I love this song. The lyrics have so much meaning and are very deep, unlike a lot of popular music today. The first line, "Don't look at me." sets the tone for the rest of the song. It's whispered, and it implies that Christina (or Linda, but I’m going to stick with Christina for this interpretation since she’s singing) is ashamed of how she looks. She would rather be invisible or ignored than be seen for who she really is. Christina might feel this way because of a physical feature, or it might be another characteristic that she feels is visible to those around her. The main point is that Christina is worried this characteristic will cause others to think of her as an outcast. She is worried that the others will rank her below them, denying her the acceptance that everybody wants.
Verse 1
In the first verse, Christina is singing about herself. It starts, “Every day is so wonderful/ Then suddenly/ It’s hard to breathe.” The first line is important for the song, because it shows that Christina is not depressed. The days start out beautiful for her — maybe she spends time alone in the mornings or outside surrounded by nature’s ‘morning glory,’ and it puts her at peace. She carries this serenity and hope with her as the day begins. However, when this wears off, Christina is struck with the realization that life is not so carefree. Depending on the circumstances, it may be physically hard to breathe, or that might be a metaphor for the weight of sorrow she carries. “Now and then I get insecure/ From all the pain” are the next lines. Everybody, no matter how confident, feels insecure sometimes. For Christina, it must happen more often than not. Maybe when she sees groups of friends laughing together she wonders if they’re laughing at her. Or she might feel insecure and self-conscious when she sees a model on a magazine cover. She is not satisfied with being herself because she feels like she is not good enough, and it pains her. The next line is, “I’m so ashamed.” This line sums up what Christina has been saying the whole verse. She is ashamed that she is different, but what she doesn’t realize is that differences are what make people unique. If everyone was the same, what would be interesting about other people? She is ashamed because status quo says “If you act or look different from everyone else, you’re unaccepted.” Christina, in this song, wants so desperately to fit in…but she isn’t accepted. And she’s ashamed of that — she’s ashamed to be herself. There should be nothing wrong with that.
1st Chorus
Christina continues to sing about herself in the first chorus, so I thought I’d do it with the first verse. The first lines are “I am beautiful.” This contradicts Christina’s emotions in the verse. She was describing her insecurities and how she is ashamed of herself, but now she is stating that she is beautiful. Her sense of hope is re-apparent. “No matter what they say/ Words can’t bring me down.” Christina is saying that no matter what other people tell her, no matter how many times they put her down, she won’t give up. She is strong, and she knows that their words are meaningless — because every person is beautiful. She goes on to say again, “I am beautiful/ In every single way.” Inside and out, Christina can accept herself. “Yes words can’t bring me down/ Oh no.” She reiterates that words can’t hurt her; people can say what they want. She may feel insecure, but those words will never cause her to break. It again shows her sense of strength. Finally Christina says “So don’t you bring me down today.” This is almost a warning to anyone who bullied her in the past. She is letting them know that no matter how many times they try to bring her down, she will never fall. So they shouldn’t waste their time.
I love this song. The lyrics have so much meaning and are very deep, unlike a lot of popular music today. The first line, "Don't look at me." sets the tone for the rest of the song. It's whispered, and it implies that Christina (or Linda, but I’m going to stick with Christina for this interpretation since she’s singing) is ashamed of how she looks. She would rather be invisible or ignored than be seen for who she really is. Christina might feel this way because of a physical feature, or it might be another characteristic that she feels is visible to those around her. The main point is that Christina is worried this characteristic will cause others to think of her as an outcast. She is worried that the others will rank her below them, denying her the acceptance that everybody wants. Verse 1 In the first verse, Christina is singing about herself. It starts, “Every day is so wonderful/ Then suddenly/ It’s hard to breathe.” The first line is important for the song, because it shows that Christina is not depressed. The days start out beautiful for her — maybe she spends time alone in the mornings or outside surrounded by nature’s ‘morning glory,’ and it puts her at peace. She carries this serenity and hope with her as the day begins. However, when this wears off, Christina is struck with the realization that life is not so carefree. Depending on the circumstances, it may be physically hard to breathe, or that might be a metaphor for the weight of sorrow she carries. “Now and then I get insecure/ From all the pain” are the next lines. Everybody, no matter how confident, feels insecure sometimes. For Christina, it must happen more often than not. Maybe when she sees groups of friends laughing together she wonders if they’re laughing at her. Or she might feel insecure and self-conscious when she sees a model on a magazine cover. She is not satisfied with being herself because she feels like she is not good enough, and it pains her. The next line is, “I’m so ashamed.” This line sums up what Christina has been saying the whole verse. She is ashamed that she is different, but what she doesn’t realize is that differences are what make people unique. If everyone was the same, what would be interesting about other people? She is ashamed because status quo says “If you act or look different from everyone else, you’re unaccepted.” Christina, in this song, wants so desperately to fit in…but she isn’t accepted. And she’s ashamed of that — she’s ashamed to be herself. There should be nothing wrong with that. 1st Chorus Christina continues to sing about herself in the first chorus, so I thought I’d do it with the first verse. The first lines are “I am beautiful.” This contradicts Christina’s emotions in the verse. She was describing her insecurities and how she is ashamed of herself, but now she is stating that she is beautiful. Her sense of hope is re-apparent. “No matter what they say/ Words can’t bring me down.” Christina is saying that no matter what other people tell her, no matter how many times they put her down, she won’t give up. She is strong, and she knows that their words are meaningless — because every person is beautiful. She goes on to say again, “I am beautiful/ In every single way.” Inside and out, Christina can accept herself. “Yes words can’t bring me down/ Oh no.” She reiterates that words can’t hurt her; people can say what they want. She may feel insecure, but those words will never cause her to break. It again shows her sense of strength. Finally Christina says “So don’t you bring me down today.” This is almost a warning to anyone who bullied her in the past. She is letting them know that no matter how many times they try to bring her down, she will never fall. So they shouldn’t waste their time.
wauw, it's a very good interpetation. You wrote it beautiful. Can you please write your interpetation of the other parts of the song?
wauw, it's a very good interpetation. You wrote it beautiful. Can you please write your interpetation of the other parts of the song?