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"Young Girls"
A shiny disco ball with the caption "Bruno Mars" in red capital letters on the top of the image and on the bottom of the image the words "Young Girls" are also spelled in capital letters.
Single by Bruno Mars
from the album Unorthodox Jukebox
ReleasedNovember 26, 2013 (2013-11-26)
StudioLevcon (Los Angeles, California)
GenrePop
Length3:49
LabelAtlantic
Songwriters
Producers
Bruno Mars singles chronology
"Gorilla"
(2013) 		"Young Girls"
(2013) 		"Uptown Funk"
(2014)

"Young Girls" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It was composed by Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, a songwriting and record production trio known as the Smeezingtons, as well as Jeff Bhasker, and Emile Haynie, with additional songwriter credits by Mac Davis, for Mars's second studio album Unorthodox Jukebox (2012). It is a midtempo, doo-wop-influenced pop ballad that garnered comparisons to Mars's "It Will Rain" and Lana Del Rey's music. Its instrumentation includes drums, synths, piano and elements of electro music. The song was released as the first promotional single and later as the fifth overall single from Unorthodox Jukebox, being first serviced to contemporary hit radio in Australia on November 26, 2013.

"Young Girls" received generally mixed to positive reviews. Many music critics noted the complex instrumental and praised Mars's vocals on the record. Its lyrics, detailing the fact of the singer being unable to resist his attraction to young girls, were met with criticism. The single was recognized as the Best Pop of 2013 at the MelOn Music Awards. Commercially, "Young Girls" charted in some countries, along with the released of its parent album, such as South Korea, where it reached number one, United Kingdom and Canada. Before it was canceled as the second single it peaked in Australia and New Zealand at 62 and 23, respectively. As the fifth single it reached the position of 19 in Canada and 32 in the United States. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and double platinum by Music Canada (MC). The track was performed live on Saturday Night Live and occasionally on The Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013–14).

Background and writing

[edit]

During a MTV interview, Bruno Mars explained why the track was the first on the track list of the album "It really shows you what this album is going to be, and just where I was when I started" it. He felt that anyone can easily relate to the record "There's a moment in your life where you start going out every night, and it's so fun, but then you start to lose yourself". The singer compared the song's sentiment to "Lookin' for Love in All the Wrong Places", adding "It's another confession".[1] In a different interview Mars furthered the concept of the track as it's about you "losing yourself", which happened to him in L.A. during his early years. He added, "If you're out there wilding out, drinking and partying, that's not real life."[2]

Mars stated that he felt like "an old blues man" when writing the song, and wanted to re-create the sentiment when some young girls were giving him the "runaround".[3] Furthermore, he wasn't willing to stay too far from his roots when it comes to writing lyrics for his album, explaining "I'm not there yet...to sing about politics". He concluded that writing and singing songs about girls is what he knows best, "I'm not going to preach what I don't know. As much as I love 2 Chainz's "All I Want for My Birthday" (2012).[1]

A demo of the song, only featuring the vocals and an acoustic guitar, was exclusively released as bonus track on the Target edition of the album, on December 11, 2012.[4] Almost a year later, on November 5, 2013, the demo of the song was also included on the deluxe edition of the album, released in various countries.[5] The song was re-registered with a new writing credit for Mac Davis.[6] Davis explained he met Jeff Bhasker, who was in the studio with Mars, through Neil Jacobson. Bhasker asked him to come to the studio and at that time they were looking at a rhyme for the chorus. Davis ended up writing the hook.[7] He won a BMI Pop Award in 2015 due to his work on this song.[8]

Production and release

[edit]

"Young Girls" was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, Levine, Bhasker, Emile Haynie and Davis, while production was handled by the former three under their alias, the Smeezingtons, along with Bhasker and Haynie. The song was recorded by Levine at Levcon Studios in Los Angeles and mixed by Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Sound Studios in North Hollywood, California. Charles Moniz served as the track's additional engineer, Brent Kolatalo and Ken Lewis engineered the big drums. It was mastered by David Kutch at The Mastering Place.[6][9]

"Young Girls" was first performed on Saturday Night Live and was released as the first promotional single taken from Unorthodox Jukebox, on November 6, 2012, on iTunes.[10] Later, it was reported by Mars that the record was scheduled to be the second single from the album.[11] This release involved little planning according to Mars "I felt [it] was good. None of these things are planned, which one goes first, which one goes second. One day I wake up and I say, 'You know what? I want the world to hear this song that I wrote called 'Young Girls,' and I put it out".[11] However, a week later, while performing "When I Was Your Man" on the third-season finale of The Voice, he announced that the track played would be the second official single from the album.[12] The fifth and overall single, "Young Girls", was first released in Australia, on November 26, 2013, after being promoted by Mars in radio station, Nova.[13] Subsequently, the song was issued to United States and United Kingdom contemporary hit radios on December 10, 2013, and February 17, 2014, respectively.[14][15] Italian radio stations began adding the track onto their playlists on February 26, 2014.[16]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]
"Young Girls"
A 21-second sample of the song, where Mars sings the chorus "All you young wild girls/ You make a mess of me/ Yeah, you young wild girls/ You'll be the death for me, the death for me/ All you young wild girls/ No matter what you do."
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Young Girls" is a "woeful" midtempo pop ballad.[17][18][19] The "pop anthem" is also influenced by a groove from Mars's debut studio album, noticeable on the backing vocals,[20] and it contains elements of "the shaded earnestness" found in "It Will Rain".[17][20] According to the sheet music, the song is composed in the key of A major with a time signature in common time, and a moderate groove of 125 beats per minute.[21]

The song opens with "methodical strings" mixed with "quadruplets, floppy and fuzz wind in the opening bars",[22][23] along with synths and a piano as Mars's vocal delivery "soars".[19] The music progresses with a "thumping martial beat" on the percussion of the "heavy drums", reminding "Phil Spector –esque tom-toms", and they "counterpoint to the ascendant melody" with "bits of electro" fading in the background.[22][23][24][25] The chorus would fit in a "60's girl group" due to the join forces of Mars's "retro crooner sensibilities with modern sonic flourishes".[22] Carl Williot of Idolator noted that the "delicate but dynamic production" on "Young Girls" is reminiscent of Lana Del Rey.[22]

The lyrics to "Young Girls" follow the verse–pre-chorus–chorus pattern.[21] It begins with the singer "dumbly" trying to get noticed by "these bright-eyed honeys",[23] since he can't help to fall for their "dubious charms", despite "recognizing [the] sin while indulging in it".[20][26] The song's lyrics are in the same vein as Gary Puckett & The Union Gap's "Young Girl" and The Knack's "My Sharona" as pointed out by HitFix's Melinda Newman.[18] She added, the lyrics are "sweet" and tortuous as he sings "Oh, I still dream of a simple life/ Boy meets girl/ makes her his wife/ But love don't exist when you live like this... All these roads steer me wrong/ But I still drive them all night long/ all night long".[18] There is a sentiment of "lament" in the song, "Oh you young wild girls/ You'll be the death of me".[25]

Reception

[edit]

"Young Girls" debuted to mixed and positive reviews among critics. After its premiere during Mars's performance on Saturday Night Live, it became available as a studio version with Chris Martins of Spin labeling it an "epic studio-recorded glory". On a more thorough review, Idolator's Carl Williott found the production "dynamic" comparing it to compositions by Lana Del Rey and while "the pre-chorus could be from a 60's girl group", the "percussion and electro flitting in the background" is what makes pop music nowadays. He concluded, that it's "a flipside" to Mars's lead single.[10][22] HitFix's critic Melinda Newman gave the track a B− rating, praising the melody and Mars's vocal delivery, writing "he makes it all sound so sweet, and as if he really is tortured by these young girls", but ultimately calling the lyrics "a little skeevy".[18] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times, while reviewing the album, believed that it "swells something serious. The ambition is undeniable". He compared it to the music of U2 and Daughtry.[24]

On mixed review, Andy Gill of The Independent, while describing Mars's "impassioned shame" on the lyrics called the track "enjoyable".[23] The lyrics have not gone undecided for PopMatters' Matt Cibula who named them a "classic lament" and added "is as widescreen and wide-open as things get these days".[25] The same could be said for Jason Lipshut who, while writing for Billboard, found Mars's "recognizing sin while indulging in it" on the "sleek" lyrics and composition. However, a "throwback vibe (established from the backing vocals) remain from Doo-Wops", while prospecting the earnest from "It Will Rain".[20] On the other hand, Paste's Ryan Reed criticized Mars's for playing safe on "Young Girls", unlike most of the other tracks on the album. He explained that the singer "steps sideways" and the record "is a 'shout-out-to-the-honeys' belter" for various reasons.[27] In 2013, "Young Girls" received an award at the MelOn Music Awards for the category "Best Pop".[28]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"Young Girls" was able to chart in the United States on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, which acts as an extension of the Billboard Hot 100, at number 102 and entered at number 64 on the Canadian Hot 100 on November 24, 2012, two weeks after the song was released as a promotional single.[10][29][30] Following the release of Unorthodox Jukebox, on December 12, 2012, the track re-entered at number 63 on the latter chart,[31] it debuted in France at number 123,[32] in the United Kingdom at number 141 and[33] the song debuted at the top spot on the South Korea International Singles chart.[34] In Australia, when the record was scheduled to be the second single from the album, it debuted at number 62 and it made its first appearance at number 27 in the New Zealand charts, peaking at number 23 around the same time.[35][36]

On November 26, 2013, it was released as an official single in Australia. On the following week, it was the most added track to radio stations.[13][37] Despite that, the highest position the single was able to peak was at number 62, when the song was set to be released as the second single.[12][35] Nevertheless, the record was certified gold by the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA).[38] "Young Girls" reached its highest mark at number 83 in the United Kingdom, after its official release.[39] The track peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for 14 weeks.[40] In the Mainstream Top 40 the aforementioned song peaked inside the top 10, at number 9, something which the previous single was unable to do, thus ending the top 10 streak.[41] It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[42] In Canada, the song peaked at number 19 and Music Canada (MC) and received a double platinum certification by Music Canada.[43][44] It made the 2013 year end list of the Canadian Hot 100.[45]

Music video

[edit]

On December 12, 2012, it was reported for the first time that "Young Girls" would be the second single,[11] a music video was already in production as of December 6, 2012 and was set to be directed by Cameron Duddy.[46] Mars admitted to be spending a lot of his time thinking about the processing of the video, saying "It's going to be something I’ve never done before, I promise you that".[11] A day before the performance on Victoria's Secret show an official audio video of the song was uploaded to YouTube.[47] The official music video was never released.

Live performances and covers

[edit]

"Young Girls" made its debut during a performance on Saturday Night Live in October 2012.[10] On December 4, 2012, Mars recorded performance on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, aired on CBS.[48] Sam Lansky of Idolator said the performance during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was "impressive", despite the singer not being "runway-friendly as RiRi".[48] On December 7, 2012, Mars and his band sung the record on, the German show, "Sat 1 Frühstücksfernsehen" and on December 31, 2012, at the New Year Alan Carr's Specstacular.[49][50] It was performed occasionally on The Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013–2014).[51][52] The song was recorded by Mark Kozelek for his 2013 acoustic cover songs album Like Rats.[53] It was also covered by Chris Jamison and Jonathan Wyndham during their Battle Round in the seventh season of The Voice and was made available for purchase on October 13, 2014.[54]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Unorthodox Jukebox and ASCAP.[6][9]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[44] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[65] Gold 7,500*
United States (RIAA)[42] Platinum 1,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]

Promotional release

[edit]
Promotional single release date and format
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various November 6, 2012 Digital download
(iTunes countdown single) 		Unknown [10]

Single release

[edit]
Release dates and format for "Young Girls"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Australia November 26, 2013 Unknown Unknown [13]
United States December 10, 2013 Contemporary hit radio Atlantic [14]
United Kingdom February 17, 2014 [15]
Italy February 26, 2014 Radio airplay Unknown [16]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Young Girls

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Young Girls" is a by American singer-songwriter from his second studio album, '''' (2012). It was released as the album's first promotional single on November 6, 2012. The track was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, , , , and , while production was handled by (Mars, Lawrence, and Levine), Bhasker, and Haynie. Described as a midtempo pop and , the song explores Mars's struggle between his attraction to carefree young women and his yearning for a stable, committed relationship.

Background and development

Writing and inspiration

The song "Young Girls" drew inspiration from ' early career experiences in , where he navigated the temptations and excesses of the music industry as a struggling . Mars reflected on this period as one of "running ," capturing the theme of losing oneself to fleeting indulgences, particularly the allure of young women amid urban nightlife pressures. This personal backdrop shaped the track's confessional tone, portraying a cycle of and repeated temptation. The song emerged from collaborative writing sessions in 2012 led by Mars and his production team, —comprising Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine—who handled the core composition for much of the album. These sessions focused on experimenting with diverse pop influences, positioning "Young Girls" as the album's opener to set a reflective, midtempo mood blending soul and rock elements. Jeff Bhasker played a pivotal role in refining the chorus during a studio session, inviting veteran songwriter to contribute after connecting through executive Neil Jacobson. Davis spontaneously provided —"All you young wild girls, you make a mess of me, all you young wild girls, you’ll be the death of me"—which Bhasker immediately praised as a "smash," earning Davis a co-writing credit alongside . An initial demo of "Young Girls" was recorded during these early phases, featuring a rawer arrangement that highlighted Mars' vocals and basic instrumentation, later included on the deluxe edition of Unorthodox Jukebox. The track aligned with the album's broader concept of genre-blending experimentation, allowing Mars to explore mature, introspective themes while maintaining his signature hooks.

Production process

The production of "Young Girls" was overseen by The Smeezingtons—Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, and Ari Levine—who composed, produced, and recorded the track as the opening song on the album Unorthodox Jukebox. Following the inspirational writing phase that provided the raw material, studio work emphasized hands-on execution with Mars delivering lead vocals and multi-instrumental contributions, including guitar and keyboards, to capture an authentic performance. Recording sessions occurred primarily at Levcon Studios in Los Angeles, with additional work at Daptone Studios in Brooklyn and Avatar Studios in New York during 2012, as part of the album's overall six-month production timeline that began in early 2011 and wrapped by late 2012. The track's mid-tempo pop-soul sound was built using live instrumentation, highlighted by big drums performed and recorded by Brent Kolatalo and Ken Lewis, alongside contributions from collaborators like on keyboards and effects. Ari Levine served as the primary recording engineer, with Charles Moniz providing additional engineering support, allowing for a layered vocal that incorporated Mars' signature harmonies to evoke a sense of . Production choices prioritized an organic, band-like feel, as Mars noted the intent to ensure "it felt like a real band playing," setting it apart from the album's more electronically polished elements in tracks like "." Post-recording, handled mixing at Larrabee Sound Studios in , refining the balance of live elements to maintain the song's raw energy while ensuring sonic clarity. Mastering was completed by Dave Kutch at The Mastering Palace in New York, finalizing the track's warm, dynamic profile ahead of the album's December 2012 release. These technical decisions underscored ' collaborative approach, blending Mars' vision with high-caliber studio expertise to deliver a cohesive yet unpolished opener.

Musical elements

Composition and structure

"Young Girls" is classified as a pop song with and neo-soul influences. The track operates in the key of and maintains a of 126 beats per minute, contributing to its midtempo feel. It employs a standard 4/4 throughout, facilitating its rhythmic drive. The song follows a conventional pop structure: intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, final chorus, and outro. This arrangement builds emotional intensity progressively, with the verses establishing the , pre-choruses providing tension, and choruses delivering the melodic . The bridge introduces variation for heightened before resolving into the outro. Instrumentally, "Young Girls" features an acoustic laying down the foundational rhythm, complemented by elements that add texture, particularly in the intro where a prominent guitar sets the tone. Synth and organ layers provide harmonic support, while or strings contribute to the swelling emotional build-up in the bridge, enhancing the song's introspective mood. Vocally, Bruno Mars spans a range from F♯4 to C♯6, showcasing his versatile capabilities. In the chorus, he employs to reach higher registers, adding a soaring, emotive quality that aligns with the track's style. The outro incorporates ad-libs, allowing for improvisational flourishes that extend the vocal expression beyond the structured sections.

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of "Young Girls," the opening track on Bruno Mars' 2012 album , are written from a first-person perspective, confessing the singer's compulsive attraction to a hedonistic urban lifestyle embodied by "young wild girls." In the chorus, Mars repeats: "All you young wild girls / You make a mess of me / Yeah, you young wild girls / You'll be the death of me, the death of me," portraying these women as both alluring and ruinous forces that disrupt the narrator's stability. This hyperbolic expression of self-destruction underscores the theme of , where the acknowledges his emotional dependency despite recognizing the harm. Central themes revolve around urban temptation and the pitfalls of materialism, as the narrator describes squandering "all my money" on a "big old fancy car" to attract "bright-eyed hunnies," only to find himself trapped in a cycle of late nights and false promises under city lights. Metaphors like "all these roads steer me wrong" and "I get lost under these lights" symbolize the deceptive paths of nightlife and superficial pursuits, contrasting with the singer's fleeting dream of a "simple life" where "boy meets girl, makes her his wife." These elements highlight irony in the lyrics, as the narrator's pursuit of excitement leads to disillusionment and isolation, critiquing how material excess fosters objectification and emotional turmoil. The song's narrative evolves through verses that build from to , employing such as "'Til the birds start calling my name" to exaggerate sleepless nights driven by addiction-like desire. This tone positions the singer as a flawed observer of his own downfall, warning implicitly against the allure of fleeting pleasures while the upbeat arrangement amplifies the irony of its reflective delivery.

Release and promotion

Single release and formats

"Young Girls" was first released as a promotional single from ' second studio album on November 6, 2012, as a digital download through . It was later issued as the album's fifth official single, beginning in on November 26, 2013, and in the United States on December 10, 2013, succeeding "" as the album's fourth single. Initial promotion for the official single included radio airplay starting in late 2013, with a European premiere on contemporary hit radio on February 17, 2014. The single was made available in digital format, alongside a promotional CD issued by for radio stations and industry use. It was also included in various album bundles to encourage purchases of . No physical vinyl single was produced at launch, though the track appeared on vinyl reissues of the album in 2020 compilations, such as the limited-edition red vinyl edition released on December 18, 2020. Marketing efforts tied the single to Mars' ongoing Moonshine Jungle World Tour, which supported and featured live performances of "Young Girls" to highlight its introspective message on fleeting relationships. Social media teasers from Mars and emphasized the song's themes of and , building anticipation ahead of the full release. Regional variations included an earlier radio rollout in , with Italian stations adding it to playlists by late February 2014.

Music video

The official music video for "Young Girls" was announced as being in development shortly after the song's promotional release in late 2012, with describing the concept as "one of a kind" and unlike anything he had attempted previously. Mars revealed he was actively brainstorming ideas daily to ensure the visual complemented the track's themes of fleeting romance and . Despite initial plans tied to the single's rollout following "," production details such as director, , or filming schedule were not publicly confirmed beyond early speculation. Production began on December 6, 2012, with as director, but was ultimately canceled, leaving the song without a dedicated official visual component from the artist or label.

Live performances and covers

"Young Girls" received its live debut by during his hosting stint on on October 20, 2012, where he performed the track as part of promoting the then-upcoming album . The song quickly became a staple in Mars' early live repertoire, notably featured at the on December 4, 2012, blending its upbeat influences with the event's high-energy atmosphere. During the (2013–2015), "Young Girls" was regularly included in the setlist across over 150 dates worldwide, often with extended instrumental breaks and vocal ad-libs to encourage audience sing-alongs and participation. For instance, at the June 24, 2013, show in , the performance highlighted Mars' dynamic stage presence, transitioning seamlessly into ballads like "." The tour's arrangements emphasized the song's rhythmic groove, adapting it for large arenas with added horn sections from his band, The Hooligans. Post-tour, performances grew rarer, appearing sporadically in Mars' Las Vegas residency at the Park Theater (later ) at from 2018 to 2023. A notable rendition occurred on July 27, 2018, where it was positioned mid-set to build emotional momentum before hits like "." According to setlist data, this marked the song's most recent full live outing by Mars as of November 2025, with no major controversies surrounding its delivery but consistent praise for his vocal consistency in intimate venue settings. During the 2020 lockdowns, while Mars adapted to virtual formats through projects like collaborations, no specific streamed performance of "Young Girls" was documented, though fans noted its absence from his limited online appearances. Cover versions of "Young Girls" have highlighted its versatile pop-reggae structure, with several artists reinterpreting its themes of fleeting romance. A prominent early cover was the rendition by beatboxer in 2013, which layered vocal harmonies to emphasize the song's melodic hooks. Singer Ali Brustofski released a cover in January 2013, infusing a pop-soul vibe that garnered attention on for its faithful yet emotive delivery. In 2013, offered an acoustic version, stripping the track to guitar and vocals to underscore its introspective lyrics, which resonated with younger audiences seeking a more vulnerable take. More recently, amateur covers proliferated on platforms like , including viral clips from 2022 where groups of young performers adapted the song to highlight empowerment narratives, such as flipping gender perspectives in lyrics for challenges. These interpretations often tie back to the original's cautionary themes but amplify messages of self-worth and resilience.

Reception and legacy

Critical reviews

Upon its release, "Young Girls" garnered generally positive reviews from music critics, who frequently highlighted its artistic merits, including ' emotive vocal performance and the song's introspective qualities. described the track as a standout on , praising its sly, seductive come-on and sneaky groove, which blended pop with a darker edge, contributing to the album's overall 3.5/5 rating. commended the sleek arrangement and thematic depth in its track-by-track analysis, noting how the explore recognizing sin while indulging in it. Some critiques offered mixed assessments, balancing praise for the production with reservations about the lyrical tone. called the song "enjoyable," appreciating the methodical string and wind quadruplets alongside floppy, Spector-esque tom-toms, but observed Mars' impassioned shame in pursuing "these bright-eyed honeys," which added emotional weight. The Guardian viewed it more favorably as "lovelorn 1970s pop" within Mars' nimble genre-hopping style, deeming the track unshakably catchy despite its reflective themes. Reviews often delved into the song's thematic elements, interpreting its narrative as on and the pitfalls of fleeting temptations. Critics like those at emphasized how the lyrics critique the allure of transient relationships, positioning "Young Girls" as a amid the album's broader exploration of desire and regret. The single's reception aligned with the parent album's aggregate Metacritic score of 70/100, based on 16 reviews, reflecting solid critical consensus on its pop craftsmanship.

Commercial performance

"Young Girls" debuted on the US at number 94 on January 18, 2014, and reached a peak position of number 32 in 2014. The single sold over 2 million digital downloads and ringtones in the United States. It was certified Gold by the (RIAA) on July 21, 2017, denoting 500,000 units sold or streamed. Internationally, the song achieved modest chart success, peaking at number 83 on the UK Singles Chart in March 2014. In , it was certified by the Australian Recording Industry Association () for sales exceeding 35,000 units. It also received a certification from for 7,500 units in . The track benefited from the momentum of its parent album , which topped the in March 2013 following strong sales of 192,000 copies in its debut week. However, it was overshadowed by the album's earlier singles, including "" and "," both of which reached number one on the , as well as "" at number five and "" at number 22, making "Young Girls" the lowest-charting single from the album. Streaming has contributed to the song's enduring popularity, with over 269 million plays on as of 2025, reflecting a resurgence through playlist inclusions and fan-driven engagement post-2020.

Credits and charts

Personnel

"Young Girls" was written by , Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, , , and . The production was led by , the songwriting and production trio consisting of , Philip Lawrence, and Ari Levine, with co-production by and . Bruno Mars provided the lead vocals, as well as contributions on guitar and for the track. The recording was engineered by Ari Levine, with additional engineering by Moniz. Drum engineering was handled by Brent Kolatalo and Ken Lewis, while mixing was performed by at Larrabee Sound Studios in . Key personnel for "Young Girls" include:

Chart positions and certifications

"Young Girls" achieved moderate commercial success on international charts following its release as the fifth single from ' album . In the United States, the song debuted at number 94 on the chart dated January 18, 2014, and reached a peak position of number 32 during the week of March 8, 2014. It spent a total of 14 weeks on the chart. The song's trajectory on the US Hot 100 is detailed below:
Date (Chart Week)Position
January 18, 201494
January 25, 201476
February 1, 201468
February 8, 201454
February 15, 201438
February 22, 201433
March 1, 201435
March 8, 201432 (peak)
March 15, 201433
March 22, 201436
March 29, 201438
April 5, 201451
April 12, 201448
April 19, 201455
Internationally, "Young Girls" peaked at number 62 on the Singles Chart in , number 19 on the Canadian Hot 100, and number 83 on the UK Singles Chart. On year-end charts, it ranked at number 94 on the 2014 in the United States and number 71 on the 2014 Canadian Hot 100. In , the track entered the year-end Singles Chart within the top 100 for 2014, reflecting its sustained radio and sales performance. Regarding certifications, "Young Girls" was initially awarded Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 21, 2017, and later upgraded to Platinum, denoting 1,000,000 equivalent units in the , including downloads and streaming equivalents. In Australia, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified the song Gold in 2014 for 35,000 units shipped. certified it Double Platinum on November 12, 2025, for 200,000 units. No certification has been issued by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the UK as of 2025. Globally, the track has accumulated over 2 million equivalent units, driven by digital downloads and streaming. On , "Young Girls" has surpassed 269 million streams as of November 2025, contributing to its ongoing certification updates.

References

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyM5AjiZris
  2. https://genius.com/Bruno-mars-young-girls-lyrics
  3. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/bruno-mars/young-girls/
  4. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruno-mars-the-golden-child-109624/
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/arts/music/bruno-marss-new-album-unorthodox-jukebox.html
  6. https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/mac-davis-interview-2017/
  7. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/12/10/bruno-mars-cover-story/1745541/
  8. https://www.discogs.com/release/6427747-Bruno-Mars-Unorthodox-Jukebox
  9. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruno-mars-recruits-dream-team-of-producers-for-unorthodox-jukebox-245776/
  10. https://www.discogs.com/master/741891-Bruno-Mars-Young-Girls
  11. https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/bruno-mars/young-girls/MN0111383
  12. https://tunebat.com/Info/Young-Girls-Bruno-Mars/3G5iN5QBqMeXx3uZPy8tgB
  13. https://drumscore.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=14297&name=bruno-mars-young-girls-drum-sheet-music-tab&Itemid=5759&category_pathway=11278
  14. https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Bruno-Mars/Young-Girls
  15. https://isolated-tracks.com/bruno-mars/young-girls
  16. https://zienjournals.com/index.php/tjm/article/download/109/86/137
  17. https://eprints.unram.ac.id/11727/1/Fatimah%20Tuzzahrah.pdf
  18. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jsel/article/download/167293/147879/
  19. https://genius.com/Bruno-mars-young-girls-lyrics/q/release-date
  20. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6419/bruno-mars/
  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/5588126-Bruno-Mars-Young-Girls
  22. https://diversevinyl.thisishive.net/product/unorthodox-jukebox/
  23. https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/bruno-mars/news/young-girls-music-video/
  24. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bruno-mars-hosts-snl-debuts-young-girls-watch-474547/
  25. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHtWVynIUBb/?hl=en
  26. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/bruno-mars-bd5153a.html?tour=73d5a619
  27. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bruno-mars-romps-through-moonshine-jungle-tour-in-philadelphia-live-review-1568112/
  28. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bruno-mars/2018/park-theater-at-park-mgm-las-vegas-nv-1be8b15c.html
  29. https://www.setlist.fm/song/bruno-mars/young-girls-43d8876f.html
  30. https://grammy.com/news/warner-musics-play-fest-will-livestream-past-performances-coldplay-cardi-b-bruno-mars
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lLNfxR8x6Y
  32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxDSgZp6JCk
  33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws4WWjzemkY
  34. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/unorthodox-jukebox-111483/
  35. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bruno-mars-unorthodox-jukebox-track-by-track-review-1481466/
  36. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-review-bruno-mars-unorthodox-jukebox-atlantic-8390111.html
  37. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/03/bruno-mars-unorthodox-jukebox-review
  38. https://www.metacritic.com/music/unorthodox-jukebox/bruno-mars
  39. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2014-04-05/
  40. https://chartmasters.org/bruno-mars-albums-and-songs-sales/
  41. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20140302/7501/
  42. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bruno-mars-scores-first-no-1-album-on-billboard-200-atoms-for-1550713/
  43. https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/0du5cEVh5yTK9QJze8zA0C_songs.html
  44. https://www.discogs.com/release/4138899-Bruno-Mars-Unorthodox-Jukebox
  45. https://musicbrainz.org/release/22a00fa0-f49e-4f8f-9e86-f28390bdaacc
  46. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2014-03-08/
  47. https://brunomars.fandom.com/wiki/Young_Girls
  48. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/bruno-mars-young-girls/
  49. https://musiccanada.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/billboard-canadian-hot-100-of-2014-year-end-chart/
  50. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advanced_search=bruno+mars+young+girls#search_section
  51. https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?search=bruno+mars
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