When Instant Star wrapped after four seasons (2005-2008), Alexz endured her share of off-camera drama in her music career, when both Capitol and Epic, respectively, ended up shelving her records due to internal conflicts . "It’s been tough,” she says, “but something always keeps me going. Even with no money in my pocket, things land where they land and you keep moving.” Johnson had completed a full length record entitled Weight in 2008, and was set to release it in September the next year.
Alexz independently released her debut album, Voodoo in 2010 and remixed it in 2011 as Reloaded. She released a compilation of unheard demos in the form of The Basement Recordings (2011), while prepping to release her first EP, Skipping Stone in January 2012. She has also released one live album, Live from the Skipping Stone Tour in December 2012. Johnson later continued to release two more demo compilations, The Basement Recordings 2 and The Basement Recordings 3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Finding success and a loyal fanbase through her independent releases, Johnson's 2014 EP, Heart and sophomore album Let 'Em Eat Cake were both funded through the crowdfunding service Pledgemusic. Heart and Let 'Em Eat Cake both showcase a different side of Johnson, tackling subjects such as heartbreak and loss. The two releases include tracks produced by David Kahne, who has worked with Lana Del Rey, Kelly Clarkson, Regina Spektor, and other artists.
Stupid Girl
Alexz Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You pretend you're bored
You pretend you're anything
Just to be adored
And what you need
Is what you get
Don't believe in fear
Don't believe in anything
That you can't break
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
What drives you on (what drives you on)
Can drive you mad (can drive you mad)
A million lies to sell yourself
Is all you ever had
Don't believe in love
Don't believe in hate
Don't believe in anything
That you can't waste
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it
Don't believe in fear
Don't believe in pain
Don't believe in anyone
That you can't tame
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it
You stupid girl
The lyrics of Alexz Johnson's song Stupid Girl is a critique of someone who is pretending to be someone else just to be adored. The song starts with the lines "You pretend you're high, You pretend you're bored, You pretend you're anything, Just to be adored". The person being addressed in these lyrics is pretending to be something that they are not, just to win the approval and admiration of others. The singer then notes that this person is getting what they want, and what they need. They are living a life of facade, deception, and manipulation.
The lines "Don't believe in fear, Don't believe in faith, Don't believe in anything That you can't break" suggests that the person being addressed in these lyrics is someone who has lost faith in anything that is beyond their control. They do not believe in fear, faith, or anything that they cannot manipulate or break. The chorus "You stupid girl, All you had you wasted" emphasizes that this person is heading down a path of self-destruction, and they are wasting their life on false pretentiousness.
The second verse further emphasizes the lack of belief and authenticity of the person being addressed. They do not believe in love or hate or anything that can't be wasted. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the senselessness of the life they are leading, and the futility of living a lifestyle that is based on deception and fakery.
Line by Line Meaning
You pretend you're high
You act like you're intoxicated to seem more interesting or cool.
You pretend you're bored
You feign disinterest in everything around you to appear cooler.
You pretend you're anything
You put on a facade of being anyone/anything to attain admiration.
Just to be adored
You alter who you are to gain the admiration of others.
And what you need
The only thing you desire most.
Is what you get
Is what you obtain. You always get exactly what you believe you need.
Don't believe in fear
You do not believe in feeling afraid, only in conquering your fears.
Don't believe in faith
You do not believe in any individual religion but believe that you can create your own spiritual path.
Don't believe in anything
You're skeptical of the validity of concepts others hold to be true.
That you can't break
You don't believe in anything you can't debunk, question or destroy.
You stupid girl
You foolish girl, ignorant of your own patterns of self-sabotage.
All you had you wasted
You squandered all you possessed, which wasn't much in the first place due to your tendency to continually reinvent yourself.
What drives you on (what drives you on)
What keeps you going every day, your motivation that inspires you through life.
Can drive you mad (can drive you mad)
Your drive and passion can easily take the form of obsession, leading you to madness.
A million lies to sell yourself
You rely on manipulating the truth to craft a persona that will be well-received by the world.
Is all you ever had
You deserve what you have because you manipulated it.
Don't believe in love
You do not fully accept the notion of love, and the validity of romantic love in particular.
Don't believe in hate
You are too optimistic in your outlook on life to indulge in any feelings of hatred or anger.
Don't believe in anything
You don't have faith in anything but what you can experience and witness.
That you can't waste
You neglect any concept or experience that doesn't seem valuable to enhancing your public image.
Can't believe you fake it
I am shocked and disappointed that you still present an inauthentic self.
Can't believe you fake it
I am stunned and saddened by your tendency to pretend to be someone you are not.
Can't believe you fake it
I can't accept that you continue to present a false image to the world.
You stupid girl
You poor girl, acting foolishly rather than being true to yourself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Butch Vig, Douglas Erikson, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Shirley Manson, Steve Marker, Topper Headon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind