Naughty Girl

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs spinning vinyl at THE ZOO radio station, are dropping the needle on "Naughty Girl" by Valentine from her self-titled album Valentine for all the Zoo Freaks tuning in. This sultry track, with its pulsating beat and cheeky lyrics, has a backstory that’s as vibrant as the song itself. In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Valentine shared that "Naughty Girl" was inspired by a late-night jam session in a dimly lit Brooklyn studio, where she and her bandmates were riffing on themes of rebellion and self-expression. She described the song as “a wink to anyone who’s ever felt a little wild and unapologetic about it.” The track’s infectious energy comes from its blend of retro funk and modern pop, a nod to Valentine’s love for 1970s soul records, which she often cites as a major influence.

Digging into the trivia, "Naughty Girl" almost didn’t make it onto the Valentine album. According to a post on Valentine’s Instagram, the song was a last-minute addition after a friend dared her to write something “bold and a little scandalous” in under 24 hours. She nailed it, and the track became a fan favorite, especially among the Zoo Freaks, who flooded Valentine’s X account with memes and dance videos when the song dropped in 2022. Another tidbit: the song’s iconic bassline was played on a vintage 1968 Fender Precision Bass that Valentine borrowed from a street musician she met outside the studio. Fans on the Valentine Vibes Facebook Group often geek out over this detail, sharing photos of their own bass guitars in homage.

Valentine’s journey to stardom is a tale of grit and groove. Born Valentina Harper in a small coastal town in Oregon, she grew up surrounded by her parents’ eclectic vinyl collection, from Marvin Gaye to Joni Mitchell. According to her bio on her official website, she started singing in local coffee shops at 15, armed with just an acoustic guitar and a dream. By 18, she’d moved to Los Angeles, where she hustled as a backup singer for indie bands while writing her own material. Her big break came in 2019 when a demo of her song “Fever Dream” caught the ear of a producer at a dive bar open mic. That connection led to her debut EP, Moonlight, which blended soul, pop, and a touch of psychedelic funk. The EP’s success paved the way for her 2022 album Valentine, with "Naughty Girl" as its breakout hit.

Valentine’s rise hasn’t gone unnoticed by her fans, who’ve built a tight-knit community around her music. The Valentine Fan Hub is a popular fan-run website where devotees share concert photos, lyric analyses, and even virtual listening parties for tracks like "Naughty Girl." On Facebook, her official page is a hub for tour updates and behind-the-scenes snippets, while the Valentine Vibes Facebook Group is where fans trade stories about meeting her at gigs or spotting her at local record stores. Valentine herself is active on socials, often replying to fans on X with witty one-liners or posting studio teasers on Instagram. Her down-to-earth vibe and genre-bending sound keep the Zoo Freaks and beyond coming back for more.