Deconstructing Benson Boone’s ‘Beautiful Things’ – A Vocal Coach’s Insight

Hi there, I’m Adam Mishan, singer, songwriter, and vocal coach. Today, we’re taking a close look at Beautiful Things by Benson Boone. This song is an incredible showcase of vocal and songwriting mastery, and in this blog post, we’ll break it down step by step, analyzing what makes it so captivating. Whether you’re a singer looking to improve or just a music enthusiast, there’s something here for everyone.

1. The Gentle Introduction

The song opens with a soft, acoustic feel: just Benson’s voice and a guitar. This is a crucial element in songwriting: building a connection by easing listeners into the song. Instead of going all out right from the start, Benson holds back, letting the song grow naturally.

Takeaway for Singers: Start with subtlety. Build your dynamics over time to create intrigue and emotional impact.

2. Repetition with Growth

In the first verse, Benson establishes a melodic hook, a repeating melody that anchors the listener. While the melody stays consistent, he adds layers of instrumentation in the second half of the verse. This slow progression keeps things fresh while reinforcing familiarity.

Vocal Insight: Benson uses a mix of registers here (falsetto and a gentle mix) to add texture without overwhelming the listener.

3. Diminuendos and Crescendos: Playing with Dynamics

In the transition to the pre-chorus, Benson uses a diminuendo(softening his voice towards the end of a phrase) to pull the energy back before launching into a crescendo(gradually building intensity) in the pre-chorus. This contrast creates a push-and-pull effect, drawing listeners in and holding their attention.

Technique Highlight: Experiment with both diminuendos and crescendos in your singing to add depth and emotional complexity.

4. The Climactic Chorus

When we hit the chorus, Benson leaps an octave higher, reusing the melody from the pre-chorus but giving it a climactic lift. He adds rasp for emotional weight, creating that goosebump-inducing moment.

Pro Tip for Singers: Adding rasp (vocal fry) can enhance intensity, but it requires control to avoid strain. Use it sparingly and strategically, as Benson does here.

5. The Post-Chorus Drop

After the powerful chorus, Benson pulls back, returning to a softer, more introspective soundscape. This contrast not only gives listeners a breather but also sets up the next verse beautifully.

Songwriting Insight: Dynamics are key. Use quieter moments to balance high-energy sections, making the song feel like a journey.

6. Building in Verse Two

Unlike the stripped-down first verse, the second verse introduces drums, bass, and harmonies, creating a fuller, richer sound. This progression keeps listeners engaged and gives the song forward momentum.

Harmonies Add Magic: Layering vocals at key moments, as Benson does, adds texture and interest.

7. Breaking the Formula

Instead of sticking to the typical “verse-chorus-bridge” structure, Benson makes subtle changes. For example, he skips the pre-chorus in the final sections, diving straight into the chorus. These small deviations keep the song feeling fresh and unpredictable.

Lesson for Songwriters: Don’t be afraid to stray from conventional structures. A little unpredictability can go a long way.

8. The Emotional Outro

Benson ends the song with the pre-chorus as an outro, gently bringing us back down after the emotional high of the final chorus. He uses a light head voice here, creating a tender, reflective conclusion.

Closing with Impact: How you end a song is just as important as how you start it. Benson’s choice leaves listeners with a sense of closure and lingering emotion.

Final Thoughts

Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things is a masterclass in dynamics, melody, and storytelling. From the gentle intro to the climactic chorus and reflective outro, every element works together to captivate the listener.

Whether you’re a singer, songwriter, or simply a fan of good music, there’s so much to learn from analyzing songs like this.

Common questions about Benson Boone’s voice

What voice type is Benson Boone? Is he a tenor?

Tenor is the usual description, and it matches what the recordings do. He lives in the bright top half of a male voice, and the chorus of Beautiful Things sits exactly where most guys start to strain. Worth saying plainly: voice type is a label for how a voice behaves, not a medical fact stamped on you at birth. Treat it as a starting point, not a ceiling.

What is the vocal range in Beautiful Things?

Placement matters more than width here. The verses sit low and conversational, the chorus jumps a full octave into a bright mix with rasp on top, and the outro drifts back down into a light head voice. That leap is what makes the song hard, not the total span. Most singers handle the verse comfortably and stall on the chorus. If those terms are new, my breakdown of what vocal registers are covers chest, mix, head and falsetto.

How does Benson Boone sing so high?

Not by pushing. Notes that high come from coordination: the folds thin out as the pitch climbs, the throat stays open instead of squeezing, and the breath stays steady rather than blasting. He also earns the chorus by keeping the verses quiet, so the jump reads as huge without having to be forced. That coordination is trainable, which is the whole subject of my High Notes Unleashed course.

Does Benson Boone use autotune?

Tuning is standard on modern pop records, so assuming a released vocal has been tidied somewhere is a safe bet for almost any artist. I have no knowledge of his studio chain and won’t guess. What I can point to is the live evidence: he sings this song on tour and on television with the big chorus intact, night after night. Tuning fixes a note. It doesn’t build a voice.

How did Benson Boone learn to sing?

Not through years of formal training. He had no experience as a vocalist until a friend asked him to play piano and sing at his high school battle of the bands. He auditioned for American Idol in 2021, made the top 24, then withdrew to focus on his own career. Late start, no conservatory, and a lot of singing after that. Useful context if you think you’ve started too late.

What genre is Beautiful Things by Benson Boone?

It gets filed as pop rock with a folk rock streak, and that lines up with how it’s built. The opening is a folk ballad, one voice and an acoustic guitar. The chorus brings in drums and distortion and turns it into a rock record. That switch is a big part of why it caught on, and it’s why the song is useful to study: two very different vocal approaches inside three minutes.

Who wrote the song Beautiful Things?

Benson Boone wrote it with Jack LaFrantz and Evan Blair, and Blair produced it. The origin story is that Boone had started two separate songs on consecutive nights, and LaFrantz suggested combining them into one. Worth knowing as a singer: the shape everyone reacts to, quiet verse into an octave leap, came out of stitching two ideas together rather than one clean draft.

Is Beautiful Things by Benson Boone clean?

Yes. The single isn’t flagged explicit on the major streaming stores, and there’s no profanity in the lyric. The line people ask about is the “oh God” in the chorus, which is a plea rather than a swear. If you’re choosing repertoire for a church, school or family event, give it one listen with that in mind and you’ll be fine.

What You Can Do Next: Try incorporating these techniques into your own singing or songwriting. And if you enjoyed this breakdown, check out my other analysis videos for more inspiration!

P.S.If you want to take your singing to the next level, subscribe to my YouTube channel for more insights, or explore my online singing courses to start your vocal transformation today. Let’s make your voice unstoppable!