Girls Like Us

Album: Golden Wings (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • German singer-songwriter Zoe Wees grew up in Hamburg suffering with epilepsy. The syndrome made her self-conscious and caused her to feel excluded by others. Wees wrote this self-love anthem to send a message of solidarity to girls around the world who are feeling the pressures of society.

    It's hard for girls like us
    We don't know who we trust
    Not even the ones we love
    'Cause they don't know


    "'Girls Like Us' is about anyone struggling with themselves every day," Wees told Apple Music. "It was the hardest feeling to grow up in a world that feels like it doesn't accept you. With this song, I finally started to see my inner beauty."
  • Wees penned the tune with songwriter Hight (Tom Walker's "My Way," Gabrielle Aplin's "Waking Up Slow"), and with producers Patrick Pyke Salmy, Ricardo Munoz, and Nicolas Rebscher. She said writing "Girls Like Us" brought on a shift in perspective: though the songstress will never match up to society's impossible beauty standards, inside she's still beautiful.

    "This session felt like some kind of transformation," Wees recalled. "I remember telling one of my co-writers how unbelievably worthless I felt. And I remember him saying, 'Zoe, start to see yourself with the eyes of your loved ones.' That actually changed my whole life."
  • The song's visual shows both sides of Zoe Wees; the confident artist she hopes to become, and a teenage girl still easily knocked down by other people's cruel comments. She explained: "This video is that pain, but also the drumbeat for the empowerment I feel."

Comments: 1

  • Jacqueline from NashvilleYour a beautiful soul. I have epilepsy also and it's scary but i kept the faith. But you, girl your amazing. Your what young girls need right now. Much love.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?