New Age Girl
"New Age Girl" is a song by alternative rock trio Deadeye Dick, from their debut album A Different Story and the soundtrack to the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber.
"New Age Girl" | ||||
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Single by Deadeye Dick | ||||
from the album A Different Story and Dumb and Dumber: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
Released | June 6, 1994 | |||
Recorded | 1994 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 3:03 | |||
Label | Ichiban | |||
Songwriter(s) | Caleb Guillotte | |||
Producer(s) | Fred LeBlanc | |||
Deadeye Dick singles chronology | ||||
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Its use in Dumb and Dumber widened the song's popularity. It peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1995[1][2] and remains the group's most well-known song. It was also their only top 40 hit, ensuring their one-hit wonder status.[3]
Background
"New Age Girl" originated from a riff that Caleb Guillotte thought of in the shower.[4] After being recorded on a cassette alongside four other songs, the track became a local radio hit, prompting Ichiban Records to sign the band. Clive Davis of Arista Records attempted to sign the band afterwards and rerecord "New Age Girl," but the band decided against it.
The song features lyrics about a socially conscious vegetarian girl named Mary Moon, with the infamous lyric "She don't eat meat, but she sure likes the bone."[5][6] Guillotte said of the song:
I wouldn’t blame anybody for taking me lightly as a lyricist if they listen to that song, because it's just a silly, facile song that didn't require a great deal of thought or emotional investment, obviously. It did almost write it itself. One thing it did do is it absolutely worked for what it needed to be. The music sounded rock-ish, but that riff could almost sound a little comedic. They supported each other. I think that had a lot to do with the song's success.[4]
Release
"New Age Girl" was released on the band's 1994 debut album, A Different Story. The song then appeared in the comedy film Dumb and Dumber and was released by RCA as the first single from the soundtrack.[4][6] RCA also created a video for the song, which featured pumpkin-headed people running on a farm. The song peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"New Age Girl" was ultimately the band's only hit, with many labeling the band a one-hit wonder. Caleb Guillotte later reflected that, had the song not been a hit, "Maybe people would have been more prepared to think of us as the 'cool' band. There's all sorts of woulda, coulda, shoulda's. But we were very fortunate. Even if we didn't get to live out some sort of permanent rock 'n' roll dream, we got a nice ride."[4] Guillotte ultimately concluded, "There's so much in my life after Deadeye Dick that was benefitted positively by the fact that Deadeye Dick had a hit song."
References
- https://www.billboard.com/music/deadeye-dick/chart-history/
- "New Age Girl - Deadeye Dick". billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
- "Deadeye Dick Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
- Spera, Keith. "With 'New Age Girl,' local alt-rock trio Deadeye Dick learned pros and cons of a one-hit wonder". nola.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- Lafont, Aaron. "Deadeye Dick To Revive "New Age Girl" At Howlin' Wolf On December 6". Offbeat. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- Matthews, Cameron. "That John Denver Was Full of Shit: A Definitive Guide to the 'Dumb and Dumber' Soundtrack". Vice. Retrieved 10 December 2019.