‘My Girl’ is a 1964 song recorded by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) record label. Written and produced by the Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, it became the Temptations' first U.S. number 1 single, and is considered their signature song. Robinson's inspiration for writing ‘My Girl’ was his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson. The song was included on the Temptations 1965 album The Temptations Sing Smokey. In 2017, the song was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The recorded version of ‘My Girl’ was the first Temptations single to feature David Ruffin on lead vocals. Previously, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams had performed most of the group's lead vocals, and Ruffin had joined the group as a replacement for former Temptation Elbridge Bryant. While on tour as part of the Motortown Revue, a collective tour for most of the Motown roster, Smokey Robinson caught the Temptations' part of the show. For their set, the group had included a medley of soul standards, one of which, the Drifters' ‘Under the Boardwalk’, was a solo spot for Ruffin. Impressed, Robinson decided to produce a single with Ruffin singing lead. Robinson saw Ruffin as a "sleeping giant" in the group with a unique voice that was "mellow" yet "gruff". The composition was to be something that Ruffin could "belt out" yet something that was also "melodic and sweet".
‘My Girl’ climbed to the top of the U.S. pop charts on March 6, 1965, after its Christmas time 1964 release, making it the Temptations' first number 1 hit. The single was also the first number 1 hit on the reinstated Billboard R&B Singles chart…The single also gave the Gordy label its first number 1 on the Hot 100. Over time, ‘My Girl’, with its signature introduction and unrestrained expression of joy, became one of Motown's best-known and most successful singles. ‘My Girl’ was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
The Temptations were a groundbreaking act in terms of choreography, doing precise movements to accentuate their songs. This one used big, expressive gestures, that became widely associated with the song - it was not uncommon to see people doing the moves while listening to it. The Motown choreographer was a dancer named Cholly Atkins.
The song was re-released in 1992, following the November 1991 release of the film of the same name, which featured the song. It did not reach the Billboard charts, but did reach number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
Label – Gordy
Songwriters – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
Producers – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro]
[Verse 1]
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May
[Pre-Chorus]
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
[Chorus]
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl
[Verse 2]
I've got so much honey, the bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
[Chorus]
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl
[Bridge]
Ooh, ooh
Hey, hey, hey
Ooh, ooh
Hey, hey, hey
Ooh, ooh, yeah
[Verse 3]
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches, baby, one man can claim
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
[Chorus]
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl
(Talkin' 'bout my girl)
[Outro]
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day (Woah, woah)
With my girl
I've even got the month of May
With my girl
Talkin' 'bout, talkin 'bout, talkin 'bout my girl
Ooh, my girl
That's all I can talk about is my girl
Why don't you believe she's all my girl