It’s Different For Girls
Encyclopedia
"It’s Different for Girls" is a song by Joe Jackson
. Versions have been recorded and released by several different artists.
Typically for Joe Jackson, the lyrics contain a twist in that, while originally sounding as if the song would suggest that the male protagonist was looking for sex and his female partner was looking for love, the opposite is eventually revealed to be the case.
, "It's Different for Girls" was Joe Jackson's biggest UK
chart
single
, peaking at number five in the UK Singles Chart
. The song was backed with a live cover of the Chuck Berry
song "Come On
".
The song opens with a simple repeated two-note pattern on guitar which is quickly joined by a pulse on bass and drums. The verses remain quiet, with these instruments and the singer's voice being the main components. A bridge leading from the verse to the chorus changes the dynamic with its strident two beats on the lyrics "she said", before returning to a quieter (though not as quiet as the verse) chorus, which is driven by a guitar motif and slow arpeggiated
guitar pattern, over which the voice floats in a more complex melody before returning to the ortiginal two-note guitar and bass pulse of the introduction. Unlike many of Jackson's later songs, he plays no instruments, keyboards being absent from the track.
Apart from appearing as a single and on the album I'm the Man, "It's Different for Girls" has also appeared on other Joe Jackson albums. A live version appeared on Live 1980/86
in 1987, having been recorded on Jackson's Big World tour in 1986. A different live version appeared on the 2000 album Summer in the City: Live in New York
. The original version of the song was also included on Jackson's 1990 compilation Stepping Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson and again on the 1997 compilation This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979–1989). "Come On" was released as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of I'm the Man - prior to this it had not been released on any album.
.
single, and was released in 2008. It is the group's only cover version to date.
Joe Jackson (musician)
Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter now living in Berlin, whose five Grammy Award nominations span from 1979 to 2001...
. Versions have been recorded and released by several different artists.
Typically for Joe Jackson, the lyrics contain a twist in that, while originally sounding as if the song would suggest that the male protagonist was looking for sex and his female partner was looking for love, the opposite is eventually revealed to be the case.
Joe Jackson original version
Taken from the 1979 album I'm the ManI'm the Man (Joe Jackson album)
I'm the Man is Joe Jackson's second album, released in October 1979. Critically, the album was considered a continuation of Look Sharp!, an opinion shared by Jackson himself...
, "It's Different for Girls" was Joe Jackson's biggest UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, peaking at number five in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The song was backed with a live cover of the Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
song "Come On
Come On (Chuck Berry song)
"Come On" is a song written and first released by Chuck Berry in 1961. The Rolling Stones released a version as their debut single in 1963.According to the liner notes from the Berry compilation album The Great Twenty-Eight, the performers on the record were as follows:* Chuck Berry: Guitars and...
".
The song opens with a simple repeated two-note pattern on guitar which is quickly joined by a pulse on bass and drums. The verses remain quiet, with these instruments and the singer's voice being the main components. A bridge leading from the verse to the chorus changes the dynamic with its strident two beats on the lyrics "she said", before returning to a quieter (though not as quiet as the verse) chorus, which is driven by a guitar motif and slow arpeggiated
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
guitar pattern, over which the voice floats in a more complex melody before returning to the ortiginal two-note guitar and bass pulse of the introduction. Unlike many of Jackson's later songs, he plays no instruments, keyboards being absent from the track.
Apart from appearing as a single and on the album I'm the Man, "It's Different for Girls" has also appeared on other Joe Jackson albums. A live version appeared on Live 1980/86
Live 1980/86
Live 1980/86 is a Joe Jackson double live album, released in May 1988. It was recorded during the 1980 Beat Crazy tour, the 1982-83 Night and Day tour, the 1984 Body & Soul tour, and the 1986 Big World tour.-Disc 1:...
in 1987, having been recorded on Jackson's Big World tour in 1986. A different live version appeared on the 2000 album Summer in the City: Live in New York
Summer in the City: Live in New York
Summer in the City: Live in New York is a live album, produced by Joe Jackson and Sheldon Steiger.With semi-classical pieces on his previous three recordings, Jackson proved he had not abandoned pop altogether in June 2000, with this issue, an album drawn from an August 1999 concert...
. The original version of the song was also included on Jackson's 1990 compilation Stepping Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson and again on the 1997 compilation This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979–1989). "Come On" was released as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of I'm the Man - prior to this it had not been released on any album.
Personnel
- Joe Jackson – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Gary Sanford – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Graham MabyGraham MabyGraham Maby , is a bass guitar player. He has recorded and toured with Joe Jackson since his first album, appearing on most of Jackson's albums and tours. He has continued to record and tour with Jackson even while working with other artists.In the early '90s he toured with Graham Parker, Garland...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - David Houghton – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals
Farrah version
The song was recorded by Farrah, and released as a track on their 2004 album Me TooMe Too (album)
Me Too is the second album released by UK band Farrah.- Track listing :#Tongue Tied#Daytime TV#He Gives an Inch#The One That Got Away#This Is My Life#Hopelessly Devoted#First and Last#It's Different for Girls#Half as Strong#Wake Up...
.
Siskin version
"It's Different for Girls" was the first SiskinSiskin (band)
Siskin are a British pop music duo. The ensemble consists of Galen Ayers, daughter of musician Kevin Ayers, and Kirsty Newton. Galen Ayers lists her contributions as “vocals, guitars, lyrics, elegance” and credits her friend and fellow singer-songwriter Kirsty Newton with “keys, bass, vocals,...
single, and was released in 2008. It is the group's only cover version to date.