After a chance meeting with an aspiring singer/songwriter, she managed to secure some studio time in Elton John's Rocket Studios, and, after hearing what she could do, she was subsequently picked up by Elton's management company Rocket Music. Anne-Marie released a demo in 2013 entitled Summer Girl, which drew some attention to the singer, most notably garnering a fan in Ed Sheeran. Despite the encouraging start to her solo career, things were put on hold to give her more time to develop as an artist.
Having guested on tracks by dubstep supergroup Magnetic Man, London-based garage duo Gorgon City, and progressive house trio Raized by Wolves, Anne-Marie caught the attention of Brit and MOBO award winners Rudimental. She was featured alongside Dizzee Rascal and Will Heard on two tracks from their second album, 2015's We the Generation, and spent two years touring with the band, playing some of the world's biggest stages and best-known festivals.
The summer of that year also saw the release of Anne-Marie's debut EP on Rudimental's then-new record label, Major Tom's. The aptly titled Karate EP featured three tracks and a Chloe Martini remix, and producers Josh Record and Two Inch Punch worked with her on the record. Both the lead single "Karate," a slick fusion of electro-grime and R&B, and the follow-up "Gemini," garnered some very positive reviews and led Anne-Marie to gigging as a solo artist. In early 2016, the single "Do It Right" reached the U.K. charts, and several months later "Alarm" hit the Top 40 in several charts around the world.
In 2017, Anne-Marie scored a hit single when she featured on Clean Bandit's multi-platinum "Rockabye" with Sean Paul. The song topped the charts across Europe and in Australia, breaking into the Top Ten in Canada and the U.S. She followed with the solo singles "Ciao Adios" and "Heavy," which both charted in the U.K. and Ireland. Both tracks appeared on her debut full-length, Speak Your Mind, which saw release in April 2018. The record also featured the track "Friends," written and recorded with American dance producer Marshmello.
to be Young
Anne-Marie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I'm thinking 'bout is what to do tonight
Hundred miles an hour, no headlights
On an open road, home
We do what we can to dull the pain
Pinky promise things still stay the same
Even when I'm old, I'll know your name
Dye my hair a million colors
Dream I'll make a billion dollars
I swear that day can't come soon enough
In the meantime, we just
Fall in love, broken heart
Break the rules, drink too much
We're all a mess, but I guess
This is what it feels like to be young
Take a punch, get back up
Act a fool, give a fuck
We're all a mess, but I guess
This is what it feels like to be young
Small town and we're drinking all the liquor
Every night tryna feel something bigger
Hotboxing the car in the winter
We don't wanna go home
And I'll dye my hair a million colors
Dream I'll make a billion dollars
I swear that day can't come soon enough
In the meantime, we just
Fall in love, broken heart
Break the rules, drink too much
We're all a mess, but I guess
This is what it feels like to be young
Take a punch, get back up
Act a fool, give a fuck
We're all a mess, but I guess
This is what it feels like to be young
This can't be real life
Don't even feel high
Maybe if you'll take one with me
Then it'll feel right
Don't wanna know what
Standing still would even feel like
Wanted to fit in
When I didn't, now I know
And I just want freedom
Can't be lonely
Heartless, hopeful, stupid, phony
Say they love me, but won't show me
Is this is how it feels like to be young?
Fall in love (young), broken heart (young)
Break the rules (young), drink too much (young)
We're all a mess, but I guess
This is what it feels like to be young
Take a punch (take a punch), get back up (get back up)
Act a fool, give a fuck (give a fuck)
We're all a mess (all a mess), but I guess
This is what it feels like to be young
Yeah-oh-oh-oh
Yeah-oh-oh-oh
This is what it feels like to be young, be young
This is what it feels like to be young
The lyrics to Anne-Marie's song "To Be Young" are a celebration of youthful hedonism and carefree living. In the first verse, Anne expresses her disregard for traditional societal expectations to create a mapped-out plan for her future. Instead, she'd rather live in the moment and have fun while she is still young. She compares her zest for life to driving at "hundred miles an hour, no headlights... on an open road, home," which implies living recklessly with no clear direction, but always knowing where you belong.
The chorus emphasizes living life to the fullest in your youth, regardless of the consequences. While living a life this way might be messy or hurtful at times, it is also exhilarating and crucial for self-discovery. She mentions how she wants to dye her hair a million colors and become a billionaire, which represents a desire to chase her dreams and explore individuality. In the second verse, Anne-Marie sings about small-town living and trying to find meaning through reckless behavior like drinking and smoking in a car. The theme of dreaming big and living life to the fullest is maintained through the second chorus with the line "this is what it feels like to be young."
The song's overall message is an excellent representation of the Millennial and GenZ generations' values. They prioritize experiences over material items and believe in chasing their passions and embracing their quirks. The song's upbeat tempo and playful lyrics appeal to a younger audience that can relate to the feeling of wanting to break free and explore the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
They tell me I should make a plan for life
People advise me to plan for my future
All I'm thinking 'bout is what to do tonight
Rather than planning my future, I'm focused on my present activities
Hundred miles an hour, no headlights
I'm living my life recklessly and without caution
On an open road, home
I feel most comfortable and free when I'm on the move
We do what we can to dull the pain
We engage in activities to alleviate our emotional distress
Pinky promise things still stay the same
Despite the changes and uncertainties of life, we assure each other of our unchanging bond
Even when I'm old, I'll know your name
Our connection will remain strong even in our old age
Anywhere we go, oh
No matter where life takes us, our bond will endure
Dye my hair a million colors
I want to express my individuality through my appearance
Dream I'll make a billion dollars
I have lofty career aspirations and financial goals
I swear that day can't come soon enough
I'm eager for success and wealth, and I can't wait for it to happen
In the meantime, we just
Until then, we'll continue to live our lives and pursue our dreams
Fall in love, broken heart
We experience the highs and lows of romantic relationships
Break the rules, drink too much
We engage in behaviors deemed unconventional or unhealthy by society
We're all a mess, but I guess
Despite our flaws and imperfections, this is just a part of being young
Take a punch, get back up
We experience hardships and setbacks, but we're resilient enough to persevere
Act a fool, give a fuck
We're unafraid to take risks and behave foolishly, regardless of others' judgments
Small town and we're drinking all the liquor
We live in a small and often boring town, so we resort to heavy drinking for entertainment
Every night tryna feel something bigger
We seek out new experiences and sensations in order to escape the monotony of our lives
Hotboxing the car in the winter
We engage in the dangerous and illegal activity of smoking marijuana in a car
This can't be real life
The life we're living seems surreal or dream-like to us
Don't even feel high
We're so desensitized to drugs that we can't even feel their effects anymore
Maybe if you'll take one with me
Perhaps if we do drugs together, it will enhance our experience
Then it'll feel right
We hope that by doing drugs together, we'll feel a sense of belonging and purpose
Don't wanna know what
I'm uncomfortable with the idea of
Standing still would even feel like
Living a stable and uneventful life seems undesirable to me
Wanted to fit in
I desired to belong and be accepted by others
When I didn't, now I know
I've learned that it's okay not to conform to societal norms and expectations
And I just want freedom
I value my independence and autonomy above all else
Can't be lonely
I fear experiencing loneliness or isolation
Heartless, hopeful, stupid, phony
I'm vulnerable to feeling heartbroken, but I still hold onto hope despite my foolishness and tendency to be inauthentic
Say they love me, but won't show me
Others may express love or affection towards me, but their actions don't reflect it
Is this is how it feels like to be young?
I wonder if all of these uncertain and tumultuous experiences are a common part of youth
Yeah-oh-oh-oh
Instrumental
This is what it feels like to be young, be young
The repeated chorus reinforces the idea that all of these unpredictable and intense experiences are a defining aspect of youth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Amala Ratna Dlamini, Anne-Marie Rose Nicholson, Billy Walsh, Brittany Marie Amaradio, Louis Russell Bell, Teo Halm
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hollyblandford5250
Why is nobody talking about how BEAUTIFUL they both look in this like what- 😭💞
@mothMOV
Holly Blandford ikr
@ashleyjones9928
This. I like this a lot. Also now that I see you have beautiful in caps it has me thinking,is it just me or does the tune vaguely remind anyone else of beautiful by Christina Aguilera but more uptempo?
@bi.fruitsalad
Too true
@bella.868
Iknowwww😭😍
@alvinaluv
Right 💖😫
@abookwormsworld1365
They proved that we can shoot even in our home this creatively
@deepanshu564
Ella Eyre : hold my DREAMS
@johnandreicarijutan5371
only if u have a beautiful house
@oliverjames2655
Depend the type of house you have lol