Girls on Bars

Album: True Grit (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Bret Michaels is best known for being the frontman of the rock band Poison, but he has a country side to him as well, which is reflected on this song. The singer told Sam Alex of Taste of Country Nights that he didn't go into the writing process looking to write a country or a rock number, but instead focused on a feeling. "When I was writing 'Girls on Bars' [with] Luke Laird … I said, 'I need a summer feel,'" he told Alex. "When I wrote this song, I wrote it to be, you know, play in the country format and also the rock format. It's a very Americana song, but I said, 'Luke, I wanna write a song that reminds me of summer.'"

    "What do we wanna see? We wanna see girls dancing on bars, partying, having fun," Michaels added. "When I say that, it's more of just an image of you work hard all week, then have a great time."
  • Co-writer Luke Laird has penned hits for a number of country stars, including Little Big Town ("Pontoon"), Carrie Underwood ("Last Name") and Luke Bryan ("I See You"). "I was touring in the dead of winter and I said, 'Luke, I need a Bret Michaels fun summer party song and I have an idea,'" Michaels recalled to Billboard magazine. "He's a fellow Pennsylvanian, so we completely related."

    "No matter where you're from or who you are, we all want to have a great time," the singer added. "We all need a release. Summertime makes me think of people dancing at the bars, having fun. I think of girls on bars and guys driving fast cars. People are looking for a party after a long cold winter."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.