"Meet Virginia" is a song by American pop rock band Train, released as the lead single from their 1998 self-titled first album. Serviced to adult album alternative radio in March 1998 as Train's debut single, the song took over a year to gain popularity on mainstream radio, eventually reaching number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 2000, becoming Train's first top-20 hit and their first single to appear on the Hot 100. It also reached the top 20 in Canada, peaking at number 15 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.
Background When asked whether the girl in the song was real or imaginary, Train posted on Twitter that "she's real parts of real woman [sic] that make up a woman that I've always wanted to meet". Singer Patrick Monahan added that one of the women who inspired the song was bassist Charlie Colin's girlfriend, who came over from a wedding shower still wearing a long dress and high heels, and proceeded to play shortstop for Train's softball team in a game against members of the Counting Crows. This inspired the line, "Wears high heels when she exercises".
Reception Roxanne Blanford of AllMusic says "Meet Virginia" is one of a few songs from the album Train that has "inspired hooks and reflective lyrics".Blanford, Roxanne. [ Train – Review]. AllMusic. Christa L. Titus, of Billboard magazine in her review of their second album, called the song an "ode to a wrong-side-of-the-tracks girl full of quirky contradictions."Billboard, April 7, 2001 – Vol. 113, No. 14, Page 18.
Music video The "Meet Virginia" music video takes place inside a diner and stars actress Rebecca Gayheart. The video was shot at the Merritt Bakery and Restaurant in Oakland, California. Located on the south-western shore of Lake Merritt at 203 East 18th Street, the restaurant closed after a fire in 2016.
Track listing Australian maxi-CD single "Meet Virginia" (pop version) – 3:44 "Meet Virginia" (album version) – 4:00 "If You Leave" (live) – 3:26 "I Am" (live) – 4:35 "Train" (live) – 5:50
Credits and personnel Credits are adapted from the US promo CD liner notes.
Studio Mastered at A&M Mastering Studios (Hollywood, California)
Train Train – writing, production Patrick Monahan – vocals, percussion Rob Hotchkiss – guitars, harmonica, vocals Jimmy Stafford – guitars, mandolin, vocals Charlie Colin – bass Scott Underwood – drums, percussion
Other musicians Charlie Gillingham – organ, Mellotron, piano
Additional personnel Curtis Mathewson – production Mike McHugh – engineering Charles Quagliana – engineering Matt Wallace – remixing Alan Yoshida – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts +Chart (1999–2000)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)91
Year-end charts +Chart (1999)PositionUS Adult Top 40 (Billboard)56US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)70US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)79US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)95
+Chart (2000)PositionUS Billboard Hot 10070US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)7US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)55
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesMarch 1998Adult album alternative radioJuly 26, 1999July 27, 1999Contemporary hit radio
References