So Help Me Girl

"So Help Me Girl" is a song written by Howard Perdew and Andy Spooner, and recorded by American country music singer Joe Diffie. It was released in January 1995 as the third single from his fourth studio album, Third Rock from the Sun (1994). The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1]

"So Help Me Girl"
Single by Joe Diffie
from the album Third Rock from the Sun
B-side"The Cows Came Home"[1]
ReleasedJanuary 30, 1995
Recorded1994
GenreCountry
Length3:29
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner
Producer(s)Johnny Slate, Joe Diffie
Joe Diffie singles chronology
"Pickup Man"
(1994)		 "So Help Me Girl"
(1995)		 "I'm in Love with a Capital "U""
(1995)

Music video

The music video was directed by Gerry Wenner and premiered in early 1995.

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)[2] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 84
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] 2

Year-end charts
Chart (1995) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5] 57
US Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 41

Gary Barlow version
"So Help Me Girl"
Single by Gary Barlow
from the album Open Road
B-side"Million to One"
ReleasedJuly 11, 1997
Recorded1996
GenrePop
Length4:29
LabelSony BMG, Arista
Songwriter(s)Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner
Producer(s)David Foster
Gary Barlow singles chronology
"Love Won't Wait"
(1997)		 "So Help Me Girl"
(1997)		 "Open Road"
(1997)
Alternative cover
American Cover

"So Help Me Girl" was covered by Gary Barlow and released as the third single from his debut solo album Open Road (1997) in Europe on July 11, 1997, and as the lead single from the album in the United States on September 30, 1997. The single was released in 65 countries around the world and topped the charts in 13 countries.[7]

Background

Following the success of the album in the United Kingdom, 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."[8]

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.[9]

Track listings
UK CD1
  1. "So Help Me Girl" (4:28)
  2. "Million To One" (3:25)
  3. "Offer My Peace" (3:56)
  4. "So Help Me Girl" (C Swing Mix) (4:30)
UK CD2
  1. "So Help Me Girl" (4:28)
  2. "So Help Me Girl" (Peter Mokran Mix) (4:38)
  3. "Interview" (11:35)
Cassette / 7" Jukebox Vinyl
  1. "So Help Me Girl" (4:28)
  2. "Million To One" (3:25)
American Single
  1. "So Help Me Girl" (US Edit) (4:38)
  2. "Back For Good" (Live) (4:01)

Chart performance

The single achieved relative success through Europe, and peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. In America the single peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 58 on the US Billboard Radio Charts.[10]

Chart (1997) Peak
Position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 36
Belgium (Ultratip Vlaanderen)[12] 7
Europe (Top 100)[13] 41
Germany (Media Control AG)[14] 78
Irish Singles (IRMA)[15] 14
Japan (Oricon)[16] 7
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[17] 58
Scotland (OCC)[18] 13
Taiwan (IFPI)[19] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] 11
US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart[10] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 44
US R&R Chart[10] 1
US Billboard Radio Chart[10] 58

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9044." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 1, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  3. "Joe Diffie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  4. "Joe Diffie Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  5. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1995". RPM. December 18, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  6. "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  7. http://springbarrelsongpluggingservices.com/success.html Gary Barlow So Help Me Girl SpringBarrell Songwriter Services. Accessed 28/12/13
  8. "Single reviews". Billboard: 62. 16 August 1997.
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSoJ5uR1rqU Official Music Video of So Help Me Girl
  10. https://www.billboard.com/music/gary-barlow/chart-history/
  11. italiancharts.com - Gary Barlow - So Help Me Girl
  12. ultratop.be - Gary Barlow - So Help Me Girl
  13. "Billboard". 1997-08-02.
  14. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/BARLOW%2CGARY/?type=single German Music Archive.
  15. The Irish Charts - All there is to know
  16. Oricon Singles Chart Oricon Singles Chart (Retrieved 2 November 2012)
  17. dutchcharts.nl - Discografie Gary Barlow
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. IFPI Taiwan - Single Top 10 (1997/31)
  20. everyHit.com - UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts
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