“Good girls are pretty like all the time, I’m just pretty some of the time.” For Robyn, “some of the time” happens to be any time (particularly when she’s in a video or on stage), but that lyric and our read of it is what’s at the root of “Who’s That Girl”: R’s trying to separate preconception from reality, and to have a look at the person behind the “girl.” To help with this task, Robyn tapped the Olof and Karin of the Knife, whose signature synth tones and roto tomming drive the track (and whose genderless stage personae happen to be a good thematic fit). To drive it all home visually, the video flashes all sorts of women in all sorts of roles — beauty queen, aristocratic debutante, hard laboring textile worker, soldier, bride — while Robyn’s words hover around her head to let you know this is a little more serious, and a little less cheeky, than “Konichiwa Bitches.” But as pop goes, it’s still top of the, uh, pops.
And now you know what Robyn would look like as a marching band drummer. This clip comes as part of the UK push for the “Who’s That Girl” single, and as previously mentioned, there will be hot remix action.
Catch her on tour, please:
04/29 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
04/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
05/01 – New York, NY @ Virgin Megastore (Union Square)
05/01 – New York, NY @ Late Show w/ David Letterman
05/02 – New York, NY @ Grand Ballroom
05/04 – Montreal, Quebec @ La Tulipe
05/05 – Toronto, Ontario @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
05/07 – Chicago, IL @ Park West
05/13 – Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan
05/14 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
05/16 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
05/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
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i realized she sucked the first time, please stop trying to shove this girl down our throaths, i’m sick of it.
Yeah, thanks but no thanks.
We Love Robyn. Youtube does not do this beat justice! She’s a little out there, but she’s pretty amazing. What do we know though… we like Amerie. haha
This song sucks. Robyn has a weak voice, even remastered as much as I am sure it is. The fact that she publishes and sings lyrics this bad is a general insult to any audience.
seriously, get her off the website, for your credibility’s sake, I don’t understand why she has been on the blog scene lately.
Knife rules!! (a little upset they agreed to this track though)
wut is this shit? so bad.
Got a new name for the song:
“Who’s That Girl and Why Should We Care”
i liked konichiwa bitches, but i’m afraid this kind of stuff is a step back to ‘show me love’. the fact that perez hilton was her biggest fan at sxsw is kind of drying up her newfound indie cred. oh, you have your own label? so what.
The Stereogum Backlash comment department has arrived. Please check your success at the door, and prepare to relegate your career to cheap bastards who steal your music and think you owe them for it.
Next stop Bell.
I actually like this song… a few of here newest singles have been a bit sus to me, but this song is dope…
I liked her when her shit dropped in 97
Yeah, but have you actually listened to The Knife’s lyrics? Nothing too great. Not saying they are bad though, I actually really like them. But it doesn’t really surprise me that they would do a song with lyrics like this.
the chorus = “whos that girl” by madonna + “girls just wanna have fun” by cindy lauper
the lyrics on those verses kick ass. its pop music, you’re supposed to laugh.
awsome !!!i dig this tune after one listen.
the knife sound is cutting & love robyns vocals…
me wants more knife…to hell with the snobs.
this is why europop blows our american stars away.
to each his own. thanx stgum
Wow, the people who have written negative comments must have PMS, Robyn is cool and has done a great pop album.
If you have no interest in pop music (albeit this is the smartest pop music being made today)… then why comment? Is your life that dull? The funny thing is Robyn is even better live than on record. A month ago at the Highline the entire room fell in love with her and the May 2 Hammerstein show hopefully will make her a superstar. If you don’t have room for Robyn in your life, well – then – I’m sorry about that.
I love The Knife but damn this song sucks hard. No thanks!
money is money for the Knife’s next record, huh?