"A Girl Like You"
Single by Edwyn Collins
from the album Gorgeous George
B-side"If You Could Love Me"
Released5 December 1994 (1994-12-05)
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length3:59
LabelSetanta
Songwriter(s)Edwyn Collins
Producer(s)Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Collins singles chronology
"If You Could Love Me"
(1995) 		"A Girl Like You"
(1994) 		"Make Me Feel Again"
(1995)
Music video
"A Girl Like You" on YouTube

"A Girl Like You" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Edwyn Collins from his third solo studio album, Gorgeous George (1994). The song samples the drum track of Len Barry's single "1-2-3" (1965).[2] It was released as a single in December 1994 by Setanta Records and became a worldwide hit, reaching number one in Flanders and Iceland and peaking within the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In North America, "A Girl Like You" reached number 16 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 28 on the US Cash Box Top 100. There were different versions of the music video made for the song, directed by John Flansburgh and Gavin Evans.

Background and production

Collins said the song was about a "mystical girl".[3] The Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook performed on the recording.[4] The song had started out as "a more thrashy kind of guitar thing" and there had been a suggestion that Iggy Pop might record a version for the US market but before that could happen Collins' version was gaining airplay.[5]

Critical reception

Steve Baltin from Cash Box felt that Collins "has one of the year’s more surprising hits with this very Bowie-esque song that’s been all over Modern Rock for the past month." He added, "Slightly funky and very catchy, “A Girl Like You” is a track that will get under your skin."[6] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton declared it as "magical", noting that here "hardcore Northern Soul meets the 1990s to delicious effect."[7] Cathi Unsworth from Melody Maker viewed it as a "John Barry-spiked thriller" and a "little mystery", where "Collins sings with demonic relish over creepy jazz piano and fretful guitars. Overtly cool."[8] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, commenting, "Ignored by the UK last November but scoring throughout the rest of Europe, the white-soul-swinging track gets a timely re-release."[9] Keith Cameron from NME called it a "flared nostril Motown-patented stomp".[10]

Another NME editor, Mark Sutherland, wrote, "So while, to us, the chart success of "A Girl Like You" may seem but a curious sideshow to the whole Britpop fandango, to Edwyn it must surely be glorious vindication: proof positive that the world will listen. Even if Belgium, where "A Girl Like You" reached Number One FIRST time around, has to lead the way." Sutherland also felt that its "mix of pop classicism and indie off-kilterness is a great deal more at home in a Top 40 where something as bonkers as Robson & Jerome rules the roost."[11] Charles Aaron from Spin commented that here, Collins "opens his throat (and maybe even his heart), crooning with what sounds like aching conviction, "You've made me acknowledge the devil in me / I hope to God I'm talkin' metaphorically." The production is irresistibly off-beat with Spectorish drums, tinkling vibes, laconically searing fuzz guitar and squishy faux-turntable scratches. Plus, I love the way he pronounces "protest singers" (rhymes with "Miss Otis lingers")."[12]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Gold 35,000^
France (SNEP)[50] Silver 125,000*
Germany (BVMI)[51] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Gold 400,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia 5 December 1994 CD: CD1
[53]
12 December 1994 CD: CD2 [54]
United Kingdom 5 June 1995
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Setanta [55]
Japan 6 December 1995 CD Rail [56]

Appearances

The song appeared on the soundtrack of the 1995 film Empire Records[57] and on that of 2003 film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.[58] It was featured in season 1, episode 5 of Lucifer ("Sweet Kicks"),[59] and in the 2022 horror film Goodnight Mommy. It plays over the end credits in season 5, episode 7 of The Crown.[60] Sabrina Spellman and her date Chad Corey Dylan dance to this song in season 1, episode 5 of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch ("Dream Date"[61]) as well as Ted Lasso in Season 3.

See also

References

  1. ^ McGovern, Kyle (18 August 2014). "100 Best Alternative rock songs of 1994". Spin. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ MacGregor, David (9 December 2013). "Baubles, Labels, and Sliding Doors: Kid Canaveral interview Edwyn Collins". The Skinny. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You (Making Tracks, 27.02.2002)" – via www.youtube.com.
  4. ^ Fulton, Rick (11 March 2020). "Sex Pistols' drummer Paul Cook rules out reunion of iconic punk band". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  5. ^ Love, Damien (20 October 1995). "Poor old northern soul". The List. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  6. ^ Baltin, Steve (7 October 1995). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  7. ^ Masterton, James (11 June 1995). "Week Ending June 17th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  8. ^ Unsworth, Cathi (3 June 1995). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Reviews > Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 May 1995. p. 38. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  10. ^ Cameron, Keith (3 June 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 45. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  11. ^ Sutherland, Mark (22 July 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 46. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  12. ^ Aaron, Charles (September 1995). "Singles". Spin. p. 114. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2827." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2799." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  19. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 37. 16 September 1995. p. 18. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 37. 16 September 1995. p. 16. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Edwyn Collins: A Girl Like You" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  22. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  23. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  24. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (30.7. '95 – 5.8. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 29 July 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  25. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Edwyn Collins". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  26. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  27. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  28. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  29. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  31. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  32. ^ "Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  33. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  34. ^ a b "Gorgeous George – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  35. ^ "Edwyn Collins Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  36. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending NOVEMBER 11, 1995". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  38. ^ a b "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 18 August 2016 – via Imgur.
  39. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  40. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  41. ^ "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  42. ^ "1995 in Review – Year End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. 23 December 1995. p. 14. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  43. ^ "Classement Singles – année 1995". Disque en France (in French). Archived from the original on 14 February 2009.
  44. ^ "Jahrescharts – 1995". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  45. ^ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  46. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 1995" (in Swedish). Topplistan. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  47. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  48. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  49. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. 23 December 1995. p. YE-77.
  50. ^ "French single certifications – Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You" (in French). InfoDisc. Select EDWYN COLLINS and click OK. 
  51. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Edwyn Collins; 'A Girl Like You')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  52. ^ "British single certifications – Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  53. ^ "New Releases – Product Available from: 05/12/94". ARIA. Retrieved 18 August 2016 – via Imgur.
  54. ^ "New Releases – Product Available from: 12/12/94". ARIA. Retrieved 18 August 2016 – via Imgur.
  55. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 3 June 1995. p. 35.
  56. ^ "ガール・ライク・ユー | エドウィン・コリンズ" [Girl Like You | Edwyn Collins] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  57. ^ Borzillo, Carrie (5 August 1995). "A&M soundtrack plants hopes with the Gin Blossoms". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 31. p. 103. ISSN 0006-2510.
  58. ^ "Various - Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle - Music From The Motion Picture". Discogs. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  59. ^ "Listen to Edwyn Collins 'A Girl Like You' from 'Lucifer'". Leo Sigh. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  60. ^ "The Crown No Woman's Land". IMDb. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  61. ^ "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Dream Date". IMDb. Retrieved 5 July 2023.

External links

Edwyn Collins
Authority control databases
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