"Ode to Boy" is a song by British synthpop duo Yazoo, featured on their second and final studio album You and Me Both, which was released in 1983. In 1994, Alison Moyet recorded her own version of the song for her fourth studio album Essex.

"Ode to Boy" was originally recorded in 1982 and appeared as the B-Side to Yazoo's 1982 non-album single "The Other Side of Love". It then appeared as an album track on the duo's You and Me Both album. The song was produced by Yazoo and Eric Radcliffe. Speaking of the song to Record Mirror in 1983, Moyet revealed: "[it] started being of someone I knew, but ended up being more of a poetic exercise". Moyet later revealed the song was about her bandmate Vince Clarke. Later recalling the song's writing and development in 2016, she said: "It was written, as all my guitar songs are written, fast. It was made slower for Yazoo."

In a 2008 issue of The Advocate, the song was described as "smoldering". William Ruhlmann of AllMusic highlighted "Ode to Boy" as a standout track from You and Me Both by labeling it an AMG Pick Track. In a review of the album by music website Sputnikmusic, the song was described as "one of the high points on the record - dares to slow things down with a sluggish, dingy melody and disjointed, echoed vocals from Moyet".

"Ode to Boy" was later recorded for Moyet's fourth studio album Essex, released in 1994. In October 1994, "Ode to Boy" was released as the album's fourth and final single.

For its inclusion on Essex, Moyet recorded "Ode to Boy" in its original form; a guitar-dominant version. The song was produced by Pete Glenister. Speaking of the song's re-recording for Essex in contrast to the slower Yazoo version, Moyet revealed: "It was sped back up for Essex. They are two completely different songs."

Columbia rejected the original recording of Essex and insisted that it be re-recorded to create a more commercial package. A mix of the song, titled "Ode to Boy II", featured additional production and mixing done by Adrian Bushby and Pete Davis. This version was included on Essex as a bonus track. When "Ode to Boy" was released as a single, this remix was selected and the "II" was dropped from its title. For the single, Columbia also hired Junior Vasquez to give the song a dance remix treatment. He produced two mixes: the "Factory Mix" and the "NY-LA Mix".

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