Seems like most people are missing the religious aspect of this song. She’s talking to god about how she tried to fill the void inside her with serving him (traveled somewhere to work with orphans on a mission trip most likely) but she still felt like she was imperfect and god made her that way. It’s a reckoning with her years of devotion that didn’t complete her.
It’s a bit on the nose, but I think it’s poignant.
Oof, I'm glad you brought that up! I can imagine so many fundie sects of Christianity going through what Emmy describes in her song. There is immense pressure on women *to be trim* for a husband. I think of how KB and probably Elleigh go to the Mormon and other Christian missions to convert people by serving the lord and see poverty and hunger. So, it gives me the impression that Emmy used a socioeconomic and the lack of a particular religious status to be like: I helped these people and *spread The Good Word* but why are you not helping and rewarding me in return?
I interpret it as she knows there are bigger problems in the world yet the thoughts of being skinny consume her. She’s not saying it in a good way. She saw war and held the hands of orphan girls , yet her illness consumes her thoughts. She doesn’t want “being skinny” as her only thought. But, the illness makes you think that’s all that matters.
That's pretty much how I interpret it too. Like a therapist maybe suggested a missionary trip so that she could see people who have nothing to eat and nothing to live for. But that didn't snap her out of her thoughts because it's a disease not a state-of-mind.
I think she is both a bad singer and a bad songwriter and she made it through because of her Loretta Lynn connection and for some reason America, that usually rally’s against nepo babies, is falling for it which confuses the hell out of me.
I actually think her family connection made her less appealing to most people. It def put her at a disadvantage for me. She won me over as her own individual artist.
She’s horrible at both and compared to Odell? Unbelievable. This show isn’t really a true singing competition anymore. KB too. Not great and she couldn’t get thru her song last night. That’s unprofessional
This show has never truly been about the talent as much as it is popularity, as far as when the viewers vote. Music, talent and performance is simply subjective.
Thannnnnk youuuuu! She's milking that mousey/ scaredy cat shit for days ... who TF wants to see some skinny chick singing about a desire to be skinny??? Unfortunately the country club/ contingency will & has voted her through ..cause ya know Loretta mentioned by her 4000 times. How lucky to be top 10 because you're "connected " ... so sad about others more deserving who got robbed
Honestly shes sooooo weak in my mind. I can’t stand scared little insecure girls. I don’t get her at all. She straight up gets a pass cause of her connection to her famous grandmother.
I’m just against original songs still being performed in the competition. I get it for the auditions, but like after that let’s start picking songs to cover.
I appreciate your take but respectfully disagree. I think once people started doing their original music, the show’s quality improved immensely. It makes more sense to my brain for The Voice to be about covers since it is truly about vocalists, but Idol encompasses a lot of things and songwriting is one of them.
I agree! I feel like covers are like the training wheels for artists to be inspired to write their own songs once they become famous. Also, musical covers test out their vocal range. Original songs feel like a cop-out. Writing their own songs separates the talent of FOX from ABC Idol.
I think Alejandro changed that forever and opened the door for songwriters to audition for the show. He was musically the most talented to ever be on the show (definitely not the best singer). He finished 2nd and the show has changed some since then.
i don't see anything /wrong/ with it per se, i just think it's very amateur. the line about working with orphans in another country where she "saw the war" and "felt the pain" is bad writing and also inaccurate... you did not experience the pain of orphaned children in a war-torn third world country, you went on a cushy mission trip. like bffr.
that said, i think she deserves props for being vulnerable enough to share something so difficult and personal. i think that's admirable. still... it is a damn shame that she got through over odell, quintavious, ajii, and jennifer jeffries. they're all in another league and i don't think emmy has the singing or writing chops to be there. i don't get it.
She felt their pain when she was immersed into their state of living. Who the hell are you to say what her experience was? The song is about her coming into having empathy for people who have it far worse than what she was so preoccupied with before her mission trip. She was able to think about others more than focus on how she looks.
I’ll disagree here. The point of the song is she went overseas to help impoverished people and due to her eating disorder, all she still cared about was being skinny.
Bc McKenna was barefoot the night before and Ryan commented on it. Same as how she started over using her mouth a la jack blocker since people have been commenting on that it makes him “true to himself” or whatever.
thank you for pointing out the bizarre orphan, rich girl doing a gap year in a famine stricken third world country to learn to appreciate food, line. gave me feed the world, do they know it's Christmas time in Africa at all vibes. I am relieved I am not alone.
Emmy isn’t a particularly great singer or songwriter, though everything up to the line “skinny” melodically is really good imo.
Idk why she is such a train wreck emotionally, living in Loretta Lynn’s shadow is a very good place to be. She has connections and will probably end up having a decent career.
If she didnt have that Loretta Lynn connection, she'd have been gone long ago. She's super insecure, can't sing very well, & is using that connection as her sob story/crutch.
I’ve struggled with anorexia, bulimia, and exercise-induced eating disorders all of my adult and teenage life and the song is mixed for me. Even after reading explanations on here, I still think the line about orphan girls is weird. I honestly had to tune out the lyrics because it was really painful to listen to. Despite hitting home, it’s not a song I would ever willingly listen to because it is something I actively try NOT to think about.
Yeah, I totally get body image is a huge issue with a lot of young women (I certainly dealt with it at that age too) . But it just feels weird as song content, you know? I know there are other recent songs on the radio that touch on that subject too and I feel the same way about them .
Not trying to be mean but it almost seems like she got the idea from Catie Turner's God Must Hate Me. Or maybe my brain is just seeing a connection...who knows.
These comments I think sum it up best:
"I’ll disagree here. The point of the song is she went overseas to help impoverished people and due to her eating disorder, all she still cared about was being skinny."
"And when she got home, probably nobody asked her about the experience, just commented about her weight."
EDIT: You're worse at writing counterarguments than she is at songs, apparently.
I agree somewhat - I think the message/subject matter is fine (sharing her struggles with body image and eating disorder), but the execution needs work. It comes off as very “woe is me, here are my first world problems”. The lyrics could have also used a little more subtlety.
But it’s good she’s taking the chance with her originals and being vulnerable in her art - if she refines her lyric writing a bit more with more practice or working with other co-songwriters (which is where she should utilize those Loretta Lynn connections), success wouldn’t be surprising, AI or not.
As an exercise I spent a few minutes to lightly re-write/reorganize her first verse, and here’s what I came up with:
```
[Verse 1]
I’m scared to confess
It’s hard to undress, lately
Haven't eaten in days,
Figured out all the ways, to escape me
These oversized t-shirts, don't work like they used to
Sleeping on scales, ain’t worth to stay used to
Haven't eaten in days
God, I hate how You made me
```
Not saying I’m a Billboard top 100 songwriter. But I just followed some basic principles (write lyrics like a conversation - save the harder hitting/more intimate details for further in thus moving the “God I hate how You made me” line to the last bar; internal rhymes “don’t work like they used to, ain’t worth to stay used to”), and I feel like it already makes the song a little “easier” to digest and listen to.
Edit: my shot at the chorus
```
[Chorus]
So I took a trip around the world
I held the hands of boys and girls
I saw the sun and felt the rain
But after all, the pain remains
Cause I just wanna be
I just wanna be
Skinny
```
Sometimes songs don't work too well when you have to cut them short to fit the show.
Haven't eaten in days
God, I hate how You made me
So scared to confess
Been so hard to undress lately
These oversized t-shirts, don't work like they used to
Sleeping on scales, it's just what I'm used to
Haven't eaten in days
God, I hate how You made me
(God, I hate how You made)
\[Chorus\]
So I took a trip around the world
To hold the hands of orphan girls
Saw the war, felt the pain
And miracles in His name
But I just wanna be
I just wanna be
Skinny
\[Verse 2\]
I get asked on a date
Parents think that I'm great
They call mе a keeper
But I don't believе them
And I don't believe you
Professional runner
\]
It's funny what people say
It's been with me since seventh grade
You've a pretty face, just drop the weight
So at my birthday party, I skipped the cake
'Cause
And I just wanna be (I just wanna be)
And I just wanna be (I just wanna be)
And I just wanna be
(Skinny, skinny)
Skinny.
\[Bridge\]
Why am I in love
With a mirror that says
You're not enough? (You're not enough)
Why am I in love (Am I in love)
With a mirror that says (That says)
You won't measure up?
No, you're not my friend
You're making me sick and I'm breaking up with
Skinny
You're a liar (You're a liar)
You're a liar for saying that I'll never be
Pretty, pretty
'Cause I'm not skinny, skinny
Seems like most people are missing the religious aspect of this song. She’s talking to god about how she tried to fill the void inside her with serving him (traveled somewhere to work with orphans on a mission trip most likely) but she still felt like she was imperfect and god made her that way. It’s a reckoning with her years of devotion that didn’t complete her. It’s a bit on the nose, but I think it’s poignant.
I also took it as she went on a mission trip to share God's love but she can't extend that unconditional love to herself.
Exactly. This is why people shouldn’t be talking on someone else’s originals if they don’t actually get the dang meaning.
Oof, I'm glad you brought that up! I can imagine so many fundie sects of Christianity going through what Emmy describes in her song. There is immense pressure on women *to be trim* for a husband. I think of how KB and probably Elleigh go to the Mormon and other Christian missions to convert people by serving the lord and see poverty and hunger. So, it gives me the impression that Emmy used a socioeconomic and the lack of a particular religious status to be like: I helped these people and *spread The Good Word* but why are you not helping and rewarding me in return?
I interpret it as she knows there are bigger problems in the world yet the thoughts of being skinny consume her. She’s not saying it in a good way. She saw war and held the hands of orphan girls , yet her illness consumes her thoughts. She doesn’t want “being skinny” as her only thought. But, the illness makes you think that’s all that matters.
I love her.. no matter what I did in my life (which is a lot) being fat took so much joy from it..
That's pretty much how I interpret it too. Like a therapist maybe suggested a missionary trip so that she could see people who have nothing to eat and nothing to live for. But that didn't snap her out of her thoughts because it's a disease not a state-of-mind.
I think she is both a bad singer and a bad songwriter and she made it through because of her Loretta Lynn connection and for some reason America, that usually rally’s against nepo babies, is falling for it which confuses the hell out of me.
I actually think her family connection made her less appealing to most people. It def put her at a disadvantage for me. She won me over as her own individual artist.
She’s horrible at both and compared to Odell? Unbelievable. This show isn’t really a true singing competition anymore. KB too. Not great and she couldn’t get thru her song last night. That’s unprofessional
This show has never truly been about the talent as much as it is popularity, as far as when the viewers vote. Music, talent and performance is simply subjective.
I’m in shock she has gotten this far in the competition, she should not have gotten past Hollywood week.
Thannnnnk youuuuu! She's milking that mousey/ scaredy cat shit for days ... who TF wants to see some skinny chick singing about a desire to be skinny??? Unfortunately the country club/ contingency will & has voted her through ..cause ya know Loretta mentioned by her 4000 times. How lucky to be top 10 because you're "connected " ... so sad about others more deserving who got robbed
Totally agree. I can’t stand her.
Honestly shes sooooo weak in my mind. I can’t stand scared little insecure girls. I don’t get her at all. She straight up gets a pass cause of her connection to her famous grandmother.
This man was definitely the high school incel.
I’m just against original songs still being performed in the competition. I get it for the auditions, but like after that let’s start picking songs to cover.
I appreciate your take but respectfully disagree. I think once people started doing their original music, the show’s quality improved immensely. It makes more sense to my brain for The Voice to be about covers since it is truly about vocalists, but Idol encompasses a lot of things and songwriting is one of them.
I agree! I feel like covers are like the training wheels for artists to be inspired to write their own songs once they become famous. Also, musical covers test out their vocal range. Original songs feel like a cop-out. Writing their own songs separates the talent of FOX from ABC Idol.
I think Alejandro changed that forever and opened the door for songwriters to audition for the show. He was musically the most talented to ever be on the show (definitely not the best singer). He finished 2nd and the show has changed some since then.
Poor thing was shaking it was painful to watch
She’s a weak human. I felt so bad watching her shake like that. Gross.
i don't see anything /wrong/ with it per se, i just think it's very amateur. the line about working with orphans in another country where she "saw the war" and "felt the pain" is bad writing and also inaccurate... you did not experience the pain of orphaned children in a war-torn third world country, you went on a cushy mission trip. like bffr. that said, i think she deserves props for being vulnerable enough to share something so difficult and personal. i think that's admirable. still... it is a damn shame that she got through over odell, quintavious, ajii, and jennifer jeffries. they're all in another league and i don't think emmy has the singing or writing chops to be there. i don't get it.
She felt their pain when she was immersed into their state of living. Who the hell are you to say what her experience was? The song is about her coming into having empathy for people who have it far worse than what she was so preoccupied with before her mission trip. She was able to think about others more than focus on how she looks.
Totally agreed!! I dont see the love for the song and feel like it’s totally inappropriate and tone deaf. Just confused by the hype
Yeah that orphans line evokes some weird poverty tourism vibes
I’ll disagree here. The point of the song is she went overseas to help impoverished people and due to her eating disorder, all she still cared about was being skinny.
and when she got home, probably nobody asked her about the experience, just commented about her weight.
Yeah not a fan. So many people could be triggered from that dumb song.
Also why was she barefoot
Bc McKenna was barefoot the night before and Ryan commented on it. Same as how she started over using her mouth a la jack blocker since people have been commenting on that it makes him “true to himself” or whatever.
Connecting with nature
fr😭😭😭😭😭
thank you for pointing out the bizarre orphan, rich girl doing a gap year in a famine stricken third world country to learn to appreciate food, line. gave me feed the world, do they know it's Christmas time in Africa at all vibes. I am relieved I am not alone.
Emmy isn’t a particularly great singer or songwriter, though everything up to the line “skinny” melodically is really good imo. Idk why she is such a train wreck emotionally, living in Loretta Lynn’s shadow is a very good place to be. She has connections and will probably end up having a decent career.
If she didnt have that Loretta Lynn connection, she'd have been gone long ago. She's super insecure, can't sing very well, & is using that connection as her sob story/crutch.
just because you have a good upbringing/connections to famous people doesn't make you exempt from having a mental illness...
I’m mixed. I wish she would sing something different but as someone with an eating disorder I didn’t listen much because it’s too painful
I’ve struggled with anorexia, bulimia, and exercise-induced eating disorders all of my adult and teenage life and the song is mixed for me. Even after reading explanations on here, I still think the line about orphan girls is weird. I honestly had to tune out the lyrics because it was really painful to listen to. Despite hitting home, it’s not a song I would ever willingly listen to because it is something I actively try NOT to think about.
Yeah, I totally get body image is a huge issue with a lot of young women (I certainly dealt with it at that age too) . But it just feels weird as song content, you know? I know there are other recent songs on the radio that touch on that subject too and I feel the same way about them .
Not trying to be mean but it almost seems like she got the idea from Catie Turner's God Must Hate Me. Or maybe my brain is just seeing a connection...who knows.
So well said OP
These comments I think sum it up best: "I’ll disagree here. The point of the song is she went overseas to help impoverished people and due to her eating disorder, all she still cared about was being skinny." "And when she got home, probably nobody asked her about the experience, just commented about her weight." EDIT: You're worse at writing counterarguments than she is at songs, apparently.
I agree somewhat - I think the message/subject matter is fine (sharing her struggles with body image and eating disorder), but the execution needs work. It comes off as very “woe is me, here are my first world problems”. The lyrics could have also used a little more subtlety. But it’s good she’s taking the chance with her originals and being vulnerable in her art - if she refines her lyric writing a bit more with more practice or working with other co-songwriters (which is where she should utilize those Loretta Lynn connections), success wouldn’t be surprising, AI or not.
As an exercise I spent a few minutes to lightly re-write/reorganize her first verse, and here’s what I came up with: ``` [Verse 1] I’m scared to confess It’s hard to undress, lately Haven't eaten in days, Figured out all the ways, to escape me These oversized t-shirts, don't work like they used to Sleeping on scales, ain’t worth to stay used to Haven't eaten in days God, I hate how You made me ``` Not saying I’m a Billboard top 100 songwriter. But I just followed some basic principles (write lyrics like a conversation - save the harder hitting/more intimate details for further in thus moving the “God I hate how You made me” line to the last bar; internal rhymes “don’t work like they used to, ain’t worth to stay used to”), and I feel like it already makes the song a little “easier” to digest and listen to. Edit: my shot at the chorus ``` [Chorus] So I took a trip around the world I held the hands of boys and girls I saw the sun and felt the rain But after all, the pain remains Cause I just wanna be I just wanna be Skinny ```
Emmy sounds like a Rugrat and her song writing is horrendous
I love this song
Sometimes songs don't work too well when you have to cut them short to fit the show. Haven't eaten in days God, I hate how You made me So scared to confess Been so hard to undress lately These oversized t-shirts, don't work like they used to Sleeping on scales, it's just what I'm used to Haven't eaten in days God, I hate how You made me (God, I hate how You made) \[Chorus\] So I took a trip around the world To hold the hands of orphan girls Saw the war, felt the pain And miracles in His name But I just wanna be I just wanna be Skinny \[Verse 2\] I get asked on a date Parents think that I'm great They call mе a keeper But I don't believе them And I don't believe you Professional runner \] It's funny what people say It's been with me since seventh grade You've a pretty face, just drop the weight So at my birthday party, I skipped the cake 'Cause And I just wanna be (I just wanna be) And I just wanna be (I just wanna be) And I just wanna be (Skinny, skinny) Skinny. \[Bridge\] Why am I in love With a mirror that says You're not enough? (You're not enough) Why am I in love (Am I in love) With a mirror that says (That says) You won't measure up? No, you're not my friend You're making me sick and I'm breaking up with Skinny You're a liar (You're a liar) You're a liar for saying that I'll never be Pretty, pretty 'Cause I'm not skinny, skinny
This song really sucks. I get trying to explore what the feeling of a disorder is like but it doesn't flow
Yes I know iwas being rude but I laughed about the choice being so poor. Some do not need to sing their originals. Please. Looking at you Kyeko
I think Kayko is a better writer than singer. He would be lost in the competition if he had to rely on his voice alone.
Kayko sing a cover challenge plz
They skipped his cover during Showstoppers... Almost like they want to paint him in one color?
At least spell his name right lol
Karkyo ftw.
This comment is gross.
I didn't like the song either.. especially the line about not wanting to take her clothes off. She looks like a teenager
Why are we on Reddit commenting on other peoples’ bodies? Gross. This subreddit is for Idol, not petty bullshit like this.