Girlfriend Is Better

"Girlfriend Is Better" is a 1984 song by new wave band Talking Heads, from their fifth studio album Speaking in Tongues. The song's single version was a live version, recorded at Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, from the soundtrack of their 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense, named for a lyric from the song.

"Girlfriend Is Better (Live)"
UK vinyl edition
Single by Talking Heads
from the album Stop Making Sense
B-side	"Once in a Lifetime (Live) Heaven (Live)"
Released	26 November 1984 (UK)
Recorded	December 1983
Venue	Pantages Theatre, Hollywood
Genre	Funk rock[1]
Length	3:32
Label	Sire/Warner Bros
Songwriter(s)	David Byrne
Producer(s)	Talking Heads
Talking Heads singles chronology
"Slippery People (Live)" (1984) "Girlfriend Is Better (Live)" (1984) "The Lady Don't Mind" (1985)
Official audio
"Girlfriend Is Better" on YouTube

Rolling Stone's David Fricke described the song: "On the surface, 'Girlfriend Is Better' is a brassy, straightforward bump number sparked by Byrne's animated bragging ... and by the kind of rapid, zizagging synth squeals so common on rap and funk records. But the edgy paranoia smoldering underneath ... is colorfully articulated by guitar and percussion figures that burble along in a fatback echo, sounding like a sink backing up."^[2]

An edited version of the concert piece from the film was issued as "Stop Making Sense (Girlfriend Is Better)", in both 7" and 12" format, in November 1984.^[3]

A cover of the song by Girl in Red was released as a single for the 2024 tribute album Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense.^[4]

Charts

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart[5]	59
New Zealand Singles Chart[6]	21
UK Singles Chart[7]	99

References

1. Molanphy, Chris (October 14, 2023). "This Ain't No Party?! Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
2. Fricke, David (June 9, 1983). "Talking Heads' Arty Party". Rolling Stone (397): 52. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016. Note: The online version of the review retains most of the text of the original print edition, but omits the title.
3. Connolly, Dave (2023-05-19). "Talking Heads: "Stop Making Sense (Girlfriend Is Better)" (1984)". Progrography. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
4. Mier, Tomás (24 April 2024). "Girl in Red Covers Talking Heads' 'Girlfriend Is Better' for Upcoming Tribute Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
5. "Discography Talking Heads". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
6. "Discography Talking Heads". charts.nz. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
7. "The Official Charts Company - Talking Heads". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 August 2011.