"Girls" is a song by British girl group Sugababes for their sixth studio album Catfights and Spotlights (2008). It was written by band member Keisha Buchanan along with Anna McDonald and Nicole Jenkinson, while production was helmed by Si Hulbert and Melvin Kuiters. The song was released on 6 October 2008 as the lead single from Catfights and Spotlights. The song is built around an interpolation of "Here Come the Girls" (1970) by American singer Ernie K-Doe. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Allen Toussaint is also credited as a songwriter. In comparison to their previous lead singles, "Girls" saw more moderate success throughout Europe. It peaked at number three in their native United Kingdom and number five in Scotland, whilst reaching the top twenty in Ireland and Turkey as well as the top fifty in several countries including Slovakia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. "Girls" is used as the one of two theme songs of Dagens Mand, the Danish version of Taken Out.

Release and reception

"Girls" received positive reviews from critics. Nick Levine from Digital Spy stated that "Around it they've built a brassy, funky, Ronsonish pop song with lyrics that push all the usual female empowerment buttons. The result is smart, catchy and very, very 2008 – and it sounds pretty good on the radio too. But it's also the first lead single from a Sugababes album that it's difficult to get excited about". Lucy Davies from BBC Music found that the song has them "happily stomp their attitudes all over it until you can't remember it being anyone else's." Two weeks prior to its physical release, "Girls" debuted at nine on the UK Singles Chart, solely based on downloads. The following week, it rose to four, before eventually reaching its peak of three for the week of 13 October 2008, becoming Sugababes' first lead single from a studio album to not top the chart since their debut single "Overload" in 2000. In Ireland, the song peaked at number 12 on the Irish Singles Chart. Though "Girls" was not officially released in the United States, it was used in commercials to promote American shoe store Payless and the department store J. C. Penney in 2009.

Music video

The music video for "Girls" was filmed on 28 August 2008, and directed by Daniel Wolfe, The video premiered on 4Music and Channel 4 on 6 September 2008. While Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack contestant Latoya Satnarine is featured in a cameo appearance, Buchanan invited her boyfriend Dean Thomas to star in a supporting role in the video. After recruiting female fans to star in the video, producers denied accusations they were being unfair by failing to pay those who starred in the video. A spokesman for the band later stated: "No professional dancers are being asked to do anything for free. This is an opportunity for people who don’t dance for a living but who fancy their chances."

Formats and track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Catfights and Spotlights.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history