My Belated Two Cents On “Call Your Girlfriend”
Came across the Singles Jukebox thread on this enduring number while in a post-Taran Killam ponder, and was amazed how many different emotions and scenarios people pull out of the song. How I hear it: a woman in the early stages of love with a spoken-for guy, soberly - but excitedly - walking through the cliches that have to be expressed before they can get on with their business. She’s genuine and sympathetic to the girlfriend (we don’t know just how serious or on-the-outs that relationship was), but in the long run, she’s in love and can’t pretend this isn’t just some obvious hurdle to hop.
I’ve never experienced anyone stealing away a significant other (or stolen anyone or been stolen, for that matter), and might not be so fond of the track if I had. But I don’t resent the selfishness of it, because, as her voice soars over those Morodery swells, I don’t think she’s getting off on the shittiness of the situation like Lesley Gore vs. Judy, just acknowledging how the collateral damage will be dealt with. It’s twisted, but I have a lot of Randy Newman albums.
