A Girl Like You

Album: Smithereens 11 (1989)
Charted: 38
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Smithereens guitarist and singer Pat DiNizio wrote this as the theme song for the motion picture Say Anything, but DiNizio ultimately withheld the song from the project after he and the film's producer disagreed on making certain changes to the song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sam - Lincoln, NE

Comments: 6

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: www.legacy.com {12-13-2017}
    Scotch Plains, N.J. (AP) - Pat DiNizio, who as lead singer and songwriter for the New Jersey band the Smithereens was known for such hits as "Blood and Roses" and "A Girl Like You," has died at age 62.
    The band announced on Facebook that DiNizio died Tuesday. The cause of death was not announced. DiNizio posted several days ago that he was hopeful of getting back on tour as he continued physical therapy for neck and back injuries at the Victorian farmhouse he was restoring in Scotch Plains. The Smithereens peaked in the late 1980s-early 1990s, but continued to tour and record, their more recent albums including "2011" and "The Smithereens Play Tommy."
    Band members said on Facebook that their "journey with Pat was long, storied and a hell of a lot of fun."
    DiNizio helped form the Smithereens in 1980 after placing an ad looking for a drummer to help him on a demo tape. Dennis Diken answered the ad and with him brought Carteret High School classmates guitarist Jim Babjak and bassist Mike Mesaros. They named themselves after a favorite word of cartoon character Yosemite Sam.
    "We all happened to love the same music and also as importantly be fans of the same pop culture things," DiNizio told SugarBuzz Magazine in 2007. "We grew up watching Soupy Sales, Chuck McCann and The Monkees. We all grew up reading Mad Magazine and there was a shared background. So we agreed upon all of that."
    Influenced by everyone from Buddy Holly to the Clash, the Smithereens blended catchy melodies and grinding guitars on "A Girl Like You," ''Only a Memory" and other songs. Their breakthrough came in 1986 when "Blood and Roses" was featured in the movie "Dangerously Close" and the song's video was aired on MTV. DiNizio was a movie fan whose stylish ballad "In a Lonely Place," featuring Suzanne Vega on backing vocals, included lines from the Humphrey Bogart movie of the same name. The Smithereens also made a cameo appearance in the 1980s cult film "Class of Nuke 'Em High."
    May he R.I.P.
    C/O The Associated Press...
  • Michael from Rosedale, (baltimore), MdAccording to Cameron Crowe... He stated the the song gave away the entire plot of the movie. And he thanked Pat by putting him in the Coffee House scene in his Movie "Singles". He is Credited as Sid.
  • Michael from Rosedale, (baltimore), MdBelinda Sings on Blue Period. The 3rd song off of '11'.
  • Dara from Pensacola, FlActually, it's Maria Vidal singing the background vocals on this song. Interesting fact: Madonna was the originally the 1st choice to do the background vocals, but after she didn't show up for the session, the band picked Maria(who nailed the song in ONE take)!
  • Dale from Augusta, GaGlad Pat held out. Turned out to be a great song, just like it is! Saw them in Clemson back in 1990 I think. Great show! Wish they would come back down south.
  • Donna from Rutherford, NjBelinda Carlisle, formerly of the Go Gos sings in the background of this song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.