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{{short description|2003 single by AFI}}
{{short description|2003 single by AFI}}
{{Infobox song
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}{{Infobox song
| name = Girl's Not Grey
| name = Girl's Not Grey
| cover = AFI - Girl's Not Grey cover.jpg
| cover = AFI - Girl's Not Grey cover.jpg
Line 7: Line 7:
| artist = [[AFI (band)|AFI]]
| artist = [[AFI (band)|AFI]]
| album = [[Sing the Sorrow]]
| album = [[Sing the Sorrow]]
| released = January 12, 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=AFI‘s Girl’s Not Grey|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/5057/afis-girls-not-grey|website=Punknews.org|accessdate=July 7, 2015|date=January 11, 2003}}</ref>
| released = January 12, 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=AFI's Girl's Not Grey|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/5057/afis-girls-not-grey|website=Punknews.org|access-date=July 7, 2015|date=January 11, 2003}}</ref>
| recorded = 2002
| recorded = 2002
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre =
⚫
| genre = [[Punk rock]], [[emo]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324180633/http://supplements.thephoenix.com/supplements/2012/emo/top/?page=10|title= Top 100 Emo Songs of All Time|work=The Boston Phoenix|accessdate= August 5, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Pop-punk]]<ref name="sacher">{{cite web |last1=Sacher |first1=Andrew |title=‘Sing the Sorrow’ at 20 – the LP that took AFI from hardcore to generation-defining rock band|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/sing-the-sorrow-at-20-the-lp-that-took-afi-from-hardcore-to-generation-defining-rock-band/ |website=[[Brooklyn Vegan]] |access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ndsmcobserver.com/2009/10/a-f-i-not-hot-enough/|title=A.F.I Not Hot Enough|work=[[The Observer (Notre Dame)|The Observer]]|accessdate=September 19, 2021}}</ref>
⚫
* [[emo]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://supplements.thephoenix.com/supplements/2012/emo/top/?page=10|title= Top 100 Emo Songs of All Time|work=The Boston Phoenix|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150324180633/http://supplements.thephoenix.com/supplements/2012/emo/top/?page=10|access-date= August 5, 2020|archive-date= 2015-03-24}}</ref>
* [[hard rock]]<ref>{{cite web|last= Loudwire Staff |title= The 66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century|website= [[Loudwire]] |url= https://loudwire.com/best-hard-rock-songs-21st-century/|date= October 2, 2020|accessdate= September 10, 2022}}</ref>
* [[pop rock]]<ref name="scott">{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Aaron |title=Review: AFI, ''Sing the Sorrow'' |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/afi-sing-the-sorrow/ |website=[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]] |access-date=10 May 2023}}</ref>
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=10}}
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=10}}
| label = [[DreamWorks Records|DreamWorks]]
| label = [[DreamWorks Records|DreamWorks]]
| writer = AFI
| writer = [[Hunter Burgan]], [[Adam Carson]], [[Davey Havok|David Paden Marchand]], [[Jade Puget]]
| producer =
| producer =
| prev_title = [[The Days of the Phoenix]]
| prev_title = [[The Days of the Phoenix]]
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}}
}}


"'''Girl's Not Grey'''" is a song by American [[rock band]] [[AFI (band)|AFI]]. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album ''[[Sing the Sorrow]]'' in 2003. "Girl's Not Grey" was released to radio on February 4, 2003.<ref name=FMQB>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock |publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated |accessdate=October 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |archivedate=March 22, 2013 }}</ref> It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at #7 on the [[Alternative Songs]] Chart and #14 on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]] Chart. A music video directed by [[David Slade]] was made for the song.
"'''Girl's Not Grey'''" is a song by American rock band [[AFI (band)|AFI]]. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album, ''[[Sing the Sorrow]]'' (2003), debuting on radio on February 4, 2003.<ref name=FMQB>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock |publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated |access-date=October 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |archive-date=March 22, 2013 }}</ref> It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at No. 7 on the [[Alternative Songs]] Chart and No. 14 on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]] Chart. [[David Slade]] directed a music video, featuring elements which have been described as similar to those in ''[[Alice in Wonderland]]''.


It is a playable track in the [[video game]]s ''[[Rock Band 2]]'' and ''[[Guitar Hero Live]]'', and a downloadable track for the [[video game]] ''[[Guitar Hero 5]]'' and the [[iPod Touch]] application ''[[Tap Tap Revenge]]''.
It is a playable track in the video games ''[[Rock Band 2]]'' and ''[[Guitar Hero Live]]'', and a downloadable track for the [[video game]] ''[[Guitar Hero 5]]'' and the [[iPod Touch]] application ''[[Tap Tap Revenge]]''.

==Background==
According to guitarist [[Jade Puget]], most of the songs for ''[[Sing the Sorrow]]'' had already been written by the time he wrote the music for the song in a hotel in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]. Vocalist [[Davey Havok]] then wrote the lyrics, with Puget penning the background vocals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=DeCaro |first=Alessandro |date=February 17, 2023 |title=AFI reflect on creating their breakthrough hit 'Girl’s Not Grey' 20 years later |url=https://www.altpress.com/afi-girls-not-grey-oral-history/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |language=en}}</ref> Puget later reflected that he had thought the song could have been the album opener, but he was the only band member to think so.<ref name=":0" />


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
"Girl's Not Grey" received generally positive reviews from critics, who considered it a [[pop punk]] song from the album. [[Allmusic]] reviewer Johnny Loftus felt that the chorus of the backing voices shifted the song from hardcore punk to pop, and called the single "a car-radio singalong of pure genius".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sing-the-sorrow-r627575/review|title=Sing the Sorrow – AFI|author=Loftus, Johnny|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=January 7, 2011}}</ref>
"Girl's Not Grey" received generally positive reviews from critics, who considered it a [[pop-punk]] song from the album. [[AllMusic]] reviewer Johnny Loftus felt that the chorus of the backing voices shifted the song from hardcore punk to pop, and called the single "a car-radio singalong of pure genius".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sing-the-sorrow-r627575/review|title=Sing the Sorrow – AFI|author=Loftus, Johnny|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=January 7, 2011}}</ref>


==Music video==
==Music video==
A music video directed by [[David Slade]] was released shortly after the single's release. According to the [[Fuse TV]] program ''[[IMX (TV series)|IMX]]'', the video is similar to Slade's previously directed music video, "[[Sour Girl]]" by [[Stone Temple Pilots]], featuring a strange environment and human-sized rabbit characters as well. The music video is similar to [[Lewis Carroll]]'s novel ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'', featuring a little girl that follows a rabbit into an alternate reality.
A music video directed by [[David Slade]] was released shortly after the single's release. According to the [[Fuse TV]] program ''[[IMX (TV series)|IMX]]'', the video is similar to Slade's previous video for "[[Sour Girl]]" by [[Stone Temple Pilots]], which also features a strange environment and human-sized rabbit characters. The concepts within the video are similar to the basic plot of [[Lewis Carroll]]'s novel ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'', featuring a little girl that follows a rabbit into an alternate reality.<ref name=":0" />

A completely black version of the band performs in an alley, where a blue-haired girl in black clothing follows a pink human-sized rabbit through Jade Puget to an alternate reality, where the band is seen performing in full color. The location is a mostly red and pink landscape, with pink flower petals falling. The rabbit is now blue and the girl's clothes pink, with her head now a plastic cartoon mask expressing euphoria. The girl continues to follow the rabbit to the top of a hill, where she sees the band performing. She is saddened after seeing that the rabbit has left her. She is enveloped by a whirlwind of petals, which consume her. Petals burst out of Havok's chest, and even fall in the alley where the colorless version of the band finishes playing the song.


⚫
There is also an alternate version of the video which simply features the band performing in the alley covered in black paint but does not feature the girl, human-sized rabbits, or the alternate reality setting.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFI - Girl's Not Grey (Prelude Version) Alternate Music Video HD |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2iw1O6YlYY |website=YouTube |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>
It features the band performing in an alley, where a girl follows a pink human-sized rabbit to an alternate reality. The band are seen performing in the location as well. The location is mostly made up of the color pink, featuring a pink sky, pink flower petals encircling the area, and the girl is dressed in pink as well. The band is shown performing in the alley again, covered in black paint. Meanwhile, in the alternate reality, the girl continues to follow the rabbit until it leads her to the top of a hill, where she sees [[AFI (band)|AFI]] performing the chorus. Although she seems happy, she is devastated after realizing the pink rabbit has disappeared. A whirlwind of pink flower petals begin to encircles her, and although she struggles to set herself free, she disappears, leaving behind her pair of golden ballet slippers. The pink flower petals then burst out of vocalist [[Davey Havok]]'s chest at the end of the video.


By early 2023, the rabbit suit had been donated to the [[Punk Rock Museum]] in [[Las Vegas]],<ref name=":0" /> which opened on April 1 of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Punk Rock Museum |url=https://www.thepunkrockmuseum.com/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
An alternate version simply features the band performing in the alley and covered in black paint, but does not feature the girl, human-sized rabbits, or the alternate reality itself. This is the more infamous version, and is often found on the [[Internet]], rather than broadcast television.


==Live performances==
==Live performances==


"Girl's Not Grey" was first performed live on January 8, 2002 at [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|the Forum]] in [[Inglewood, California]]. As of 1 April 2019, it has been performed 538 times, making it the most performed song by AFI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/afi-4bd68fca.html?song=Girl%27s+Not+Grey|title=Girl's Not Grey by AFI song statistics |website= Setlist.fm|date= |accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref>
"Girl's Not Grey" was first performed live on January 8, 2002, at [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|the Forum]] in [[Inglewood, California]]. As of April, 1, 2019, it had been performed 538 times, making it the most performed song by AFI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/afi-4bd68fca.html?song=Girl%27s+Not+Grey|title=Girl's Not Grey by AFI song statistics |website= Setlist.fm|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'', drummer [[Adam Carson]] noted that the song "really works as the first song in a set, which is why I think we've played that song probably more than anything".<ref name=":0" />


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
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[[Category:2003 singles]]
[[Category:2003 singles]]
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[[Category:2003 songs]]
[[Category:AFI (band) songs]]
[[Category:AFI (band) songs]]
⚫
[[Category:DreamWorks Records singles]]
[[Category:Flowers in culture]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by David Slade]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by David Slade]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig]]
⚫
[[Category:2003 songs]]
⚫
[[Category:DreamWorks Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Hunter Burgan]]
[[Category:Songs written by Hunter Burgan]]
[[Category:Songs written by Adam Carson]]
[[Category:Songs written by Adam Carson]]

Latest revision as of 09:08, 27 December 2024

"Girl's Not Grey"
Single by AFI
from the album Sing the Sorrow
ReleasedJanuary 12, 2003[1]
Recorded2002
Genre
Length3:10
LabelDreamWorks
Songwriter(s)AFI
AFI singles chronology
"The Days of the Phoenix"
(2000) 		"Girl's Not Grey"
(2003) 		"The Leaving Song Pt. II"
(2003)

"Girl's Not Grey" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album, Sing the Sorrow (2003), debuting on radio on February 4, 2003.[7] It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at No. 7 on the Alternative Songs Chart and No. 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart. David Slade directed a music video, featuring elements which have been described as similar to those in Alice in Wonderland.

It is a playable track in the video games Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero Live, and a downloadable track for the video game Guitar Hero 5 and the iPod Touch application Tap Tap Revenge.

Background

[edit]

According to guitarist Jade Puget, most of the songs for Sing the Sorrow had already been written by the time he wrote the music for the song in a hotel in Toronto, Ontario. Vocalist Davey Havok then wrote the lyrics, with Puget penning the background vocals.[8] Puget later reflected that he had thought the song could have been the album opener, but he was the only band member to think so.[8]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Girl's Not Grey" received generally positive reviews from critics, who considered it a pop-punk song from the album. AllMusic reviewer Johnny Loftus felt that the chorus of the backing voices shifted the song from hardcore punk to pop, and called the single "a car-radio singalong of pure genius".[9]

Music video

[edit]

A music video directed by David Slade was released shortly after the single's release. According to the Fuse TV program IMX, the video is similar to Slade's previous video for "Sour Girl" by Stone Temple Pilots, which also features a strange environment and human-sized rabbit characters. The concepts within the video are similar to the basic plot of Lewis Carroll's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, featuring a little girl that follows a rabbit into an alternate reality.[8]

A completely black version of the band performs in an alley, where a blue-haired girl in black clothing follows a pink human-sized rabbit through Jade Puget to an alternate reality, where the band is seen performing in full color. The location is a mostly red and pink landscape, with pink flower petals falling. The rabbit is now blue and the girl's clothes pink, with her head now a plastic cartoon mask expressing euphoria. The girl continues to follow the rabbit to the top of a hill, where she sees the band performing. She is saddened after seeing that the rabbit has left her. She is enveloped by a whirlwind of petals, which consume her. Petals burst out of Havok's chest, and even fall in the alley where the colorless version of the band finishes playing the song.

There is also an alternate version of the video which simply features the band performing in the alley covered in black paint but does not feature the girl, human-sized rabbits, or the alternate reality setting.[10]

By early 2023, the rabbit suit had been donated to the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas,[8] which opened on April 1 of that year.[11]

Live performances

[edit]

"Girl's Not Grey" was first performed live on January 8, 2002, at the Forum in Inglewood, California. As of April, 1, 2019, it had been performed 538 times, making it the most performed song by AFI.[12] In an interview with Alternative Press, drummer Adam Carson noted that the song "really works as the first song in a set, which is why I think we've played that song probably more than anything".[8]

Track listing

[edit]

UK 7"

  1. "Girl's Not Grey" – 3:10
  2. "The Hanging Garden" (Live at BBC)[a] – 3:45

Europe

  1. "Girl's Not Grey" – 3:10
  2. "This Celluloid Dream" (Demo) – 4:18
  3. "Synesthesia" (Demo) – 4:35
  4. "Girl's Not Grey" (Final) Clip – 3:11

Germany

  1. "Girl's Not Grey" – 3:10
  2. "This Celluloid Dream" (Demo) – 4:18

UK CD 1

  1. "Girl's Not Grey" - 3:10
  2. "The Hanging Garden" (live at BBC) - 3:45
  3. "Synesthesia" (Demo) - 4:35
  4. "Girl's Not Grey" (Final) Clip - 3:11

UK CD 2

  1. "Girl's Not Grey" - 3:10
  2. "Reiver's Music" (336 Sessions) - 3:23
  3. "Now The World" (336 Sessions) - 4:01
  4. "Girl's Not Grey" (Prelude) Clip - 3:11

Chart positions

[edit]
Chart (2003) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 22
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14] 7
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[15] 14
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] 33

References

[edit]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Previously covered by AFI for the A Fire Inside EP

Citations

  1. ^ "AFI's Girl's Not Grey". Punknews.org. January 11, 2003. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  2. ^ Sacher, Andrew. "'Sing the Sorrow' at 20 – the LP that took AFI from hardcore to generation-defining rock band". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "A.F.I Not Hot Enough". The Observer. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Top 100 Emo Songs of All Time". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. ^ Loudwire Staff (October 2, 2020). "The 66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century". Loudwire. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Scott, Aaron. "Review: AFI, Sing the Sorrow". Slant. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  7. ^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e DeCaro, Alessandro (February 17, 2023). "AFI reflect on creating their breakthrough hit 'Girl's Not Grey' 20 years later". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Sing the Sorrow – AFI". Allmusic. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  10. ^ "AFI - Girl's Not Grey (Prelude Version) Alternate Music Video HD". YouTube. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "The Punk Rock Museum". Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  12. ^ "Girl's Not Grey by AFI song statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  13. ^ "AFI: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "AFI Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "AFI Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "AFI Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
[edit]

Girl's Not Grey official video on YouTube

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