35 Best Songs With ‘Girl’ in the Title

Pop music has a long-standing tradition of singing about love, longing, and relationships. Because of this obsession, many songs' subjects are women.
Whether you're looking for a lovesick ballad or empowering anthem, our list of the best songs with girl in the title will give the feminine touch to any playlist.
Contents
1. “Bad Girls” by M.I.A.
Song year: 2012
British singer M.I.A. utilizes a hyperspeed hip hop beat, Middle Eastern music scales, and a memorable hook in her anthem of female empowerment, “Bad Girls.”
The single was critically acclaimed and accompanied by a music video drawing attention to women's rights in Saudi Arabia. Music outlet Pitchfork named the song one of the best of the 2010s.
2. “China Girl” by David Bowie
Song year: 1983
David Bowie co-wrote “China Girl” with Iggy Pop for the ex-Stooges' frontman's album The Idiot. Five years later, with the help of producer Nile Rodgers, Bowie recorded his own more polished version of the song.
The single would chart highly across the globe and become one of Bowie's most successful hits of the decade.
3. “American Girl” by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Song year: 1977
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' single “American Girl” failed to dent the Billboard charts upon its initial release but has since become one of the legendary singer's most loved songs.
This iconic single is a captivatingly American new wave love song with punk-inflected guitars highlighting a patriotically-tinged love lyric.
4. “Your Best American Girl” by Mitski
Song year: 2016
Japanese-American singer-songwriter Mitski examines love and racial identity in her slow-burning indie rock single “Your Best American Girl.”
The song's plaintively strummed verses and crushingly heavy choruses create a dynamic canvas for Mitski's autobiographical lyrics. Her meditation on the minority experience in a culture obsessed with whiteness is profoundly honest.
5. “Girl from the North Country” by Bob Dylan
Song year: 1963
“Girl from the North Country” is one of Bob Dylan's signature songs. That's saying a lot for one of the greatest songwriters in the history of recorded music.
The song shares similarities with the English folk songs that Dylan learned while traveling in England in the early '60s and signaled the beginning of his illustrious career as a songwriter.
6. “Stupid Girl” by Garbage
Song year: 1996
Based on a drum sample from The Clash's “Train in Vain,” Garbage's single “Stupid Girl” helped their self-titled album crack the Billboard 200 chart.
With Shirley Manson's sultry yet biting vocals and the band's electro-rock arrangement, the single garnered the band two Grammy nominations.
7. “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel
Song year: 1983
Piano man Billy Joel paid homage to the doo-wop music he loved as a child on his 1983 album An Innocent Man.
The album's standout single, “Uptown Girl,” was more than just a nod to Joel's roots. The song topped the charts globally and defined his '80s output. It is one of the classic songs with girl in the title.
8. “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars
Song year: 1978
Missing classic rock and roll songwriting with the nervy energy of punk, The Cars became one of the most enduring American bands of the new wave era.
Their single “My Best Friend's Girl” became a regional hit before the band recorded an official version, signaling their future success.
9. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
Song year: 1983
Cyndi Lauper's “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was her first hit single and catapulted the singer into the music mainstream.
The spirited song of female empowerment is synonymous with the '80s. After four decades, the single remains Lauper's signature song and a beloved, lighthearted feminist anthem.
10. “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield
Song year: 1981
Australian guitarist Rick Springfield scored the only number one hit of his career with his single “Jessie's Girl.” Springfield wrote the song after noticing his friend's cute girlfriend while taking a stained-glass class.
The song has become an '80s pop classic and remains a popular song in film and television.
11. “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins
Song year: 1994
As frontman of indie darlings Orange Juice, Edwyn Collins found critical acclaim. After the group disbanded, Collins would finally find commercial success with his single “A Girl Like You.”
Featuring former Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, this groovy take on swinging blue-eyed soul was an international smash for the Scottish singer-songwriter.
12. “Fell in Love With a Girl” by The White Stripes
Song year: 2002
The White Stripes had a breakthrough hit with their 2002 single “Fell in Love with a Girl.”
Thanks to the song's Michel Gondry directed Lego animated music video, the single was a favorite on MTV, earning the band widespread acclaim and setting the stage for the '00s garage rock revival.
13. “Girl” by Beck
Song year: 2005
After his outing as a confessional singer-songwriter with 2002's Sea Change, Beck returned to working with the Dust Brothers for his eclectic follow-up album Guero.
The album's single “Girl” captures the essence of Beck's '90s output with a slightly 00's twist, earning critical praise as a return to form for the singer.
14. “Girls & Boys” by Blur
Song year: 1994
Inspired by the overtly sexual nightlife of Europe, Blur combined disco, new wave, and Euro-pop into their Britpop sound for their single “Girls & Boys.”
With its gender-bending chorus, thumping bassline, and dancy electronic drum beat, the song became one of Blur's most successful singles. It has endured as one of Blur's quintessential tracks.
15. “Punk Rock Girl” by The Dead Milkmen
Song year: 1988
The Dead Milkmen are pining for a rebellious romance in their comedy-punk single, “Punk Rock Girl.”
Sung from the perspective of a straight-laced protagonist looking to spice up their love life, the single is dripping with punk-flavored irony – underscored by the defiantly unpunk and prominently featured accordion.
16. “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill
Song year: 1993
Pioneering female punk Joan Jett produced Bikini Kill's single “Rebel Girl,” and the convergence of the old and new vanguard of feminist punks helped the track become the defining song of the '90s riot grrrl movement.
The song remains a vital entry in the punk rock canon with its feminist message and infectious hooks.
17. “My Girls” by Animal Collective
Song year: 2009
The psychedelic indie band Animal Collective fully embraced synthesizers and fatherhood in their single classic 2000s single “My Girls.”
The song's meditative lyrics are dripping with mantra-like sincerity. Coupled with its swirling arpeggiated textures and anchored by a minimalist drum machine rhythm, the single's nursery-rhyme simplicity shines through.
18. “Material Girl” by Madonna
Song year: 1984
In an era known for its >materialism, it's no surprise that Madonna, one of its biggest pop stars, made her reputation with a single called “Material Girl.”
The single's sugary blast of catchy dance-pop encapsulates the '80s and is one of The Queen of Pop's most enduring hits.
19. “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” by Prince
Song year: 1994
Over a decade into his career, Prince was still topping the charts with “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”
The Purple One's 1994 single prominently featured the singer's soaring falsetto. With its boldly affectionate proclamations of love, this soulful ballad played during slow dances across the country in the '90s.
20. “About a Girl” by Nirvana
Song year: 1989
Initially recorded as a rock track on their debut album Bleach, Nirvana's acoustic version of “About a Girl” would be the band's first release after the death of singer Kurt Cobain and topped the Billboard chart.
Whether electric or acoustic, this early Cobain love song is proof of his talent as a pop songwriter.
21. “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer
Song year: 1979
Donna Summer continued her reign as the queen of disco with another chart-topping hit in 1979, the dance floor anthem “Bad Girls.”
Inspired to write the song after being harassed by police that accused her of prostitution, Summer channeled her frustration into the single. With production by disco legend Giorgio Moroder, the song is a classic of the era.
22. “My Girl” by The Temptations
Song year: 1964
The Temptations' classic Motown Records single “My Girl” had an immeasurable impact on pop music. The song's passionate vocals and iconic bass intro are immediately recognizable and helped define soul music.
The National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress selected the single for preservation due to its significance.
23. “Just a Girl” by No Doubt
Song year: 1995
No Doubt's poppy brand of ska punk catapulted them to fame in the '90s, thanks to infectious singles like “Just a Girl.”
Singer Gwen Stefani's feminist anthem is a blast of energy and defiance in the face of ageism and misogyny. The song has endured and earned a place in the canon of girl power anthems.
24. “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet
Song year: 2003
Australian rockers Jet penned one of the garage rock revival's signature singles with 2003's “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.”
With a stomping Motown beat, ragged guitars, and a no-frills chorus, the band manages to boil both the musical and lyrical tropes of rock and roll down to its fundamental essence.
25. “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen
Song year: 1978
Freddie Mercury and Queen were celebrating all shapes and sizes long before the term “body positivity” was in the lexicon.
Their classic single “Fat Bottomed Girls” was a hit globally, nearing the tops of numerous charts. Over four decades since its release, the song remains a signature Queen single.
26. “Rich Girl” by Hall & Oates
Song year: 1977
Hall & Oates scored the first of their six Billboard chart number-one singles with their infectiously catchy ode to trust fund kids, “Rich Girl.”
Daryl Hall wrote the song after a chance meeting with a bratty heir to a fast-food fortune. The song's disco groove and catchy chorus make it one of the band's signature songs.
27. “Factory Girl” by The Rolling Stones
Song year: 1968
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger used folk, blues, and world music as inspiration for The Rolling Stones' classic Beggars Banquet song “Factory Girl.”
With mandolin, fiddle, and acoustic accompaniment, the band weaves multiple musical traditions together with the modern reference to Andy Warhol's Factory. The song is a unique slice of the disparate influences on '60s culture.
28. “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce
Song year: 2011
Beyonce's “Run the World (Girls)” is the defining feminist anthem of the early 2010s. Queen B updated her soul and R&B sound to a modern and eclectic take on dance music with the single's heavy electropop beat.
The song topped the dance charts and its accompanying music video won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography.
29. “Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner
Song year: 1981
With shimmering synthesizers and heartfelt vocals, Foreigner's “Waiting for a Girl Like You” is a defining power ballad of the early '80s.
The single would set a record by spending ten weeks at the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and is synonymous with the era's rock ballads.
30. “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry
Song year: 2008
In an interesting career turn, Katy Perry changed gears from contemporary Christian music singer to a full-on mainstream pop star with the heteronormative bashing hit single “I Kissed a Girl.”
The song's bubble gum pop was a worldwide smash, topping the charts in over a dozen countries and catapulting Perry to fame.
31. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
Song year: 1967
One of the most iconic pop songs of the '60s, Van Morrison's “Brown Eyed Girl” has endured for over five decades thanks to its sweet nostalgic themes of love.
While Morrison has reported never seeing any royalties from the song, it has defined and propelled his blue-eyed soul career.
32. “California Girls” by The Beach Boys
Song year: 1965
Considered by many critics as one of the best songs ever, The Beach Boys' “California Girls” defined a sound, an era, and a state.
While the song sounds like a precious oldie, its inspiration came from an acid trip. The single's use of an orchestra and chord progression was revolutionary and changed pop music.
33. “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran
Song year: 1981
Duran Duran broke into the mainstream with their single “Girls on Film” and its controversial music video.
The video's erotic themes and depictions of fetishes became popular on the fledgling MTV cable channel. The controversy helped raise the band's profile, setting the stage for their renowned sophomore album, Rio.
34. “Girls Got Rhythm” by AC/DC
Song year: 1979
“Girls Got Rhythm” is one of the last singles released by AC/DC before the death of their original singer, Bon Scott.
In typical AC/DC fashion, the song is a blues-inspired hard rock riff bolstered by the machine-like precision of the rhythm section. This single is pure rock and roll, but it sounds great on the dance floor.
35. “Girl U Want” by Devo
Song year: 1980
New wave pioneers Devo's single “Girl U Want” is one of the stand-out tracks from their album Freedom of Choice.
Though the surprise success of the single “Whip It” overshadows “Girl U Want,” it remains a vital part of the celebrated cult band's catalog.
Top Songs With ‘Girl’ in the Title, Final Thoughts
Feminine energy has been a driving force in music from day one. From hair metal bands looking for love to female pop stars empowering young women, there is no shortage of songs about girls and songs with girl in the title.
We sorted through hundreds of songs to bring you the best songs with girl in the title. Whether you're thinking of your crush or celebrating girl power, your future will be female with this killer list!