In 2004, Ciara released her debut studio album, Goodies. It was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and garnered two nominations at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2006, Ciara released her second studio album, The Evolution, which reached number one in the U.S. and was certified platinum.
Ciara's third studio album, Fantasy Ride (2009) was less successful than her first two albums. However, it produced the international top-ten single "Love Sex Magic (feat. Justin Timberlake)", which received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. The following year, Ciara released her fourth studio album, Basic Instinct, which included the R&B top-five single "Ride (feat. Ludacris)", but was met with low sales, continuing a downward trend in her commercial performance. Ciara signed a new record deal with Epic Records in 2011. In 2013, she released her fifth studio album, Ciara, which spawned the R&B top-ten single "Body Party". Her sixth album, Jackie (2015), included the singles "I Bet" and "Dance like We're Making Love". Her seventh album, Beauty Marks (2019), included the hit single "Level Up". Ciara's awards include three BET Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, three MOBO Awards and one Grammy Award. As of 2019, Ciara's worldwide sales total over 45 million.
In 2006, Ciara made her film debut in All You've Got, and later appeared in the films Mama, I Want to Sing! (2012) and That's My Boy (2012). In 2013, she had a recurring role in the US TV series, The Game. In 2016, Ciara signed a signed a modeling contract with IMG. That year, she became a Global Brand Ambassador for the cosmetics giant Revlon and she married quarterback Russell Wilson.
I'm Just Me
Ciara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen so many things
I've seen so many faces
Been called so many names
Kept getting into fights
Just for staying in my lane
Life's full of adversities
You will when you stay the same
Never thought a million years I would blow up
Be the one that carries the hood on the shoulder
And I'm the CEO, call me the owner
And I can do anything that I wanna
And I rather be flying high
And I'd be gone
You can call me Hollywood
And tip my heart and see my home
And you see
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
Now when I'm going home
Your screaming do your thing
Doing commercials now
I'm on the movie screen
And all my fans are going out to buy my magazine
Cover to cover, I'm being discovered
Never though in a million years I would blow up and
Be the one that carries the hood on the shoulder
And I'm the CEO call me the owner
And I can do anything that I wanna
They said that I would try so hard to change my way
You could call me Hollywood
and in my heart I'm not the same, hey hey I'm just sayin'
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
It doesn't matter what you do
Do you really always shine like blue?
Who you are, it's what's going to get you far in life
Riding high, it's alright, hold on
Because it's time for you to live your life
"You know what I believe
I believe life's what you make it
You determine your destiny
It's one thing I've lived by
And it's so real"
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
It doesn't matter what you do
Do you really always shine like blue?
Who you are, it's what's going to get you far in life
Riding high, it's alright, hold on
Because it's time for you to live your life
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
A little "G" to the "H"
"E" to the "T"
"T" to the "O"
Now tell me what you see
I'm just ghetto
I'm just me
I'm just me
In "I'm Just Me" Ciara shares her journey from a place of struggle to the top of the entertainment industry. She reflects on her origins and how people have called her many names, have put limitations on her, and have caused her to fight for her place in the music industry. However, despite the turbulence, she remains true to herself and her roots, proclaiming her identity as "just ghetto" and "just me". Furthermore, this song is a celebration of her success as she acknowledges that she never thought she would "blow up" in the way she has, becoming a CEO and owning her life.
The chorus of "I'm Just Me" is particularly important as it serves as a reminder that identity matters. No matter what people say or do, it is our identity that gets us far in life. The lyrics encourage people to embrace their authentic selves rather than being bogged down by the expectations of others. Through the lines "it doesn't matter what you do, do you really always shine like blue, who you are, it's what's going to get you far in life", the song points out that individuality is important and that people should embrace it, no matter how unconventional it may seem.
Overall, "I'm Just Me" is a personal story of strength, perseverance, and self-discovery. It makes the point that while one may face adversity and challenges, it is important to stay true to oneself and embrace one's own identity.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been so many places
I've traveled and experienced many things
I've seen so many things
I've witnessed a variety of events
I've seen so many faces
I've encountered many different people
Been called so many names
I've been called various derogatory names
Kept getting into fights
I've had physical altercations for staying true to myself
Just for staying in the lane
Due to my authenticity and not changing who I am
Life's full of adversities
Life is full of challenges and obstacles
You will if you stay the same
You will face adversity if you remain authentic to yourself
Never though a million years I would blow up
I never imagined becoming so successful
Be the one that carries the hood on the shoulder
Representing and uplifting my community
And I'm the CEO call me the owner
I am in charge of my own career and life
And I can do anything that I wanna
I have the power and freedom to pursue my dreams
And I rather be flying high
I prefer to aim for the top
And id be gone
Leaving behind those who doubted me
You can call me Hollywood
People may perceive me as a sell-out or fake
And tip my heart and see my home
If you truly get to know me, you will see my authenticity and roots
A little G to the H
I come from a Ghetto background and upbringing
E to the T
Representing my generation and era
T to the O
My individual identity
Now tell me what you see
What impressions do you have of me?
I'm just Ghetto
I stay true to my upbringing and roots
I'm just me
I am authentic to myself
Now when I'm going home
When I return to my roots
Your screaming do your thing
My community cheers me on to pursue my dreams
Doing commercials now
Expanding my career opportunities
I'm on the movie screen
Achieving my goals of becoming an actress
And all my fans are going out to buy my magazine
My success is celebrated and supported by my fans
Cover, to cover, I'm being discovered
People are recognizing and appreciating my talents and authenticity
They said that I would try so hard to change my way
People expected me to conform and be someone else
Cause in my heart I'm not the same
Despite my success, I stay true to myself
It doesn't matter what you do
What you do isn't as important as who you are as a person
Do you really always shine like blue
Are you always your authentic self?
Who you are, it's what's going to get you far in life
Your authenticity and identity is what will bring success
Riding high, it's alright, hold on
If you're successful, it's important to not forget where you came from
Because its time for you to live your life
It's time to pursue your dreams and stay true to yourself
You know what I believe
I have a strong belief
I believe life's what you make it
You have the power to create your own destiny
Let me tell you about destiny
Destiny is a real and important concept in my life
Its one thing I've lived by
I've always lived my life with destiny in mind
And it's so real
My belief in destiny is genuine and strong
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Pharrell Williams, Ciara Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind