Sometimes it seems like Summer Walker has been an R&B staple for quite some time. In reality, it’s only been five years since she stepped onto the scene with her debut mixtape Last Day Of Summer and dropped its breakthrough single “Girls Need Love.” The singer’s celebrating the very special occasion by revisiting that smash single on a newly released Girls Need Love (Girls Mix) EP that includes new versions of the song featuring fellow R&B “It” girl Victoria Monét, rapper/singer Tink and rising star Tyla. The project also features an acoustic version, which Summer has released a performance video for, as well.
Each of the new versions of the song features a different lady talking her ish on the second half of the track, allowing them time to show how they can work the song’s languid groove. The acoustic version, however, is the star of the show here. The addition of live instrumentation from Summer’s band rounds things out in a way that finds the bluesy elements of the track and exploits them in interesting ways.
Speaking of interesting, the acoustic performance video reveals Summer and her band cozied up in animal- and character-themed onesies that look like they came straight out of the OshKosh B’Gosh catalog. The outfits provide a bit of whimsy while offering a strange juxtaposition to the song, on which Summer is quite frank about her sexual desires. Despite this, it also exhibits why Summer Walker and the song still endures.
We might be quickly marching toward winter, but our minds will always lead us back to Summer. Join us in celebrating her five-year milestone when you stream the Girls Need Love (Girls Mix) EP right here and peep her acoustic performance of the cut when you head below. If you’d like to celebrate even further, make sure to cop a limited, blue vinyl five-year anniversary edition of Last Day Of Sumer along with other merch themed for the occasion on her website.
