“I’m His Girl”
from the single I’m His Girl
2011
iTunes
The B-side to the latest single from New Yorkers Friends is a cover of Ghost Town DJ’s classic RnB hit “My Boo.” The cover is a perfectly good and faithful version, but the most interesting thing about it is that it points to the band’s breadth of influence, which is shown wonderfully well on the A-side “I’m His Girl.”
The influence of R&B and pop is obvious from the first bars of this single, and the supremely funky drums and bassline that underpin the track. “I’m His Girl” is an assured piece of sassy, rhythmic pop as singer Samantha Urbani delivers the confident assertion: “When you see me walking around with him / I’m not just another chick, I’m his girl.”
There are echoes of other rhythmic, funky New York groups like the Tom Tom Club in the bouncy, infectious bassline and studied cool of Urbani’s vocals, and the addition of a cowbell ramps up the fierce funkiness of the track. There is also perhaps the influence of post-punk, and groups like Liquid Liquid and ESG. All these influences add up to a captivating and, most importantly, very danceable pop song.
Friends (“Friend Crush,” Summer Jams ’11) have already gathered quite a following during their short existence and, on the strength of “I’m His Girl,” it is easy to see why. Now that they have mastered the attitude-filled pop single expect their stock to rise even further very quickly.