In all actuality, this Friday’s edition of LxListening contains songs that have “girl(s)” in the title, instead of just songs about girls. This theme could also probably have innumerable sequels because as we all know, musicians’ favorite lyrical subject is romantic entanglements with the opposite sex. I decided also to select one “girl” song from each of the past 6 decades for your listening enjoyment. So whether girls are black, drunk, or fat-bottomed, they all deserve a song. Enjoy!
Chester French – “Black Girls” (2010’s)
Nothing like a couple of Harvard grads, who named their band after the sculptor who designed The Lincoln Memorial, creating a perfect ode to black girls. Simple and to the point, but maybe Chester French should have had a little foresight and named their band after John Russell Pope. Bonus points for an extremely well-edited music video (see below).
LCD Soundsystem – “Drunk Girls” (2000’s)
The spiritual successor to “North American Scum”, “Drunk Girls” provided just the frenetic “oomph” This is Happening needed to become a perfect cap to LCD’s career. There are not many non-hip-hop songs that are as good as “Drunk Girls” to throw on at a party to get the people dancing. Bonus points for including the hilarious lyrics “Drunk boys keep in pace with the pedophiles”.
Garbage – “Stupid Girl” (1990’s)
I probably have a bit more of an affinity for 90’s music than the rest of the guys writing for LxL, and “Stupid Girl” was one of the first singles I ever bought on CD, so it obviously belongs on this list. When it first came out, it was so much different than the more grunge-heavy alt-rock scene, and takes a drum sample from The Clash’s “Train in Vain” to elevate itself to the next level. Bonus points for being a 90’s song that ages so well.
Beastie Boys – “Girls” (1980’s)
It was joint instigation between us theming our list on the Beastie Boys this week and me just hearing the Chester French song for the first time this week that begat the girl theme for LxListening. So let’s keep this Beastie train rolling. Bonus points for basing an entire track around solely xylophone and inspiring the video below, which was apparently a high school final project.
Queen – “Fat Bottomed Girls” (1970’s)
The title of Queen’s “girl” song is almost synonymous with the title of Chester French’s “girl” song. If you can’t figure it out, then God save you. Bonus points for Freddie Mercury making a fantastic song about girls while being the most flamboyantly gay man in music for quite some time.
Neil Diamond- “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon (soon you’ll need a man)” (1960’s)
Jew Elvis brings the heat on this 1960’s gem. “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” belongs right up near the top of the misogyny hall of fame, and there is nothing creepier than watching an aging Neil Diamond perform this song. Bonus points for being covered by Urge Overkill in one of the greatest movie scenes of all time (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA2-vm0FeJM&feature=related)
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