Stella Rose Bennett was born and raised in the suburb of Grey Lynn in Auckland. She grew up in a "really musical" family with parents who would expose her to the catalogs of Radiohead, Björk, and Groove Armada. From the age of eight, BENEE began taking guitar lessons in primary school before starting saxophone lessons in high school. Eventually, BENEE dropped all music in order to prioritize water polo. She claims it "was [her] life" and that she at one point hoped to represent New Zealand competitively. BENEE later became interested in writing and recording music at the age of 17, after deciding that she did not want to pursue a career in water polo. BENEE attended an all-girls Catholic school, St. Mary's College, where music was compulsory for four years.
BENEE began her music career by posting covers to SoundCloud and began making her own music in her final year of high school. After dropping out of a communications degree at the Auckland University of Technology after two weeks, during what she called "a quarter-life crisis", she decided to enter the music business professionally. Her music caught the attention of Josh Fountain, a producer and member of the band Leisure, with whom she produced two singles: "Tough Guy", released in 2017, and "Soaked", released in 2018. she earned her first career entry on the Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018 with "Soaked" at #58.
In both 2019 and 2020, she consecutively won Single of the Year, Best Solo Artist and Best Pop Artist at the New Zealand Music Awards. BENEE initially gained local prominence with her singles "Glitter" and "Soaked", before her 2019 single "Supalonely" saw international popularity following its success on the video-sharing platform TikTok and YouTube. BENEE subsequently released her debut album, Hey U X, in November 2020.
Under the moniker of Bene, she made her solo debut with the 2017 single "Tough Guy", before later gaining prominence with her 2018 single "Soaked", which has been certified double-platinum in New Zealand. She released her debut EP, Fire on Marzz, with help from producer Josh Fountain in June 2019. Her second EP, Stella & Steve, was released in November 2019 and charted in the US, Canada, and France as a result of the international success of the EP's final single, "Supalonely". Since 2018, BENEE has earned five entries on the Triple J Hottest 100, three of which were in the 2019 list. She also released her third EP, Lychee, in March 2022 which charted at number 13 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.
In an interview for The New Zealand Herald, Benee revealed that she has dyslexia. She also described her childhood experiences with songwriting:
"throughout school I struggled with writing....I liked creative writing, that was what I loved, but I was always making mistakes, and I was confined to this way that I should write....Songwriting for me was this place where I don't have to be grammatically correct. Learning the craft with [Josh Fountain], when he was sharing all his knowledge – something clicked, and I was just like, I love this. It's a great emotional outlet for me; I just love splashing what I feel on to a track."
Kool
BENEE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You walk into the room, you show them
You're outside smokin', your skin is glowin'
You're like an angel, out of this world
I love your confidence you strike
I wanna dip into your life
You float around without a care
I love your steez and what you wear
And I stay
At home most of the time
You're so badass
Owning the night
So badass
Fuck, I wish I could be like you (I really do)
Fuck, I wish I could be cool like you (cool like you)
I say stupid stuff (yeah, yeah)
And embarrass myself ('cause I'm dumb)
I'm not very cool
It sucks, I suck, I want to be like you (you're cool)
I say stupid stuff (stupid stuff, stupid stuff)
And I embarrass myself
Cool, cool, cool
Cool, cool, cool like you
Cool, cool, cool
Cool, cool, cool
I'm mesmerized by what you say
But you don't know that I exist
People can't keep themselves away
Like they're under some kind of spell
And I stay
At home most of the time
You're so badass
Owning the night
So badass
Fuck, I wish I could be like you (I really do)
Fuck, I wish I could be cool like you (cool like you)
I say stupid stuff (yeah, yeah)
And embarrass myself ('cause I'm dumb)
I'm not very cool
It sucks, I suck, I want to be like you (you're cool)
I say stupid stuff (stupid stuff, stupid stuff)
And I embarrass myself
In “Kool,” Benee sings about her admiration for someone who exudes confidence, is well-spoken, and generally lives life without a care in the world. She describes this person as “cool” and admits to feeling envious of them. The singer is aware that this person is out of their league, but their confidence is so alluring that they can’t help but watch from afar. The song has a very relatable theme to it, as most people have probably felt this way at some point in their lives.
The lyrics are simple yet effective in conveying the singer’s feelings. They begin by describing the “cool” person’s demeanor and appearance and how they walk into a room and command attention. They then express their admiration for the person’s confidence and the way they move through life so effortlessly. The chorus is a repetition of the singer’s desire to be like this person who they perceive as having everything together. The bridge reinforces the idea that this person has a certain charm that draws people in, almost as if they have a magical spell that they cast on those around them.
Overall, “Kool” is a fun and upbeat song that captures the feeling of wanting to be like someone you admire. The catchy chorus and relatable lyrics make it a great addition to any playlist.
Line by Line Meaning
You're so well spoken, have control when
You have a way with words, command attention and respect when you speak
You walk into the room, you show them
Your presence is captivating and demands attention
You're outside smokin', your skin is glowin'
Even when engaged in a simple activity like smoking, you exude a radiance and beauty that is otherworldly
You're like an angel, out of this world
You possess a celestial quality that sets you apart from the rest of the world
I love your confidence you strike
Your self-assurance is admirable and alluring
I wanna dip into your life
I want to know more about you and be a part of your world
You float around without a care
You move through life effortlessly, unconcerned with the opinions of others
I love your steez and what you wear
Your personal style is impressive and inspiring
And I stay
At home most of the time
You're so badass
Owning the night
So badass
While I spend my time at home, you are out being a total badass and taking charge of the night
Fuck, I wish I could be like you (I really do)
Fuck, I wish I could be cool like you (cool like you)
I say stupid stuff (yeah, yeah)
And embarrass myself ('cause I'm dumb)
I'm not very cool
It sucks, I suck, I want to be like you (you're cool)
I say stupid stuff (stupid stuff, stupid stuff)
And I embarrass myself
I am envious of your coolness and wish I could be more like you, because I often say and do things that make me feel foolish and uncool
Cool, cool, cool
Cool, cool, cool like you
Cool, cool, cool
Cool, cool, cool
I am fixated on your level of coolness and wish I could achieve it myself
I'm mesmerized by what you say
But you don't know that I exist
People can't keep themselves away
Like they're under some kind of spell
I am captivated by everything you say, but you are unaware of my existence. Others are also drawn to you, as if they are entranced by your charisma
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jason Lee P. Schoushkoff, Joshua Marc Fountain, Stella Bennett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LLusion
this video is so good wow
@Nymphs_flesh
Hi
@roxannehorvath1948
@@Nymphs_flesh 😭
@okameii
Plus ion is definitely gonna make this chiller
@joaquinalfonsoledesma8464
You know it's a remix comin up if LLusion's in the comments
@rebeccas8804
Oh, you’re here too. Kool🤟🏻
@bbnomoney
shits fire!!!
@SirBandit
Hi
@arizonaleantea9507
get ratio'd
@VandashStumpedKnee
I dig the beats