“Girls”
Writers: The 1975
Original Release Date: November 11, 2013
If there’s one topic that is constantly talked about in songs, it’s girls. Which is why this week’s (Un)Covered is dedicated to the female species with these two excellent versions of the same song.
“Girls” is one of my favorite songs on The 1975’s debut—though, to be honest, I love 95% of the album, so it’s hard to really pick a “favorite”, simply because it’s so fun. The track has a little more of that 80’s poppiness that took over their sophomore release I like it when you sleep…, and I don’t think anyone is capable of sitting still through this. Like any good The 1975 song, the lyrics sound light-hearted but—if you can understand them—they tell an interesting story full of contradictions: he doesn’t want her because she’s too young, but he still can’t stay away. And that Prince-esque guitar riff is enough to keep anyone entertained if you decide to enjoy it on a surface level, without analyzing the words.
I’m sure by now you’ve heard (or at least heard of) Cameron Hurley’s Blink 182-style cover of “Girls”. Both Matty Healy and Mark Hoppus have given it their blessing, and it’s easy to hear why people are obsessed with it. For one thing, I can finally understand all the lyrics and don’t have to make up words to it anymore. For another, it’s a brilliant mixing of genres—it maintains The 1975’s suave sophistication, but gives it a playful spin, turning it into something that any pop-punk fan in the early 2000’s would have been proud to spin. It’s one of the smartest covers I’ve come across in the past year because it’s so different from the original.
https://twitter.com/Truman_Black/status/825103006068768768
This has been brought to my attention. @the1975 I think we should cover our/your/his song.https://t.co/4q2VaJLcJZ
— Mark, the Herald Angels Sing (@markhoppus) January 28, 2017
I don’t think you can really compare the songs because they’re the complete opposite of each other—sugary pop sounds vs pop-punk drum rolls—but I know I’ll be consistently listening to them both for a long time.