Lyrics to Jamelia's "Thank You": Girl Power or Loser?

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Jamelia's "Thank You" has gone into the British charts at number two. I'm not sure if I've ever heard such raw lyrics in a pop tune; they obviously strike a chord. But the lyrics are a strange mix: they seem to be saying, thank you for abusing me because you've made me stronger. Or am I misreading them? Here are some of them:

The fights, those nights
I tried to pretend it don't hurt
The way, I prayed
Someday that you would love me
Really, completely
Just how I wanted it to be
But no, so wrong
Can't believe I stayed with you so long

You hit, you spit, you split, ever-y bit of me, yeah
You stole, you broke, you're cold
You're such a joke to me, yeah

For every last bruise you gave me
For every time I sat in tears
For the million ways you hurt me
I just wanna tell you this
You broke my world, made me strong
Thank you
Messed up my dreams, made me strong
Thank you

― All Bunged Up. (Jake Proudlock), Sunday, 29 February 2004 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

It stomped Westlife to the number 2 spot!!! its fucking stonking!

― scottjames23 (worrysome-man), Sunday, 29 February 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hit me baby one more time..."
How are the lyrics sung?

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 29 February 2004 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

The lyrics go along much the same lines as Xtina's "Fighter", really... but "Thank You" is a relatively straightforward R&B ballad - Jamelia really sings the lyrics as if she's thanking someone for being the perfect boyfriend, or something, whereas Xtina obviously had the operatic angst going on. Jamelia's tone is sweet, rather than strong.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 29 February 2004 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Seems to be a fair enough interpretation, not heard the song but the way that the 'thank you' comes at the end might and that there are only really two lines that suggest why might mean that she's self-conciously claiming back those bad times and showing quite how strong she is - so she's not actually saying 'thank you' more a 'fuck you, you tired to crush me but I just came back stronger'.

― Jim Robinson (Original Miscreant), Sunday, 29 February 2004 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

It reminds me of an oldie by Sandy Posey named "Born a woman" which I just tried to start a thread on to no avail:

It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor
Or if you're smart or dumb
A woman's place in this old world
Is under some man's thumb
And if you're born a woman
You're born to be hurt
You're born to be stepped on, lied to, cheated on
And treated like dirt
Ah if you're born a woman
You're born to be hurt
A woman's lot is to give and give
And go on giving
A woman's got to love and lose
And go on living
Well I was born a woman
I didn't have no say
And when my man finally comes home
He makes me glad it happened that way
Because to be his woman
No price is too great to pay
Yes I was born a woman
I'm glad it happened that way
Oh I was born a woman (fade out)

Is she kidding? She sounds sad but serious.

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 29 February 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it kind of fails to convince. I'm rarely convinced by 'fuck you - i'm a gonna self-empower myself' lyrics, though. Maybe that says more about me than the lyrics.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 29 February 2004 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

"Cutie" is better

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 1 March 2004 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The moment in the video when she tenses her muscles and is just about to do a biceps rowr thing and then it cuts away in this wonderful understated way = favourite G pop moment of 2004, for definite.

But but I totally can't believe just how good the whole thing is - I mean, Superstar was great, but this, wow. I don't think it has /that/ much to do with the lyrics - (I didn't get the abuse thing on first few listens) - but, yeah, it's like Xtina's Fighter with everything turned down to 0.5, and the way it seems to keep evoking other, kinda similar songs (Dido, Thank You, Sugababes, Million Different Ways) only to be a million times softer and sweeter is the real clincher for me.

And yeah, the video is EXACTLY right.

― Gregory Henry (Gregory Henry), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

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