though the internet didn't hesitate to create memes about the partnership – mostly questioning just what Moonbeam is – the cookie also inspired a TikTok trend. Countless content creators flocked Crumbl stores to purchase the limited-edition cookie for a video, backflipping in the lobby after taking a first bite or leaving the stores with jeans around their ankles, an ode to the chorus of "Mystical Magical." Even in his own TikTok video promoting the partnership, Boone took a single bite of the cookie before backflipping for the camera. Fans come to Boone's defense Not everyone online is a Benson Boone hater. They couldn't be, because he sold out every show on the U.S. leg of his tour within nine seconds, per Boone's Instagram. Comedian Emily Wilson, cohost of the podcast "All Body No Brains," questioned why so many people have an issue with Boone's backflips. "Let the man flip. It's cool. If you could flip ... you'd be flipping around town," Wilson told her cohost Chloe Richman in a recent episode. "Every podcast episode would start with you doing a flip and sitting down." A few days after "American Heart" released, content creator Kaitlyn Ventenilla posted a TikTok expressing her surprise for how good the album was, citing that it invoked nostalgia for One Direction. In Gen Z lingo, she was hesitant to admit the album exceeded expectations. "Am I allowed to say Benson Boone kinda ate with this one?" the video's on-screen caption read. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch Benson Boone Embrace His Haters in Joke-Filled ‘Mr. Electric Blue' Music Video
Since blasting onto the scene with his breakthrough hit 'Beautiful Things,' Benson Boone has become the internet's favorite punching bag. But instead of trying to prove them wrong, the singer decided to lean in with his latest music video. On Friday (June 20), Boone dropped the tongue-in-cheek music video for his new song 'Mr. Electric Blue,' off his just-released LP American Heart. From the start of the clip, Boone goes out of his way to play with all the worst things the internet has to say about him when he walks into 'Industry Plant Records' wearing a t-shirt that simply says 'one hit wonder' for a frank conversation with his sleazy agent (played by his frequent songwriting collaborator Jack LaFrantz). More from Billboard Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Ariana Grande Win Multiple Awards at 2025 Kids' Choice Awards (Full Winners List) Dua Lipa Brings Surprise Guest Charli XCX to the Stage for '360' in London Suga Writes Letter to Fans, Marking End of Mandatory Military Service for BTS 'Have you not been on the internet? Everything is terrible, Benson! We put all of our money into 'moonbeam ice cream' and the backflip, and it's done absolutely horrible,' LaFrantz's character tells an exasperated Boone. He informs the singer that he owes his faux label $10 million, and suggests that he find 'a new gimmick' like 'good songwriting.' At the suggestion, Boone deflates: 'You know I can't do that.' What ensues is a madcap montage, where Boone takes as many odd jobs as he can to raise the money. He walks dogs (while wearing another T-shirt that says ''), mows lawns (for a company called 'Auto-Tune Trimmers'), washes cars (with bumper stickers declaring 'mustaches are lame') sells his sparkly jumpsuits and even opens a moonbeam ice cream truck. Of course, that still doesn't stop the criticism from coming — when he's recognized by a little girl as 'the guy who sings 'Beautiful Things,'' she quickly humbles him: 'Your music is terrible.' For his hustling and hard work, Boone makes a grand total of $168, but begs LaFrantz's agent to give him another chance. But his agent assures him that he found a better solution, saying he 'sold your entire catalog to retail chains, fast food chains and movie theaters,' promising that 'you'll be the most overplayed artist in the world, and I'll be rich.' A dejected Boone sighs and smiles, saying 'that's all I've ever wanted,' before celebrating his ubiquity. It's far from the first time Boone has commented on the way people perceive him. The singer posted a TikTok back in April, explaining that he could understand people not liking him or his music if there were more people offering concrete reasons for their distaste. 'I just read a comment that said 'idek why I hate Benson Boone but it feels right,'' he wrote on the video. 'Like WHAT!!? how am I supposed to improve after reading that? At least say something valid like 'he low key just flips everywhere can he [do] anything else?'' Watch the full video for Boone's 'Mr. Electric Blue' above. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
CNN
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Benson Boone, still rocking that skintight jumpsuit, drops new ‘Mr. Electric Blue' music video
After making quite the splash at the Grammys where he backflipped in a body-hugging, baby blue sequined jumpsuit, Benson Boone is back with new music and a very tongue-in-cheek music video. The singer and former 'American Idol' contestant released his second studio album 'American Heart' on Friday, paired with the record's fourth single 'Mr. Electric Blue,' with an accompanying music video that sees him in various getups that are more than a little self-deprecating. The clip opens with Boone, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase 'One Hit Wonder,' being called into the office of a smarmy agent – identified by a deskplate as 'Benson Boone Agent' and played by Jack LaFrantz, Boone's sometime songwriting partner. The agent breaks the news to the 22-year-old crooner that 'we put all our money in moonbeam ice cream and the backflip, and it's done absolutely horrible,' a reference to one of Boone's earlier singles on the record, 'Mystical Magical.' 'We need something new. We need a new gimmick!' the agent exclaims. 'Maybe, good songwriting?' 'You know I can't do that,' Boone replies. He is then informed by the agent that he 'owes' the label $10 million and spends the rest of the music video doing odd jobs to raise funds. The song itself is fun and pleasantly retro-feeling, with Boone donning shirts that say things like 'Inauthentic' as he walks dogs or mows a giant lawn. At one point, he takes to helping advertise 'Discount Jumpsuits,' holding a sign that on one side says '100% Artificial.' He does this while wearing said baby blue jumpsuit that famously turned heads at the Grammys earlier this year. In another scenario, a group of kids trash his music to his face while he serves moonbeam ice cream from a truck. Although upbeat, the 'Mr. Electric Blue' music video confronts criticisms seemingly plucked from the bowels of social media comments, like with the shot of a bumper sticker that proclaims, 'mustaches are lame.' It all builds to a crescendo when Boone, who has taken a job as a pool boy, is shut down when he sees a sign forbidding backflips. He's clearly in on the joke, and it's flipping fun.
CNN
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Benson Boone, still rocking that skintight jumpsuit, drops new ‘Mr. Electric Blue' music video
After making quite the splash at the Grammys where he backflipped in a body-hugging, baby blue sequined jumpsuit, Benson Boone is back with new music and a very tongue-in-cheek music video. The singer and former 'American Idol' contestant released his second studio album 'American Heart' on Friday, paired with the record's fourth single 'Mr. Electric Blue,' with an accompanying music video that sees him in various getups that are more than a little self-deprecating. The clip opens with Boone, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase 'One Hit Wonder,' being called into the office of a smarmy agent – identified by a deskplate as 'Benson Boone Agent' and played by Jack LaFrantz, Boone's sometime songwriting partner. The agent breaks the news to the 22-year-old crooner that 'we put all our money in moonbeam ice cream and the backflip, and it's done absolutely horrible,' a reference to one of Boone's earlier singles on the record, 'Mystical Magical.' 'We need something new. We need a new gimmick!' the agent exclaims. 'Maybe, good songwriting?' 'You know I can't do that,' Boone replies. He is then informed by the agent that he 'owes' the label $10 million and spends the rest of the music video doing odd jobs to raise funds. The song itself is fun and pleasantly retro-feeling, with Boone donning shirts that say things like 'Inauthentic' as he walks dogs or mows a giant lawn. At one point, he takes to helping advertise 'Discount Jumpsuits,' holding a sign that on one side says '100% Artificial.' He does this while wearing said baby blue jumpsuit that famously turned heads at the Grammys earlier this year. In another scenario, a group of kids trash his music to his face while he serves moonbeam ice cream from a truck. Although upbeat, the 'Mr. Electric Blue' music video confronts criticisms seemingly plucked from the bowels of social media comments, like with the shot of a bumper sticker that proclaims, 'mustaches are lame.' It all builds to a crescendo when Boone, who has taken a job as a pool boy, is shut down when he sees a sign forbidding backflips. He's clearly in on the joke, and it's flipping fun.
CNN
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Benson Boone, still rocking that skintight jumpsuit, drops new ‘Mr. Electric Blue' music video
After making quite the splash at the Grammys where he backflipped in a body-hugging, baby blue sequined jumpsuit, Benson Boone is back with new music and a very tongue-in-cheek music video. The singer and former 'American Idol' contestant released his second studio album 'American Heart' on Friday, paired with the record's fourth single 'Mr. Electric Blue,' with an accompanying music video that sees him in various getups that are more than a little self-deprecating. The clip opens with Boone, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase 'One Hit Wonder,' being called into the office of a smarmy agent – identified by a deskplate as 'Benson Boone Agent' and played by Jack LaFrantz, Boone's sometime songwriting partner. The agent breaks the news to the 22-year-old crooner that 'we put all our money in moonbeam ice cream and the backflip, and it's done absolutely horrible,' a reference to one of Boone's earlier singles on the record, 'Mystical Magical.' 'We need something new. We need a new gimmick!' the agent exclaims. 'Maybe, good songwriting?' 'You know I can't do that,' Boone replies. He is then informed by the agent that he 'owes' the label $10 million and spends the rest of the music video doing odd jobs to raise funds. The song itself is fun and pleasantly retro-feeling, with Boone donning shirts that say things like 'Inauthentic' as he walks dogs or mows a giant lawn. At one point, he takes to helping advertise 'Discount Jumpsuits,' holding a sign that on one side says '100% Artificial.' He does this while wearing said baby blue jumpsuit that famously turned heads at the Grammys earlier this year. In another scenario, a group of kids trash his music to his face while he serves moonbeam ice cream from a truck. Although upbeat, the 'Mr. Electric Blue' music video confronts criticisms seemingly plucked from the bowels of social media comments, like with the shot of a bumper sticker that proclaims, 'mustaches are lame.' It all builds to a crescendo when Boone, who has taken a job as a pool boy, is shut down when he sees a sign forbidding backflips. He's clearly in on the joke, and it's flipping fun.
