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."
Plain
BENEE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm better than you'll ever be
I like the picture of you and your missus
It's good to see you're out there
Getting riches
Funny how sometimes you try hitting me up
Clearly your new girl, she is just not enoughSeems you finally found a replacement
But when she's in your bed she fakes it
What a shame your girl is so plain
She's got nothing on me
Hope she stays the hell away
I don't want to see her
What a shame your girl is so plain
She's got nothing on me
Hope she stays the hell away
I don't want to see her
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
I was dumb to give you my love
We had some fun, but it was never enough
You got these traits, and they're just so unappealing
I should have left when I first had that feeling
I'm just surprised at how you've not been Me Too'd yet
But you're not ready for this conversation
That's why I'm out of the equation
What a shame your girl is so plain
She's got nothing on me
Hope she stays the hell away
I don't want to see her
What a shame your girl is so plain
She's got nothing on me
Hope she stays the hell away
I don't want to see her
Oh, you into them plain Janes now
Looking like your standards went way down
Sure enough, oh she ain't even all that
I guess you like your new bitches lame now
They be watching me like television
I hope these bitches don't think they competition
Niggas acting different
I'mma lose my interest
I got everything that lil hoe missing
She can't fuck with my dips and my curves
Hope she don't think that she fly, she a bird
You gon' learn
I'm the ex you ain't deserve
Still in my DM's boy, you got some nerves
What you smoking thinking I'm replaceable
Moved onto better I should be thanking you
Bursting bubbles every time I'm popping shit
I upgraded, and you did the opposite
(Flo Milli shit)
What a shame your girl is so plain
She's got nothing on me
Hope she stays the hell away
I don't want to see her
What a shame your girl is so plain
She's got nothing on me
Hope she stays the hell away
I don't want to see her
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
You went out with her
Oh, that makes me real sad
In Benee's song "Plain," she's calling out her ex-boyfriend for moving on to a new girl who she sees as "plain" and "nothing" compared to herself. Throughout the song, Benee displays her confidence and self-assurance, singing lines like "I'm better than you'll ever be" and "She's got nothing on me."
She also mentions how her ex's new girlfriend isn't satisfying him sexually, saying "But when she's in your bed she fakes it," implying that he's still thinking about Benee. Benee takes pride in her appearance and personality, stating that she has "dips and curves" and that her ex still messages her despite having a new girlfriend.
Not only is the song a personal declaration of self-worth and confidence, but it also calls out toxic masculinity and the objectification of women. Benee references the #MeToo movement, saying "I'm just surprised at how you've not been Me Too'd yet" and denouncing her ex's unappealing traits.
Line by Line Meaning
You and your friends, watching me
The singer is aware that the ex and their friends are paying attention to her.
And I'm better than you'll ever be
The singer believes she is superior to the ex.
I like the picture of you and your missus
The singer saw a picture of the ex and his new girlfriend.
It's good to see you're out there getting riches
The artist is aware that the ex is succeeding in his life.
Funny how sometimes you try hitting me up
The ex sometimes tries to contact the artist.
Clearly your new girl, she is just not enough
The new girlfriend is not as good as the singer.
Seems you finally found a replacement
The ex found a new girlfriend to replace the singer.
But when she's in your bed she fakes it
The ex's new girlfriend is not genuine.
What a shame your girl is so plain
The artist thinks the new girlfriend is unremarkable.
She's got nothing on me
The artist believes she is far superior to the new girlfriend.
Hope she stays the hell away, I don't want to see her
The singer wants the new girlfriend to stay away from her.
You went out with her, Oh, that makes me real sad
The fact that the ex is with a new girlfriend makes the artist sad.
I was dumb to give you my love
The singer regrets giving her love to the ex.
We had some fun, but it was never enough
The relationship between the singer and the ex was not satisfying.
You got these traits, and they're just so unappealing
The ex has unattractive qualities.
I should have left when I first had that feeling
The artist realizes she should have ended the relationship earlier.
Back when we met I was a terrible mess
The artist was not in a good place when she met the ex.
I'm just surprised at how you've not been Me Too'd yet
The singer expresses surprise that the ex has not been accused of any Me Too behavior.
But you're not ready for this conversation
The singer believes the ex is not mature enough for this discussion.
That's why I'm out of the equation
The artist has removed herself from the equation because of the ex's immaturity.
Oh, you into them plain Janes now
The artist realizes the ex prefers ordinary women now.
Looking like your standards went way down
The artist believes the ex's standards have lowered.
Sure enough, oh she ain't even all that
The singer does not think the new girlfriend is attractive.
I guess you like your new bitches lame now
The artist thinks the ex prefers unremarkable women now.
They be watching me like television
Other women are observing the singer's behavior like they are watching TV.
I hope these bitches don't think they competition
The singer does not see these other women as competition.
Niggas acting different, I'mma lose my interest
The singer is losing interest in the ex because he is acting differently towards her.
I got everything that lil hoe missing
The artist believes she has qualities that the new girlfriend lacks.
She can't fuck with my dips and my curves
The artist is confident that she has a more attractive body than the new girlfriend.
Hope she don't think that she fly, she a bird
The singer does not think the new girlfriend is as attractive as she thinks she is.
You gon' learn, I'm the ex you ain't deserve
The singer realizes that the ex did not deserve her.
Still in my DM's boy, you got some nerves
The ex is still trying to contact the artist through direct messages on social media.
What you smoking thinking I'm replaceable
The artist believes the ex should not be able to replace her.
Moved onto better I should be thanking you
The artist thinks she has moved on to someone better and should thank the ex for helping her realize this.
Bursting bubbles every time I'm popping shit
The singer is debunking the ex's belief that he can replace her.
I upgraded, and you did the opposite (Flo Milli shit)
The artist believes that she has moved onto someone better while the ex has not.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jason Lee P Schoushkoff, Jenna Andrews, Joshua Marc Fountain, Lily Allen, Stella Bennett, Tamia Monique Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smrittisridhar5439
didnt expect this. was a surprise. a pleasant one.
@juicywatermelo6747
Search “chill yall” on YouTube I bet it’s worth ur time
You won’t regret it!
@spiritoftherain5852
@@juicywatermelo6747 sounds stupid
@hectorlopez-si3hw
@@spiritoftherain5852 win
@emmanuel5876
💘💗♥️💗♥️🌷
@gators2728
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
@jakubnowak820
there's nothing better than starting a day with new benee song
@juicywatermelo6747
Search “chill yall” on YouTube I bet it’s worth ur time
You won’t regret it!
@shellwshoes
Facts
@totesemotes756
Juicy Watermelo guys dont search it up it’s not worth ur time