Girls Like
by Tinie Tempah (featuring Zara Larsson)

Album: Youth (2016)
Charted: 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This upbeat dance track features Zara Larsson on the hook. It represents a return of favor to Tinie Tempah after he supplied some rhymes for a remix of the teenage Swede's single "Lush Life."
  • The electronic, bouncy production comes courtesy of Nana Rogues, who is more known for his work with grittier acts such as Section Boyz and Wiley. Nana Rogues was Tempah's first signing to his Imhotep publishing company, after he heard a track he'd done for Section Boyz called "Trapping Ain't Dead." Tempah recalled to HMV.com:

    "We got in the studio, we nailed a mixtape named Junk Food, which was like our core influences, and then I just threw him in at the deep end, he made 'Girls Like' and then he ended up with about four or five tracks on the album."

    After working with Tempah on Youth, Rogues spent time in the studio with Drake where he made "Passionfruit" for him.
  • Tinie Tempah plays on JK Rowling and Russell Brand's names:

    Tell J.K that I'm still rolling. Yeah, tell Russell I'm a brand

    Tempah explained the first half of the lyric to Q magazine: "My manager's dad's initials are JK, and he's always asking about my career – so that's me telling him, 'S—t's still going well.'"

    The second half of the lyric is literally about Russell Brand. Tempah explained: "Around the time of the elections he asked me to help put a track together, get a few people like Paloma Faith involved as a sort of protest song. I wasn't sure it was what I should be doing but I hooked him up with some producers. It never happened in the end, but I hope there's no bad feelings."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.