Girl I've Been Hurt

"Girl, I've Been Hurt"
Single by Snow
from the album 12 Inches of Snow
ReleasedApril 15, 1993
Genre
Length4:10
LabelEastWest America
Songwriter(s)
  • Edmond Leary
  • Darrin O'Brien
  • Shawn Moltke
Producer(s)M.C. Shan
Snow singles chronology
"Informer"
(1992) 		"Girl, I've Been Hurt"
(1993) 		"Si Wi Dem Nuh Know We"
(1994)

"Girl I've Been Hurt" is a song by Canadian reggae musician Snow, released in April 1993 by EastWest America as the second single from his debut album, 12 Inches of Snow (1993). The song was written by Edmond Leary, Darrin O'Brien (real name of Snow) and Shawn Moltke, and produced by M.C. Shan. Following the wildly successful single "Informer," "Girl I've Been Hurt" peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[1] and charted internationally as well. In both Finland and Portugal, it was a top-10 hit.

Music and lyrics

While "Informer" documented a false murder charge and prison life, "Girl I’ve Been Hurt" presented a more sensitive theme, revolving around a breakup between a man and a woman in a relationship. The protagonist discovers that his "girl" has been cheating on him and he promptly dumps her and professes his desire to "find another lover." Whereas Jamaican patois-inspired lyrics conveyed the meaning of "Informer," "Girl I've Been Hurt" mixed Snow's sensitive crooning with a short reggae bridge.[2]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The pop/hip-hop community's latest star follows his platinum-selling smash, "Informer", with a languid ditty that will solidify his presence at several radio formats. A slick beat-base is firm support for a catchy, sing-along chorus and occasional toasting."[3] A reviewer from Music & Media said, "Just for your information, sometimes it snows in May. The white ragga man now tries his luck with a ballad and the snowball effect will continue on EHR and dance radio."[4] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, calling it "both powerful and different." He added, "The smooth, loping bass mix by Sly & Robbie is exemplary and makes for a more subtle song."[5] Johnny Dee from NME was less enthustiastic, viewing it as "a boring swing-beatish smoothy-woothy smoocher for the ladeeez in the house."[6]

Music video

The original music video for the song features Snow pursuing scantily clad women in an isolated, winter terrain. By the end of the video, at an outdoor party that includes a snowball fight, Snow hooks up with "another lover." The video featured much of Snow's early entourage, including his former DJ Marvin Prince, David Eng and the late EZ Steve Salem. In addition, a second "boggle" remix video of "Girl I’ve Been Hurt" appeared and featured the "Snow girls" audition.[7]

Live performances

While performing at Sunsplash '93, Ninjaman asked Snow to sing "Girl I've Been Hurt," saying: "Come up and sing 'Girl I've Been Hurt' because I like that song. If you sing that and the audience doesn't go crazy, I'll shoot everyone in the crowd!"

As Reggae Report observed, "fortunately, the crowd went wild for his performance and Ninja never had to make good on his threats!" [8]

Track listings

Personnel

  • Writers: Darrin O'Brien, Edmund Leary, Shawn Moltke
  • Producer: MC Shan
  • Executive producer: David Eng, EZ Steve Salem
  • Co-producers: Edmund Leary, John "Jumpstreet" Ficarotta

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 30
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 28
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 74
Europe (European Hit Radio)[13] 38
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[14][15] 7
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[16] 24
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 28
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 17
Portugal (AFP)[21] 10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 37
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 48
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 19
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 78
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[26] 25
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[27] 9
US Cash Box Top 100[28] 17

References

  1. ^ See: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/snow-p26072/charts-awards/billboard-singles
  2. ^ see: 12 Inches of Snow, VHS (New York: A-Vision, 1993)
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (10 April 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 72. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 21. 22 May 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ Jones, Alan (8 May 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  6. ^ Dee, Johnny (8 May 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 16. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  7. ^ See: see 12 Inches of Snow, VHS (New York: A-Vision, 1993)
  8. ^ See: Patricia Meschino, Reggae Report Vol. 13:3 (1995)
  9. ^ "Snow – Girl, I've Been Hurt". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ^ "Snow – Girl, I've Been Hurt" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1000." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 29. July 17, 1993. p. 23. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 29. July 17, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  15. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 26. June 26, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  16. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (04.06.1993 – 10.06.1993)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 3, 1993. p. 29. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Girl I've Been Hurt". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Snow" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  19. ^ "Snow – Girl, I've Been Hurt" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. ^ "Snow – Girl, I've Been Hurt". Top 40 Singles.
  21. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 41. October 9, 1993. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  22. ^ "Snow – Girl, I've Been Hurt". Singles Top 100.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  24. ^ "Snow Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  25. ^ "Snow Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  26. ^ "Snow Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  27. ^ "Snow Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 43. July 3, 1993. p. 12. Retrieved April 20, 2024.