Polyester Girl

"Polyester Girl" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in May 1998 as the third single from the band's second studio album Unit. "Polyester Girl" peaked at No. 14 in Australia and No. 16 in New Zealand and it also ranked at No. 26 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1998.[2]

"Polyester Girl"
Single by Regurgitator
from the album Unit
ReleasedMay 1998
Recorded1997
GenreAlternative rock, electronica
Length3:30[1]
LabelWarner Music Australasia
Songwriter(s)Quan Yeomans
Producer(s)Magoo, Regurgitator
Regurgitator singles chronology
"Black Bugs"
(1998)		 "Polyester Girl"
(1998)		 "! (The Song Formerly Known As)"/"Modern Life"
(1998)
Music video
"Polyester Girl" on YouTube

Content

The release of Polyester Girl has been described as the peak of Regurgitator's career; it was their highest selling single and has been credited with helping the album Unit reach sales of over 240,000.[3] The song was a radio hit in Australia, with Allmusic describing it as one of the highlights from the album.[4] Polyester Girl has been called a "socially challenging" song,[5] and has also been described as Regurgitator's "anti-commercialism anthem".[6] When questioned if he would have done anything different on the album Unit, Regurgitator frontman Quan Yeomans cited Polyester Girl, stating "it's one of those throwaway things that was done so quickly and so sillily. Maybe I would do that again, but then that's the most successful track we've ever released." Drums and keyboards heard in the song were synthesised using a Roland MC-303.[7][8] Polyester Girl is said to be about a man "pledging fidelity to a sex doll." A "romantic trauma" occurs when the product breaks and has to be sent away for repairs.[9]

Music video
Polyester Girls seen dancing in the music video

Described as having "Nintendo 64" quality graphics,[10] the music video for the song is entirely digitally animated. It features a chrome silver female with large breasts and an exaggerated hourglass figure dancing, at times synchronised with two identical figures. Dancing footage is intercut with advertisements to purchase one of the dancing figures, termed a "Polyester Girl". Described in the video as an "All Amazing PETCOM", the Polyester Girl is advertised as being mentally active, being made from elasto-plastic and featuring ionic suspension. The ability to customise a Polyester Girl's facial features, hair and wardrobe are shown, and viewers are encouraged to purchase a 'hover file' for their product.

The music video was nominated for Best Video at the 1998 ARIA Music Awards.[11]

Track listings
Australian CD Single
No.TitleLength
1."Polyester Girl"3:30
2."Polyester Girl" (Rayon Blend)3:08
3."Polyester Girl" (Bass 'n' Garage Dub)6:01
4."Resuscitator"3:30
UK CD Single
No.TitleLength
1."Polyester Girl"3:30
2."Polyester Girl" (Rayon Blend)3:08
3."Asiatic Fever"3:30

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 16

Year-end charts
Chart (1998) Position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 67

Certification
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[15] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia May 1998 CD Single EastWest, Warner 3984229662
United Kingdom 1998 CD Single Coalition Recordings COLA 066CD

References
  1. "Regurgitator – Polyester Girl". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  2. "Hottest 100 1998". Triple J. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  3. Lobley, Katrina (28 September 2007). "Regurgitator". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  4. "Regurgitator – Unit". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  5. Neil, Anne (5 December 2011). "Regurgitator Unit Re-Booted". stereooftheinsane.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  6. "Regurgitator". theaureview.com. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  7. Shea, Matt (24 September 2012). "Regurgitator's 'Unit': 'It's A Really Weird Dot on the Landscape'". messandnoise.com. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  8. "Regurgitator". Triple J. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  9. Matheison, Craig (2009). Playlisted: Everything You Need to Know About Australian Music Right Now. University of New South Wales Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-1742230177.
  10. "Regurgitator – Unit (1997)". Rip It Up. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  11. "Winners By Year - 1998". ARIA Music Awards. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  12. "Regurgitator – Polyester Girl". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  13. "Regurgitator – Polyester Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  14. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  15. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
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