"I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" is an electropop song performed by Norwegian

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

 pop singer Annie. It was released on 14 July 2008 as the lead single

Lead single

A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...

 from her second studio album

Studio album

A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...

 Don't Stop

Don't Stop (Annie album)

Don't Stop is the second studio album by Norwegian recording artist Annie. Originally intended for a 2008 release on UK-based Island Records, the planned release date was pushed back...

(2009). However, the song is not featured on the standard tracklisting of the album

Don't Stop (Annie album)

Don't Stop is the second studio album by Norwegian recording artist Annie. Originally intended for a 2008 release on UK-based Island Records, the planned release date was pushed back...

 but is available on the special edition bonus disc.

Background

Annie wrote "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" with producer Richard X

Richard X

Richard Philips, best known by his stage name Richard X, is a British songwriter and music producer. Gaining attention as a pioneer of the bootleg craze, Richard X has earned success as a producer and remixer. He has helmed hit singles for artists including Annie, Kelis, Liberty X, Rachel Stevens...

 and songwriter Hannah Robinson

Hannah Robinson

Hannah Robinson is a British songwriter. Her best known compositions include the "Some Girls", a UK #2 for British pop star Rachel Stevens and Ladyhawke's "My Delirium". She also a vocalist and in 2006 achieved a #1 on the U.S...

, the two of whom had written "Chewing Gum

Chewing Gum (Annie song)

"Chewing Gum" is an electropop song written by Richard X and Hannah Robinson for Norwegian singer Annie's debut album Anniemal . The song is based on metaphor which likens men to chewing gum....

" and "Me Plus One" from Annie's debut album Anniemal

Anniemal

Anniemal is the debut album of Norwegian electropop singer Annie. It was first released by 679 Recordings in September 2004. Annie began recording music in 1999 with her boyfriend, Tore Kroknes, who died in 2001...

(2004). They wrote the music first, inspired by Prince

Prince (musician)

Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...

's 1986 funk

Funk

Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...

 song "Kiss

Kiss (song)

In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...

".

Annie described how the lyrics were based on a friend of hers, "who was really a beautiful girl, always surrounded by loads of guys." Her friend spent time with a guy and was confronted by his girlfriend for it. Annie called the problems between the two "ridiculous, but also funny." After her friend kept telling her about the situation, Annie decided to write a song about it. The lyrics describe a girlfriend who is going berserk and "needs to calm down." Annie's persona, however, hints that the girlfriend probably should be worried.

The Song was used in 2 episodes of Waterloo Road

Waterloo Road (TV series)

Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...

, screened on 18 February 2009 and 25 February 2009.

Critical reception

"I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" received positive reviews from pop music critics. Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

's Marc Hogan described the song as a "slinky electro-pop" and compared it to English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 dance group Saint Etienne

Saint Etienne (band)

Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...

. Cam Lindsay of Exclaim.ca called the song a "brilliant slice of pop" with "delicious" lyrics. In a review for Digital Spy

Digital Spy

Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....

, Nick Levine described the song as "sweet, scrumptious electropop" and compared it to her song "Chewing Gum

Chewing Gum (Annie song)

"Chewing Gum" is an electropop song written by Richard X and Hannah Robinson for Norwegian singer Annie's debut album Anniemal . The song is based on metaphor which likens men to chewing gum....

", a "nearly-hit from a few years back".

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

 placed "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" at number 58 on their 100 Best Tracks of 2008 list., while Planet Sound

Planet Sound

Planet Sound was a Teletext music page on ITV and Channel 4 in the UK. It was broadcast on analogue Teletext from page 340, and on digital Teletext from page 820. From May 24, 2007, Planet Sound was also available to read online via the Teletext website...

 named it the eighth best single of 2008.

Music video

The music video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 for "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" was directed by Sarah Chatfield. The video features Annie performing in a studio in front of various colourful backgrounds. It begins with Annie in a black dress singing into a microphone

Microphone

A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...

 with several female dancers dancing behind her. She is then shown dressed in pink, purple, blue and yellow singing in front of multi-coloured backgrounds. The video version of the song uses the original version of the song, featuring a different introduction to the single version.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me".

12" vinyl PROMO

(ANNIE12PRO1; Released July 7, 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Original Edit)
2. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feel The Moog Remix)
3. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Get Shakes Remix)
4. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (FDZ Remix)

Remixes CDr PROMO

(ANNIECDPRO2; Released July 7, 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Original Edit) – 3:11
2. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Get Shakes Remix) – 5:46
3. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Section Remix) – 5:31
4. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (FDZ Remix) – 4:11
5. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Timo Remix) – 6:31

CDr PROMO

(ANNIECDPRO3; Released July 14, 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Original Edit)
2. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Get Shakes)
3. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Section)
4. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (FDZ)
5. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Timo)
6. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soulseekerz Dirty Vocal)
7. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soulseekerz Club)
8. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soulseekerz Radio)

Digital download

(Released 27 June 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" – 3:09

B-side bundle

(Released 13 July 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" – 3:09
2. "Danny, Danny" – 3:03

Remixes digital download

(Released 13 July 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feel the Moog remix) – 4:44
2. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Get Shakes remix) – 5:47
3. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Deadly Weapons remix) – 5:30
4. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feadz remix) – 4:10
5. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Timo remix) – 6:31
6. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soul Seekerz club mix) – 8:39
7. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soul Seekerz radio edit) – 3:16

E-single

(Released 13 July 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" – 3:09
2. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feel the Moog remix) – 4:44
3. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Get Shakes remix) – 5:47
4. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Deadly Weapons remix) – 5:30
5. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feadz remix) – 4:10
6. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Timo remix) – 6:31
7. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soul Seekerz club mix) – 8:39
8. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soul Seekerz radio edit) – 3:16

7" vinyl single

(1779587; Released July 14, 2008; limited edition)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" – 3:09
2. "Danny, Danny" – 3:03

CD single

(1779586; Released July 14, 2008)

1. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" – 3:09
2. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feel the Moog remix) – 4:44
3. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Get Shakes remix) – 5:47
4. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Deadly Weapons remix) – 5:30
5. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feadz remix) – 4:10
6. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Timo remix) – 6:31
7. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" (Soul Seekerz club mix) – 8:39
8. "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" music video

Charts

"I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" managed to peak at No.54 in the UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, making this her lowest charting physical single to date. It has done better in Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, where the song has peaked at No.10.

Chart (2008)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	54
Spain Top 40	10