Her music is ample evidence, but meet Alexa in person and the star quality is undeniable. You’ll meet a girl from a small town in the suburbs of southern England who still has to pinch herself when she finds herself rubbing shoulders with music royalty at LA parties, but you’ll also immediately realise what it is about this extraordinary young talent that earned her the attention and respect of some of pop’s biggest starmakers. Alexa is an artist who has found her strength through music, and can’t wait to tell the world her story.
Recorded in LA and New York, Goddard’s debut album showcases qualities that mirror her personality: smart, fun, sparky and refreshingly straightforward, featuring collaborations with bluechip producers like Stargate (Rihanna, Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Shakira), Ester Dean (Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige) and even Chris Brown. Hits-in-the-making include hook-heavy belter ‘So There’, lyrically reflective ‘Who Needs Perfect’ and female pop anthem ‘Stay Pretty’. Now it’s time for the rest of the planet to meet this exciting new star.
Growing up with three older brothers, a young Alexa quickly found a way to make her voice heard. She absorbed her family’s passion for a diverse range of musical styles, and discovered that she felt perfectly at home on stage in local talent shows and karaoke contests. “When I got on stage and performed, it was the best feeling in the world. I felt like I could do anything’,” Alexa recalls. After winning a talent contest at a seaside holiday camp, it led to recording sessions across Europe; later, her MySpace profile caught the eye of multi-million-selling prog rock behemoths Trans-Siberian Orchestra, who invited her to audition for a forthcoming tour. Over the next couple of years, she played to huge crowds up and down America’s East Coast, but after a while knew she had to concentrate on her own music.
Going right back to basics she persuaded one of her brother’s friends, a fledgling music manager, to arrange some recording sessions with producers so she could work on her own songwriting. Alongside these writing sessions they uploaded some videos to YouTube and immediately the views went supernova with subscribers going through the roof and one of her covers even hitting the Top 20 on the official UK charts after she released her version independently.
No wonder there’s a twinkle in her eye as she edges closer to realising her dream. Alexa’s loving every minute as she prepares to take the world by storm in 2014 “It’s taken a while for me to get here. I haven’t rushed anything. But believe me, I’m ready now.”
I Can't Make You Love Me
Alexa Goddard Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me
Tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don't patronize
Don't patronize me
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't
I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holding me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't
Turn down the lights
Dimming the lights as a metaphor for trying to create a more intimate and vulnerable atmosphere.
Turn down the bed
Preparing a physical space for intimacy and emotional connection.
Turn down these voices inside my head
Longing to silence the doubts and insecurities that constantly plague one's thoughts.
Lay down with me
Desiring someone to physically and emotionally be present with, to share a deep connection.
Tell me no lies
Seeking honesty and sincerity in communication, not wanting to be deceived or misled.
Just hold me close, don't patronize
Craving genuine affection and closeness, without any condescension or insincerity.
Don't patronize me
Requesting to be treated honestly and respectfully, without being talked down to or underestimated.
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
Acknowledging that true love cannot be forced or manufactured; it must be genuine and mutual.
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Recognizing that emotions cannot be controlled or manipulated; one cannot force themselves to feel something they don't.
Here in the dark, in these final hours
Finding oneself in a vulnerable and desperate state, the last moments of trying to salvage a failing relationship.
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
Offering one's vulnerable and authentic self, hoping that love can still prevail despite the challenges.
But you won't, no you won't
Realizing and accepting that the other person is not reciprocating the same level of love and commitment.
'Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't
Reiterating the fact that genuine love cannot be forced or imposed upon someone.
I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
Choosing to avoid the painful truth and pretend that everything is fine, even if it means ignoring the lack of love.
The love you don't feel when you're holding me
Acknowledging the absence of love and emotional connection, even in moments of physical closeness.
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Accepting that the journey must continue, and making the choice to prioritize self-respect and moving on.
Just give me till then to give up this fight
Requesting a temporary respite from the struggle to make the other person love, allowing time for acceptance and healing.
And I will give up this fight
Embracing the reality that love cannot be forced, and choosing to let go and move forward.
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
Reiterating the underlying truth that love cannot be manufactured or coerced.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, AMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATION
Written by: James Allen Shamblin, Michael Barry Reid
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind