They Begged For The Song — And Ended Up Making One Of Motown’s Most Beloved Classics
Some songs arrive already fully formed in the minds of their creators. Others change direction at the very last moment, shaped as much by chance as by intention. “My Girl” by The Temptations belongs to the second category — a song whose history could easily have belonged to someone else entirely.
At the center of its origin story is Motown’s most prolific songwriter-producer, Smokey Robinson, who originally intended the track for his own group, The Miracles. While sharing a bill with The Temptations at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater, Robinson worked on the song’s rhythm track, laying the foundation for what would become one of the defining records of the Motown era.
When The Temptations heard what Robinson had created, their reaction was immediate. They recognized something special in the arrangement — a warmth and simplicity that stood out even in Motown’s already rich catalog of hits. They began to push for the song to be handed over to them instead of Robinson’s original plan.
In a rare moment of concession, Robinson agreed. That decision would prove pivotal, not only for the song itself but for the direction of The Temptations’ career. It also led to another crucial change: selecting a new lead voice for the track.
For the first time, Robinson chose David Ruffin to sing lead. Ruffin’s voice carried a raw, soulful edge that contrasted with the smoother harmonies of the group. That choice gave “My Girl” its unmistakable emotional identity, grounding its sweetness in a deeper, more expressive tone.
The group spent that week rehearsing the song at the Apollo, refining its harmonies and performance until it felt completely natural. There was a sense that they were preparing something important, even if they could not yet know just how significant it would become.
When they returned to Detroit to record it on December 21, 1964, everything came together with remarkable clarity. The arrangement was simple, but every element felt perfectly placed. The rhythm section carried a gentle momentum, while the vocals layered warmth and precision over the top.
What makes “My Girl” so enduring is its emotional directness. It does not rely on complex storytelling or dramatic twists. Instead, it captures a single feeling — pure, uncomplicated devotion — and expands it into something universally relatable. It is a song that feels both intimate and expansive at the same time.
Behind the scenes, the collaboration between Robinson and The Temptations represented something larger than a single recording session. It reflected the Motown system at its peak — a place where writers, producers, and performers constantly reshaped material until it found its ideal voice. In this case, that ideal voice turned out not to be the one originally intended.
When “My Girl” was released, it quickly became a defining moment for The Temptations, marking their first Number One hit and establishing them as one of Motown’s premier vocal groups. Its success helped solidify the emotional and musical template they would continue to build on throughout the decade.
Over time, the song has become one of the most recognizable and beloved recordings in soul music history. Its opening bass line alone is enough to evoke instant recognition, even decades after its release. Yet beneath its simplicity lies a carefully crafted collaboration between some of the most important figures in American popular music.
What makes “My Girl” endure is not just its melody, but the moment of recognition that changed its destiny — the instant The Temptations heard it and knew it belonged to them. Sometimes, greatness begins with a request. And sometimes, the right people simply refuse to let a song go.
Nearly 150,000 California Mail Ballots Rejected In Primary
California election officials are examining why nearly 150,000 mail-in ballots were rejected during the state’s June primary, with late-arriving ballots accounting for most of the increase.
The higher rejection rate comes despite years of election law changes designed to make voting more accessible and ensure more ballots are ultimately counted.
According to data compiled by the California Secretary of State’s office, 148,241 mail-in ballots were rejected during the June primary, representing 1.73% of all mail ballots returned.
That marks an increase from the 2024 primary, when 108,982 ballots were rejected, or 1.56% of all mail ballots cast.
The largest reason for rejection was ballots arriving too late to qualify under California law.
State data shows that 93,479 ballots were rejected because they failed to meet the state’s deadline requirements.
California allows mail ballots to arrive up to seven days after Election Day, provided they are postmarked on or before Election Day.
Voting experts believe many of the rejected ballots received postmarks dated after Election Day, making them ineligible to be counted even if they arrived within the seven-day grace period.
Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, said the timing of postal processing appears to be a significant concern.
“Ballots rejected due to lateness are caused primarily to being postmarked too late to count, not because they arrived too late to count,” Alexander said.
Election experts have questioned whether recent operational changes within the U.S. Postal Service may be contributing to delayed postmarks.
Earlier this year, a group of mostly Democratic U.S. senators wrote to the Postal Service expressing concern that mail-processing changes could affect ballot handling during federal elections.
Updated Postal Service procedures mean postmarks may reflect when mail is processed at regional facilities rather than when it first enters the mail system.
Because processing centers have been consolidated in some areas, election officials have warned that postmark timing could be affected.
Before the June primary, California election officials encouraged voters to mail ballots as early as possible because of potential postal delays.
The June election also featured a highly competitive race for governor, which some experts believe encouraged many voters to wait until the final days before casting ballots.
In addition to late-arriving ballots, approximately 44,000 ballots were rejected because election officials determined the voter’s signature did not match the signature on file.
Another 8,300 ballots were rejected because the return envelope did not contain a signature.
State records also show that 743 ballots were rejected because those voters had already cast another ballot.
Other rejected ballots involved missing ballots inside return envelopes or multiple ballots submitted in a single envelope.
The highest rejection rate in the state occurred in Tulare County, where 3.52% of returned mail ballots were rejected.
Alpine County and Merced County followed closely, each recording rejection rates of 3.36%.
California has frequently faced criticism for taking weeks to complete vote counting after major elections, largely because state law permits ballots meeting certain requirements to continue arriving after Election Day.
Following the June primary, President Donald Trump again criticized California’s election system, while the Department of Justice opened an investigation into election administration in Los Angeles County.
Election experts emphasize that the increase in rejected ballots should not be interpreted as evidence of widespread voter fraud.
A 2025 report by the Brookings Institution found documented cases of mail ballot fraud remained extremely rare, estimating roughly four cases for every 10 million mail ballots cast, The Associated Press reported.
State officials have not identified evidence of widespread fraud connected to the June primary, but the increase in rejected ballots is expected to receive additional scrutiny as election administrators evaluate whether changes in postal operations, voter behavior or election procedures contributed to the higher rejection rate.
