"Jessie's Girl" is a song written and performed by Australian singer Rick Springfield. It was released on the album Working Class Dog, which was released in February 1981.[2] The song is about unrequited love and centers on a young man in love with his best friend's girlfriend.
Upon its release in the United States in 1981, "Jessie's Girl" was slow to break out. It debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on 28 March[3] but took 19 weeks to hit No. 1[4] reaching that position on 1 August,[5] one of the slowest climbs to No. 1 at that time.[4] It remained in that position for two weeks and would be Springfield's only first-place hit.[3] The song was at No. 1 when MTV launched on 1 August 1981.[6] The song ultimately spent 32 weeks on the chart.[7]Billboard ranked it as No. 5 for all of 1981.[8]
Springfield was taking a stained glass class. Also in the class were a friend of his named Gary and Gary's girlfriend. Springfield initially wanted to use the actual name of his friend, but instead decided to go with a different name. He chose "Jessie" because he was wearing a T-shirt with the name of football player Ron Jessie on it.[10]
Springfield says that he does not remember the name of the girlfriend, and he believes that the real woman who inspired the song has no idea that she was "Jessie's Girl." He told Oprah Winfrey, "I was never really introduced to her. It was always just, like, panting from afar."[11] Springfield told Songfacts that Oprah's people tried to find her, and they got as far back as finding out that the teacher of the class had died two years previously and that his class records were thrown out one year after his death.[6] In 2006, the song was named No. 20 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s".[12]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Coheed and Cambria sequel
On 21 August 2020, the American rock band Coheed and Cambria released a music video entitled "Jessie's Girl 2" to their official YouTube channel.[29] The video depicts Springfield, who supplies some of the song's vocals, working in a bar while the titular "Jessie's Girl" wreaks havoc. The lyrics state that the protagonist from the original song was successful in stealing the Girl away from Jessie, but realizes that she is mentally unstable. The protagonist muses that he was likely set up by Jessie, in order for him to be rid of the woman,[30] and that he (the protagonist) is now trapped in a loveless marriage with children and a future he did not want. The video ends with the Girl stealing the barkeeper's keys and escaping.[31] The song also references Tommy Tutone's "867-5309/Jenny" via lyrics that mention the protagonist changing his number.[31]
The band's frontman, Claudio Sanchez, stated that the song is "kind of like a National Lampoon’s movie meets So I Married an Axe Murderer."[32] Sanchez had originally come up with the idea of a sequel during a 2019 studio session and later approached Springfield to pitch the idea via an Instagram Live session.[33] Springfield liked the draft prepared by Coheed and Cambria and agreed to participate.[34]
Coheed and Cambria released the single digitally and as a 7-inch single in September 2020.[32]
In popular culture
In regards to the song's use in films such as Boogie Nights (1997), 13 Going on 30 (2004), and Suicide Squad (2016) over 20 years after its original release, Springfield said, "I'm thrilled by it. As a writer, all you can ask is that a song has legs. It has an appeal that keeps coming back."[35]
^Huey, Steve. "Rick Springfield – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 May 2014. After a solid decade's worth of work in the '70s, Rick Springfield turned into an international star in the early '80s thanks to the power pop classic "Jessie's Girl."
^Ling, Dave (16 April 2015). "The real story behind Rick Springfield's Jessie's Girl". Classic Rock. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
^ abWhitburn, Joel (1991). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 545.
^ abGrein, Paul (8 May 1982). "Chartbeat". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 18. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510.
^"Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 30. 1 August 1981. p. 68. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ ab"Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield". Songfacts. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
^"Rick Springfield – Jessie's Girl – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
^ ab"Top 100 Hits for 1981". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
^Johnson, Josh (21 August 2020). "Coheed and Cambria continues the story of "Jessie's Girl" with new song, "Jessie's Girl 2"". ABC News Radio. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
^"Jessie's Girl 2: He Got Jessie's Girl - But There's a Twist". 96.3 KKLZ. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
^ abLenker, Maureen Lee (21 August 2020). "Exclusive: Rick Springfield's 'Jessie's Girl' gets murderous sequel in Coheed and Cambria music video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
^ abKaufman, Spencer (21 August 2020). "Coheed and Cambria unleash "Jessie's Girl 2" featuring Rick Springfield: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
^Childers, Chad (21 August 2020). "Coheed & Cambria Give Rick Springfield's 'Jessie's Girl' a Sequel". Loudwire. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
^Turman, Katherine (21 August 2020). "Coheed and Cambria Share 'Jessie's Girl 2' Video Featuring Rick Springfield". Spin. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
^Murtagh, Heather (18 June 2010). "Are you ready to rock?: '80s legend Rick Springfield to perform at county fair". The Daily Journal. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
jessie, girl, song, written, performed, australian, singer, rick, springfield, released, album, working, class, which, released, february, 1981, song, about, unrequited, love, centers, young, love, with, best, friend, girlfriend, single, rick, springfieldfrom,. Jessie s Girl is a song written and performed by Australian singer Rick Springfield It was released on the album Working Class Dog which was released in February 1981 2 The song is about unrequited love and centers on a young man in love with his best friend s girlfriend Jessie s Girl Single by Rick Springfieldfrom the album Working Class DogB side Carry Me Away ReleasedFebruary 1981GenrePower pop 1 Length3 14LabelRCASongwriter s Rick SpringfieldProducer s Keith OlsenRick Springfield singles chronology Take a Hand 1976 Jessie s Girl 1981 I ve Done Everything for You 1981 Audio sample source source filehelpUpon its release in the United States in 1981 Jessie s Girl was slow to break out It debuted on Billboard s Hot 100 chart on 28 March 3 but took 19 weeks to hit No 1 4 reaching that position on 1 August 5 one of the slowest climbs to No 1 at that time 4 It remained in that position for two weeks and would be Springfield s only first place hit 3 The song was at No 1 when MTV launched on 1 August 1981 6 The song ultimately spent 32 weeks on the chart 7 Billboard ranked it as No 5 for all of 1981 8 The song also peaked at No 1 in Springfield s native Australia and later won him a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance Jessie s Girl was released in the United Kingdom in March 1984 and peaked at No 43 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1984 9 Springfield recorded an acoustic version of the song for his 1999 album Karma Contents 1 Background 2 Chart performance 2 1 Weekly charts 2 2 Year end charts 2 3 All time charts 2 4 Certifications 3 Coheed and Cambria sequel 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditSpringfield was taking a stained glass class Also in the class were a friend of his named Gary and Gary s girlfriend Springfield initially wanted to use the actual name of his friend but instead decided to go with a different name He chose Jessie because he was wearing a T shirt with the name of football player Ron Jessie on it 10 Springfield says that he does not remember the name of the girlfriend and he believes that the real woman who inspired the song has no idea that she was Jessie s Girl He told Oprah Winfrey I was never really introduced to her It was always just like panting from afar 11 Springfield told Songfacts that Oprah s people tried to find her and they got as far back as finding out that the teacher of the class had died two years previously and that his class records were thrown out one year after his death 6 In 2006 the song was named No 20 on VH1 s 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s 12 Chart performance EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1981 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 13 1Canada Top Singles RPM 14 6New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 15 21US Billboard Hot 100 16 1US Mainstream Rock Billboard 17 10US Cash Box 18 1US Record World 19 1Chart 1984 PeakpositionIreland IRMA 20 25UK Singles OCC 9 43 Year end charts Edit Chart 1981 PositionAustralia Kent Music Report 21 15Canada RPM Top 100 Singles 22 55US Billboard Hot 100 8 5US Cash Box 23 3All time charts Edit Chart 1958 2018 PositionUS Billboard Hot 100 24 186Certifications Edit Region Certification Certified units salesCanada Music Canada 25 Gold 75 000 United Kingdom BPI 26 Gold 400 000 United States RIAA 28 Gold 1 961 928 27 Shipments figures based on certification alone Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Coheed and Cambria sequel EditOn 21 August 2020 the American rock band Coheed and Cambria released a music video entitled Jessie s Girl 2 to their official YouTube channel 29 The video depicts Springfield who supplies some of the song s vocals working in a bar while the titular Jessie s Girl wreaks havoc The lyrics state that the protagonist from the original song was successful in stealing the Girl away from Jessie but realizes that she is mentally unstable The protagonist muses that he was likely set up by Jessie in order for him to be rid of the woman 30 and that he the protagonist is now trapped in a loveless marriage with children and a future he did not want The video ends with the Girl stealing the barkeeper s keys and escaping 31 The song also references Tommy Tutone s 867 5309 Jenny via lyrics that mention the protagonist changing his number 31 The band s frontman Claudio Sanchez stated that the song is kind of like a National Lampoon s movie meets So I Married an Axe Murderer 32 Sanchez had originally come up with the idea of a sequel during a 2019 studio session and later approached Springfield to pitch the idea via an Instagram Live session 33 Springfield liked the draft prepared by Coheed and Cambria and agreed to participate 34 Coheed and Cambria released the single digitally and as a 7 inch single in September 2020 32 In popular culture EditIn regards to the song s use in films such as Boogie Nights 1997 13 Going on 30 2004 and Suicide Squad 2016 over 20 years after its original release Springfield said I m thrilled by it As a writer all you can ask is that a song has legs It has an appeal that keeps coming back 35 Jessie s Girl was covered on Glee in the episode Laryngitis 2010 Finn Hudson Cory Monteith sings it to Rachel Berry Lea Michele to express his opinions about her relationship with her then boyfriend Jesse St James Jonathan Groff This version was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association in 2010 36 See also EditList of Billboard Hot 100 number one singles of 1981 List of Cash Box Top 100 number one singles of 1981 List of number one singles in Australia during the 1980sReferences Edit Huey Steve Rick Springfield Artist Biography AllMusic Retrieved 4 May 2014 After a solid decade s worth of work in the 70s Rick Springfield turned into an international star in the early 80s thanks to the power pop classic Jessie s Girl Ling Dave 16 April 2015 The real story behind Rick Springfield s Jessie s Girl Classic Rock Retrieved 24 January 2020 a b Whitburn Joel 1991 Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 1955 1990 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 545 a b Grein Paul 8 May 1982 Chartbeat Billboard Vol 94 no 18 p 6 ISSN 0006 2510 Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Vol 93 no 30 1 August 1981 p 68 ISSN 0006 2510 a b Jessie s Girl by Rick Springfield Songfacts Retrieved 4 May 2014 Rick Springfield Jessie s Girl Chart History Billboard Retrieved 11 May 2018 a b Top 100 Hits for 1981 The Longbored Surfer Retrieved 4 May 2014 a b Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 26 June 2013 Jessie s Girl cracks the Top 40 Entertainment Weekly 7 May 1999 Retrieved 4 May 2014 Is Rick Springfield Jessie s Girl a Real Person The Oprah Winfrey Show Archived from the original on 6 July 2008 100 Greatest Songs of the 80 s 1 100 VH1 Classic Archived from the original on 22 July 2009 Australia No 1 hits 1980 s World Charts Archived from the original on 9 January 2017 Retrieved 4 May 2014 Top RPM Singles Issue 0363 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 26 June 2013 Rick Springfield Jessie s Girl Top 40 Singles Retrieved 26 June 2013 Rick Springfield Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved January 20 2022 Rick Springfield Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved January 20 2022 CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending JULY 25 1981 Cash Box Archived from the original on 17 September 2012 Record World Singles PDF Record World 1 August 1981 p 25 ISSN 0034 1622 Retrieved 17 September 2017 The Irish Charts Search Results Jessie s Girl Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 26 June 2013 Forum ARIA Charts Special Occasion Charts Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts 1980s Australian charts com Hung Medien Retrieved 4 May 2014 Top 100 Singles of 1981 RPM Vol 35 no 22 Library and Archives Canada 26 December 1981 Archived from the original on 4 May 2014 The CASH BOX Year End Charts 1981 Cash Box Archived from the original on 18 September 2012 Hot 100 Turns 60 Billboard Retrieved 5 January 2018 Canadian single certifications Rick Springfield Jessie s Girl Music Canada British single certifications Rick Springfield Jessie s Girl British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 13 September 2022 Nielsen SoundScan Charts June 23 2016 PDF DefJamPromo Nielsen 3 August 2022 American single certifications Rick Springfield Jessie s Girl Recording Industry Association of America Johnson Josh 21 August 2020 Coheed and Cambria continues the story of Jessie s Girl with new song Jessie s Girl 2 ABC News Radio Retrieved 29 August 2020 Jessie s Girl 2 He Got Jessie s Girl But There s a Twist 96 3 KKLZ 24 August 2020 Retrieved 27 August 2020 a b Lenker Maureen Lee 21 August 2020 Exclusive Rick Springfield s Jessie s Girl gets murderous sequel in Coheed and Cambria music video Entertainment Weekly Retrieved 27 August 2020 a b Kaufman Spencer 21 August 2020 Coheed and Cambria unleash Jessie s Girl 2 featuring Rick Springfield Stream Consequence of Sound Retrieved 27 August 2020 Childers Chad 21 August 2020 Coheed amp Cambria Give Rick Springfield s Jessie s Girl a Sequel Loudwire Retrieved 27 August 2020 Turman Katherine 21 August 2020 Coheed and Cambria Share Jessie s Girl 2 Video Featuring Rick Springfield Spin Retrieved 27 August 2020 Murtagh Heather 18 June 2010 Are you ready to rock 80s legend Rick Springfield to perform at county fair The Daily Journal Retrieved 4 May 2014 ARIA Charts Accreditations 2010 Singles Australian Recording Industry Association Retrieved 6 August 2010 External links EditRick Springfield discusses Jessie s Girl RetroRewind interview Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jessie 27s Girl amp oldid 1110098104, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
