Benson Boone has this weird, almost frustrating ability to reach inside your chest and mess with your internal wiring. You know that feeling when you're just starting to fall for someone and the excitement is actually kinda terrifying? That is the exact space where I wanna be the one you call lives.
Released as a standout track on his 2025 sophomore album, American Heart, the song isn't just another radio play. It feels more like a private voice memo that somehow leaked. While everyone was still screaming the chorus to "Beautiful Things," Benson was busy writing this—a song that stripped back the arena-rock production for something much more intimate and, frankly, a bit desperate.
The Story Behind I Wanna Be The One You Call
If you've been following Benson's career since the American Idol days, you know he doesn't do "chill." He does high-stakes emotion. This track starts with a trip to Italy. He’s looking for peace—don't we all?—but instead, he finds a girl with flowers in her hair and a tease in her step.
The lyrics aren't complicated. They don't need to be. When he sings, "I just need your number, so if you're alone, I wanna be the one you call," he’s capturing that universal moment of wanting to be the "person" for someone else. Not just a guy she knows. Not a friend. The person.
Interestingly, the song marks a shift in his songwriting style. Where his earlier hits like "Ghost Town" were about the wreckage of a breakup, I wanna be the one you call is about the scary potential of a beginning. It’s the sound of a guy who is tired of being the runner-up in someone's life.
🔗 Read more: A Simple Favor Blake Lively: Why Emily Nelson Is Still the Ultimate Screen Mystery
Why the Production Matters More Than You Think
A lot of fans noticed that this track sounds different from the rest of American Heart. Working with the producer Malay—the guy behind Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange—Benson opted for a sound that feels "wavy."
- The Intro: Those "bi-di-bum" vocalizations aren't just filler. They set a playful, almost nervous tone.
- The Shift: Halfway through, the song moves from a soft piano-driven verse into this atmospheric, synth-heavy space.
- The Vocal: Benson’s voice usually hits those glass-shattering high notes, but here, he stays in a lower, breathier register for a lot of it. It’s more "late-night conversation" and less "Super Bowl halftime show."
Misconceptions About the Lyrics
Social media—specifically TikTok—has a habit of turning every Benson Boone song into a "sad boy" anthem. But if you actually listen to the words of I wanna be the one you call, it’s not a breakup song. It’s a pursuit.
People keep asking if it's about his ex or a specific person from his past. Honestly? It feels more like a character study. He’s talking about the "wonder girl" and asking if someone "lit her world on fire." There’s a protective streak in these lyrics that we haven't seen from him as much before. It’s less "look at my pain" and more "let me help with yours."
The "Calvin Klein underwear" line and the "flowers in your braided hair" give it a very specific, visual grounding. It’s not generic. It feels like a memory he’s trying to hold onto before it fades.
💡 You might also like: The A Wrinkle in Time Cast: Why This Massive Star Power Didn't Save the Movie
Comparing This to "Beautiful Things"
It’s impossible to talk about this song without mentioning the massive shadow of "Beautiful Things." That song was about the fear of losing what you have. I wanna be the one you call is the prequel. It’s about the desire to get it in the first place.
Musically, "Beautiful Things" relies on that massive, explosive "Please stay!" moment. This track is the opposite. It builds tension but never quite gives you that release. It leaves you feeling a bit unsettled—which is exactly how it feels to want someone who hasn't called you yet.
What Real Fans Are Saying
Over on Reddit and Discord, the consensus is that this is the "sleeper hit" of the album. While the label pushed other tracks for radio, fans have latched onto this one because of its vulnerability.
One fan noted that the bridge—where the vocals get all distorted and layered—feels like the inside of an overthinking mind. You know those nights where you're staring at your phone, wondering if you should text? That’s the bridge of this song.
📖 Related: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
How to Get the Most Out of the Track
If you're just putting this on a gym playlist, you're doing it wrong. This is "driving home at 2 AM" music.
- Listen for the percussion: McKenzie Smith (who has worked with St. Vincent) did the drums on this, and they have this subtle, driving heartbeat quality.
- Pay attention to the "Name You Scream" line: It’s the most aggressive part of the chorus and hints at the intensity Benson is known for, even in a "quieter" song.
- Check out the live versions: Benson has been performing this on his 2025-2026 tour, and the live arrangement is much rockier than the studio version.
Benson Boone has proven he’s not a one-hit-wonder or just a "TikTok artist." By leaning into the weirdness of tracks like I wanna be the one you call, he’s carving out a space as a legitimate songwriter who isn't afraid to sound a little desperate if it means being honest.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the American Heart era, start by comparing the lyrical themes of this track with "Slow It Down." You'll see a pattern of a guy who is trying to find his footing in a world that’s moving way too fast.
The next time you're feeling that weird mix of hope and anxiety about someone new, put this on. It won't give you the answers, but it'll definitely make you feel less alone in the waiting.
To really understand the evolution of this sound, go back and listen to his earliest acoustic sessions on YouTube from 2021. You can hear the seeds of this song in the way he used to improvise melodies. Then, check out the official lyric video for this track to see how the visual aesthetic of the "American Heart" project matches the sonic vulnerability he’s putting out there.