JESSIE'S
GIRL
(words and music by Rick Springfield)
Jessie is a friend
Yea I know he's been a good friend of mine
But lately something's changed
It ain't hard to define
Jessie's got himself a girl
And I wanna make her mine
And she's watching him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night
You know I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
Where can I find a woman like that
I play along with the charade
There doesn't seem to be a reason to change
You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably moot
'Cause she's watching him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night
You know I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
Like Jessie's Girl
I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
Where can I find a woman
Where can I find a woman like that
And I'm lookin' in the mirror all the time
Wondering what she don't see in me
I've been funny I've been cool with the lines
Ain't that the way love's supposed to be
Tell me where can I find a woman like that
You know I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
I want Jessie's Girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
Like Jessie's Girl
I wish that I had Jessie's Girl
I want, I want Jessie's Girl
(total playing time: 3:14)
A cover Version of
Jessie's Girl
Rick Won a Grammy
for Jessie's Girl for "Best Rock Male Performance". This song reached Number One
on the billboard charts following its March 28, 1981 release. Jessie's Girl remained on
the charts for 32 weeks. It also went to No. 10 on the Mainstream Rock
Charts. This was the last song to reach the top position without
the help of MTV.
Rick, of course,
continues to perform this song live at his concerts, and even included a portion of it in
his Las Vegas show, EFX ALIVE
Jessie's Girl
appears on the following releases:
Working Class Dog, Alive - Greatest Hits, Karma Japanese release (acoustic version), Best
of Rick Springfield, The Best of Rick Springfield (Jpn), Best 21 (Jpn), Calling All Girls, Greatest Hits, Ultimate Collection, Boogie
Nights Soundtrack, Encore Collection, Anthology (import), Rick Springfield Collection (VH1),
Legendary, Platinum & Gold, Anthology (written in rock), We Are The
80's, Working Class Dog Expanded Edition, and
many other "various artists" compilation cd's.
Rick performed this
song on the Live and Kickin Special and for the video release of Beat of the Live Drum.
When Jessie's Girl came out I was like 8/9 years
old. The first time I heard it I LOVED it! Every time the song came on I would turn it up
and sing real LOUD! And when I saw the video *THUD* I was all " I wanna be
her!!!" I want him to want me! Of course at that age all I wanted was for him to put
his arm around me & kiss me, close mouthed - LOL One of my older brothers kinda
looked like Rick in a sorta related to him kinda way. He used to do the mirror thing in
the bathroom & take his guitar & pretend to smash the mirror. I would always tell
him to dream on. But now since I haven't seen my brother in years, it makes me smile to
think about these times when I hear JG playing when I am at home doing nothing but
listening to music.
It was this same brother who had bought tickets
to take me to see Rick in San Diego, but the show was cancelled :( Broke my little 9 year
old heart! But I did get lots of Rick loot in place of!
I wasn't really a big fan of
this song for a long time. Obviously when it came out, that was what grabbed me. I didn't
know ANY of his previous stuff up to that point. Then came the point where it was
all radio played if anything at all, and I hated that because it only fed the "didn't
he have just that one hit" comments from everyone. So frustrating.
Now I have regained a new appreciation for the song from the live performances. The energy
released from the crowd when that song begins is incredible. That is the one song that for
sure everyone there knows and everyone gets into it. Then of course there are the little
tidbits that Rick has added to the song like the heavy breathing(Oh MAN!) and when he
sometimes comes back into the song with that gravely voice (Good GOD!). Makes the song a
little "new" again and really gives you something to look forward to when he
gets to those parts :o)
As for the lyrics themselves. You definitely get that non-confident vibe from Rick. On one
hand you feel he likes this girl and would never make a move on her because she is the
buddy's girlfriend, but then you also get the feeling he would never make a move on her
because he doesn't feel she would go for him. He feels he doesn't have what it takes for
her to like him. A very insecure vibe.
Listening to that song as a
teenager kind of gave me a sense that I wasn't alone, that someone else feels the same way
I do. For so long you think you're the only one, and then here's this really hot, super
sexy guy singing about a girl he can't have. It speaks so perfectly of how you long for
someone who doesn't even notice you and you sit and wonder and you do stare in the mirror
for hours (literally) wondering why. |
|
This is probably the first Rick song I ever heard.....and what led me to buy the WCD
album. You never forget your first.....so this one holds a special place in my
heart. I love the way he sings "those eyes" from the line "she's
watching him with those eyes". It's always done something to me! I really like
Rick's guitar playing in this song. I liked it when I first heard it and I like it
now--especially live.
Something else I always associate with this song is watching the Jessie's Girl video.
There was something about the way Rick seemed to look right at you from the TV with that
intense look of his. I thought I was going to melt! (Okay, I'll let you in on a little
secret.....Rick still has the ability to bring on that melting feeling!)
I was never a giant fan of this
song....but I am grateful for it because it was the start of something much bigger!!!
My favorite line has always been "and he's holding her in his arms late, late
at night". Whew.
There is NOTHING like seeing Rick perform JG live...it is the best. I always picture
him in his pink sport coat with the black stripes in it with (was it a mint green skinny
tie?) accepting his Grammy for this song.....the beginning of a different chapter in his
life....and mine!!!!!
I was actually thinking about
how in the same way that Ron Howard will pretty much always be known for his role as Opie,
even though he's directed several really good films, Rick will always be associated with
the song Jessie's Girl (and maybe for being Dr Noah Drake), even though he had several
other top 40 hits, and several multi platinum selling cd's.
Rick had a choice to either try to run from that, like David Cassidy ran from the
Partridge Family and so many others who have run from their most defining moments, or he
could embrace it. Although I believe he went through a period of trying to escape from his
past, I think he has come full circle and is embracing his past, and accepting that he
will always be known for the song Jessie's Girl.
First a little background on hearing it for the
first time.... I totally remember where I was when I heard JG for the first time. I was in
my bedroom with my 'boom box' turned up loud....I was supposed to be cleaning my room.
Then I heard this voice....& started dancing around to this great new song...then they
said it was Rick Springfield. So of course I had to look for pictures of Rick to put all
over my bedroom....asked my mom to buy me the teen magazines, but she said that if I
wanted them that I had to use my own money. So I saved my allowance money & began my
new hobby. Every time I heard JG after that I remember taping the song off the radio &
trying to write down all the words so I could sing along. Finally I had it down, dancing
on my bed with my hairbrush performing...thinking about how dreamy this guy was &
wishing that I could be Jessie's Girl cuz I would take Rick in a heartbeat!!!
Like many...this is where it all began for me. I
remember my dad asking me how many times I was gonna listen to the song over & over
again. I would have it on all the time. I remember having little fantasies about being
that girl... but going with Rick & living happily ever after. One thing I love about
this song now is the fact that Rick stills performs it at all his shows. There are other
groups that I have followed through the years...going to concerts...& some seem to
forget about where it all began. Ya know what I mean? They don't play the songs that
started them out. It's all about the new stuff. Anyway, the line that always got me
was---Why can't I find a woman like that---where was he looking? Not in the little town of
Dyer, Indiana, that's for sure, cuz I was there!!! To me, this was really the start of my
music collecting, sure I had other albums, but Rick was always my favorite. My first time
seeing him live....performing this favorite song of mine...what a great night. That was
actually my first contact with "Da Man" too. For my 13th birthday my mom
surprised me with concert tickets to Rick. My birthday was in June but the concert wasn't
til August....I know I have my ticket stub still probably in a box somewhere...the date
was in the 20's....right around his birthday. My mom gave me this small box, I opened it
& saw the tickets & started crying. Then I looked at them closer only to find out
that they were 4th row center!! My mom & dad were concert goers....they had season
tickets to a bunch of shows at the Poplar Creek Outdoor Amphitheater every year & they
were always 4th row center. So I had to wait 2 months but man was it worth it, by this
time Bop 'Til You Drop had come out too which I loved from the first time I heard it also
so I was very excited. So I put my favorite black parachute pants on (don't laugh) &
my favorite red shirt & away we went. Of course when we got there I found out that
they sold shirts so I begged my mom & got my very first Rick shirt---a turquoise blue
half shirt & put it on right away. Back to the show.....how awesome this was....mom
somehow moved us to the front right up against the stage & when Rick started Jessie's
Girl I squealed. He was singing & dancing all over the stage then he went down the
line smacking people's hands & he hit mine!! I was on cloud 9.....for weeks.....I
literally didn't wash my hand for weeks either....I had my mom save me a bread bag to
cover it when I took a bath or a shower!! All the lyrics.....here is this guy wanting to
be with this girl who happens to be his best friends girl. At the young age of 12 & 13
I can recall thinking, how sad. Poor Rick. Looking in the mirror, thinking he is
inadequate in some way....why won't this girl look at me the same way she looks at him.
Trying his hardest to be cool, funny.....but nothing in return from this girl. Having to
just continue on with this 'crush' with no response......UGH. I think I'm gonna cry right
now...LOL.
Okay I think I am done......kinda got off on a
tangent there but had to tell my full story to complete the review....YES I AM A GEEK
Kerry! Hope I didn't sound too dumb. If you read through all of this you are a saint &
welcome for sharing on the whole thing......take care everyone...
This is where it all began for me. I cannot
specifically remember the exact day or time when I first heard this song, and I wish for
the life of me I could remember that moment..but it has kinda blended in with Rick
being Dr Noah Drake at the time and MTV being brand spankin' new...so much was happening
in my life in 1981 and I was 12 going on 13 years old at that time. Ahhh puberty -
with Rick Springfield to guide me into it.
I still get chills every single freakin' time I hear the start up notes of this song.
Especially when I catch it at the beginning on the radio, totally not expecting to hear
it. Then it's fabulous. Of course, this was more of an occurrence in the 80's then
now, so I really get excited when I catch it playing on the radio today. I never get tired
of hearing this song, even now. I'm so glad Rick treats it like it was his child,
that he respects what it means for him and for the fans. I'm doubly glad he is not tired
of performing it after 20+ years (gasp! I always regretted the day when I was going to be
able to say that phrase).
I'd like to thank Rick right here and now for this song. For wanting Jessie's Girl, not
Jessie's Woman...not wanting to f*ck Jessie's Girl...for being the clean cut looking, suit
wearing, gorgeous to the max (oh I haven't used THAT phrase in a while) guy in this song.
My parents approved of his look, of his suggestive tactics in the song...the fact that he
didn't come right out and say WHY he wanted that girl. This was a big deal for a newly
teenaged girl. (as opposed to why I wasn't allowed to buy Prince records or why I had to
sneak off to his shows, but that's another email/review).
Thanks Rick for sounding like the guy I wanted to marry, even if it didn't end up being
you. I wanted to find this girl and point out to her how dumb she was! I wanted to tell
Rick *I* could be a woman like that....
To point out how obsessed I was with this song, I wish I could show you my high school
memorabilia. My mother saved practically everything from back then, and I just recently
went thru some of it. All of my folders for classes back then have written on them "I
wish that I was Jessie's Girl," and "I love (heart) Rick
Springfield". Oh, and my favorite - Mrs. Rick Springfield. LOL. My senior year (1987)
I had one of my pictures taken with a Rick shirt on (yes, my mother was horrified),
and one of my classmates recorded us on graduation day asking what we wanted to accomplish
in the next ten years. I replied "To spend 24 hours with Rick Springfield" -
then there's laughing in the background and I say - "Didn't you know I'm Jessie's
Girl? I've come to my senses, I'm going to L.A. to find Rick." I
completely forgot about this moment until my 10 year reunion and it was replayed
then. I wish I could have done it in 10 years, but in 1998 I did get to spend a whole
weekend with Rick (well okay, his family and dozens of other Rick fans were there too) but
I did technically accomplish my task, just not in the "way" I had intended in
1987. This song was played at my wedding reception in 1990. In 1992, when I was going thru
a very difficult delivery of my son, the anesthesiologist was trying to get my mind off of
what was happening and asked me what my favorite song was. I said "JG" to which
he grinned and said, "I know that one". The whole delivery room was singing it
as my son came into the world. Also, this is the first song my son was able to sing along
with every word by the time he was two. I did not set out to teach him this song, it was
just pointed to me that I was playing waaayy too much Rick when I noticed he could sing
all the words. It is a treasured video in my family though, of him standing in our living
room with his play guitar, singing JG. Although hearing the words "...and she's
loving him with that body, I just know it" coming out of a 2 year olds mouth can be a
bit appalling.
My favorite part of this song is the beginning notes and Rick coming in like he's about to
tell you a story, "Jessie is a friend, well you know he's been a good friend of
mine". I told ya...goosebump city. That and the fact that Rick not only walked the
walk, he could talk the talk. How many other #1
songs have the word "moot". None! (It's a trivia question in Trivial Pursuit btw
- and yes, I have the card laminated and saved) I love seeing Rick perform this song live,
and hearing everyone in the audience singing every word. Ask anyone that was a teenager in
the 80's, they remember this song, and can at least sing the chorus - even if they didn't
like Rick back then. That's longevity for you.
In 1999, I became the proud owner thru a RLS auction of the original handwritten lyrics to
this song. This is my most treasured Rick item - I flew home from Tucson, Arizona with
this sucker in my lap cradling it like it was the hope diamond. The flight attendant tried
to take it away from me, and my friend said "Oh, you don't understand. She'd
die before she would let you take it and put it with the other luggage". I probably
would've too.
The lyrics were matted & framed when I received them, and they are proudly hanging in
my bedroom. (hubby relented only because there is no picture of Rick on them, and they do
look kinda cool).
I know we are supposed to review just the song, but this is
more than "just a song" for me. |
