"Girlfriend" is a song by American singer
Pebbles from her 1987
self-titled debut studio album. Written and produced by
L.A. Reid and
Babyface, "Girlfriend" was released as the album's
lead single on October 26, 1987, by record label
MCA. The song charted in several countries, peaking at number five on the US
Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 10 in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Background
The song was originally intended for
Vanessa Williams' debut album The Right Stuff.[1] According to
L.A. Reid, Williams' record label
Wing showed interest in Williams' recording "Girlfriend", which Reid played for her alone in his apartment. However,
Pebbles heard the song and offered Reid more money and two cars for the chance to record it.[2] As a result, the production team were not asked to work on more songs on Williams' debut. Reid said due to that incident, Williams never spoke to him again.[3]
Chart performance
"Girlfriend" became Pebbles' first top-five hit on the US
Billboard Hot 100 chart and her first number one song on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[4] The single also peaked at number eight in the United Kingdom and at number nine in Ireland, becoming Pebbles' only top-10 hit in both countries, reached the top 20 in Switzerland, Canada, and West Germany, and was a Top 40 hit in New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
UK garage duo
Caramel released their version as a single in 1999, featuring Paule van Wijngaarden on vocals. It reached No. 9 on the
UK Dance Singles Chart.
^Girlfriend (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Pebbles. MCA Records. 1987. 10SW-31.{{
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^Girlfriend (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Pebbles. MCA Records. 1987. MCA-23794.{{
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^Girlfriend (European 12-inch single vinyl disc). Pebbles. MCA Records. 1987. 258 083-0.{{
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^Girlfriend (Australian 12-inch single vinyl disc). Pebbles. MCA Records. 1987. 0-23794.{{
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^Girlfriend (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Pebbles. MCA Records. 1987. MCAT 1233.{{
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^Girlfriend (UK 12-inch remix single vinyl disc). Pebbles. MCA Records. 1987. MCAX 1233.{{
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^Girlfriend (UK CD single liner notes). Pebbles. MCA Records. 1987. DMCA 1233.{{
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