Music Review: Nelly Furtado "I'm Like A Bird"

I'm Like A Bird
Album: Whoa, Nelly!
Year: 2000

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Now, onto to what you visited here for in the first place: the reviews!

Nelly Furtado is a commitment-phobe in the pragmatic "I'm Like A Bird."

Elegant, hippy strings open the single, creating a sensitive and free spirited tone. Furtado eases into the "it's not you, it's me" speech with a compliment about her boyfriend's good looks and personality. She says she's changes her mind all the time. Although she loves deeply, she's also honest about it, too. She is going to say "I love you" unless she means it. "You're beautiful, that's for sure/You'll never ever fade/You're lovely but it's not for sure/That I won't ever change/And though my love is rare/Though my love is true."

In the chorus, she compares herself to a bird. She can't stay in one relationship for a long time. She's still discovering herself and figuring out her place in the world. She appreciates his friendship and kind heart. "I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away/I don't know where my soul is, I don't know where my home is/(and baby all I need for you to know is)/I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away/I don't know where my soul is , I don't know where my home is/All I need for you to know is."

In the second verse, she says his emotional support means a lot to her. However, he doesn't know the real her. She's not comfortable revealing her quirks to him. While she can hang out with him, she can't find any substance in the relationship. "Your faith in me brings me to tears/Even after all these years/And it pains me so much to tell/That you don't know me that well/And though my love is rare/Though my love is true."


After the chorus, she sings the bridge. In it, she says breaking up with him is not something she wants to do. However, with every "I love you," she freaks out. The relationship was meant to be fun, not serious. She thinks they aren't going to work out anyway and she's wasting her time. "It's not that I wanna say goodbye/It's just that every time you try to tell me that you love me/Each and every single day I know/I'm going to have to eventually give you away/And though my love is rare/And though my love is true/Hey I'm just scared/That we may fall through."

The chorus is repeated three times to end the single.

The frank "I'm Like A Bird" finds Furtado in the unlikely position: breaking up with a man. In pop music, the women are begging for their ex-boyfriend to come back. She, however, is doing the opposite. She presents qualities not found in mainstream Top 40: independence and openness.

The only minor quibble: Furtado's voice is far too nasal at times. Unfortunately, it adds an air of immaturity to the single.

For price, tracklisting and other album information please visit Amazon.com.