 " Jealous " is a power ballad , further described as a " silky slow jam " . Consequence of Sound writer Chris Bosman found elements of " slow down radio R & B to molasses RPMs " in its composition . The song opens with distant yelps heard in the background and continues with a slow beat which is distorted and contains an echoing sound throughout . A " wall of crashing sounds " and backing vocals are also heard . " Jealous " further displays " genre diversity , vocal range and a penchant of musical experimentation " while exploring a brooding beat by mixing different tones and styles throughout . Billboard writers Andrew Hampp and Erika Ramirez found the vibe of the song reminiscent to works by Lana Del Rey , Jeff Bhasker , and Emile Haynie due to its brooding beat . Michael Cragg from The Guardian also compared " Jealous " and its lyrics portraying romance with materials by Del Rey noting that it showed the singer as a " spurned lover " . Chris Kelly of Fact noted that the song 's theme about equality in relationships was similar to her single " If I Were a Boy " ( 2008 ) . The Irish Times editor Una Mullally felt the song offered Robyn @-@ esque sentiments and added that it recalls Beyoncé 's own song , " Halo " ( 2008 ) . Tim Finney from Complex felt that the singer adopted a conversational , " talk @-@ over @-@ the beat " vocal style in the song . Finney argued she adopted that style to convey " unmediated spontaneity or truth @-@ telling " , particularly during the " rueful admission " in the lines , " I know that I 'm being hateful but that ain 't nothin ' . " 
