Girl's Not Grey
Encyclopedia
"Girl's Not Grey" is a song by American rock
band AFI
. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album Sing the Sorrow
in 2003. It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at #7 on the Alternative Songs Chart and #14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart. A music video directed by David Slade
was made for the song.
It is a playable track in the video game Rock Band 2
, and a downloadable track for the video game Guitar Hero 5
and the iPod touch
application Tap Tap Revenge
.
Europe
Germany
UK CD 1
UK CD 2
song from the album. Allmusic reviewer Johnny Loftus felt that the chorus of the backing voices shifted the song from hardcore rock to pop, and called the single "a car-radio singalong of pure genius".
was released shortly after the single's release. According to the Fuse TV
program IMX
, the video is similar to Slade's previously directed music video, "Sour Girl
" by Stone Temple Pilots
, featuring a strange environment and human-sized rabbit characters as well. The music video is similar to Lewis Carroll
's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
, featuring a little girl that follows a rabbit into an alternate reality.
It features the band performing in an alley, where a girl follows a pink human-sized rabbit to an alternate reality. The band are seen performing in the location as well. The location is mostly made up of the color pink, featuring a pink sky, pink flower petals encircling the area, and the girl is dressed and pink as well. The band are shown performing in the alley again, covered in black paint. Meanwhile, in the alternate reality, the girl continues to follow the rabbit until it leads her to the top of a hill, where she sees AFI
performing the chorus. Although she seems happy, she is devastated after realizing the pink rabbit has disappeared. A whirlwind of pink flower petals begin to encircles her, and although she struggles to set herself free, she disappears, leaving behind her pair of golden ballet slippers. The pink flower petals then burst out of vocalist Davey Havok
's chest at the end of the video.
An alternate version simply features the band performing in the alley and covered in black paint, but does not feature the girl, human-sized rabbits, or the alternate reality itself. This is the more infamous version, and is often found on the Internet
, rather than broadcast television.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
band AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
in 2003. It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at #7 on the Alternative Songs Chart and #14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart. A music video directed by David Slade
David Slade
David Aldrin Slade is a British film director who began his career making music videos. His work includes videos for artists such as Aphex Twin, Rob Dougan, System of a Down, Stone Temple Pilots, Tori Amos, and Muse.-Life and career:...
was made for the song.
It is a playable track in the video game Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
, and a downloadable track for the video game Guitar Hero 5
Guitar Hero 5
Guitar Hero 5 is a music video game and the fifth main entry in the Guitar Hero series. The game was developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision, and released internationally in September 2009 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, 3 and Wii consoles...
and the iPod touch
IPod touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
application Tap Tap Revenge
Tap Tap Revenge
Tap Tap is a series of rhythm games by Tapulous available for the iOS of which several versions, both purchasable and free, have been produced. The goal of the game is to tap each of the colored balls when they reach a line at the bottom of the screen. If the ball is hit on the beat, the player...
.
Track listing
UK 7"- "Girl's Not Grey" – 3:10
- "The Hanging Garden" (live at BBC) – 3:45
Europe
- "Girl's Not Grey" – 3:10
- "This Celluloid Dream" (Demo) – 4:18
- "Synesthesia" (Demo) – 4:35
- "Girl's Not Grey" (Final) Clip – 3:11
Germany
- "Girl's Not Grey" – 3:10
- "This Celluloid Dream" (Demo) – 4:18
UK CD 1
- "Girl's Not Grey" - 3:10
- "The Hanging Garden" (live at BBC) - 3:45
- "Synesthesia" (Demo) - 4:35
- "Girl's Not Grey" (Final) Clip - 3:11
UK CD 2
- "Girl's Not Grey" - 3:10
- "Reiver's Music" (336 Sessions) - 3:23
- "Now The World" (336 Sessions) - 4:01
- "Girl's Not Grey" (Prelude) Clip - 3:11
Critical reception
"Girl's Not Grey" received generally positive reviews from critics, who considered it a pop rockPop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
song from the album. Allmusic reviewer Johnny Loftus felt that the chorus of the backing voices shifted the song from hardcore rock to pop, and called the single "a car-radio singalong of pure genius".
Music video
A music video directed by David SladeDavid Slade
David Aldrin Slade is a British film director who began his career making music videos. His work includes videos for artists such as Aphex Twin, Rob Dougan, System of a Down, Stone Temple Pilots, Tori Amos, and Muse.-Life and career:...
was released shortly after the single's release. According to the Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
program IMX
IMX
IMX was an American music television program which aired daily on MMUSA in the early 2000s. Described as a "fully converged music industry simulation game" and "part TV show, part Internet game," the program allowed viewers to register at the network's website and buy "stock" in popular artists,...
, the video is similar to Slade's previously directed music video, "Sour Girl
Sour Girl
"Sour Girl" is a song by Stone Temple Pilots. The song was written by singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Dean DeLeo for their band's fourth album, aptly titled No. 4. "Sour Girl" also appears on the compilation albums Thank You and Buy This. It is the only STP song to enter the Billboard Hot 100...
" by Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
, featuring a strange environment and human-sized rabbit characters as well. The music video is similar to Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures...
, featuring a little girl that follows a rabbit into an alternate reality.
It features the band performing in an alley, where a girl follows a pink human-sized rabbit to an alternate reality. The band are seen performing in the location as well. The location is mostly made up of the color pink, featuring a pink sky, pink flower petals encircling the area, and the girl is dressed and pink as well. The band are shown performing in the alley again, covered in black paint. Meanwhile, in the alternate reality, the girl continues to follow the rabbit until it leads her to the top of a hill, where she sees AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
performing the chorus. Although she seems happy, she is devastated after realizing the pink rabbit has disappeared. A whirlwind of pink flower petals begin to encircles her, and although she struggles to set herself free, she disappears, leaving behind her pair of golden ballet slippers. The pink flower petals then burst out of vocalist Davey Havok
Davey Havok
David Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
's chest at the end of the video.
An alternate version simply features the band performing in the alley and covered in black paint, but does not feature the girl, human-sized rabbits, or the alternate reality itself. This is the more infamous version, and is often found on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, rather than broadcast television.
Chart positions
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |
| US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 33 |
| US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 14 |
| UK Singles Chart | 22 |