"Lost Boy"
Single by Ruth B
from the album The Intro and Safe Haven
ReleasedFebruary 12, 2015 (2015-02-12)
Recorded2014
GenrePop
Length
  • 4:36 (album version)
  • 4:11 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Ruth Berhe
Ruth B singles chronology
"Lost Boy"
(2015) 		"Superficial Love"
(2017)
Music video
"Lost Boy" on YouTube

"Lost Boy" is the debut single by Canadian singer Ruth B. It was released on February 12, 2015.[1] She first released it by singing a six-second video on Vine in January 2015.

Composition and history

The piano pop ballad is written in the key of G major in cut time with a tempo of 62 beats per minute.[2][3] It follows a chord progression of Em – G/D – C – G, and Berhe's vocals span from F♯3 to B4.[4]

In November 2014, she posted a Vine of her singing a line that she had made up, which was inspired by the television series Once Upon a Time.[5] The video went viral, and garnered around 84,000 likes within a week. Taking note of its popularity and with encouragement from her followers,[6] she adapted it into a full song titled "Lost Boy", which she posted on YouTube on January 18, 2015 and was released on iTunes on February 12, 2015.[7][8] Dozens of Vine and YouTube users posted covers, which helped further its popularity and increased Berhe's following on social media. Record labels took notice and she then signed with Columbia Records in July 2015.[9]

Her debut EP, The Intro, was released on November 27, 2015. It has four songs including "Lost Boy".[10]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on YouTube on May 9, 2016. As of June 2023, the video has garnered over 175 million views.[11]

Critical reception

Mike Wass of Idolator called it a "pretty ballad" and went on to say that "[Lost Boy] is nostalgic, more than a little bittersweet and aptly showcases Ruth's smooth vocals."[12]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[35] 6× Platinum 480,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[36] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[37] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[38] Gold 25,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[39] Gold 30,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[40] Platinum 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[41] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[44] 4× Platinum 1,300,000[43]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Ruth B.: Lost Boy - Music on Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  2. ^ "Song Key and BPM Music Database | AudioKeychain". AudioKeychain. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  3. ^ Berhe, Ruth. "Ruth B "Lost Boy" Sheet Music in E Minor (transposable) - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  4. ^ Berhe, Ruth. "Ruth B "Lost Boy" Sheet Music in E Minor (transposable) - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  5. ^ "Edmonton singer Ruth B launches career in an instant". CBC News. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  6. ^ Khan, Sarah (November 30, 1990). "Ruth B Talks Vine, The Intro & Getting Inspired By 'Once Upon A Time'". ANDPOP. Archived from the original on May 3, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  7. ^ "Lost Boy". YouTube. Ruth B. January 18, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  8. ^ "Ruth B on Twitter". Twitter. Ruth B. February 12, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  9. ^ Sperounes, Sandra (November 25, 2015). "Who is Edmonton's Ruth B? The latest online star to get a record deal". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  10. ^ Melanson, Jenna (November 27, 2015). "Interview – Ruth B". Canadian Beats. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  11. ^ RuthBVEVO (2016-05-09), Ruth B - Lost Boy (Official Video), retrieved 2016-07-12
  12. ^ Wass, Mike (November 4, 2015). "Vine Star Ruth B Signs To Columbia Records, Drops 'Lost Boy' Lyric Video". Idolator. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  13. ^ "Ruth B – Lost Boy" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  14. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  17. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  18. ^ "Ruth B – Lost Boy". Tracklisten. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  19. ^ "Chart Track: Week 49, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  20. ^ "Ruth B – Lost Boy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  22. ^ "Ruth B – Lost Boy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  24. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  25. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  26. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  27. ^ "Ruth B Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  28. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  29. ^ "Track Top-100, 2016". Hitlisten.NU. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  30. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 2016". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  31. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2016" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  32. ^ "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  34. ^ "Adult Pop Songs: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  35. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Ruth B – Lost Boy". Music Canada. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Danish single certifications – Ruth B – Lost Boy". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ruth B.; 'Lost Boy')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  38. ^ "Italian single certifications – Ruth B – Lost Boy" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Lost Boy" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  39. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 17 November 2020. Type Ruth B in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Lost Boy in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  40. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Ruth B – Lost Boy" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 14, 2021. Enter Lost Boy in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2016 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  41. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 2, 2017 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 6, 2017. Scroll to position 98 to view certification.
  42. ^ "British single certifications – Ruth B – Lost Boy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  43. ^ "40 Under 40: Music's Top Young Power Players Revealed - Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 20, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016. Sales amount is mentioned under Justin Eshak
  44. ^ "American single certifications – Ruth B. – Lost Boy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 18, 2021.

External links

J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan
Authority control databases
Categories