"Girlfriend"
Single by Billie
from the album Honey to the B
B-side"Love Groove"
Released5 October 1998 (1998-10-05)
Studio
GenrePop
Length
  • 3:50 (main version)
  • 3:37 (radio version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Dion Rambo
  • Jacques Richmond
Producer(s)
Billie singles chronology
"Because We Want To"
(1998)		 "Girlfriend"
(1998)		 "She Wants You"
(1998)

"Girlfriend" is a song by English singer and actress Billie, released in October 1998 as the second single from her debut album, Honey to the B (1998). It reached number one in the United Kingdom, making her the youngest and first female solo singer to reach the top spot with her first two singles. Outside the UK, "Girlfriend" peaked at number two in New Zealand and reached the top 20 in Ireland. 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 included on Honey to the B.

Release

"Girlfriend" was released in the United Kingdom on 5 October 1998 as two CD singles and a cassette single.[1] A radio edit with additional production by Cutfather & Joe 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 on 10 March 1999.[2]

Chart performance

"Girlfriend" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 11 October 1998 at number one.[3] It remained on the chart for 12 weeks and was certified silver.[4] In Ireland, the track reached number 12 on the Irish Singles Chart.[5] "Girlfriend" debuted on the Swedish Singles Chart at number 37 on 29 October 1998.[6] The following week, it peaked at number 22.[6] In Australia, "Girlfriend" debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number 49 on 6 December 1998.[7] Five weeks later, it peaked at number 35.[7] The track debuted in New Zealand on 29 November 1998 at number three.[8] It reached number two, its highest position, three weeks later and remained on the New Zealand Singles Chart for 18 weeks.[8]

Music video

The video (directed by Phil Griffin[9]) starts in an empty warehouse where several teenage 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. Cutscenes of Billie and her girl friends dancing are seen during the chorus. The video uses the single version of the song rather than the original album version.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Honey to the B album booklet.[15]

Studios

Personnel

  • Dion Rambo – writing
  • Jacques Richmond – writing
  • Billie Piper – vocals
  • Wendy Page – backing vocals, vocal arrangement, production
  • Jim Marr – keyboards, programming, production
  • Yak Bondy – additional programming
  • Pete Craigie – recording, mixing
  • Steve Cooper – assistant engineering (Ridge Farm)
  • Michelle Barry – assistant engineering (Marcus)
  • Matt Tait – assistant engineering (Metropolis)

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[4] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 3 October 1998. p. 25. Retrieved 6 July 2021. Misprinted as 5 September.
  2. ↑ "ガールフレンド | ビリー" [Girlfriend | Billie] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 "British single certifications – Billie – Girlfriend". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  5. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Girlfriend". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "Billie – Girlfriend". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "Billie – Girlfriend". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 "Billie – Girlfriend". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Girlfriend" by Billie (mvdbase.com)
  10. ↑ Girlfriend (UK CD1 liner notes). Billie. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 1998. SINCD3, 7243 895319 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Girlfriend (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Billie. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 1998. 9531923.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Girlfriend (UK CD2 liner notes). Billie. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 1998. SINDX3, 7243 895319 0 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Girlfriend (UK cassette single sleeve). Billie. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 1998. SINC3, 7243 8 95319 4 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Girlfriend (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Billie. EMI Music Australia. 1998. 7243895497 2 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Honey to the B (UK CD album booklet). Billie. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 1998. CDSIN1, 7243 8 46614 0 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 44. 31 October 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  17. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn (5.11–12.11. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 6 November 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  19. ↑ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  20. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Billie – Girlfriend". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
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