How a polarizing pop anthem became one of the most viewed videos in history
In short: Maroon 5 and Cardi B’s Girls Like You faced harsh critical reception, with reviewers calling it shallow and sentimental. Yet, the track became a global juggernaut, dominating charts for months and amassing billions of views. Its success reveals a fascinating tension between critical disdain and massive, record-breaking popular appeal.
Released in 2018 as part of the album Red Pill Blues, Girls Like You became a defining commercial success of its era. While critics like those at Spin and Vice dismissed the song as a hollow, marshmallow-soft effort, the public response was starkly different. The single hit the top spot on twelve national charts and spent seven weeks leading the US Billboard Hot 100. It also achieved a historic 36-week run at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, shattering the previous record of 28 weeks held by Uncle Kracker’s version of Drift Away.
The song’s cultural footprint was amplified by a high-profile music video directed by David Dobkin. Featuring a rotating cast of influential women—ranging from activists like Ilhan Omar and Angy Rivera to athletes and entertainers—the video became a visual statement. Several guests wore clothing highlighting social justice causes, such as the Defund DAPL Coalition or immigrant rights. This visual strategy, combined with Cardi B’s widely praised verse, helped the song transcend its pop-rock roots. By April 2026, the combined versions of the music video had surpassed 5 billion views on YouTube.
Beyond its streaming dominance, the track reached significant milestones in music industry certification. In 2021, the RIAA awarded the song diamond status for exceeding 10 million units sold, making Cardi B the first female rapper to earn two such certifications. Globally, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ranked it as the fifth best-selling song of 2018, with 11.9 million equivalent units. Despite being labeled a snoozefest by some, the song’s ability to replace itself on radio charts and tie long-standing records for top-ten longevity cemented its place as one of the most successful, if divisive, hits of the 2010s.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Girls Like You
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