Girls & Boys

Dave Rowntree did not play the drums on "Girls & Boys" by Blur. The drummer was replaced by a drum machine that he programmed himself, and he later called it his favourite track on the band's 2000 compilation, remarking that it was cool not being in one of the band's own songs. Alex James summed up the sound as "Disco drums, nasty guitars and Duran Duran bass." Damon Albarn wrote the lyrics after a holiday in Magaluf, Spain, with then-girlfriend Justine Frischmann of Elastica, where he observed tacky Essex nightclubs and a rampant sexual scene among visiting holidaymakers, later remarking that there was no morality involved.

Produced by Stephen Street, the single was released in March 1994 as the lead track from Parklife, the band's third album. Street predicted a top-five placing, calling the song downright basic, and he was proved right when it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, the group's first foray into the top five. It also became their highest charting song in the United States, reaching number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The success caught the band off guard. Graham Coxon described going top five as a bit of a shocker, and Albarn confessed to having his first panic attack shortly after the single entered the charts. Kevin Godley directed the accompanying video, which showed the band performing in front of documentary footage of people on Club 18-30 package holidays.