Music Review: Britt Nicole "Gold"

Britt Nicole

Gold

Album: Gold

Year: 2012

Britt Nicole lifts up the self-esteem of young people who have been teased in the cloying “Gold.”

   Peppy synths and “ohs” open the single, setting a brightened tone. Throughout the week, she’s noticed her friend’s little sister wasn’t smiling or barging in on their conversations. While she was over, she asked the little sister what was wrong. The girl replies she was having a really good day at school. Her teacher called on her in class and she got the question right. Then, she heard the two girls next to her giggle and one of them whispered loudly, “dog” and made woofing noises. The girl wonders know about her looks and asks Nicole, “do you think I look like a dog?” Nicole brushes her hair and tells her no, she’s a very pretty girl. She tells her some stories of when she was middle school and the names she used to be called. The words hurt but she reminds her she’s special in her own way. (“You were walking on the moon, now you're feeling low/What they said wasn't true, you're beautiful/Sticks and stones break your bones, I know what you're feeling/Words like those won't steal your glow, you're one in a million.”)

      In the chorus, she tells young people everywhere they are special and be proud of their accomplishments. (“This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world/Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold/So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine/From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold (Gold gold, you're gold)/You're worth more than gold (Gold gold you're gold.”)

      Nicole explains the kids who tease are trying to get noticed themselves. They want to be popular, too and it’s their way of showing they can be just as cool. She tells her not to pay attention. They see only what they want to see. She tells the girl she’s has a lot of spark and will have many achievements in her future. (“Well everybody keeps score, afraid you're gonna lose/Just ignore they don't know the real you/All the rain in the sky can't put out your fire/Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter.”)

  The chorus is sung again.

    In the bridge, she tells those who are picked on to not listen to the insults they will hear. Nobody’s perfect and everyone has doubts about themselves. They should show off their quirks in their personalities, not hide them because of what people will say. (“So don't let anybody tell you that you're not loved/And don't let anybody tell you that you're not enough/Yeah there are days when we all feel like we're messed up/But the truth is that we're all diamonds in the rough/So don't be ashamed to wear your crown/You're a king you're a queen inside and out/You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars/This is for you, wherever you are.”)

    In between the bridge and the chorus, she “oh yeahs” for a bit and then says “you’re gold.”

      The chorus is sung again. At the end, she repeats “so don’t be ashamed to wear your crown/you're a king you're a queen inside and out.”

     Nicole’s patronizing, nonchalant vocals are strained, wrenching to relate and cheer up. She’s giving advice but it’s from the point of view of someone who was popular and treated well during the middle and high school years. In her haughty rap in the bridge, she postures, trying to show off how cool she is. Her attitude undermines the entire point of the song while failing to see how dumb she is acting.

      It’s what she thinks the person should hear. The vacant “Gold” breezes past the actual issue of teasing as though one compliment is enough to make everything all better.