# Alphabet Boy

"Alphabet Boy" is a song by American recording artist Melanie Martinez from her debut album, Cry Baby (2015). It was written by Martinez, Jeremy Dussolliet, and Tim Sommers, and was produced by Kinetics & One Love.
On June 2, 2016, a music video was released, which contained the lyrics to the whole song while also showing different scenes of Martinez in a pink coloured filled room.
The song peaked at number twenty-four on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

## Critical reception

   "I wanted to title it “Alphabet Boy,” because he was in college for music and used to try and “teach” me how to write songs as if there was a formula or I wasn’t writing songs correctly. It made me furious and I just wanted to elaborate on that. Me and Jeremy used lots of alliteration in that song for all the verses. We wanted to go in order of the alphabet.
—Martinez talking about the songs themes.
"Alphabet Boy" received positive acclaim from critics. Mike Wass from Idolator said that Martinez, reveals her adult-baby wardrobe and how she plays with oversized probs. Jose Valle from The Daily Tar Heel said she has a "personal connection with the song" she said she like "The use of kindergarten imagery in this track makes it one of her favourites" She also mentioned saying "the constant use of the word "fuck" among otherwise-innocent lyrics earn it an A+ rating in my book". Francesca McKernon from ODYSSEY said that the lyrics, "I know my ABCs, yet you keep teaching me/ I say, fuck your degree, alphabet boy/You think you're smarter than me with all your bad poetry" are most memorable during the song.

## Background and composition

"Mrs. Potato Head" is a alternative pop song that is four minutes and thirteen seconds. It features a kids-like xylophone in its production as well as a alternative hip hop inspired beat and some hi-hat rolls. According to Musicalnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, "Alphabet Boy" is written in the key of A major.
Lisa Barca from Ms. blog Magazine said this is perhaps "The spunkiest musical manifesto against mansplaining she's heard." According to Martinez, It was the most hardest song for her to write due to the immense lyricism, such as alliteration.

## Live performances

Martinez performed the song on the Cry Baby Tour and sang it as the 5th track of the album. She also performed the song at the Lollaloopza show in Brazil 2017.

## Music video
### Background and reception

The music video for "Alphabet Boy" was directed by Melanie Martinez and was produced by Wes Teshome, who previously worked on the music videos for "Soap" and "Sippy Cup". It features Martinez in a baby pink room with big blocked letters, which samples the line "You build me up like building blocks just so you can bring me down", and a fridge with the word "Fuck" spelled in magnets.

### Synopis

Allison Wodock from Breakfree.com explained by saying: "The video is filmed with a baby-pink background and a simplistic set design, aiming most of the focus on Martinez and allowing her physical depiction of the song's theme to express the true nature of the song. Throughout the video, we see Martinez crawl around the set, pout, play with over-sized, pastel-colored toys, and clearly articulate the "fuck you" that this song is driving at. With her clever performance, this simple video manages keeps a tight grip on your attention, and the catchy sound of the song is undeniable—good luck getting it out of your head!

## Track listing

Digital download
"Alphabet Boy" – 4:13
Charts
"Alphabet Boy" charted and peaked at number twent-four on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart for the week of June 25, 2016.
Weekly charts
Chart (2016)
Peak position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)
24
Certifications
Region
CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)
Gold
500,000$^‡$
$^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
References
1 2 "Stream Melanie Martinez's Debut LP 'Cry Baby'". NOICEY. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez's Pastel Pink "Alphabet Boy" Video". Idolator. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Feedback: Melanie Martinez's "Cry Baby" more than cute as a button". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "A Review Of Melanie Martinez's Album 'Cry Baby'". Odyssey. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez's 'Cry Baby' Fright Fest Continues With 'Alphabet Boy' Video". SPIN. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Alphabet Boy". Soundcloud. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Alphabet Boy - Digital Sheet Music". Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez is Telling Teen Girls a New Story". Ms. Blog Magazine. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez – Alphabet Boy Lyrics | Genius Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez Extends 2016 Cry Baby Tour". Popdust. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez Brings 'Cry Baby' to Lollapalooza - Fuse". Fuse.tv. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Watch Melanie Martinez's unsettling new video for "Alphabet Boy"". Altpress. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez Releases "Alphabet Boy" Music Video! | Stage Right ..." Stage Right Secrets. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Alphabet Boy - Melanie Martinez — Break Free". Break Free. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Cry Baby (Deluxe Edition)". ITunes. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Alphabet Boy [Explicit]". Amazon. Retrieved 13 March 2018.↑ "Melanie Martinez Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2016.↑ "American single certifications – Melanie Martinez – Alphabet Boy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
vteMelanie Martinez
Discography
Songs
Studio albums
Cry Baby
K–12
Portals
EPs
Dollhouse
After School
Singles
"Dollhouse"
"Carousel"
"Pity Party"
"Soap"
"Sippy Cup"
"Piggyback"
"The Bakery"
"Death"
"Void"
Other songs
"Cry Baby"
"Alphabet Boy"
"Pacify Her"
"Mrs. Potato Head"
"Play Date"
Tours
K–12 Tour
The Trilogy Tour
Films
K–12 :