Girls is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Appearing on her first studio album The Family Jewels, it is the 4th track on the album.
The song was written by Marina, Liam Howe, and Pascal Gabriel, and produced by Howe and Gabriel.
Background[]
On June 23, 2008, Diamandis wrote a MySpace blog entitled:[1] Blog on girls, fat & how i’m a 'mysogynist'
oh hi myspacers!
I co-wrote a track last week called 'Girls' with pascal gabriel & liam howe. i hope you all liked/ loved/ made sexy-time to it!!! the lyrics came out rather quickly in the writing process, but the idea and sentiment behind the song have been brewing for a v long time.
So i thought i'd share the fact that i'm really sick, tired, depressed, uninspired by women. and i have been for a good old time. There seems to be a massive shortage of strong, inspiring females in mainstream society today who have something good to say. What's happened to you all? Every interview/ photo i see just says nothing to me. vacant. airbrushed. empty. people. getting. paid. to talk. about fuck all. It's great that eva longoria looks hot in a bikini, but if the sun dies and the world plummets into darkness and ice, will anyone fucking care?
So the main theme for song was about women and diets really and generally how we seem to have morphed into mute scary dolls. Falling hook, line and sinker for every lie that we are fed by magazines/ etc. Ofcourse this is all old news to everybody. But you have to think why is this still going on?. Why isn't anyone smart enough to say 'Fuck off'? what would you feel if this were your daughter? sister? girlfriend? aspiring to be some footballers wife..
I
confidence is the most attractive quality ever and i just wonder what women would be capable of if we stopped obsessing about looks.
What's even worse is men actually getting sucked into to it too. Seriously guys- you talking about diets = me FALLING ASLEEP. I'd much rather deal with a beer gut than a low self esteem every night.
On that note, i bid you farewell
Niiiight, don't let the cupcakes bite.
Mar x
Marina has later spoken about this song in an interview, saying, "It's a call for women to stop being ...enemies. These days you're either a nun or a whore, to be one or neither, all or none. I want to help redefine women's place in society."[2] In a 2009 interview with 4or The Record, when asked about whether she would get support from "girls who will relate to [her] lyrics," Marina stated:[3]
❝ Well I don’t know, it will be really interesting to see what girls think of me, because I reckon they’re either going to love me or hate me, you either take the songs the wrong way or not. I mean the song ‘Girls Girls Girls’ was kind of farcical, but I think it says a lot about our modern culture and what women aspire to be now. I just think if I were like 15 or 16 and there was an artist out there that would say you don’t have to be a certain way, then I would love that, but we will see. ❞
Reflections[]
In 2011, Diamandis admitted that the song could be viewed as misogynistic, revealing that the song makes her cringe. After being accused of "unsisterly bitchiness" for making the song, she stated that "that obviously isn’t how I meant it," describing that it was as much about battling with record labels over image.[4]
A decade later in 2021, when asked if she ever "cringed" at any of her old songs she said:[5]
❝ Not many but one in particular is Girls off The Family Jewels because it's just so catty so, like, 2009. I think it was very indicative of internalised misogyny that I had at the time, and you know it's not like the worst song ever, but I don't think I would ever sing it again live. I think I've grown up a lot since then. ❞
Trivia[]
- The song was originally titled Girls Girls Girls despite the word "girls" not being repeated thrice in the song.
- Girls is featured in the first episode of Amazon Prime's "Class of '07".
Official Versions[]
Girls was first available as a free download on Marina's MySpace as girls,girls,girls,[6][7][8] around the time her blog post went up in June 2008. This version of the song is referred to by fans as the "calm down" version. On May 18, 2009, in a blogpost entitled "BEND OVER AND CURTSY"[9], Marina uploaded a download link for the (referred to by fans) "fast car" version of the song, now entitled Girls which featured different production. A few days later on May 22, 2009, it was available for full streaming on MySpace[10]. The song was released on the album with its original "calm down" production but "fast car" lyrics.
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album [Inst.]
|
The Family Jewels | 15 Feb 2010 | 3:28 |
| Acoustic/Live | ||||
| Live | ITunes Live: London Festival '10 | 26 Jul 2010 | 3:27 | |
| Demos | ||||
| Demo 1 (girls,girls,girls/Girls!!!/"Calm Down" version) | MySpace | 15 Jun 2008 | 3:34 | |
| Demo 2 [Stems] ("Fast Car" version/Original Mix ("Greek" version)/Album sampler version)
|
MySpace | 22 May 2009 | 3:32 | |
Lyrics[]
Differences between the original and demo have been italicised.
[Verse 1]
Look like a girl, but I think like a guy
Not ladylike to behave like a slime
Easy to be sleazy when you've got a filthy mind
You stick to your yoghurts, I'll stick to my apple pie
[Pre-Chorus]
Girls are not meant to fight dirty
Never look a day past thirty
Not gonna bend over and curtsy for you
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
[Verse 2]
Girls, oh, girls, wag your tails to the beat
Of Girls Aloud, all the journos in heat
Write such good stories, oh, their mothers must be proud
Makin' money off your insecurity and doubt
[Pre-Chorus]
Girls are not meant to fight dirty
Never look a day past thirty
Not gonna bend over and curtsy for you
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
All they say is, "Na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na" (I feel)
[Bridge]
I feel I've been ridin' in a fast car
Burnin' dirty gas won't get you that far
I feel I've been ridin' up the wrong path
But I'm gonna make sure I get the last laugh
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
[Verse 1]
Look like a girl, but I think like a guy
Not ladylike to behave like a slime
Easy to be sleazy when you've got a filthy mind
You stick to your yoghurts, I'll stick to my apple pie
[Pre-Chorus]
Girls are not meant to fight dirty
Never look a day past thirty
I love your Botox bitch, I'll curtsy for you
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
[Verse 2]
Girls, oh, girls, wag your tails to the beat
Of Girls Aloud, all the journos in heat
Write such good stories, oh, their mothers must be proud
Makin' money off your insecurity and doubt
[Pre-Chorus]
Girls are not meant to fight dirty
Never look a day past thirty
I love your Botox bitch, I'll curtsy for you
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
[Chorus]
Calm down, I'm not gonna steal your boyfriend
No need to brand him in between the eyes
Calm down, I'm not gonna steal your boyfriend
So quit burnin' holes in me with your eyes
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
[Verse 1]
Look like a girl, but I think like a guy
Not ladylike to behave like a slime
Easy to be sleazy when you've got a filthy mind
You stick to your yoghurts, I'll stick to my apple pie
[Pre-Chorus]
Girls are not meant to fight dirty
Never look a day past thirty
Not gonna bend over and curtsy for you
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
[Verse 2]
Girls, oh, girls, buyin' cheap magazines
Cut out the face and you cut out the dream
'Cause this was all you ever wanted to be
Give in and you go to fuel a new insecurity
[Pre-Chorus]
Girls are not meant to fight dirty
Never look a day past thirty
Not gonna bend over and curtsy for you
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
"Na-na-na-na-na"
[Bridge]
I feel I've been ridin' in a fast car
Burnin' dirty gas won't get you that far
I feel I've been ridin' up the wrong path
But I'm gonna make sure I get the last laugh
[Chorus]
Is there any possibility
You'll quit gossipin' about me
To hide your insecurities?
All you say is, "Blah, blah"
Girls, they never befriend me
'Cause I fall asleep when they speak
Of all the calories they eat
All they say is, "Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
((Is there any possibility, you'll quit gossipin' about me?))
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
((To hide your insecurities?))
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
(('Cause I fall asleep when they speak))
(Wag your tails, wag your tails to the beat)
"Na-na-na-na-na"
Is there any possibility, you'll quit gossipin' about me?
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis — All vocals
- Pascal Gabriel — All instruments
- Liam Howe — All instruments
Technical[]
- Produced by Pascal Gabriel and Liam Howe for This Much Talent
- Mixed by Marina Diamandis and Pascal Gabriel at Studio "La Ruine", Avignon, France
- Programmed and Engineered by Pascal Gabriel
- Recorded at Studio Eleven, London, UK
- Written by Marina Diamandis, Liam Howe and Pascal Gabriel
- Published by Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd / Sony ATV
- Mastered by Guy Davie at Electric Mastering, London
Registration[]
The song was registered once on ASCAP/BMI[11] and GEMA,[12] each time listing Liam Howe and Pascal Gabriel as co-writers.
On GEMA, the song is registered as Girls!!! with the alternate titles Girls and Girls ! ! !, while on ASCAP it is under Girls with the alternate title of Girls!!!.
References[]
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20081011214900/http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=85092104
- ↑ The Bowery Presents. "Marina & The Diamonds." Accessed May 14, 2013.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20090221052027/http://4ortherecord.com/Marina-and-the-DiamondsInterview.html
- ↑ Lilia Diu, Nisha. The Telegraph. "I'm Marina, You're the Diamonds." Accessed May 14, 2013.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/aFDC3HEdEUo?si=ZvGLtiuMjWGQJmGm&t=886
- ↑ https://marinatest.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/and-suddenly-it-all-makes-sense/#comment-338
- ↑ https://marinatest.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/take-ma-picture/#comment-152
- ↑ https://marinatest.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/take-ma-picture/#comment-153
- ↑ https://marinatest.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/bend-over-and-curtsy/
- ↑ https://marinatest.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/and-suddenly-it-all-makes-sense/
- ↑ Work ID:372069173
- ↑ https://online.gema.de/werke/search.faces?lang=en
GEMA work no.: 10545639-001
