By age 15, McKee was writing songs and performing in the Seattle area. A friend helped get her EP to Nic Harcourt, a popular disc jockey in Los Angeles and host of KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic". He helped spark a major record label bidding war after playing the song "Somebody" on his radio program for several weeks. After signing a recording contract at age 16, she moved to Los Angeles to begin work on her debut album with producer Rob Cavallo. Trouble was commercially released on September 28, 2004.
After ending her recording contract, McKee spent many hours in the recording studio and was introduced to music producer Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, by her manager. Gottwald had collaborated with McKee's longtime friend Katy Perry on her debut album One of the Boys. They (along with Max Martin and Benny Blanco) began writing songs together, ultimately producing the hits that would appear on Perry's second album, the worldwide multi-platinum, Teenage Dream. The singles "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream" and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" each topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold millions of copies around the world. Other successful collaborations between McKee, Gottwald and Martin include Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me," Taio Cruz's "Dynamite," Rita Ora's "How We Do (Party)," and Katy Perry's singles from Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, "Wide Awake" and "Part of Me."
McKee recently signed a recording contract as a solo artist with Epic Records, and is currently at work on her second studio album, to be released in summer 2013. The lead single will be "American Girl," which McKee described as a "summer banger". "American Girl" was released in July 2013.
American Girl
Bonnie McKee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sat on the curb drinking Slurpees we mixed with alcohol
We talked about all our dreams and how we would show 'em all (whoa oh oh oh)
I told him I got a plan and I'm gonna dominate
And I don't need any man to be getting in my way
But if you talk with your hands then we can negotiate (whoa oh oh oh)
I'll just keep moving my body (yeah)
I'm always ready to party (yeah)
No I don't listen to mommy (yeah)
And I'll never say that I'm sorry
Oh I'm an American girl
Hot blooded and I'm ready to go
I'm loving taking over the world
Hot blooded, all American girl (Whoa)
I was raised by a television
Every day is a competition
Put the key in my ignition (Oh-way-oh)
I wanna see all the stars and everything in between
I wanna buy a new heart out of a vending machine
'Cause It's a free country so baby we can do anything (Whoa)
I'll just keep moving my body (yeah)
I'm always ready to party (yeah)
No I don't listen to mommy (yeah)
And I'll never say that I'm sorry
Oh I'm an American girl
Hot blooded and I'm ready to go
I'm loving taking over the world
Hot blooded, all American girl (Whoa)
I was raised by a television
Every day is a competition
Put the key in my ignition (Oh-way-oh)
You know we're gonna shine so bright (Oh we're gonna shine so bright)
Oh baby gonna go all night (Oh we're gonna go all night)
You know we're gonna shine so bright (Oh we're gonna shine so bright)
Oh baby gonna go all night
Oh I'm an American girl
Hot blooded and I'm ready to go
I'm loving taking over the world
Hot blooded, all American girl, I'm an American girl
I was raised by a television
Every day is a competition
Put the key in my ignition (Oh-way-oh)
I'm an American girl
Hot blooded and I'm ready to go
I'm loving taking over the world (I'm taking over)
I'm an American girl
Bonnie Mckee’s “American Girl” is an anthem for the young and rebellious. In the opening verse, she describes falling in love in a 7/11 parking lot while sitting on the curb and drinking Slurpees mixed with alcohol. The conversation with her lover revolves around their dreams and how they would conquer the world. The pre-chorus is an assertion of her independence, telling him that she doesn't need a man getting in the way of her achieving her goals. However, she goes on to say that negotiations can happen if he talks with his hands. The chorus of the song is catchy, flaunting her confidence and readiness to party.
The second verse talks about her ambition to see all the stars and everything in between. She wants to buy a new heart out of a vending machine because it's a free country, and they can do anything. The chorus repeats with the same catchy tune from the first chorus. The bridge of the song is a celebratory moment where she glorifies her hard work and determination. She knows they're going to shine so bright, and they're going to go all night like they do every day in a competition. The last chorus repeats the melody from the preceding ones.
Line by Line Meaning
I fell in love in a 7/11 parking lot
I met my significant other in a common place, and yet it was the beginning of something extraordinary.
Sat on the curb drinking Slurpees we mixed with alcohol
We indulged in a concoction of frozen sugary drinks and liquor and sat on the pavement, enjoying each other's company.
We talked about all our dreams and how we would show 'em all (whoa oh oh oh)
We shared our aspirations and discussed how we would achieve them with passion and determination.
I told him I got a plan and I'm gonna dominate
I revealed my strategy for success with confidence and enthusiasm.
And I don't need any man to be getting in my way
I don't require a man to prevent me from moving forward or stand in the way of my ambition.
But if you talk with your hands then we can negotiate (whoa oh oh oh)
I'm willing to work out a deal with someone communicating with their body, but only if it's necessary.
I'll just keep moving my body (yeah)
I'll continue to dance and stay active, living life to the fullest.
I'm always ready to party (yeah)
I'm always prepared for a celebration or a good time, no matter what life throws at me.
No I don't listen to mommy (yeah)
I don't let my family influence my decisions or steer me off my path.
And I'll never say that I'm sorry
I won't apologize for being myself or pursuing my dreams.
Oh I'm an American girl
I'm a girl from America with all the values and characteristics associated with it.
Hot blooded and I'm ready to go
I'm a passionate and driven individual who's eager to take on any challenge.
I'm loving taking over the world
I'm enjoying the process of succeeding in everything I do and conquering the world.
I was raised by a television
Television has played an influential role in shaping who I am as a person and how I perceive the world.
Every day is a competition
Life is a constant battle to achieve my best and come out on top.
Put the key in my ignition (Oh-way-oh)
I'm ready to start my engines and make things happen like starting a car.
I wanna see all the stars and everything in between
I want to experience everything the world has to offer, from the most beautiful to the most mundane.
I wanna buy a new heart out of a vending machine
I wish I could replace my heart with something new and fresh like buying an item out of a machine.
'Cause It's a free country so baby we can do anything (Whoa)
We have the freedom to do whatever we want, so let's live life to the fullest.
You know we're gonna shine so bright (Oh we're gonna shine so bright)
Together we will illuminate the world with our talents and accomplishments.
Oh baby gonna go all night (Oh we're gonna go all night)
We're going to work and party hard all night long.
I'm taking over
I'm in charge and making an impact in my life and in the world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Bucks Music Group
Written by: Alex Drury, Bonnie Mckee, Garret Lee, Jon Asher, Oliver Goldstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind