B-side "Love Groove" Label Innocent, Virgin | Genre Pop | |
Released 21 September 1998 (1998-09-21) Length 3:50 (main version)
3:37 (radio version) Writer(s) Dion Rambo, Jacques Richmond | ||
"Girlfriend" is a single released by Billie in 1998, from her debut album Honey to the B. It reached No. 1 in the UK, making her the youngest and first female solo singer to reach the top spot with her first two singles. A radio edit was released for the single which differs significantly from the album version. The Australian single has become one of Billie's rarest CD singles. The cover for the Australian single differs slightly, as on the UK cover it says "Includes Tin Tin Out Mix & Exclusive Track" while on the Australian cover it says "Includes Because We Want To". "Girlfriend / She Wants You" was the second single released from the Japanese edition, released almost a whole year after the previous single, "Because We Want To" was released.
Contents
On the American track listing for Honey to the B, the radio mix replaces the original album version.
The B-side "Love Groove" is also featured on Billie's debut album, Honey to the B.
Chart performance
"Girlfriend" was officially released in the United Kingdom on 21 September 1998. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 17 October 1998 at number one. It remained on the chart for twelve weeks and was certified silver. In Ireland, the track reached number twelve on the singles chart. "Girlfriend" debuted on the Swedish singles chart on 29 October 1998 at number thirty-seven. The following week it peaked at number twenty-two.
In Australia, "Girlfriend" debuted on the singles chart on 6 December 1998 at number forty-nine. Five weeks later, the song peaked at number thirty-five. The track debuted in New Zealand on 29 November 1998 at number three. It peaked at number two three weeks later and remained on the singles chart for eighteen weeks, Piper's most successful chart performance outside of the UK.
Music video
The video (directed by Phil Griffin) starts in an empty warehouse where several boys are skateboarding. Billie and her friends sit on a sofa, admiring them. They soon get up and sing the chorus of "Girlfriend". Another guy arrives in a truck and Billie plays a game of pool with him. The two continue spend time together until the video ends. Cut scenes of Billie and her girl friends dancing are seen during the chorus.
The video uses the single version (the radio mix) of the song rather than the original album version.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Girlfriend".
International CD single
(SINCD3; released September 21, 1998 (1998-09-21))
- "Girlfriend" (radio mix) – 3:55
- "Love Groove" (album version) – 4:29
- "Girlfriend" (Tin Tin Out mix) – 7:26
UK special edition CD 2
(SINDX3; released September 21, 1998 (1998-09-21))
- "Girlfriend" (radio mix) – 3:55
- "Girlfriend" (D-Influence Real Live mix) – 4:35
- "Girlfriend" (Sgt. Rock mix) – 6:17
- "Girlfriend" music video
UK Cassette
(SINC3; released September 21, 1998 (1998-09-21))
- "Girlfriend" (radio mix) – 3:55
- "Love Groove" – 4:29
- "Interview" – 10:18
Australian / New Zealand CD single
(7243-895497-2-0; released 1998)
- "Girlfriend" (radio mix) – 3:55
- "Love Groove" (album version) – 4:29
- "Girlfriend" (Tin Tin Out mix) – 7:26
- "Because We Want To" (radio mix) – 3:45
Japan "Girlfriend / She Wants You" CD single
- "Girlfriend" (radio mix)
- "Girlfriend" (D-Influence Real Live mix)
- "She Wants You" (album version)
- "She Wants You" (7" disco mix)
Italian 12" vinyl single
(7243 8 95319 6; released 1998)
UK 12" Vinyl Remixes Single
(SINTDJ3; Released 1998)
UK 7" promo vinyl
(SINLH3; Released 1998)
Personnel
The following people contributed to "Girlfriend":