Girlfriend (Pebbles song)

"Girlfriend" is a song recorded by American singer Pebbles for her 1987 self-titled debut studio album. Written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, "Girlfriend" was released as the album's lead single on October 26, 1987, by the MCA label.

"Girlfriend"
Single by Pebbles
from the album Pebbles
ReleasedOctober 26, 1987
Recorded1987
GenreNew jack swing
Length6:43 (album version)
4:16 (single version)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • L.A. Reid
  • Babyface
Pebbles singles chronology
"Love/Hate"
(1987)		 "Girlfriend"
(1987)		 "Mercedes Boy"
(1988)

Background

The song was originally intended for Vanessa Williams' debut album The Right Stuff.[2] According to Reid, Williams' record label Wing showed interest in Williams' recording "Girlfriend", which Reid played for her alone in his apartment. However, Pebbles heard the song and offered Reid more money and two cars for the chance to record it.[3] As a result, the production team were not asked to work on more songs on Williams' debut. Reid said due to that incident, Williams never spoke to him again.[4]

Chart performance

"Girlfriend" became Pebbles' first top-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and first number one song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5] In the United Kingdom the single peaked at number eight, becoming Pebbles' only top-ten hit there.

Awards and accolades

"Girlfriend" earned Pebbles her first nomination for the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1989 Grammy Awards, losing to "Giving You the Best That I Got" by Anita Baker.[6]

Charts

Covers

Caramel version
"Girlfriend"
Single by Caramel
GenreUK garage
Length4:06
LabelBrothers
Songwriter(s)Kenneth Edmonds, Antonio Reid
Producer(s)Andy Lee, Pete Lee

UK garage duo Caramel released their version as a single in 1999, featuring Paule van Wijngaarden on vocals. It reached No. 9 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.

Track listing

UK CD single

  1. "Girlfriend" (Radio Mix) - 4:06
  2. "Voodoo Man" (Radio Mix) - 3:35
  3. "Girlfriend" (Master Mix) - 6:57
Charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Dance (OCC)[7] 9

Other versions
  • British band The Beautiful South also covered the song for their 1989 debut album Welcome to the Beautiful South.
  • Japanese singer Takako Ohta released her version from the 1989 album Thanks, sung in Japanese and English.
  • Girl group Rísquée recorded a version for their only album Risquing It All in 1999.
  • British singer Sinitta covered the song in 2016.

See also

References
  1. Author unknown (date unknown). Pebbles - Pebbles [self-titled album]. Discogs.com. Retrieved on 2010-06-06 from http://www.discogs.com/Pebbles-Pebbles/release/533153.
  2. Harris, Mark. "Vanessa Williams talks about her success". ew.com. Time Inc. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  3. Hunt, Dennis. "Pebbles Is Leaving No Stone Unturned". articles.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  4. Portwood, Jerry. "10 Things We Learned From L.A. Reid's Juicy Tell-All". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 454.
  7. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
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