A rough demo of “Stupid Girl” was ready long before Shirley Manson joined the rock band Garbage. But it is quite possible that the composition would not have become a hit without her participation, because she not only brilliantly performed it in an inimitable style, but also made a significant contribution to the work on the text.
It was one of the first joint works of the team. Subsequently, the musicians often spoke about the story of creation and the meaning of the song. What Butch Vig said about her:
“Stupid Girl” was born when we improvised with a sample of The Clash [“Train In Vain”]. Steve started playing a looped bass line, and Duke came up with a slightly harsh guitar riff. In fact, the song only has two chords, and it’s all based on rhythm, a really simple arrangement, and Shirley’s amazing singing. People still ask us who this stupid girl is, but it’s impossible to answer them. This song is kind of like a warning. It could be about your ex-girlfriend. It could be about the rock diva we all know. It could be about your sister. It could also be called “Stupid Boy”.
Kerrang, 2002
Shirley Manson explained the main idea of the song as follows:
It has become the anthem of the girl who settles for less than she wants or deserves.
She later added:
[“Stupid Girl”] about untapped potential… This is our version of Madonna’s “Express Yourself” but a little more devastating.
seventeen
In February 1996, the song was released as the fourth single from Garbage, the band’s debut LP, released on Almo Sounds and Mushroom Records. On the UK Singles Chart, “Stupid Girl” climbed to number four, and on the Billboard Hot 100 it remained outside the top twenty.
“Stupid Girl” received two Grammy nominations, as well as an MTV Europe Music Award, but did not win any.
The music video for “Stupid Girl” was directed by Samuel Bayer, who was inspired by David Fincher’s Seven. He shot it in a few hours in a regular warehouse and specially applied minor damage and fingerprints to the film. The clip was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award, but was also not awarded.
Interesting Facts
- At first, Manson, performing the song, pronounced the word “girl” in the Scottish manner (something similar to “gur-rull”). But the rest of the group convinced her to return to the usual version, which, according to her, was then made fun of by Shirley’s relatives.
Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, who wrote “Train in Vain”, received royalties for using a sample from their song. - “Stupid Girl” also features a sample from REM’s “Orange Crush”
- The noises that can be heard in the song are due to equipment malfunction.
Stupid Girl Lyrics by Garbage
You pretend you’re high
Pretend you’re bored
Pretend you’re anything
Just to be adored
And what do you need
Is what you get
You pretend to be bored
You pretend to be anyone
If only you were adored
And you’re making it
What you need Don’t believe in fear
Don’t believe in faith
Don’t believe in anything
That you can’t break
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
You don’t believe in God
You don’t believe in any of that
What you can’t destroy
You are a stupid girl
You are a stupid girl
You squandered everything you had
What drives you on
Can drive you mad
A million lies to sell yourself
Is all you ever had
What turns you on
Everything you had
It’s a million self-promotion tricks Don’t believe in love
Don’t believe in hate
Don’t believe in anything
That you can’t waste
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can’t believe you fake it
Can’t believe you fake it
Don’t believe in hate
You don’t believe in any of that
that you can’t waste
You are a stupid girl
You are a stupid girl
I can’t believe you’re pretending
Don’t believe in fear
Don’t believe in pain
Don’t believe in anyone
That you can’t tame
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
Don’t believe in pain
Don’t trust anyone
Who can you tame
You are a stupid girl
You are a stupid girl
You squandered everything you had
You squandered everything you had
Song Quotes
…we could have called it “Stupid Guy” but thought another song about a raucous woman abusing a guy would be tiresome.
Shirley Manson
It is impossible to predict what will become a hit. But on a subconscious level, I knew the song was good when I played the rough mix on my car stereo over and over for months.
Butch Vig, Kerrang, 2002
