September Gurls
"September Gurls" | |
---|---|
Single by Big Star | |
from the album Radio City | |
Released | August 1974[1] |
Recorded | 1973 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:41 |
Label | Ardent |
Songwriter(s) | Alex Chilton |
Producer(s) | John Fry and Big Star |
"September Gurls" is a song by the rock band Big Star. Written by Alex Chilton, it was featured on the group's second studio album Radio City. The track was released in 1974.
Background[]
The song was named in tribute to the Beach Boys' "California Girls".[4]
"September Gurls" was also released as a single.[5] While it never was a big seller, it is considered a classic song by publications such as Rolling Stone and Allmusic.[6][7]
The track was rated #180 by Rolling Stone in the magazine's top 500 songs of all time, and is described as a "power pop classic".[6]
Jason Ankeny of Allmusic describes the song as "sweetly gorgeous sound that's both familiar and novel; poignantly ragged and breathlessly reckless..." and says it "reveals a surprising tenderness, tempering its venom with achingly lovely vocals and sun-kissed harmonies".[7]
Novelist Michael Chabon calls the song "the pocket history of power pop" and claims that it is "the greatest number-one song that never charted".[8]
Covers[]
The Bangles released a cover of this song on their 1986 album Different Light. Other bands who have recorded the song include Superdrag[9] and The Searchers.[10]
Tributes[]
The title of Katy Perry's 2010 number one hit "California Gurls" was spelled thus as a tribute to Chilton and Big Star. Perry's manager is a fan of the band, and asked her to spell "girls" with a "u".[11]
References[]
- ^ "Big Star - September Gurls". Retrieved April 16, 2019 – via www.45cat.com.
- ^ Lester, Paul (February 11, 2015). "Powerpop: 10 of the best". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ LaBate, Steve (December 18, 2009). "Jangle Bell Rock: A Chronological (Non-Holiday) Anthology… from The Beatles and Byrds to R.E.M. and Beyond". Paste. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^ George-Warren, Holly (March 2014). A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton, from Box Tops to Big Star to Backdoor Man. Viking. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-670-02563-3.
- ^ Buskin, Richard (April 2006). "CLASSIC TRACKS: Big Star: 'September Gurls'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 9, 2004. Archived from the original on August 20, 2006. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ankeny, Jason. "September Gurls". Allmusic. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
- ^ "Michael Chabon - Tragic Magic". archive.is. April 11, 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ "superdrag.com". Retrieved January 2, 2009.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "allmusic ((( Love's Melodies > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
- ^ "Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' Is A Nod To ... Big Star?". mtv.com. May 13, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
12. Closterman, Chuck. (2016) But What If We're Wrong?. Penguin Publishing Group. E-book.
External links[]
- 1974 songs
- Songs written by Alex Chilton
- Big Star songs
- Ardent Records singles
- Musical tributes to the Beach Boys
- Songs about September
- Jangle pop songs
- 1970s rock song stubs