Like the Jackson 5 before them, New Edition became a pop phenomenon, and were big enough to have Madonna as an opening act during their early days.
The group parted company with Starr in 1984; Starr responded by promptly creating the group New Kids on the Block, essentially New Edition with Caucasian teenagers. After the split the boys still received success from singles such as "Cool It Now, Mr. Telephone Man", and "Count Me Out". Around 1986, Bobby Brown was voted out of the group, due to behavioral problems during concerts, He went on to pursue a solo career in 1987 but did not find success in his solo ventures until 1988. Brown was replaced by former solo child star Johnny Gill who would become an official member that same year. The group's sound also evolved at this time from bubblegum pop-styled R&B to smoother, more adult music. The new material, primarily produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, had a strong new jack swing feel. The first album recorded with Gill, Heart Break, had numerous R&B hits, including "If It Isn't Love", "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heart Break", and "Boys To Men" (which later lent its name to the Philadelphia-based group Boyz II Men).
New Edition essentially broke up in 1989, with Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe forming the popular hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant beginning his solo career and Gill restarting his solo career, with more success this time. In 1991, the group had a semi-reunion of sorts when they recorded a remix of the Bell Biv DeVoe track "Word To The Mutha!" in which all six members performed and appeared in the music video.
In 1996, the reunion became complete, as all six former members reunited for the Home Again album. Although the album featured the hit singles "Hit Me Off" and "I'm Still In Love With You", the ensuing tour would prove disastrous for the group. By the middle leg of the tour in 1997, Bobby Brown and Mike Bivins left, due to egos clashing and a less-than-harmonious time with the other members. The band canceled the tour and went on indefinite hiatus soon afterward.
The band reformed again in 2002 without Bobby Brown and released an album on Bad Boy Records entitled "One Love". They are currently working in the studio with plans to release another album with all six members in 2008.
Girlfriend
New Edition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You the picture of love in my heart
You and me, girl, holding hands
Please be my lady, won't you understand
(I need a girlfriend) I need a girlfriend
And I need her right now
Loving, kissing, holding you tight
Never letting go
(I need a girlfriend) I need a girlfriend
And I need her right now
Can I call you, would that be all right
Maybe Friday or Saturday night
Girl, I think of you all the time
'Cause it's you that I need, girl, and you're always on my mind
(I need a girlfriend)
And I need you right now
Loving, kissing. holding you tight
Never letting go
(I need a girlfriend) I need a girlfriend
And I need you right now
Loving, kissing, holding you tight
And keeping you warm, oh, yeah
I need a girl
Who feels like I do
Could it be you
So please help me yeah, yeah
(Girlfriend)
Gotta have your love, oh, baby
Loving, kissing, holding you tight
Never letting go
(I need a girlfriend) I need a girlfriend
And I need you right now, no
Loving, kissing, holding you tight
And keeping you warm, baby
Someone just like you
I, oh, girl
It's you that I want, girl, and I need you right now
I really need you so, yeah, baby
It's you that I want, girl, and I want you right now
I really need you so, I need you, baby
I just want to love you and kiss you and hold you so tight
Whoa, baby, yeah, can I do that to you, sweetheart
I just wanna love you and kiss you and hold you so tight
Whoa, baby, no...you know what I mean, girl
(I need a girlfriend)
(I need a girlfriend)
(I need a girlfriend)
(I need a girlfriend)
I need a girlfriend, would you be my girl
This is Bobby talking
(I need a girlfriend)
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, woo
(I need a girlfriend)
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
(I need a girlfriend)
I, (I need a girlfriend)
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
(I need a girlfriend)
I said la-la-la-la-la-la-la
(I need a girlfriend)
Oh, girl, you know what I
(I need a girlfriend)
You know what I need now
So it's up to you to give me what I need
(I need a girlfriend)
And I do need a girlfriend
So, um, let's take some time and let's take it slow
(I need a girlfriend)
But surely we should be together
(I need a girlfriend)
You gotta answer me some time today, baby
'Cause I can't wait no more
I love you
The lyrics to New Edition's song "Girlfriend" are a plea to a woman to be his partner. The opening lines reminisce about the first time they met and how the woman looked like a picture of love in his heart. He asks her to be his lady and understand that he needs a girlfriend. He desires her love and intimacy, never wanting to let her go. The chorus repeats his want and need for a girlfriend who he can love, kiss, hold tight, and keep warm. He asks if he can call her and thinks of her all the time, knowing that she's the one he needs and always on his mind.
The song is a classic and timeless love song that speaks to the desires of young lovers. The lyrics are straightforward and honest, expressing a need for companionship, affection, and love. The theme resonates with audiences of all ages, making it a universal testimony of love. The song has a sincerity that is easily relatable, making it one of the most memorable and beloved tracks of New Edition's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the very first time
I remember the exact moment when I first saw you
You the picture of love in my heart
You represent the image of love in my heart
You and me, girl, holding hands
You and I holding hands
Please be my lady, won't you understand
Please be with me and understand my feelings
(I need a girlfriend) I need a girlfriend
I really want a girlfriend
And I need her right now
I need her right this moment
Loving, kissing, holding you tight
Showing love and affection by kissing and holding you tight
Never letting go
Not wanting to let go of the person I'm holding
Can I call you, would that be all right
May I call you? Would that be okay with you?
Maybe Friday or Saturday night
Maybe we could meet up on Friday or Saturday night
Girl, I think of you all the time
I think about you all the time, girl
'Cause it's you that I need, girl, and you're always on my mind
It's you that I want and need, girl, and you're always on my mind
And I need you right now
I need you right this moment
And keeping you warm, oh, yeah
Holding you close and keeping you warm
I need a girl
I need a girl in my life
Who feels like I do
Someone who has the same feelings as I do
Could it be you
Could it be that you're the one for me?
So please help me yeah, yeah
Please help me find the girl I need
(Girlfriend)
I want a girlfriend
Gotta have your love, oh, baby
I really need your love, oh baby
Someone just like you
Someone who is just like you
It's you that I want, girl, and I need you right now
You're the one I want and need, girl, right this moment
I really need you so, yeah, baby
I really need you so much, baby
I just want to love you and kiss you and hold you so tight
I just want to love you, kiss you and hold you tightly
Whoa, baby, yeah, can I do that to you, sweetheart
Can I do those things to you, sweetheart?
Whoa, baby, no...you know what I mean, girl
I didn't mean it that way, you know what I mean, girl
I need a girlfriend, would you be my girl
I really need a girlfriend, will you be my girl?
This is Bobby talking
Bobby is making a comment
I, (I need a girlfriend)
I really, really need a girlfriend
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, woo
Singing sound
Oh, girl, you know what I
Oh girl, you know what I mean
You gotta answer me some time today, baby
You have to reply to me today, baby
I love you
I love you so much
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Kirk Crumpler, Lee Peters, Larry White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kym No
I love this song so much..
I play it on repeat over n over!!
Carolyn Blackmon
I think I found the one for me
Reginald Leonard
I love this song to
719kai719
Thats what I thought ! This is from Bobbys first solo album. I remember that my bestfriends sister played it at her sweet 16, which her mom allowed her sister (my bestfriend) and myself to attend much to her dismay lol! memories of us giggling while thge teens slow danced to this,lol!
the1uwannaknowabout
i luv this song....this was when love songs were love songs :)
Coolyfett
This song could easily be on the All for Love album...It fits right in with those songs. His voice had not really changed from Mr Telephoneman at all.
719kai719
Yeah this is Bobby's first solo album!
Tameka Teasley
This Bobby Brown's song, his first single when he went solo, I use to play the hell outta this song when I was about 13 lol
Official Low Leroy
for those in the comments, yes the song really do has the new edition vibe to it but the fact is its the song from bobby's first solo album from 1986 hell i thought new edition was his background choir but they voted bobby out in 1985
paradicelove2007
bobby was the king of r&b before the crack.