I’ve always liked the Smithereens. They managed to breakthrough to the mainstream with this song and a few more.
Smithereens guitarist and singer Pat DiNizio wrote this as the theme song for the motion picture Say Anything, but DiNizio ultimately withheld the song from the project after he and the film’s producer disagreed on making certain changes to the song. The producer thought it gave away to much of the plot so DiNizio kept it for their next album.
Madonna was originally going to sing the harmony vocals, but failed to show up for the recording session. So the band got Maria Vidal to do the vocals.
This song peaked at #38 in the Billboard 100 and #62 in Canada. It also peaked at #2 in the Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1989. The song was on their third studio album named 11. The album peaked at #11 in the Billboard 100.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LwjD8z2mOg
A Girl Like You
I used to travel in the shadows
And I never found the nerve to try and walk up to you
But now I am a man and I know that there’s no time to waste
There’s too much to lose
Girl, you say anything at all, and you know that you can call
And I’ll be right there for you
First love, heartbreak, tough luck, big mistake
What else can you do
I’ll say anything you want to hear
I’ll see everything through
I’ll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you
People talk and people stare, tell them I don’t really care
This is the place I should be
And if they think it’s really strange for a girl like you
To be in love with someone like me
I want to tell them all to go to hell
That we’re doing very well without them you see
That’s just the way it is and they will see
I am yours and you are mine, the way it should be
I’ll say anything you want to hear
I’ll see everything through
I’ll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you
A girl like you, oh yeah
(Go!)
Now if I seem a little wild, there’s no holding back
I’m trying to get a message to you
I won’t take anything from anyone
I won’t walk and I won’t run, I believe in you
London, Washington, anywhere you are I’ll run
Together we’ll be
Inside, outside, got my pride
I won’t let ’em take you from me
I’ll say anything you want to hear
I’ll see everything through
I’ll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you
A girl like you, a girl like you
A girl like you, a girl like you, oh yeah
I’ll say anything (I’ll say anything)
I’ll take anything (I’ll take anything)
I’ll say anything, almost anything
Except goodbye
I’ll say anything (I’ll say anything)
I’ll take anything (I’ll take anything)
I’ll say anything, almost anything
Except goodbye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Girl_Like_You_(The_Smithereens_song)
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Love the Smithereens!! Another one of my favorite power pop bands. Interesting about the Madonna story – wonder how much higher the song might have charted if she had shown up.
Yea it would have helped them…in sales I’m sure.
I used to hear the name of the band, but not their music. This song definitely sounds like a theme song for a movie or TV show. It sounds nice and not edgy, i.e. no risk taking. It’s a shame it didn’t get used in the movie.
Their early music is more edgier…they were trying to get radio play at that time…but yea it is radio friendly.
I had a feeling that was the goal of this one, and not fully representative of what they would have wanted to play. Trying to get Madonna’s voice on it was a big clue. 😀 Too bad for them she was a no-show, but I probably like the recording better because of it.
Yea I agree…It was probably better without her but it probably would have sold more with her…
Hey Thats a great flashback track. These guys reminded me of if REM had cranked up there Amps to 11! lol
I dated a girl back in the late 80s who loved these guys. This was my intro to them and the other song ‘Behind the Wall of Sleep” I’m going on memory here lol
Good band to bad about the singer though..
lol…yea they had some music that was loud. Yea that was terrible about what happened to him…it seemed like over night.
They are a fun alternative band that actually made it on commercial radio.
Yep, “behind the Wall of Sleep” was another real good one from them, not a single but it could’ve been.
Underground that was Above Ground to me, LOL, I played those CDs (“Especially for You”, “Green Thoughts” and “Smithereens 11” )into the ground at the time. I was glad I heard this (still do now and again) on mainstream radio. Never knew about the Madonna near-miss… like you suggest, it might have charted up a few spots higher with her…MANY spots higher if she had also agreed to do a video for it with them. Pat D was an interesting guy with his failed political career and attempt to play pro baseball and so on, was gone too young.
Nice rocker Max.
My favourite kind of band … !
Glad you like them Bruce!
I always liked them. My fave from them was Only A Memory.
Man. WP is fucking up all over the place. Your post and my posts aren’t rendering worth a shit in the Reader or the app.
I like that one also… sometimes the paragraphs melt together.
The happiness engineers must be jacking with code, again…
Sounds cool, Max. Did you know that last year, The Smithereens issued a cover of The Beatles’ first single, featuring Andy White on drums? I just saw this coincidentally. It sounds pretty neat!
No I didn’t know that. I did hear their two Beatle cover albums…which were really cool.
I gotta look the Andy White one up
Here’s the background story from the Smithereens’ website. Apparently, they captured a take of “Love Me Do” at around the time they recorded their 2008 “B-Sides The Beatles” album. The recording of the tune wasn’t completely finsihed at the time and had been sitting in the band’s vault.
https://www.officialsmithereens.com/post/love-me-do—p-s-i-love-you-single-released
Thanks Christian. That was interesting. Now I’m going to listen…
That is great. It’s different but they captured the spirit of the original. That is so cool about White being on there and more than that…friends with the band.
Christian, I have their “B-Sides: The Beatles” album which is quite good.
Thanks, I’m going to check it out. 🙂
I only really know the name – I always assumed more of an alternative band, but I liked this and should check out more.
Good cut real good band.
I have their B-Sides the Beatles album and this one. I’ve worn the grooves off of this one. They are one band I was lucky enough to see in concert.
I mean one of the bands I was lucky enough to see.
I envy you…they have some great music. I love their Meet the Smithereens as well.
I think that was one the library didn’t have 🙁
Great song!
I loved it…thanks Jeff
Oh, man, what a song! What an album!
I caught these guys at Harpo’s in Detroit a looking time ago. I’ve got chills!
Thanx for the memories!
Thanks for commenting!