What It Feels Like for a Girl

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“What It Feels Like for a Girl”
Single by Madonna from the album Music
B-side	"Lo Que Siente La Mujer"
Released	April 17, 2001
Format	DVD single CD single CD maxi single Video single Cassette single 12" single
Recorded	2000
Genre	Pop Trance
Length	4:41
Label	Maverick, Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Madonna Guy Sigsworth David Torn
Producer	Madonna Sigsworth Mark Stent
Madonna singles chronology
"Don't Tell Me" (2000/2001) "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001) "Die Another Day" (2002)
Music track listing
"Don't Tell Me" (7) "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (8) "Paradise (Not for Me)" (9)
GHV2 track listing
"Don't Tell Me" (album version) (12) "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (album version) (13) "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (album version) (14)
Alternate covers
German Maxi-CD cover
Colombian remix promo CD cover
DVD single cover

"What It Feels Like for a Girl" is the third and final single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 8th studio album Music and was released on April 17, 2001 by Maverick Records. The single was also released on DVD and VHS containing the controversial music video, directed by Guy Ritchie. Its depiction of violence and abuse caused MTV to ban it before 9pm. The music video contains a dance remix by Above & Beyond which contains only a sample of lyrics from the original album version. It became the biggest selling DVD single of all time in 2001.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 Song information 2 Music video 3 Thunderpuss Controversy 4 Trivia 5 Track listings and formats 6 Official versions 7 Charts 8 Certifications 9 External links 10 References

[edit] Song information

The song was written by Madonna and Guy Sigsworth and produced by Madonna, Sigsworth, and Mark "Spike" Stent. An additional composer credit is included in the I'm Going To Tell You A Secret CD inner notes, with David Torn being the third composer. The track contains an excerpt from "The Cement Garden".

A Spanish version of the song was especially recorded for inclusion on the single as the B-side. "Lo Que Siente la Mujer" was released as a promo-only single in Europe. Later it was added to the two-disc Tour Edition of Music and the Mexican Edition of the album along with the remix of the same track replacing "American Pie", and was performed live on Madonna's Drowned World Tour in the same summer.

The maxi-single containing the Above & Beyond and Paul Oakenfold trance remix of the song was also released alongside the conventional single version. This remix was very popular in nightclubs. When there is a clip showing her pressing the pedals, she doesnt really be pressing them if you look at them closely. the pedals are on the other side.

[edit] Music video

The song attracted attention because of its music video, which premiered on America Online, but was banned from TV broadcast in many parts of the world. The video features a blonde Madonna (later revealed to be a major felon and con artist)donning a mechanics' outfit, black driving gloves and black stilettos, leaving her motel room and hotwiring a second generation Chevrolet Camaro to pick up an elderly woman (said in the GHV2 liner notes to be her grandmother) from the Ol Kuntz Guest Home. Madonna then causes various degrees of mischief, including tasering a man withdrawing cash from an ATM, firing a silver water pistol at police officers and blowing up a gas station, before finally crashing her car at full speed into a pole. It was directed by Madonna's husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie in February 2001 and filmed on location on Hill Street and 7th Street in Los Angeles, California. The video used an alternate remix edit by Above & Beyond which featured almost no vocals from the original song. This edit can be found on the European single.

Critics railed the video for being overly violent and graphic; Madonna defended the video, stating that male artists get away with the same, if not worse, in their own music videos. The video was nevertheless banned from most North American and European video stations including MTV and VH1, receiving only late-night play, if at all. The decision to ban the video was a source of argument, since it appeared to be no more violent than some television shows that aired at the time. Ironically, the video went into heavy rotation on the Oxygen channel and was streamed on America Online frequently. It was also later played frequently on VH1 Madonna programs, but in an edited format. Madonna released the video as a DVD single on April 17, 2001.

The video used the Above & Beyond remix of the track, which differs from the club-mix they produced. The remix was written in a small room hired out in the studios at the University Of Westminster by Jono Grant & Paavo Siljamki. The third member of the group, Tony McGuinness, joined the group as a result of the remix, having worked for Warner Music previously.

When aired on MTV and VH1, the video was given a TV-MA rating and when the DVD music video single was submitted to the MPAA, it received an R. Interestingly, the DVD single only received a 12 from the BBFC and a PG from the OFLC.

• Director: Guy Ritchie
• Producer: Lynn Zekanis
• Director of Photography: Alex Barber
• Editor: Michael Heldman
• Production Company: DNA Inc.

[edit] Thunderpuss Controversy

The acclaimed remixing duo was hired to do a remix of "What It Feels Like For A Girl". However, when they were almost finishing the mix, it was eventually rejected because some people renamed the original version of the song as "Thunderpuss Mix" and spread it on the internet. The label thought the remix was leaked from Thunderpuss studio, after an employee claimed that he saw the Thunderpuss remix in rotation on the internet already, and cancelled the remix with them. Barry Harris (from Thunderpuss duo) talked about this episode in an interview at About.Com website. [1]

Ironically, the internet is the only way to get the Thunderpuss mixes. After the release of the official remixes, the T-Puss mixes were leaked to the internet, this time for real, since it was not going to be released and the remix was completed anyway.

[edit] Trivia

• The track was originally scheduled to be the second single from the album instead of "Don't Tell Me".
• The intro of the song features lines spoken by actress Charlotte Gainsbourg sampled from the movie The Cement Garden

• Donna Summer's I Feel Love was sampled for the interlude of the remix of this song for the Drowned World Tour, with scenes from anime films Perfect Blue and Urotsukidoji splashed on the TV screens.

[edit] Track listings and formats

US 2 x 12" vinyl (9 42372-0, 9 42372-0)^[1]

• A1 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Paul Oakenfold Perfecto Mix) - 7:18
• A2 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Mix) - 8:08
• B1 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond 12" Club Mix) - 7:27
• B2 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Edit) - 3:39
• C1 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
• C2 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix) - 4:45
• D1 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond Club Radio Edit) - 3:45
• D2 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 8:45

EU 12" vinyl (9362 42379 0)^[2]

• A1 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
• A2 "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix) - 4:45
• B "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Edit) - 3:39

UK 12" vinyl (W533T)^[3], EU 12" Remix vinyl (9362 42367 0)^[4]

• A "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond 12" Club Mix) - 7:27
• B "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Paul Oakenfold Perfecto Mix) - 7:18

EU CD single (5439 16752 2)^[5]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Album Version) - 4:43
2. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond Club Radio Edit) - 3:45

EU Maxi-CD (9362 42370 2)^[6]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Radio Edit) - 4:03
2. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix) - 4:45
3. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
4. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Edit) - 3:39

AU CD single (9362-42374-2)(Limited edition with fold out poster)^[7]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Album Version) - 4:43
2. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
3. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond 12" Club Mix) - 7:27
4. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Paul Oakenfold Perfecto Mix) - 7:18
5. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Mix) - 8:08

JP Maxi-CD (WPCR-10905)^[8]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Radio Edit) - 4:03
2. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix) - 4:45
3. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
4. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 8:45

JP CD single (WPCR-10906)^[9], US Maxi-CD (9 42372-2, 9 42372-2)^[10]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Paul Oakenfold Perfecto Mix) - 7:18
2. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Mix) - 8:08
3. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
4. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 8:45
5. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond 12" Club Mix) - 7:27
6. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix) - 4:45
7. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Edit) - 3:39
8. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond Club Radio Edit) - 3:45
9. "Lo Que Siente La Mujer" - 4:43

US DVD single (38539-2)^[11]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Video) - 5:00

EU DVD single (7599 38541-2)^[12]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Video) - 5:00
2. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
3. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Mix) - 8:08

Colombian promo CD single (010524)^[13]

1. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Paul Oakenfold Perfecto Mix) - 7:18
2. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (George Best Saturday Night Mix) - 5:22
3. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Mix) - 8:08
4. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Richard Vission Velvet Masta Edit) - 3:39
5. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond 12" Club Mix) - 7:27
6. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Above & Beyond Club Radio Edit) - 3:45
7. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 8:45
8. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix) - 4:45
9. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix) - 6:42
10. "Lo Que Siente La Mujer" - 4:43

[edit] Official versions

• Album Version (4:45)
• Radio Edit (4:04)
• Acapella (4:22) (Unreleased)
• Stéphane Pompougnac Remix (4:36)
• Paul Oakenfold Perfecto Mix (7:20)
• Above & Beyond 12" Club Mix (7:26)
• Above & Beyond Club Radio Edit (3:44)
• Above & Beyond Video Remix (4:21)
• Tracy Young Club Mix (8:58)
• Tracy Young Instrumental (8:58) (Promo Only)
• Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix (4:46)
• Richard Vission Velvet Masta Mix (8:09)
• Richard Vission Velvet Masta Edit (3:41)
• Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix (6:44)
• That Kid Chris Caligula 2001 Mix (9:48) (Promo Only)
• George Best Saturday Night Mix (5:22) (Promo Only)
• Thunderpuss Club Mix (11:22) (Unreleased)
• Thunderdub (11:06) (Unreleased)
• Thunderpuss Tribe-A-Pella (8:04) (Unreleased)
• Thunderpuss Radio Mix (3:37)(Unreleased)

[edit] Charts

Chart (2001)	Peak Position
Australia ARIA Top 50 Singles	6
Austrian Singles Chart	26
Canada singles chart	2
Chile Top 20	1
Dutch Top 40	7
European singles chart	8
France	40
Germany	16
Czech Singles Chart	11
Italian FIMI Singles Chart	2
Japan	7
Latvia	8
China Top Singles	2
New Zealand	15
South Africa, Republic of	9
UK	7
USA Billboard Hot 100	23
USA Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	1
USA Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	1
USA Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	14
USA Billboard Top 40 Tracks	18
USA Billboard Adult Top 40	24
USA Billboard Adult Contemporary	27
United World Chart	3

[edit] Certifications

Country	Certification
Australia	Gold
UK	Silver

[edit] External links

• Mad-Eyes.net - "What It Feels Like For A Girl" Single Page

[edit] References

v • d • e Madonna Studio albums Madonna (1983) · Like a Virgin (1984) · True Blue (1986) · Like a Prayer (1989) · Erotica (1992) · Bedtime Stories (1994) Ray of Light (1998) · Music (2000) · American Life (2003) · Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005) · Hard Candy (2008) Compilations You Can Dance (1987) · The Immaculate Collection (1990) · Something to Remember (1995) · GHV2 (2001) · Remixed & Revisited (2003) Other Compilations Remixed Prayers (1989) · The Royal Box (1991) · The Holiday Collection (1991) · The Rain Tapes (1992) · CD Single Collection (1996) · GHV2 Remixed (2001) · Confessions Remixed (2006) Soundtracks Vision Quest (1985) · Who's That Girl (1987) · I'm Breathless - Music from and Inspired by the film Dick Tracy (1990) · With Honors (1994) · Evita (1996) Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) · The Next Best Thing (2000) · Die Another Day (2002) Live Music Videos & Albums Live - The Virgin Tour (1985) · Who's That Girl - Live In Japan (1987) · Ciao, Italia! - Live from Italy (1988) · Blond Ambition - Japan Tour 90 (1990) · Live! - Blond Ambition World Tour 90 (1990) · Truth or Dare (aka In Bed with Madonna) (1991) · The Girlie Show - Live Down Under (1994) · Drowned World Tour 2001 (2001) · I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2006) · The Confessions Tour (2007) Music Video Compilations Madonna (1984) · It's That Girl (1987) · She's Breathless (1990) · The Immaculate Collection (1990) · Rays of Light (1999) · The Video Collection 93:99 (1999) · The Madonna Collection (2000) · The Ultimate Collection (2000) Music Video Singles "Papa Don't Preach" (1986) · "Justify My Love" (1990) · "Ray of Light" (1998) · "Music" (2000) · "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001) Concert Tours The Virgin Tour (1985) · Who's That Girl World Tour (1987) · Blond Ambition World Tour (1990)  · The Girlie Show (1993) · Drowned World Tour (2001)  · Re-Invention World Tour (2004) · Confessions Tour (2006) · Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008) Promotional Tours Don't Tell Me Promo Tour (2000) · American Life Promo Tour (2003) · Hung Up Promo Tour (2005)  · Hard Candy Promo Tour (2008) Related topics Albums  · Singles · Videography · Filmography · Music from Motion Pictures · Awards · Bibliography · Music Video & DVD Videography · Music Video Production Credits · Unreleased songs · Controversies · MTV Video Music Awards Nominations · Madonna as gay icon · Madonna Studies · Guy Ritchie · Raising Malawi · Live Nation · Maverick · Warner Bros. Records · Sire Records

v • d • e Madonna singles discography Madonna "Everybody" (1982) · "Burning Up" (1983) · "Burning Up/Physical Attraction" (1983) · "Holiday" (1983/1984/1985/1991/1999) · "Lucky Star" (1983/1984) · "Borderline" (1984/1986) Like a Virgin "Like a Virgin" (1984) · "Material Girl" (1985) · "Angel"(1985) · "Into the Groove" (1985) · "Dress You Up" (1985) · "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (1986) True Blue "Live to Tell" (1986) · "Papa Don't Preach" (1986) · "True Blue" (1986) · "Open Your Heart" (1986) · "La Isla Bonita" (1987) Who's That Girl "Who's That Girl" (1987) · "Causing a Commotion" (1987) · "The Look of Love" (1987) You Can Dance "Spotlight" (1988) Like a Prayer "Like a Prayer" (1989) · "Express Yourself" (1989) · "Cherish" (1989) · "Oh Father" (1989/1995) · "Dear Jessie" (1989) · "Keep It Together" (1990) I'm Breathless "Vogue" (1990) · "Hanky Panky" (1990) The Immaculate Collection "Justify My Love" (1990) · "Crazy for You (Remix)" (1991) · "Rescue Me" (1991) · "Holiday/The Holiday Collection" (1991) Erotica "Erotica" (1992) · "Deeper and Deeper" (1992) · "Bad Girl" (1993) · "Fever" (1993) · "Rain" (1993) · "Bye Bye Baby" (1993) Bedtime Stories "Secret" (1994) · "Take a Bow" (1994) · "Bedtime Story" (1995) · "Human Nature" (1995) Something to Remember "You'll See" (1995) · "Oh Father" (1995) · "One More Chance" (1996) · "Love Don't Live Here Anymore (Remix)" (1996) Evita "You Must Love Me" (1996) · "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" (1996/1997) · "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" (1997) Ray of Light "Frozen" (1998) · "Ray of Light" (1998) · "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (1998) · "The Power of Good-Bye" (1998) · "The Power of Good-Bye/Little Star" (1998) · "Nothing Really Matters" (1999) Music "Music" (2000) · "Don't Tell Me" (2000/2001) "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001) American Life "American Life" (2003) · "Hollywood" (2003) · "Nothing Fails" (2003) · "Love Profusion" (2003/2004) Confessions on a Dance Floor "Hung Up" (2005) · "Sorry" (2006) · "Get Together" (2006) · "Jump" (2006) Hard Candy "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland) (2008) · "Give It 2 Me" (2008) Other soundtracks "Crazy for You" (1985) · "Gambler" (1985) · "This Used to Be My Playground" (1992) · "I'll Remember" (1994) · "Beautiful Stranger" (1999) · "American Pie" (2000) · "Die Another Day" (2002) Other singles "Me Against the Music" (Britney Spears featuring Madonna) (2003) · "Imagine" (2005) · "Hey You" (2007) Promo singles "I Want You" (with Massive Attack) (1995) · "Buenos Aires" (1997) · "Little Star"(1998) · "Impressive Instant" (2001) · "GHV2 Megamix" (2001) · "Nobody Knows Me" (2003) · "Mother and Father (Peter Rauhofer Re-Invention Remix)" (2005) · "Future Lovers/I Feel Love (Live)" (2007) · "Music Inferno (Live)" (2007)