| PHOTO: Edwyn Collins and Setanta
What an immortal song that Edwyn Collins composed the lyrics for, sang, and – most importantly – played guitar on! “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins holds a special place for me on many levels because it is one of the few songs from the mid-90s that I have memorized the lyrics to, played on the guitar, and still watch on YouTube. If I’m not listening to my original copy of Edywn Collin’s third-studio album ‘Gorgeous George’ CD, I’ll listen to it on the Empire Records OST.
Structurally, “A Girl Like You” is perfect to a tee. From guitar intro to verse, chorus, guitar solo, bridge, and everything else, the music captivated the audience. Technically superior in every way, performed at a masterful level by the one and only Edwyn Collins.
No, it is wrong to categorize this song as a one-hit wonder because it has been part of the soundtrack for both my generation and the previous generation, highlighting its significant musical impact. Mesmerizing lyrics and iconic guitar riffs make this song both nostalgic and fitting for the changing music scene of the mid-90s. We were gradually moving away from grunge and entering a more pop phase. On the other side of the world, the UK movement was quietly starting up, and one of the artists spearheading it was Edwyn Collins.
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| PHOTO: Edwyn Collins and Setanta
I first encountered “A Girl Like You” when it was being played on MTV Asia. It was not the black and white version easily found online, but rather a colorful, dynamic, lively nod to the late 60s and early 70s in its theme, scope, and presentation. You all should watch the colored version of the music video for “A Girl Like You” because it better aligns with the lyrics, mood, and meaning of the song by Edwyn Collins. Additionally, it is more entertaining and does not diminish the impact of the song. There are two music video versions of “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins.
For an alternative music video version of “A Girl Like You,” search on YouTube for Edwyn Collins’ “A Girl Like You (Version 2),” which is the best one out of all of them. I have provided a few screen grabs of the alternative version for clarity when searching and confirming if you have found the right one.
There are some live recordings and versions of “A Girl Like You” that can be found on YouTube. Among them, one stands out as superior to all others that have been uploaded and made available to the public. This particular live recording features Edwyn Collins performing his iconic song on ‘Late Night With Conan O’Brien,’ where he appeared as a musical guest with the rest of his bandmates.
What a fantastic performance it was to see the amount of effort Edwyn Collins, put into it, with the trippy, stringy, and wavy sounds of his vintage guitar changing each time he stepped on his numerous guitar effects pedals throughout the song. His transitions were magnificent to hear. Edwyn Collins, performance was outstanding. One for the record books for sure in terms of musical guests to appear on any late-night show that made a resounding statement based on one performance.
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| PHOTO: Edwyn Collins and Setanta
Nowadays, despite having suffered two strokes and being partially paralyzed, Edwyn Collins still performs at music festivals, gigs, and small concerts, including his timeless song “A Girl Like You” in his sets. Even though it is no longer him playing the guitar parts, just hearing that voice brings back all those memories for me. This is only possible when the talent truly has “IT.” Edwyn Collins certainly made a connection with me and countless others throughout the world with his immortal song.
There have been many artists and bands who have performed “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins, with a few even legally covering it and receiving his blessing and approval, along with permission from the record label, to release it as a cover song. However, in all honesty, these covers of “A Girl Like You” by other artists and bands are pale, bland, and lacking in comparison to the original. There is no heart in them, no soul, and no emotion. It sounds robotic and lacks a more appropriate term. And that is one reason the song has remained so legendary, because no one else can perform it like him.
Edwyn Collins is a throwback to a different era in the music industry because his mindset, musicianship, and guitar work are reminiscent of previous decades, and authenticity is present above all. The song still sounds great even today; younger people and the new generation will be amazed if they listen to it now. Trust me, I have conducted social listening experiments with this song involving my younger relatives, and they all love the song.
All in all, “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins is worth listening to, appreciating, and revisiting.