From 2016 to 2018, she released three EPs on the label, including Time, Change, and Ready. Her self-titled debut studio album was released in October 2018 and featured the singles "Boo'd Up" and "Trip", which charted in the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 5 and 11, respectively. In 2019, "Boo'd Up" was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best R&B Song, winning for the latter, as well as Mai herself being nominated for British Breakthrough Act at the 2019 Brit Awards. At the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, she won three awards, including the award for Top R&B Artist.
Whatchamacallit
Ella Mai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know that I got a man, ooh yeah (oh yeah, shit, ooh, it's cool)
We could wait until we're single (damn)
But it won't be as fun then (Ooh, shit, no, ooh, baby)
It's something 'bout being wrong that just feels so right
Think about it in the morning 'cause we be all night
And baby, we could keep going 'cause you already knowin'
And the lights ain't on right now
I can't even see what's going on right now
'Cause this Hennessy so strong right now
I don't even care if I'm wrong right now, right now, right now
It ain't cheating, it's a whatchamacallit (haha, ooh, ow!)
This could be our little secret, our whatchamacallit (ow! Ooh)
Girl, I know you got a man (oh, woah)
He can't make you lose it like I can
I can tell that you've been working all night, all night
'Cause baby, what he don't know can't hurt him (white lies, white lies, yeah)
It's something 'bout being wrong that just feels so right (Ooh, ooh)
Think about it in the morning 'cause be all night (Woo!)
And baby, we could keep going 'cause you already knowin'
That you'd never stop the show until you see the lights (Woo!)
And the lights ain't on right now
I can't even see what's going on right now
'Cause this Henessy so strong right now
I don't even care if I'm wrong right now, right now, right now (Woo!)
It ain't cheating, girl, it's a whatchamacallit (ooh, ow!)
This could be our little secret, it's a whatchamacallit (ow! Baby, ooh)
Hey
Girl, I need it
Boy, I need it
To get you all alone in my bed, my bed (baby, don't tempt me)
To see if I can love you, baby
Can't love me, can't be friends, yeah
I'm thinking we can do this forever, oh yeah
Unless some bullshit creep in
You're my nigga, say fuck him
It ain't cheating, no, girl, it's a whatchamacallit (ooh, ow!)
This could be our little secret, secret, ooh, it's a whatchamacallit
It's a what, it's a, it's a what
This could be our little secret
It's a what, it's a, it's a what
Girl, it's a whatchamacallit
It's a what, it's a, it's a what
This could be our little secret
A whatchamacallit
Ella Mai's song "Whatchamacallit" is about two people who are in relationships but are drawn to each other. Both parties know that what they are doing is wrong and may potentially hurt their significant others. However, they cannot resist the attraction they have for each other. The singer of the song suggests that they can delay acting upon their feelings until they become single, but it wouldn't be as fun if they do so. There's something tantalizing about the forbidden and knowing that they shouldn't be doing this just makes it all the more exciting.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the theme of secrecy and how they can keep their affair hidden. The two parties see what they are doing as a "whatchamacallit," something that cannot be defined, and their little secret. They seem to justify their actions by labeling it, so it doesn't seem too straightforward. The song also mentions Hennessy, which could imply that they are drinking to ease their guilt and surrender themselves to the moment.
Overall, "Whatchamacallit" is a song that portrays the complexity of human emotions and the struggle of temptation. It demonstrates how some people can prioritize personal desires over the ramifications of their behavior.
Fun facts about the song:
Line by Line Meaning
I know you got a girlfriend, baby
I am aware that you are in a relationship
You know that I got a man, ooh yeah (oh yeah, shit, ooh, it's cool)
You are aware that I am also in a relationship, and we are both cool with it
We could wait until we're single (damn)
We could wait until we are both single, but the thought of waiting is disappointing to me
But it won't be as fun then (Ooh, shit, no, ooh, baby)
The idea of waiting until we are both single does not sound exciting to me
It's something 'bout being wrong that just feels so right
Doing something inappropriate or considered 'wrong' has a certain appeal to it
Think about it in the morning 'cause we be all night
We don't need to worry about the consequences of our actions because we will deal with them later
And baby, we could keep going 'cause you already knowin'
We can continue our behavior because you are already accepting of it
That you'd never stop the show until you see the lights (Woo!)
You are willing to continue until someone intervenes or there are consequences
It ain't cheating, it's a whatchamacallit (haha, ooh, ow!)
What we are doing may not be considered cheating, but it falls under a gray area
This could be our little secret, our whatchamacallit (ow! Ooh)
We can keep what we are doing a secret between us, our little 'what-cha-ma-call-it'
Girl, I know you got a man (oh, woah)
I am aware that you are in a relationship
He can't make you lose it like I can
I have the ability to make you feel or experience things that your partner can't
I can tell that you've been working all night, all night
I can tell that you have been putting in effort or attention towards me all night
'Cause baby, what he don't know can't hurt him (white lies, white lies, yeah)
What he doesn't know won't hurt him, and we can keep it that way by lying or keeping secrets
Girl, I need it
I have a strong desire for what we are doing
Boy, I need it
You also have a strong desire for what we are doing
To get you all alone in my bed, my bed (baby, don't tempt me)
I want to have you alone in my bed, but I am trying to resist the temptation
To see if I can love you, baby
I want to see if I have feelings for you beyond physical attraction
Can't love me, can't be friends, yeah
We cannot be in love or just remain friends, what we are doing falls in between
I'm thinking we can do this forever, oh yeah
I am considering the possibility of continuing what we are doing indefinitely
Unless some bullshit creep in
The only way this will end is if something negative or unexpected happens
You're my nigga, say fuck him
You are loyal to me, and we don't need to worry about your current partner
This could be our little secret, it's a whatchamacallit
We can keep what we are doing a secret between us, our little 'what-cha-ma-call-it'
It's a what, it's a, it's a what
We don't have a clear name for what we are doing
Girl, it's a whatchamacallit
It's a gray area, something we can't categorize as black or white
This could be our little secret
We can keep what we are doing a secret between us
A whatchamacallit
It's something that we can't quite put a name to
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Brown, Daniel Jean, Dijon McFarlane, Ella Mai Howell, Jordan Jermaine Holt, Nathalie Jean, Paul Jean, Samuel Jean, Timothy Jean, Jordan Holt, Sam Cook
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lt1215
“It ain’t STEALING, its a watchamacallit” - Jacquees
@desireerhodes914
Too funny
@NaijaBookBae
🤣😂😂
@lynettadavis7648
😂😂
@cheronamckinney5687
😂🤣💀💀
@poupou2874
😂😂 you wrong for that 😂😂😂
@meggydeloatch
Ella went from being BOO’D Up to apologizing for Tripping and now she Cheating 😂😭💀
@SarahOlvera
Meggy Deloatch 😂😂🤔
@MyTrey34
Damn all three fazes of a toxic relationship 😂😭
@gloverdamien92
😂😂💀