Supreme Girl by The Sterns

Boston band The Sterns formed in 2003. The idea to start the band came about while Alex and (former band member) Chris were on tour with another group, and were stuck in a trailer in Franklin, West Virginia.

After gunshots woke them up, they couldn't sleep and started writing songs. "Supreme Girl" was written by Alex Stern. It was originally conceived as an "'80s Soul" number in the vein of Prince or Style Council, but it ended up sounding a whole lot like Squeeze, with whom Alex was obsessed at the time.

The saxophone solo is inspired by Duran Duran, and the lead guitar in the verse is actually a mandolin. While it sounds like a universal breakup song, the lyric was actually inspired by the flap over Harriet Miers nearly being appointed to the Supreme Court by George W. Bush.

The Sterns have always had at least two members who attended the same high school. Alex Stern and Zak Kahn went to Brookline High in Brookline, Massachusetts. Emeen Zarookian and, former drummer, Andrew Sadoway went to Belmont High School in Belmont, Massachusetts.

On guitar you’re playing a combination of two guitar parts, so keep that logic in mind. On drums, watch out for the tricky section of 16th notes on the hi-hat and its interplay with the bass drum. And if you’re singing, bear in mind some advice that band member Emeen Zarookian once got from one of his heroes, Colin Blunstone of the Zombies: “Push up from your buttocks!”