Holly Cole (born November 25, 1963 in Halifax, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian j… Read Full Bio ↴Holly Cole (born November 25, 1963 in Halifax, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for her versatile voice and her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.

In 1983, she travelled to Toronto to seek a musical career. In 1986, she founded a trio with bassist David Piltch and pianist Aaron Davis. Offered a record deal in 1989, the Holly Cole Trio released an EP, Christmas Blues, that year, which featured a version of The Pretenders' "2,000 Miles". This was followed by their first full album, Girl Talk, in 1990.

A succession of releases followed through the early 1990s. For example, 1991's Blame It On My Youth, covered songs by Tom Waits ("Purple Avenue", aka "Empty Pockets"), Lyle Lovett ("God Will"), includes show tunes such as "If I Were a Bell" (from Guys and Dolls) and "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady), and even remakes "Trust In Me", from Disney's The Jungle Book, into a strikingly sultry and sinister song of seduction and death. Also recorded in this period was "Alison", a reinterpretation of Elvis Costello's original.

Following 1993's Don't Smoke in Bed, the trio released a CD entirely of songs by Tom Waits, called Temptation. With this 1995 release, the "Trio" was dropped from the group's name.

Cole next went into a two-album flirtation with pop music, perhaps keeping with the "diva" fad of the late 90s. These albums, Dark Dear Heart (1997) and Romantically Helpless (2000) veered further from jazz by introducing pop elements to Cole's sound.

In 2001, she returned to the Christmas jazz roots of her first CD with Baby It's Cold Outside, which included such should-be classics as "Christmas Time is Here" (from A Charlie Brown Christmas), "Santa Baby", and the title track. Swapping cold for hot, she moved to a Summer theme in 2003's Shade, this time reinterpreting Cole Porter ("Too Darn Hot"), Irving Berlin ("Heatwave"), and The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson ("God Only Knows").

Cole's latest album, Holly Cole (originally entitled This House Is Haunted) was released in Canada in March 2007. It was released in the US in January 2008 and was followed by a US tour.

Cole tours frequently, particularly around the holiday season, in Canada. She was also a part of the 1999 Lilith Fair tour.

Girl Talk
Holly Cole Lyrics

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They like to chat about the dresses they will wear tonight
They chew the fat about their tresses and the neighbors' fight
Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know
Become essential things that women find so apropos

But that's a dame
They're all the same
It's just a game

They call it girl talk, girl talk

They all me-ouw about the ups and downs of all their friends
The who, the how, the why, they dish the dirt, it never ends
The weaker sex, the speaker sex, we mortal males behold
But though we joke, we wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold

So baby stay, and gab away
But hear me say
That after girl talk
Talk to me

But that's a dame
They're all the same
It's just a game
They call it girl talk, girl talk

So baby stay, and gab away
But hear me say

That after girl talk
Talk to me

Overall Meaning

The song "Girl Talk" by Holly Cole is a playful take on the idea of female gossip and conversation. The lyrics describe women chatting about inconsequential things that men may not find important or interesting, such as the dresses they will wear or the neighbors' quarrels. The song acknowledges that men may joke about the nature of these conversations, but ultimately they wouldn't want to trade them for anything. The chorus emphasizes the idea that this is just a game - a form of conversation that women refer to as "girl talk."

Despite the light-hearted nature of the song, it raises some interesting points about gender and communication. The lyrics suggest that women have a unique way of building social bonds through conversation and that these conversations are essential to their interpersonal connections. It also highlights the idea that men and women have different communication styles and interests, and that these differences can be a source of humor and connection in relationships.

Overall, "Girl Talk" is a fun, catchy tune that celebrates the power of conversation and connection - especially for women. It suggests that even if men don't always understand the importance of "girl talk," they should still be open to listening and engaging in conversation with the women in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

They like to chat about the dresses they will wear tonight
Women enjoy discussing the attire they plan on wearing to events

They chew the fat about their tresses and the neighbors' fight
Women talk about their hair and local gossip

Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know
Men find the topics of women's conversations unimportant

Become essential things that women find so apropos
Women find these trivial matters significant and pertinent

But that's a dame
That's just how women are

They're all the same
All women share similar conversational interests

It's just a game
Their conversations are not to be taken too seriously

They call it girl talk, girl talk
This type of dialogue is known as girl talk among women

They all me-ouw about the ups and downs of all their friends
Women discuss the successes and failures of their acquaintances

The who, the how, the why, they dish the dirt, it never ends
They share gossip about the identity, method, and reasons behind certain events

The weaker sex, the speaker sex, we mortal males behold
Men view women as the weaker gender but acknowledge their communication abilities