What Girls Want

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "What Girls Want" by Material Issue from their 1992 album Destination Universe, and the Zoo Freaks are totally vibing. This power-pop anthem, packed with jangly guitars and catchy hooks, captures the early '90s Chicago sound. In a 1992 interview with Billboard, frontman Jim Ellison described the song as a tongue-in-cheek take on decoding romantic signals, inspired by late-night talks with friends over cheap beers. He said, “It’s about the eternal question guys ask—‘What do girls want?’—but with a wink, because nobody really knows.” The track’s upbeat tempo and playful lyrics, like “She wants a car, she wants a star,” made it a fan favorite, though it didn’t chart as high as their earlier hit “Valerie Loves Me.”

Trivia about "What Girls Want" includes its quirky music video, which featured the band in retro suits, lip-syncing in a mock '60s TV studio, a nod to their love for The Beatles and The Monkees. According to a 1993 Chicago Tribune piece, the video was shot in one day on a shoestring budget, with the band borrowing props from a local theater group. On a now-defunct fan forum archived on Wayback Machine, fans shared stories of hearing the song live during Material Issue’s 1992 tour, noting Ellison’s habit of dedicating it to “all the confused dudes in the crowd.” A 2011 retrospective post on Popdose mentioned that the song’s producer, Mike Chapman, pushed for a punchier drum sound to give it radio appeal, which sparked debates among purist fans who preferred the band’s rawer demos.

Material Issue formed in Chicago in 1986, born out of Jim Ellison’s obsession with '60s pop and '80s new wave. Ellison, a suburban kid with a knack for melody, started writing songs in high school, influenced by Cheap Trick and The Jam. As detailed in a 1991 Rolling Stone profile, he met bassist Ted Ansani and drummer Mike Zelenka at a local record store, bonding over shared vinyl collections. They began as a cover band, playing dives around Chicago, before Ellison’s original songs caught the ear of Mercury Records. Their 1991 debut, International Pop Overthrow, named after the band’s DIY ethos, put them on the map. Ellison’s charisma and relentless gigging—sometimes playing three shows a weekend—built a loyal Midwest following.

Sadly, Material Issue disbanded in 1996 after Ellison’s tragic passing, but their music lives on through fans and reissues. The band’s official website, materialissue.com, offers discography details and rare photos. Their Facebook page shares updates on reissues and tributes, while the Instagram account posts vintage flyers and fan art. On X, they engage with Zoo Freaks and other fans, often retweeting nostalgic posts. Fans keep the flame alive on the Material Issue Fan Group on Facebook, where members swap bootlegs and memories. The tribute site Material Issue Forever hosts fan stories and a detailed band timeline, perfect for any Zoo Freak wanting to dig deeper.