Marilyn Monroe - Pharrell Williams

by Benjamin O'Loughlin 

Experience: In Pharrell Williams's own words, G  I  R  L is a tribute the women he has known, and who have done so much for him and his family. In Marilyn Monroe: love at first sight. But not head over heels. Pharrell Williams is thinking this one through, and liking it...

Music Video: Marilyn Monroe in music video form turns its back on the lyrics, stops playing love for keeps, and falls back into the Blurred Lines cliché: girls as sex symbols. The only hint at anything deeper is the opening scene: Pharrell Williams standing on a miniature planet before a greek goddess, who disappears when he tries to embrace her. Is Pharrell saying that everything thing else is a fake? Or is he just settling for sex since true love is out of his league?

Meaning of Marilyn Monroe: Marilyn Monroe opens love-themed album G  I  R  L with a six-minute journey through the last 40 years of music, courtesy of both Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer. Pharrell Williams doesn't need anyone else. He doesn't dream about sex-symbols (Marilyn Monroe), power (Cleopatra) or pure-hearted heroines (Joan of Arc). He has his girl, and he's happy - not because any girl will do, but because she's all he could ever want or need.

Ask Yourself: Why do you love the people you do? What do you see in them?

LYRICS:

Different...

This one goes out to all the lovers
What can we do? We're helpless romantics
We cannot help who we're attracted to
So let's all dance, and elevate each other

Dear diary, it's happenin' again
This energy, like I'm 'bout to win
I just close my eyes and visions appear
She's everything I want, and it's crystal clear
Not even Marilyn Monroe
Who Cleopatra pleas
Not even Joan of Arc
That don't mean nothin' to me
I just want a different girl
Girl, girl, girl, girl
Girl, girl, can't another good boy keep it this thorough


Why, why do I have to lie
Pretend, make believe or hide her?
When I love what I've described
But then again, I don't need no adjectives for this girl

Dear diary, it's happenin' again
This energy, like I'm 'bout to win
I just close my eyes and visions appear
She's everything I want, and it's crystal clear
Not even Marilyn Monroe
Who Cleopatra please
Not even Joan of Arc
That don't mean nothin' to me
I just want a different girl
Girl, girl, girl, girl
Girl, girl, can't another good boy keep it this thorough

Dear diary, it's happenin' again
This energy, like I'm 'bout to win
I just close my eyes and visions appear
She's everything I want, and it's crystal clear
Not even Marilyn Monroe
Who Cleopatra please
Not even Joan of Arc
That don't mean nothin' to me
I just want a different girl
Girl, girl, girl, girl
Girl, girl, can't another good boy keep it this thorough

What's wrong with that?
What's wrong with that? Yeah
What's wrong with that?

In honor of the groove and all who's surrendered to it
We say thank you, and we take it back

We're so hard, I was so hard that they can't chew
Then my lucky star, I guess you came from behind the moon
I put my arms around her, and I promise not to abuse you
Since now I found you, why the hell would I want to lose you?

Dear diary, it's happenin' again
This energy, like I'm 'bout to win
I just close my eyes and visions appear
She's everything I want, and it's crystal clear
Not even Marilyn Monroe
Who Cleopatra please
Not even Joan of Arc
That don't mean nothin' to me
I just want a different girl
Girl, girl, girl, girl
Girl, girl, can't another good boy keep it this thorough

Dear diary, it's happenin' again
This energy, like I'm 'bout to win
I just close my eyes and visions appear
She's everything I want, and it's crystal clear
Not even Marilyn Monroe
Who Cleopatra please
Not even Joan of Arc
That don't mean nothin' to me
I just want a different girl
Girl, girl, girl, girl
Girl, girl, can't another good boy keep it this thorough