So Help Me Girl
Encyclopedia
"So Help Me Girl" is the title of a song written by Howard Perdew and Andy Spooner, and recorded by country music
singer Joe Diffie
. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and #84 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and is included on his album Third Rock from the Sun.
and released as the third single from his debut solo album Open Road in Europe on July 11, 1997, and as the lead single from the album in the United States
on September 30, 1997.
, Barlow signed a record deal with Arista records for the album to be released in America. He reworked the album for the American market and subsequently released a remixed version of "So Help Me Girl" as the lead single there. Billboard gave the American version a positive review, saying that it did not stray from Barlow's work in the group Take That
. He also praised Barlow's "boyish teen-idol charm" and "flexible tenor."
UK CD2
Cassette / 7" Jukebox Vinyl
American Single
. In America the single peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, #44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #58 on the US Billboard Radio Charts.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Joe Diffie
Joe Diffie
Joe Logan Diffie is an American country music singer known for his ballads and novelty songs. Between 1990 and 2004, Diffie charted 35 cuts on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including five number one singles: his debut release "Home", "If the Devil Danced ", "Third Rock from the Sun",...
. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and #84 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and is included on his album Third Rock from the Sun.
Chart positions
"So Help Me Girl" debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of February 4, 1995.| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... ) |
1 |
Gary Barlow version
"So Help Me Girl" was covered by Gary BarlowGary Barlow
Gary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and record producer. He is frontman and lead vocalist of pop group Take That and is currently the head judge on the eighth series of The X Factor. Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters...
and released as the third single from his debut solo album Open Road in Europe on July 11, 1997, and as the lead single from the album in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on September 30, 1997.
Background
Following the success of the album in the United KingdomUnited 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...
, Barlow signed a record deal with Arista records for the album to be released in America. He reworked the album for the American market and subsequently released a remixed version of "So Help Me Girl" as the lead single there. Billboard gave the American version a positive review, saying that it did not stray from Barlow's work in the group Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
. He also praised Barlow's "boyish teen-idol charm" and "flexible tenor."
Music video
Two music videos were released for So Help Me Girl. The first video, accompanying the European release of the single, features Barlow taking a girl home after a night out, and waking up the next morning and realising that he has cheated on his girlfriend. He performs the majority of the song in the bedroom, before moving to a piano for the final scenes, which depict a fight between his girlfriend and the girl he took home. The second video, accompanying the American release of the single, begins with Barlow sitting alone on a bridge and throwing a rose into the water below, whilst a mysterious woman looks on. He then continues to perform the song whilst looking through the windows of a darkened house, where he spots a young girl. The video continues with Barlow walking through a lighted tunnel of moving cars, before returning to the house and performing the final line of the song to the girl personally.Track listings
UK CD1- "So Help Me Girl" (4:28)
- "Million To One" (3:25)
- "Offer My Peace" (3:56)
- "So Help Me Girl" (C Swing Mix) (4:30)
UK CD2
- "So Help Me Girl" (4:28)
- "So Help Me Girl" (Peter Mokran Mix) (4:38)
- "Interview" (11:35)
Cassette / 7" Jukebox Vinyl
- "So Help Me Girl" (4:28)
- "Million To One" (3:25)
American Single
- "So Help Me Girl" (US Edit) (4:38)
- "Back For Good" (Live) (4:01)
Chart performance
The single achieved relative success through Europe, and peaked at #11 on the UK Singles ChartUK 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 ...
. In America the single peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, #44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #58 on the US Billboard Radio Charts.
| Chart (1997) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... ) |
36 |
| Germany (Media Control AG Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... ) |
35 |
| Irish Singles (IRMA IRMA IRMA may refer to:* Institute of Rural Management, Anand, a management school for rural development in the state of Gujarat, India* International Recording Media Association*International Rectal Microbicide Advocates... ) |
14 |
| Latvia (EHR European Hit Radio European Hit Radio is one of the very first commercial radio stations in Baltic States. This radio focuses on reflecting the current situation in European music charts... ) |
2 |
| Netherlands(Mega Single Top 100 Mega Single Top 100 The Single Top 100 is a Dutch chart, based on official physical single sales and legal downloads and composed by MegaCharts. It is one of the three official charts, the other two being the Dutch Top 40 and the Mega Top 50. The difference is that these charts also include airplay data.The list is... ) |
58 |
| UK Singles Chart (The Official Charts Company) | 11 |
| US (Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart) | 3 |
| US (Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... ) |
44 |
| US (R&R Chart) | 1 |
| US (Billboard Radio Chart) | 58 |