Music Review: Willa Ford "Did Ya' Understand That"

Willa Ford Did Ya’ Understand That

Album: Willa Was Here

Year: 2001

    Willa Ford dumps a closed-off boyfriend in scornful “Did Ya’ Understand That.”

     Dismissive beats open the single, setting a flippant tone. She and her boyfriend had another argument. It started when she was talking to him and asked him for some advice. He mumbled and responded with something unrelated to what they were talking about. She’s had enough. She gets in front of him and says life would be easier if she could get inside his mind. Maybe she could find out what exactly makes him so cold towards her. He gives her a blank stare and she shakes her head in disbelief. She questions him on his inattentiveness and uncaring nature. Again, he doesn’t respond, avoiding her eyes. She calls him on it, saying she’s not going to take any of his crap anymore. (“Sometimes I wish that I could be the person that you are/Just for a minute/Long enough that I can break your heart/Can you even comprehend /Did you even understand a single word that I said/I wonder why you do the things that boy you do to me/I can’t imagine why you treated me so horribly /Are you listening to me /Are you trying to ignore me/Do I stutter when I speak.”)

        In the pre-chorus, she tells him he brought it upon himself. People around school will be talking. She tells him he shuts everyone out and won’t have anyone on his side. She’s leaving him and won’t miss him at all. (“What you gonna do baby what you gonna say/I'm cutting you loose cause I've got no time for you/Who you gonna run to/Who you gonna blame/As a matter of fact I won’t look back.")

           In the chorus, she tells him she wants nothing more to do with him. He doesn’t have a place in her life. His behavior is unaccepatable. He turns his head slightly to her while she says her leaving will catch his attention. (“I don't want you/I don't need you /Let me tell you where its at/I’m through with you/Can you understand that/I don't what you /I don't love you/Hit the road jack /I’m through with you/Did ya understand that.”)

    Just once, she had hoped he would see where she was coming from and be able to relate to her feelings. She says he doesn’t have any respect for women. She used to view him as misunderstood and would stick up for him when other people would call him a jerk. However, she sees now what they meant. She wonders if he will ever become self-aware and stop seeing others as the problem. It’s something he needs to tell himself. However, she prefers to not to feed his ego and move on. (“Sometimes I wish that you could be the person that I am/So you can feel inside exactly what I’m feeling (yeah)/Maybe then you'd understand/How to treat a lady, how to be real man/You can’t imagine what I think of when I think of you/ I see a sucker not the person that I though I knew/Will you ever comprehend/Maybe you can keep it going but I can’t pretend.”)

       The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

      In the bridge, she remembers when they first started going out. He would buy her flowers just because and he was happy being with her. Now, she believes he was only trying to impress her and fool her into giving him a chance. She doesn’t know what he’s feeling ever and has run out of excuses for him. (“I used to be the only girl that you lived for/You didn't need nothing more/Jaded eyes so I’m confused when I’m around you/What is this girl to do.”) The pre-chorus is sung again.

       The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

       Ford’s tart, blunt vocals flatten the boyfriend into a square peg until he can no longer be seen to the human eye. Even without any swearing at all, she’s brutal. She’s honest with him, telling him what he doesn’t want to hear while keeping her anger in check.

         The brash “Did Ya’ Understand” has a strong personality beneath it's glossy exterior.