"She" (stylized in lowercase) is a song by Hayley Kiyoko. It is the fifth single of her fourth EP, I'm Too Sensitive For This Shit. It was announced on January 8, 2020 and was released on January 14, 2020 through Atlantic and Empire.[1]
Background[]
The song was announced as the final song of the extended play on January 8, 2020.[1] On January 10, 2020 Kiyoko posted a snippet of the lyrics on her social media.[2] On January 13, 2020 Kiyoko revealed that "She" would be released on January 14, 2020 and that it would also be receiving a music video that also came out on the same day.[3]
She also released an IGTV video[4] on Instagram and talked about the process of writing "She" and what inspired the song. Kiyoko also talked about the making of the music video. The song's title is inspired by a Christmas gift Kiyoko received from her producers Pat Morrissey and KIll Dave which is a book by Kate Spade titled "She".[4] The opening quote of the book is by Deborah Lloyd:
- "I've love believed that the most inspiring and vibrant women in America - and around the world- are the ones who stand out in the crowd. 'Daring' is a word that's always in style, whether it's in reference to creating a shockingly beautiful work of art, following a wild dream, challenging the status quo, speaking from the heart, adventurous cooking or inspiring an entire generation to think about a social issue differently. The most daring thing you can do in life is be true to yourself. Individually and collevitvely, these women inspire us to do exactly that."
- —Deborah Lloyd[5]
Kiyoko explained that this quote made her reflect on her past self and how she disliked her past self and how she felt like her own biggest enemy:
- "Growing up I don’t wanna say hate ‚cause hate is a strong word but I disliked a lot oft hings about myself. I knew what I liked, I knew who I liked, I knew what I wanted in life but I felt like my biggest enemy and […] I’d look at my idols and icons and I’d just be like: ‚Why can’t I be more like you? Or why I can’t I look like this or why can’t I look like that?‘ And I used to beat myself up all the time and it was a really difficult time in my life. It was hard, every day was hard.[...] When you’re going through it you don’t see the big picture you’re just like: ‚Oh life is hard, I’m insecure people don’t like me or I don’t like myself and I don’t see a way out of it.‘ And now that I’ve survived middle school and high school and I look back at that time and I’m like ‚Wow‘ Like all those pivital moments in my life have created who I am today. And they are the reasons why I wanna go on the stage and perform for thousands of people and get girls‘ attention and do music videos and all of these things […] and all of my insecurities are the reason why I became me. So I want to encourage you all to keep going, keep pushing, keep moving, just keep moving forward and I hope this music video and this song really resonates with you and that you love it, that you buy it and stream it and play it and it also just gives you comfort and hope [...]."
- —Kiyoko[4]
Kiyoko also described the song and music video to be "a love letter to my [her] younger self."[6]
Music video[]
The music video for this song was released on January 14, 2020. It was directed by Hayley Kiyoko and shot in one-take, similar to "Feelings".[7] The video also stars Lance Bass alongside Kiyoko.[8]
At the end of the video she used a sound bite of a crowd yelling "Hayley" which is from her European Encore Tour.[9]
In her IGTV video Kiyoko also talked about the music video:
- "This music video is dedicated to that life where I’m celebrating who I am and who I’ve become [...] I hope this music video and this song really resonates with you and that you love it, that you buy it and stream it and play it and it also just gives you comfort and hope because doing this music video was really cool, it was very therapeutic because it reminded me to have hope and that I have hope in myself."
- —Kiyoko[4]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
She acts like she's in seventh grade
But actually, she's twenty-gay
And she been
Tellin' people she don't date, that it ain't for her
She's been
So in love for a really long time and it ain't her first
[Pre-Chorus]
She keeps drivin' down the PCH
It's the only thing that numbs the pain
[Chorus]
Don't wanna be dreamin', warm in bed
Don't wanna be old with one regret
Gotta be a diva, have respect
Be that girl you can't forget
If you try to make her less
She'll stand up and pound her chest
You'll be mad she ain't a part of your life
Miss Do It Right
[Verse 2]
She works so much, she's never home
Her mamma taught her all she knows
She's tried it
Born and raised to put on a face, but her feelings show
And everything that she ever says is taken wrong
[Pre-Chorus]
She keeps drivin' down the PCH
It's the only thing that numbs the pain
[Chorus]
Don't wanna be dreamin', warm in bed
Don't wanna be old with one regret
Gotta be a diva, have respect
Be that girl you can't forget
If you try to make her less
She'll stand up and pound her chest
You'll be mad she ain't a part of your life
Miss Do It Right
[Bridge]
Gone, she's gonna get it done
She'll do it on the run
But still have so much fun, fun
Gone, she's gonna get it done
She'll do it on the run
But still have so much fun, fun
[Chorus]
Don't wanna be dreamin', warm in bed
Don't wanna be old with one regret
Gotta be a diva, have respect
Be that girl you can't forget
If you try to make her less
She'll stand up and pound her chest
You'll be mad she ain't a part of your life
Miss Do It Right
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Instagram - @hayleykiyoko - "Nexxxtttt weeeek 🥰 #imtoosensitiveforthisshit"
- ↑ Instagram - @hayleykiykoko - "🙊#imtoosensitiveforthisshit"
- ↑ Instagram - @hayleykiyoko - "SONG AND VIDEO OUT TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT ET 🌈💿📹"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Instagram - @hayleykiyoko - "Before tonight’s release!!"
- ↑ Deborah LLyod Quote
- ↑ Twitter - @hayleykiyoko - "It’s a love letter to my younger self "
- ↑ Twitter - @hayleykiyoko - "It is ONE TAKE BABY. No cuts"
- ↑ Twitter - @hayleykiyoko - "He is SO KIND and wonderful. Nothing but great things to say"
- ↑ Twitter - @hayleykiyoko - "Yes! It was from my European tour!!!!"