This Girl - Kungs Vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners

The song "This Girl" is a vibrant anthem about the triumph of genuine emotional connection over materialism. The lyrics, sung from a confident female perspective, deliver a clear message: love, affection, and a true heart cannot be bought. The protagonist rebuffs a suitor who attempts to win her over with money and presents ("You buy me this and you buy me that"). She explicitly states, "Your paychecks don't mean that much to me," highlighting a desire for deeper, more meaningful interaction. The core theme revolves around the classic conflict of love versus money, ultimately championing authenticity and tenderness as the most valuable treasures in a relationship. The repeated plea, "Take my hand," serves as a simple, powerful metaphor for this desired connection, urging the suitor to abandon his material offerings in favor of a real, human touch.

The narrative begins with a clear declaration of values from the female protagonist. She asserts that superficial wealth, symbolized by money raining from the sky, is of no consequence to her. She already possesses what she considers true wealth: time and tenderness. Her love, she insists, is a precious commodity that cannot be purchased. The core of her belief is that a genuine and true heart is the only currency that matters, a fundamental truth the suitor needs to understand to win her affection. The chorus acts as a direct, repeated invitation, "Take my hand," urging the admirer to connect with her on a human level rather than a material one. It’s a simple, yet profound, plea for genuine connection over transactional affection.

The second verse reinforces this theme, directly addressing the suitor's attempts to win her over with gifts. She dismisses these presents as not being truly "free," understanding the implicit expectation behind them. His paychecks, a symbol of his worldly success, hold no power over her. Again, she offers the alternative: a simple, physical connection—taking her hand and holding it tight—is the only way to her heart. She directly confronts his misunderstanding, stating, "You got me wrong and that's a fact." He is trying to "buy" a love that isn't for sale. This fundamental misjudgment is what he must overcome.

A bridge introduces a moment of introspection and a potential consequence. The protagonist wonders if her suitor will only realize his mistake after she is gone. She sings of dancing to a "different song," a powerful metaphor for her different life philosophy and values. This isn't just a preference; it's her very rhythm of life, one that doesn't march to the beat of materialism. There's a hint of sadness and resignation in her voice as she states, "It's a shame but I've got to go," suggesting that if he cannot change his approach, their paths will inevitably diverge. The song concludes by returning to the insistent, hopeful refrain of "Take my hand," leaving the resolution open but emphasizing that the path to her love has been clearly laid out, and it is a path of emotional sincerity, not financial offering.

The story of "This Girl" is a tale of two distinct musical eras colliding. The original song was created by the Australian funk trio Cookin' on 3 Burners (comprising Jake Mason, Lance Ferguson, and Ivan Khatchoyan) and released on their 2009 album, Soul Messin'. It featured the powerful vocals of Kylie Auldist and was a mellow, deep soul track. The song nearly didn't make it onto the album, as the band struggled to find a chorus they were happy with, only finalizing it at the eleventh hour.

Years later, a then 19-year-old French producer named Valentin Brunel, known as Kungs, was searching YouTube for soulful tracks to remix. He stumbled upon the original "This Girl," which had only a few thousand views at the time. Captivated by the vocals and the trumpet hook, he decided to create his own version in his bedroom. Kungs sped up the original track, pitched up Kylie Auldist's vocals, and built a contemporary deep house beat around the sampled elements, transforming the funk-soul original into an infectious dance-pop hit. After creating a version he felt was catchy, he sent it to his management, who successfully cleared the rights with the original band. The Kungs remix, titled "Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners", was released on February 19, 2016, and quickly went viral, launching Kungs to international stardom.

The song's rhythmic structure is defined by its infectious house beat, characterized by a steady 4/4 time signature and an upbeat tempo that drives the track forward. This creates an energetic and danceable foundation. The vocal melody, sung by Kylie Auldist, has a soulful, syncopated rhythm that plays against the straight electronic beat, adding a layer of funk and human feel. The rhyme scheme is relatively simple and direct, often using couplets (e.g., "free/me," "tight/love," "that/fact"), which enhances the song's pop accessibility and sing-along quality. The most significant rhythmic element is the interplay between the driving beat and the iconic, rhythmically complex trumpet hook, which serves as the song's main instrumental motif and makes it instantly recognizable.

The Kungs version of "This Girl" is a masterclass in modern remixing, blending vintage soul with contemporary electronic production.

• Musical Techniques: The song's most notable feature is the prominent, catchy trumpet hook, sampled from the 2009 Cookin' On 3 Burners original. Kungs sped up the tempo of the original and pitched up the vocals of Kylie Auldist, giving the track a more energetic, euphoric feel. He layered this over a classic four-on-the-floor house beat, adding a deep sub-bass and crisp percussion that makes the track dancefloor-ready. The arrangement expertly balances the organic, soulful elements (vocals, trumpet) with electronic production, creating a unique funk-house and dance-pop hybrid.
• Literary Techniques: The lyrics employ a direct address narrative, with the singer speaking directly to her suitor. The use of repetition in the chorus ("Take my hand") and key phrases ("You'll never buy my love") functions as a powerful refrain, reinforcing the song's central message and making it highly memorable.

The Kungs remix of "This Girl" became a global phenomenon in 2016, achieving massive cultural impact. It was a commercial behemoth, reaching number one in numerous countries including France, Germany, Belgium, and Hungary, and peaking at number two in the UK. Its success turned the previously little-known Kungs into an international star. The song's ubiquity was cemented by its use in numerous high-profile advertising campaigns, most notably for Apple's "Shot on iPhone" challenge, Cricket Wireless, and the department store Littlewoods. It also became the theme music for the US version of the TV show Big Star's Little Star and has been used as a goal celebration song by various sports teams, including FC Porto and Leicester City F.C. Billboard ranked it at number 48 on their "100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list, and it was the most Shazamed dance song of that year, underscoring its widespread appeal and legacy as one of the defining tracks of the mid-2010s.

The lyrics of "This Girl" use straightforward yet effective symbolism to explore its central theme.

• Money and Presents: Material wealth, referred to as "money rains from the sky above," "paychecks," and "presents," symbolizes a superficial, transactional approach to love. The singer rejects these, framing them as hollow attempts to purchase affection that is not for sale.
• Taking the Hand: The recurring phrase "Take my hand" is a powerful and direct symbol of genuine human connection, intimacy, and emotional sincerity. It represents the singer's desire for a relationship based on true feelings rather than material exchange.
• Dancing to a Different Song: This metaphor, used in the bridge, signifies the protagonist's independent spirit and different value system. It implies that her life follows a rhythm that is not dictated by societal norms of wealth and status, and if her suitor can't understand or join her in this dance, they are incompatible.

The song is built around several highly effective recurring motifs:

• The Trumpet Hook: The most dominant motif is the sampled trumpet melody from the original Cookin' On 3 Burners track. This bright, brassy, and incredibly catchy riff opens the song and reappears throughout, functioning as the primary instrumental hook and the song's signature sound.
• "This Girl": The title phrase itself, while not repeated extensively, anchors the song's narrative. It frames the singer's assertions as a definitive statement of who "this girl" is and what she stands for.
• "Take my hand": This lyrical phrase is repeated insistently in the chorus, acting as the song's central emotional plea and thematic core. Its repetition transforms it from a simple request into a powerful mantra for genuine connection.
• "You'll never buy my love": This declaration appears in both verses, reinforcing the song's primary message and serving as a direct rejection of materialism.