Music Review: Hilary Duff "Play With Fire"

Hilary Duff

Play With Fire

Album: Dignity

Year: 2006

 
          Hilary Duff runs into her ex-boyfriend and then tells him off in the sneering       “Play With Fire.”

Mouthy synths open the single, setting a firm tone.  She holds her stomach as she laughs. Her friend tells her, in between giggles, that she’s going to spill her drink. A tap on the shoulder and a familiar-sounding “hello” stops the conversation cold. It’s her ex-boyfriend. Her friend crosses her arms across her chest and glares at him. She excuses herself from her friend to talk to him in private. She exclaims to him that she’s surprised to see him. She says it must be, about a year and a half since she saw him last. He responds that he’s been traveling and working. She tells him that mutual friends have let her know about his newfound interest in charity. He starts to say, “how-“ and she interrupts him. With a smirk, she finishes his sentence, adding “after you threw me under the bus to everyone and made me think it was my fault?” She says she’s fine and hasn’t thought of him in months. (“I can't believe it's really you/Been so long, you look good/I hear you're doing really well/Don't ask me, let me tell you/How I've been since when you left/Since you left me for death/Finally every tear has dried/I've wiped you from my life.”)

She tells him the time to talk things through is done. She tried to reach him when they were dating and he avoided her. Her friends told her, in the beginning, to stay away from him. She tells him they were right. He apologizes and says he still loves her. She grits her teeth. (“Do you remember all the times you said you'd call me/’Cause I remember all the reasons people warned me/And now I hear you saying that you still adore me/But if you think I'd ever get with you again/Then you can just.”)

             In the chorus, she says he can still love her all he wants. It doesn’t mean she’s entitled to get back together with him again. There is no way it’s happening and he can throw one of his tantrums. She’s used to it. (“Love me, love me/Feed the flame/If you want me back again/Burn into the sky/Higher and higher/Baby, can you play with fire

(Burn into the sky)/Love me, love me(Far into the sky)/If you want me.”)

She guffaws and shrugs, telling him he doesn’t get it. She said she believed him for most of the relationship and went back. However, she knows how he works and she’s not dealing with it anymore. Around him, she felt small and as though her opinion didn’t matter. She says it was because he thought he wasn’t good enough for her which caused him to him leave. She wasn’t the blame for everything. (“You never know just what you got/'Til it's gone, you freak out/But I'm not falling for that game/Boys like you never change/You made me feel I wasn't enough/Wasn't enough for your love/But it was insecurity that made you run/It wasn't me.”)

         In the pre-chorus, he tells her he was hurt that their relationship wasn’t working out and he was being really immature. She checks her cell phone and says she has to leave. She can’t be bothered with him and has to get back to her life. She tells him that no apology will ever make it right. Nonetheless, he will still think he has a chance. (“So don't you sit there trying to/Give me more excuses/I don't have time for this/I'm off to play in Houston/And I'm too busy with the millions things I'm doing/You can't make up for what you've done/But you still try to be the one.’)

 
               The chorus is sung again.

In the bridge, she adds she has a new boyfriend now. He’s good to her and involved in her life. He’s honest with her and she plans to be with him.

Oh, by the way, by the way/I've found someone who gives me space/Keeps me safe/

Makes me sane/Found someone to take your place/Now I'm safe in his arms/And I decided only he can play with fire.”)

             An extended chorus is sung, alternating with the lyrics from the first verse to end the single. (“Love me, Love me/Feed the flame/If you want me back again/Burn into the sky/Higher and higher/Baby, can you play with fire/I can't believe it's really you

(Love me, love me)/I hear you're doing really well (If you want me)/Finally every tear has dried (Love me, love me)/Can boys like you, boys like you/Play with fire.”)

          Duff’s self-assured vocals haven’t had a crying jag for at least a year. It was a rough period and she didn’t think the numbness would ever go away. Seeing him only reminds him of what she went through. She’s finally ok and she won’t let him damage her again.

              The sarcastic “Play With Fire” jabs and pokes with its pent up anger.