Hubbry Logo
Another GirlAnother GirlMain
Open search
Another Girl
Community hub
Another Girl
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Another Girl
Another Girl
from Wikipedia

"Another Girl"
Cover of the song's sheet music
Song by the Beatles
from the album Help!
Released6 August 1965
Recorded15–16 February 1965
StudioEMI, London
Genre
Length2:04
LabelParlophone, Capitol, EMI
SongwriterLennon–McCartney
ProducerGeorge Martin

"Another Girl" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Help! and included in the film of the same title. The song was written by Paul McCartney[3][4] and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song is addressed to the singer's girlfriend, who is informed that the singer has found "another girl."

Background and recording

[edit]

Although "Another Girl" is credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership,[5] it was written primarily by Paul McCartney.[6] On 4 February 1965, following completion of the Beatles' Christmas shows, McCartney and then girlfriend Jane Asher flew to Hammamet, Tunisia,[7] for a 10-day holiday.[3] Because McCartney was there as a guest of the British government, he was able to relax protected from the hassles of Beatlemania.[3][8] The couple stayed at a villa that was built in the 1920s by Romanian George Sebastian.[9] According to music journalist Steve Turner, the villa – known as "Sebastian's Villa"[10] or "Villa Sebastian" – had previously been visited by such writers as Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.[9][nb 1] The property contained a small amphitheatre that had been built the previous year, and McCartney was inspired by its acoustics to begin writing a new song.[12] He finished "Another Girl" in a bathroom in the villa,[7] which biographer Barry Miles described as having "ideal" acoustics for songwriting.[3]

The Beatles began recording the song on 15 February,[13] the day after McCartney returned from Tunisia.[3] It was the first day of recording for the soundtrack of the band's second feature film, Help! "Another Girl" was the second of three songs worked on that day, after "Ticket to Ride" and before "I Need You". Held in EMI's Studio Two, the session was produced by George Martin and engineered by Norman Smith, Ken Scott, and Jerry Boys. The band achieved a satisfactory basic track in one take,[13] featuring McCartney on lead vocals and bass, Ringo Starr on drums, and John Lennon and George Harrison on backing vocals and acoustic and electric rhythm guitars.[14][nb 2]

The band then added overdubs. McCartney double-tracked his vocal and Lennon added more backing vocals.[15] Harrison took 10 attempts at a guitar flourish to be edited onto the end of track, with the seventh being deemed best; however, this was left out of the final mix.[13] Harrison struggled with the lead guitar for the rest of the song, so McCartney recorded his own the next day using his Epiphone Casino.[15] The song was mixed for mono on 18 February by Martin, Smith, and Scott, and in stereo on 23 February by Smith and Malcolm Davies.[18]

Composition

[edit]

With an up-tempo swing-beat that McCartney favoured ("Can't Buy Me Love", "She's a Woman") it opens with a short refrain, powered by block vocal harmonies, that segues straight into the verse, which is constructed on the blues-mode chord changes that the group favoured at that time. The bridge theme makes a sudden key change up a minor third from A to C (a harmonic strategy also used on the record's next track "You're Going to Lose That Girl") and features more close three-part harmonies as the aggressively sung verse's apparent threat to a jealous girl turns into a sweet tribute to the "other" girl who "will always be my friend".

This song features the often-utilized three-part harmonies between Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, but it is one of the only instances in which Lennon sings the highest harmony.

McCartney said of this song and other album tracks, "It's a bit much to call them fillers because I think they were a bit more than that, and each one of them made it past the Beatles test. We all had to like it."[3]

Live performances

[edit]

The song was performed live for the first time by a Beatle when Paul McCartney returned to the Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, on 28 April 2015;[19][20][21][22] this was 49 years after the Beatles had first played at the venue, in June and July 1966.[23] In a released statement, McCartney said, "It was sensational and quite emotional remembering the first time and then experiencing this fantastic audience tonight."[24]

In the film Help!

[edit]

In the film Help!, McCartney lip-syncs "Another Girl" while standing on a coral reef on Balmoral Island in the Bahamas, and plays a girl in a bikini as if she is a guitar.[3] Since McCartney's hands are occupied (with either bass or girl), Harrison mimes McCartney's guitar fills. The four Beatles also each change instruments; Harrison is seen playing McCartney's bass, Starr is shown playing acoustic guitar, and Lennon mimes playing drums. Another scene was filmed at the Cloisters, a famous Bahamian landmark.

Cover versions

[edit]

The George Martin Orchestra covers the track on Help!, their instrumental reworking of the Beatles' album.

Berlin-based Lautten Compagney covers the track on their 2021 album "Time Travel" in an arrangement for baroque orchestra and saxophone.

Personnel

[edit]

According to George Martin, quoted by Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew:[25]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"Another Girl" is a song by the English rock band , written by and released on their fifth studio album, Help!, in August 1965. The track, credited to the songwriting partnership, features McCartney on lead vocals, bass, and , with and providing backing vocals and guitars, and on drums. McCartney composed "Another Girl" during a holiday in , on 4 February 1965, while vacationing with his then-girlfriend, actress , at a villa noted for its acoustic qualities due to Islamic tilework and an amphitheater-like structure. The song was recorded at EMI Studios in on 15 and 16 February 1965, under the production of and engineering by Norman Smith, with the rhythm track captured in a single take before overdubs were added, including McCartney's distinctive solo. Its lyrics explore themes of moving on from a past relationship to embrace a new one, delivered in a upbeat, country-influenced style that reflects the band's evolving sound during their mid-1960s period. The song appears in the Beatles' second feature film, Help!, in a scene set in where McCartney playfully mimes playing a in a as if she were a guitar, underscoring the film's comedic tone. Although not released as a single, "Another Girl" contributed to the Help! album's commercial success, which topped charts in multiple countries and solidified the band's global dominance. McCartney later highlighted the track's quality, noting it had to pass the Beatles' rigorous internal "veto" process, where any member could reject a song, and he performed it live for the first time during his 2015 tour in .

Creation and production

Writing and inspiration

"Another Girl" was primarily written by and credited to the songwriting partnership, though later described it as entirely McCartney's work. McCartney composed the song during a ten-day holiday in , from February 4 to 14, 1965, shortly after completed their Christmas season performances and just before studio recording began on February 15. Accompanying his then-girlfriend , McCartney stayed as a guest of the British Consul in a secluded beachside , where he found respite from the relentless touring schedule that had dominated the band's early years. The villa's isolated setting provided an ideal environment for creativity, and McCartney specifically wrote the song in the , drawn by the echoing acoustics created by its Islamic-tiled walls. This relaxed atmosphere away from public pressures allowed him to craft the track amid a period of personal and professional transition for the band. McCartney has characterized the song as a lighthearted and confident declaration of moving on from a past relationship, emphasizing a theme of straightforward emotional .

Recording sessions

The recording of "Another Girl" took place over two consecutive days, 15 and 16 February 1965, at EMI Studios (now ) in . The sessions were produced by with engineering by Norman Smith, as part of the broader Help! album production following the band's exhausting 1964 world tour. On 15 February, during an evening session from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm in Studio Two, the captured the basic track in a single take, demonstrating their streamlined efficiency amid a packed schedule that also included work on "Ticket to Ride" and "I Need You." Overdubs followed immediately, with lead vocals, backing harmonies, additional percussion, and guitar elements layered onto the four-track tape; these included a series of 10 unnumbered edit pieces for a guitar flourish that was ultimately discarded during mixing. Ringo Starr's pattern, emphasizing a swinging on and snare, provided the track's propulsive foundation from the outset. The following afternoon, from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm on 16 February, the group returned to Studio Two to complete the song, focusing primarily on overdubs for "I Need You" and "Yes It Is" while finalizing "Another Girl." Paul McCartney added a lead guitar solo to the rhythm guitar layer, enhancing the track's texture without requiring additional takes for the core elements. Technically, the sessions utilized EMI's four-track technology, with the rhythm section (bass and drums) on track one, rhythm guitars from and on track two, vocals—including McCartney's lead and the twin-tracked harmonies from and —on track three, and supplemental elements like extra vocals and tom-toms on track four. This approach reflected the ' evolving studio proficiency, allowing for dense yet balanced arrangements within the Help! sessions' rapid pace.

Personnel

"Another Girl" was recorded by the core lineup of the Beatles, with no additional session musicians involved. Paul McCartney performed lead vocals, bass guitar, and added a lead guitar overdub on 16 February 1965. John Lennon contributed harmony vocals and rhythm guitar, playing a Fender electric guitar on the rhythm track. George Harrison provided harmony vocals and rhythm guitar, using a Gibson acoustic on the rhythm track and attempting a Gretsch electric guitar flourish (which was ultimately unused). Ringo Starr played drums on the rhythm track and added a tom-tom overdub. George Martin served as producer, with Norman Smith engineering the sessions held on 15 and 16 February 1965 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.

Musical analysis

Composition and structure

"Another Girl" is an up-tempo characterized by a swing-beat and bluesy modal influences, particularly through the use of the flat-seventh chord ( in the key of ), evoking elements common in the ' mid-1960s output. The track's energetic drive stems from its rhythmic foundation, blending rock propulsion with subtle swung phrasing that adds a buoyant, danceable quality. The song is primarily in , with verses featuring a straightforward that incorporates I (A), flat-VII (G), IV (D), and V (E) chords, creating a blues-inflected palette; for instance, the verse opens with |A |G |A |D | over the first four measures. The bridge provides contrast via a modulation to , shifting to a brighter, more expansive before returning to the home key, a technique that heightens emotional tension without disrupting the overall flow. This key change, unusual for at the time, underscores the song's playful yet assertive mood. Structurally, "Another Girl" follows a verse-chorus form adapted into an intro-verse-verse-bridge-verse-bridge-verse-outro pattern, with the verses functioning as pseudo-refrains through their repetitive lyrical hooks. Clocking in at approximately 2:05 in length, it maintains a brisk of around 178 beats per minute in 4/4 time, contributing to its compact, high-energy feel. The arrangement emphasizes layered textures: delivers the lead vocal with double-tracking for fullness, joined by three-part harmonies from (high part) and on the title phrase "another girl," creating a rich, choral effect. Instrumentally, dual guitars provide rhythmic drive—Lennon on Fender electric rhythm guitar and Harrison on Gibson acoustic—while McCartney's prominent bass line anchors the swing , and Ringo Starr's drums, including tom-tom accents, propel the track forward with crisp fills. McCartney also contributes a lead solo, adding to the song's self-contained, band-centric sound.

Lyrics

The lyrics of "Another Girl," written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to , are presented below in their standard structure as recorded on the 1965 album Help!. Verse 1
For I have got
Another girl
Another girl
You're making me say that I've got nobody but you
But as from today, well, I've got somebody that's new
I ain't no fool and I don't take what I don't want
Chorus
For I have got
Another girl
Another girl
Verse 2
She's sweeter than all the girls and I've met quite a few
Nobody in all the world can do what she can do
And so I'm telling you, this time you'd better stop
Chorus
For I have got
Another girl
Another girl
Bridge
Who will love me till the end
Through thick and thin
She will always be my friend
Verse 3
I don't wanna say that I've been
Unhappy with you but as from today, well
I've seen somebody that's new
Chorus
For I have got
Another girl
Another girl
The song's narrative unfolds from a first-person perspective, where the male protagonist directly addresses his current girlfriend to announce his shift in affections toward a superior replacement, emphasizing his resolve to end the relationship without regret. This straightforward storytelling builds through escalating assertions, culminating in a repeated chorus that reinforces the finality of his choice. Central themes revolve around through moving on from an unsatisfactory , conveyed with a confident, assertive tone that highlights the narrator's agency in selecting a more fulfilling connection. The praise the new partner's unwavering —"Who will love me till the end / Through thick and thin she will always be my friend"—while subtly deriding the old one, fostering a sense of liberation atypical of McCartney's more tender romantic ballads like "Yesterday." Stylistically, the words employ colloquial language for an accessible, conversational feel, as seen in phrases like "I ain't no fool" and "I've met quite a few," which lend a casual, everyday authenticity without relying on deep metaphors or poetic complexity. The rhythmic phrasing aligns with the track's swing beat, using short, punchy lines in the chorus to create a repetitive, emphatic that mirrors the narrator's unyielding stance, resulting in straightforward pop that prioritize direct emotional expression over elaborate . These elements reflect the youth culture's emerging embrace of casual relationships and personal autonomy in romance, aligning with the era's shifting social norms toward less rigid commitments, while tying into the lighthearted, comedic tone of the Help! film where the song underscores a playful romantic pursuit.

Release and media appearances

Album and film inclusion

"Another Girl" serves as the fifth track on side one of the Beatles' fifth studio album, Help!, released on 6 August 1965 in the United Kingdom by and on 13 August 1965 in the United States by . This album represented a pivotal shift for the band, featuring mostly original compositions—with only two cover songs—marking a reduction from the cover songs that had appeared on their previous releases like . The track's placement within the album's structure underscores its role in the collection of songs crafted specifically for the accompanying film, blending upbeat rock elements with the narrative's adventurous tone. In the 1965 film Help!, directed by , "Another Girl" is featured in a vibrant musical sequence set on a off Balmoral Island in . lip-syncs the vocals while holding a woman in a as if she were a guitar, with the other , , and —swapping instruments for comedic effect, such as Ringo playing guitar and George on bass. This scene, filmed on 27 February 1965, was designed to complement the film's lighthearted, escapist plot involving a global chase, where the song's playful lyrics and energetic rhythm enhance the visual humor and tropical setting. The song has been included in subsequent reissues and compilations, preserving its place in the Beatles' discography. It appears on the 1973 double album 1962–1966 (also known as the "Red Album"), which was expanded and remixed in a 2023 edition featuring new stereo mixes of select tracks. Additionally, "Another Girl" was part of the 2009 remastered edition of Help! and the 2015 stereo remaster celebrating the film's 50th anniversary, both of which restored the original recordings with enhanced audio quality.

Commercial performance

"Another Girl" was not released as a single but contributed to the commercial success of the Beatles' 1965 album Help!, which topped the UK Albums Chart for nine weeks. In the United States, Help! reached number one on the Billboard 200 for nine weeks, reflecting the band's peak during Beatlemania. The album has sold more than 4.4 million copies worldwide. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Help! 3× Platinum in the US for shipments of three million units. This success underscored the song's role in the album's strong performance amid the Beatles' global popularity in 1965. In the streaming era, "Another Girl" has accumulated over 17 million plays on Spotify as of November 2025, boosted by the 2009 remaster and inclusions in retrospective compilations. The track has no individual radio airplay chart history but is featured on retrospective compilations, such as the 2023 edition of 1962–1966 (The Red Album), which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and number five on the Billboard 200.

Performances and interpretations

Live performances

"Another Girl" was never performed live by the Beatles, as their 1965–1966 tours emphasized earlier hits from albums like Please Please Me and With the Beatles, with little inclusion of material from Help!. The song received its live debut by Paul McCartney on April 28, 2015, at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, during the Out There tour, marking the first performance of the track by any Beatle. McCartney introduced it as a surprise addition to the setlist, which heavily featured Beatles deep cuts alongside his solo material. Throughout the 2015 leg of the Out There tour, "Another Girl" appeared in multiple shows, including the May 28 concert at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, where it was played to a hometown crowd, and the July 9 performance at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. The song was performed 22 times during the 2015 leg of the Out There tour and a total of 28 times across McCartney's tours, often positioned early in the set to highlight lesser-played Beatles songs. McCartney revived it sporadically in later tours, with its final rendition on December 9, 2017, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, during the One on One tour. McCartney adapted "Another Girl" for his touring band, consisting of guitarists and , bassist , and multi-instrumentalist Paul "Wix" Wickens, who provided the layered sound through live instrumentation. The arrangement retained the original's vocal harmonies, achieved via backing vocals from the band members during choruses and bridges. Beyond McCartney's performances, the song has been featured occasionally by tribute acts in their live sets.

Cover versions

One of the earliest covers of "Another Girl" is the instrumental version by and His Orchestra, released in 1965 on their Help!, which features an arrangement tailored for the film's soundtrack. Tribute bands emulating the rock sound, such as The Coverbeats, recorded the song in 2010 for their Wish We Were The Beatles (A Tribute To The Beatles Greatest Hits), preserving the original's upbeat energy. In the 21st century, the track received a baroque adaptation by the Berlin-based ensemble Lautten Compagney in 2021, arranged for orchestra and saxophone on their album Time Travel, blending period instruments with modern elements to highlight the song's rhythmic swing. Post-2021 covers have primarily appeared in amateur and online formats, with no major artist releases, though the song features in tribute compilations like The Beatles 4Ever's 2025 HELP! Album Tribute. Notable examples include a street performance by the band Blac Rabbit in 2024, captured on TikTok with a raw, acoustic rock rendition; a solo cover recorded in the Bahamas in July 2025 and shared on YouTube, evoking the film's tropical setting; a preview clip by The Cavern Beatles on TikTok in October 2025, delivering a faithful Beatlesque interpretation; a one-man band cover uploaded to YouTube on November 3, 2025; and a performance by Beatles 4Ever on November 3, 2025. Most covers maintain the song's rock structure and mid-tempo groove, but reinterpretations in orchestral, bluegrass, or acoustic styles often accentuate its swinging and playful for fresh appeal.

Reception and legacy

Upon its release in 1965, the Help! album was met with favorable critical acclaim for its blend of pop innovation and soundtrack elements. The track "Another Girl" was regarded as a solid but mid-tier contribution, appreciated for Paul McCartney's confident lead vocals in a lower register that added a gritty edge to the upbeat rocker. Retrospective analyses have frequently positioned "Another Girl" as an underrated entry in the ' catalog, overshadowed by the album's bigger hits but valued for its craftsmanship. Positive commentary often centers on the track's tight vocal harmonies between McCartney, , and , which provide layered energy, alongside the punchy instrumentation driven by McCartney's rare solo. McCartney himself defended it against perceptions of filler status, insisting in later interviews that it exceeded basic album-track expectations through its melodic drive. Criticisms have focused on the song's relative simplicity compared to deeper cuts like "Yesterday" or "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," with some reviewers noting its straightforward structure and formulaic pop elements as limiting its emotional resonance. George Starostin echoed this in a 2023 assessment, calling it "humble and insignificant" next to Lennon's more introspective contributions on the album's first side. In the , "Another Girl" has appeared in discussions of McCartney's early songwriting development, highlighting its playful yet pointed themes of romantic rivalry. A 2024 American Songwriter feature lauded the track's origins during McCartney's vacation in , praising how the villa's acoustics inspired its buoyant riff and affirming it as a charming example of his "" that passed the band's rigorous internal approval process.

Cultural impact

"Another Girl" holds a notable place in the cultural legacy of ' 1965 film Help!, particularly through its iconic beach performance scene filmed in . In this sequence, the band members engage in playful antics, with humorously using a woman in a as a prop guitar, capturing the era's lighthearted escapism and exotic adventure. This scene exemplifies the film's blend of music and comedy, contributing to Help!'s recognition as an influential precursor to modern music videos, as evidenced by receiving the 1984 for their innovative promotional work. The performance was later featured in the 1995 documentary series , which highlighted clips from the film to illustrate the band's mid-1960s creative evolution. Beyond the screen, the song reinforced ' public image as symbols of youthful romance and carefree attitudes during the cultural shift toward liberation and fun-loving rebellion. Its lyrics, exploring themes of moving on to a new partner, echo common pop tropes of romantic renewal. In modern times, the track has experienced renewed interest following the 2015 digital remastering and streaming release of ' catalog, which made Help! widely accessible on platforms like and , boosting overall listens for the album's tracks. This resurgence aligns with Help!'s cult status, as the film's whimsical elements continue to evoke nostalgia in occasional media uses, such as Paul McCartney's rare live rendition of the song during his 2015 tour, highlighting its enduring appeal among fans.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.