Music Review: Samantha Mumba "Don't Need You To Tell Me..."
Samantha Mumba
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Don’t Need You To Tell Me I’m Pretty
Album: Gotta Tell You
Year: 2001
Samantha Mumba accepts herself for who she is in the self-satsified ballad “Don’t Need You To Tell Me I’m Pretty.”
A secure piano and a timid bass open the single, setting an uptight tone. In the the first verse, she sees the boys walk past in the hallway. They smile at her and wave. Some flirt with her, asking for a pencil. She thinks it’s sweet but she doesn’t define herself by how many guys like her. She’s not interested in a guy saving her from pain and uncertainity. She already can defeat it with her high self-confidence. She would like to have a boyfriend who cares about her, will treat her well, and relish her flaws. She says she’s complete, despite being single.
In the chorus, she repeats the ideas she expressed in the first verse. Except she adds that it’s personality and heart which matters, not her looks.
In the second verse, she says she has faith in herself. She knows she can achieve her dreams. She thinks she’s a great person and compliments from men are unnecessary. She insists she can voice her opinions and make it on her own without anybody’s help. She doesn’t need to be one half of a couple to validate herself.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says she doesn’t have to ask someone first before she makes a choice. She’s discovered people will hold her in high regard if she acts as though she should. The mettling choir affirms everything she says with booming responses.
The chorus is sung again.
In the final chorus, she reasserts that she’s the only person who can build herself up after dealing with problems.
Mumba needs no one. Friends and men (in particular) serve an unimportant purpose in her life. She has high self-esteem now and sees people as a way to kill time. There aren’t any heart-to-heart talks or meaningful conversations about fear. If she has any doubts, she will be able to look inside herself and believe like she did before.
Mumba’s flip, resistive vocals are demanding and blustering. Her need for an enormous amount of self-reliance verges to anti-social and angry, which hints at other deep-rooted problems and not enlightenment.
The browbeaten arrangement cowers and shrivels, allowing the bossy choir to take over. The weakened arrangement tries to stop the choir’s control by bringing out its army of inspirational strings. However, it’s too late and the pungent smell of moldy cheese is apparent.
The askew “Don’t Need You To…” has an off point to it which can’t be straightened out with a gimmick (like the choir) or stock phrases from a self-help book.
Album: Gotta Tell You
Year: 2001
Samantha Mumba accepts herself for who she is in the self-satsified ballad “Don’t Need You To Tell Me I’m Pretty.”
A secure piano and a timid bass open the single, setting an uptight tone. In the the first verse, she sees the boys walk past in the hallway. They smile at her and wave. Some flirt with her, asking for a pencil. She thinks it’s sweet but she doesn’t define herself by how many guys like her. She’s not interested in a guy saving her from pain and uncertainity. She already can defeat it with her high self-confidence. She would like to have a boyfriend who cares about her, will treat her well, and relish her flaws. She says she’s complete, despite being single.
“I don't need you to/Tell me I’m pretty to make me feel beautiful/I don't need you to/Give me your strength to make me feel I’m strong/I got all of this strength that I need here/Inside my own two hands/All that I want is your love and respect for who I am/What I really need/Comes from deep inside of me.”
In the chorus, she repeats the ideas she expressed in the first verse. Except she adds that it’s personality and heart which matters, not her looks.
“Don't need you to tell me I’m pretty to make me feel beautiful/Don't need you to make me strong ‘cause I’m strong all on my own/Doesn't come from outside/This beauty I know/Comes from inside my soul/Don't need you to tell me I'm pretty.”
In the second verse, she says she has faith in herself. She knows she can achieve her dreams. She thinks she’s a great person and compliments from men are unnecessary. She insists she can voice her opinions and make it on her own without anybody’s help. She doesn’t need to be one half of a couple to validate herself.
“I don't need you to/Believe in me to make me know I’m worth believing in/I don't need you to/Lift me up high to know I can stand tall ( I can stand tall)/I can stand my own ground/I can stand proud upon my own two feet/Don't have to be part of somebody else/To be complete/What I really need/Comes from deep inside of me.”
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says she doesn’t have to ask someone first before she makes a choice. She’s discovered people will hold her in high regard if she acts as though she should. The mettling choir affirms everything she says with booming responses.
“Don't need to come to you for confirmation/Because I finally found too this revelation/What I really need ( what I really need)/I’m gonna find inside of me (find inside of me)/Not in somebody else/Respect comes when you respect yourself.”
The chorus is sung again.
In the final chorus, she reasserts that she’s the only person who can build herself up after dealing with problems.
“Don't need you to tell me i'm pretty to make me feel beautiful/Don't need you to lift me up, I can stand up on my own/Doesn't come from outside/This beauty I know (I know)/Comes from inside my soul/Don't need you to tell me I’m pretty to know I’m beautiful.”
Mumba needs no one. Friends and men (in particular) serve an unimportant purpose in her life. She has high self-esteem now and sees people as a way to kill time. There aren’t any heart-to-heart talks or meaningful conversations about fear. If she has any doubts, she will be able to look inside herself and believe like she did before.
Mumba’s flip, resistive vocals are demanding and blustering. Her need for an enormous amount of self-reliance verges to anti-social and angry, which hints at other deep-rooted problems and not enlightenment.
The browbeaten arrangement cowers and shrivels, allowing the bossy choir to take over. The weakened arrangement tries to stop the choir’s control by bringing out its army of inspirational strings. However, it’s too late and the pungent smell of moldy cheese is apparent.
The askew “Don’t Need You To…” has an off point to it which can’t be straightened out with a gimmick (like the choir) or stock phrases from a self-help book.