Pharrell Explains 'G I R L' Album Title

Pharrell Williams made his fans especially “Happy” when he announced the title and release date for his first album in eight years. So what exactly does G I R L mean?

Before his performance at the BRIT Awards, the Oscar nominee broke down the all-caps title, which is written with two spaces between each letter.

“The reason why I named it G I R L in capital letters is because when you look at it, it looks a little weird,” he told Zane Lowe. “And the reason why it does is because society is a little unbalanced. And I just thought like, if I’m gonna make an album, I need to make an album that says everything that I’ve ever wanted to say, like dreamt of.”

The title is an homage to all the women in his life. “Women have been so good to me over this entire career and they’ve done so much for my family,” said Pharrell, who has a son with his wife Helen Lasichanh. “Everything I’ve ever gotten is because they’ve paid for so they’re like my bosses—indirectly and directly. I wanted to analyze that for a second.”

He continued, “I admire women in a lot of ways, but I needed to make sure that everyone knew that. On the surface, I do look and I do like them and I appreciate them in my little dirty ways here and there, but at the core, is what I’m telling you. We need them. Every living breathing human being on this planet regardless to your sexual orientation benefits from two things from a woman: the agreement to enter the act and the agreement to have you. So they have the power. Every human being has come through those silver-lined doors.”

He wants his fans to remember that when they listen to the album, which arrives March 3. “I want everyone to keep in mind that at the core, when you cut this album open that’s what comes out is that purpose. G I R L, I think, is my best work yet.”

Watch his explanation below and see Pharrell get emotional in the trailer.