| "Good Girls Don't" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Knack | ||||
| from the album Get the Knack | ||||
| B-side | "Frustrated" | |||
| Released | August 1979 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | New Wave, Punk Rock, Power Pop | |||
| Length | 3:07 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Writer(s) | Doug Fieger | |||
| Producer | Mike Chapman | |||
| The Knack singles chronology | ||||
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"Good Girls Don't" is a 1979 hit single written by Doug Fieger and released by the rock band The Knack, off their album Get the Knack. It was the follow-up to the group's No. 1 single, "My Sharona." It reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #66 on the British charts.[1][2] It also reached #20 in New Zealand.[3] The song has since been covered by a number of artists, including The Chipmunks, Ben Folds and The McRackins.[4][5]
Critic Chris Woodstra of Allmusic described the song as an "unforgettable hit."[6] Critic Greil Marcus described the song as a "smutty little Beatles imitation."[7] Author John Borack described the song as "a mean pop tune," noting too that in the song lead singer and songwriter Fieger comes off "like a leering, sexist twit with hormones a-raging."[8] Billboard Magazine referred to the song's "hearty harmonica" part and Beatle-esque harmonies, noting that "the music is delivered in tight little notes at top speed."[9] Wayne Wadhams, David Nathan and Susan Gedutis Lindsay described the song as a "well written pop tune" and note that the music is prettier than "My Sharonna" contains harmonies similar to The Searchers and The Hollies.[10] However, they also go on to note that the lyric "portrays a character more doggedly bent on sex than naturally aroused" and represents a "leering, postpubescent sales pitch by a dirty young man."[10] Other critics regarded the song as "derivative" and "sexist."[11][12][13]
The lyrics, such as the refrain "She'll be telling you 'good girls don't but I do,'" were considered misogynistic by some critics. However, Joyce Canaan of the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies wrote that this line succinctly captures the transformation of teenage girls' representations of their sexual practices; while they want to be seen as "good girls," even good girls may engage in practices that do not correspond to moral standards established by males.[14] Other lyrics that created controversy included the lines:
"And she makes you want to scream; wishing you could get inside her pants," (this line was rerecorded as "wishing she was givin' you a chance" on the "clean" single release)[15] and:
The "clean" single edit also changed this last line to "when she puts you in your place." Two other changes to the lyrics also had to be made in order to release the song as a single.[16]
Like some other power pop songs, such as Blondie's "Hanging on the Telephone" and "Sunday Girl", as well as The Beatles' "Please Please Me" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand", the drumming pattern of "Good Girls Don't" employs a double backbeat rhythm.[17]
"Good Girls Don't" was also released on The Knack's compilation albums The Retrospective: The Best of the Knack (1992), The Very Best of The Knack (1998) and Best of The Knack (1999).[4] It was also released on the 2002 live album and DVD Live From the Rock 'N' Roll Funhouse.[4] It was part of the Carnegie Hall concert that was released on laserdisc.[4] It was also included on a number of multiband compilation albums, such as Greatest Hits of the 70's and Party Starter: 80s Mix.[4]
"Good Girls Don't" was one of the first songs The Knack recorded prior to signing their first record deal. They had made a demo of "Good Girls Don't" and "That's What Little Girls Do" in 1978, despite which the band was turned down multiple times in their efforts to get their first record contract.[18]
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