Mr G - Naughty Girl

Surely this is an early contender for the best song of 2008. I've been addicted to Mr G's "Naughty Girl" for weeks but thought I'd wait until the video clip was filmed before writing about it here. For any non-Australian readers, Mr G is a fictional character played by Chris Lilley on the insanely popular comedy series "Summer Heights High". A camp drama teacher with serious delusions of grandeur, Mr G literally steals the show by making his students perform a musical about his life. "Mr G - The Musical" is one of the most biting pieces of satire I've seen on Australian television. It's hilarious viewing from beginning to end but the highly controversial "Naughty Girl" is the undisputed highlight. The song, an incredibly inappropriate but sublimely amusing tale of a teenage girl who overdoses on ecstasy, caused a media furor when it was revealed that the song's lyrics mirrored a real life tragedy. If anything the controversy only served to make the show even more popular.

Given Mr G's pop culture status, it was hardly a surprise when Chris Lilley announced that "Naughty Girl" would be released as a single. While definitely a cash-in, "Naughty Girl" can not be dismissed as a novelty. This is a first class dance anthem with the catchiest chorus of the year (thus far). Who wont be chanting "She's a naughty girl with a bad habit, a bad habit for drugs" the next time this gets a spin at your local disco? The spoken interludes are also hysterical with Mr G lamenting that poor deceased Jessica was indeed a slut. Pop is rarely this darkly amusing and clever. The same can be said for the slightly disturbing but jaw droppingly fantastic video clip (below). I was initially disappointed to learn that it was comprised of footage sent in by fans but the result is ridiculously entertaining. I guarantee it's the only time you'll see children dancing with giant ecstasy pills on your television screen! The song is already top 20 on the strength of downloads and looks a sure bet to reach the top 10 on Sunday. The remixes are fantastic and the physical single comes with a poster and stickers. You can download Mr G's stunning anthem from iTunes or order a physical copy from Chaos. While you're there, order the TV series. "Summer Heights High" is a work of genius.