In 2012, King released her debut EP "The Elle King EP" on RCA; one track from that EP, "Playing for Keeps", is the theme song for VH1's Mob Wives Chicago series.
She released her debut album "Love Stuff" in 2015. It produced the US top ten single "Ex's & Oh's", which earned her two Grammy Award nominations. King has also toured with acts such as Of Monsters and Men, Train, James Bay, The Chicks, Heart, Joan Jett, Michael Kiwanuka, and Miranda Lambert. She is the daughter of actor and comedian Rob Schneider and former model London King. King uses her mother's surname to distinguish her career and identity from her father's. "People know who my dad is," she told ABC News, "but I think that my voice and my music speaks for itself: that I am my own person."
King is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, two each in the rock and country categories, and received honors from the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.
King was born on July 3, 1989 in Los Angeles, California, to then-Saturday Night Live cast member Rob Schneider and London King, a former model. Her parents divorced and her mother remarried. She grew up living in Ohio, between Wellston and Columbus. When she was nine, her stepfather, Justin Tesa, gave her a record by all-female hard-rock band the Donnas; she views this as the pivotal moment when she decided she wanted to be a musician. Around this time, she also started listening to the Runaways and Blondie, and she made her acting debut alongside her father in the movie Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.
At the age of 13, King started playing guitar, immersing herself in the music of Otis Redding, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, AC/DC (she has the phrase "dirty deeds" tattooed on her biceps), and Earl Scruggs. Her interest in the country and bluegrass of Hank Williams and Earl Scruggs inspired her to learn the banjo. During her teenage years, she attended Buck's Rock camp in Connecticut, where she starred successfully in a number of musicals.
King spent her teenage years in New York City, but she has also lived in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Upon graduating from Elisabeth Irwin High School/Little Red School House, she moved to Philadelphia to enroll at University of the Arts, studying painting and film. During these college years, she had an artistic epiphany seeing a live show where the band onstage used a banjo purely for accompaniment purposes, eschewing the bluegrass and country musical vocabulary traditionally associated with the instrument. King then began to use the banjo as a compositional tool. After college, she briefly lived in Copenhagen and Los Angeles, before moving back to New York where she currently resides in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
In September 2014, King released "Ex's & Oh's", which serves as the lead single off her debut album. She released the album, Love Stuff on February 17, 2015. She performed "Ex's & Oh's" the next day on The Today Show to promote it. The song reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming King's first top ten single in the United States. "Ex's & Oh's" received two nominations at the 58th Grammy Awards: Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. In July 2015, King supported Modest Mouse on their UK tour. "Under the Influence" and "America's Sweetheart" were later released as singles for rock radio and mainstream radio, respectively. In 2016, her single "Good Girls" featured on the Ghostbusters soundtrack and played over the movie's credits. In 2016, she teamed up with country singer Dierks Bentley for the song "Different for Girls". They performed this song at the 50th CMA Awards on November 2, 2016, when she and Bentley won the award for Musical Event of the Year.
On March 6, 2017, she premiered a new single "Wild Love" featuring a sparse electronic production, marking a slight departure from her previous style in music.
King released her second studio album "Shake the Spiri", on October 19, 2018, which she made with her band the Brethren. On August 3, 2019, she was featured singing on a version of Lindsey Stirling's "The Upside". Throughout 2019, King served as a guest co-host on the MTV series Catfish: The TV Show opposite lead host Nev Schulman.
In 2021, it was revealed she was pregnant with her first child with tattoo artist Dan Tooker. On September 1, 2021, she welcomed a baby boy. King has several tattoos, and worked at a tattoo company called East Side Ink.
It Girl
Elle King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So, I always put out on the first date
My reputation's great
Just ask any of my first dates
In middle school, I wasn't very cool
But slutty girls taught me the golden rule
It's all in the wrist
You could be the it, girl
If you use a little spit, girl
Just take this advice from me
You might be as popular as can be
You'll be the it girl
You'll be the shit girl
You'll be the hit, call girl
You'll be the it, girl
You'll be the shit, girl
Show us your tits
To be a tough girl
You gotta wrap it up girl
If it ain't enough girl
You can always nip it in the bud, girl
Momma's acting so innocent
Don't doubt it
When she was your age she was all about it
Boys are dicks
It hurts a little but it's quick
Just the tip girl (It's never just the tip, girl)
So, next time they talk some shit
All you gotta do is blow them a little kiss
Fuck it, blow him a little kiss
That skipped
Or you can show them your tits
I'm the shit, girl
You could be the shit, girl
The lyrics to Elle King's song "It Girl" are a bold and unapologetic exploration of female sexuality and empowerment. The singer begins by expressing her disdain for waiting, implying that she is not interested in playing games when it comes to relationships. She proudly states that she always puts out on the first date, which she believes has contributed to her great reputation among her past partners. The line "My reputation's great, just ask any of my first dates" suggests that she takes ownership of her sexual experiences and sees them as a source of pride.
The second verse delves into the singer's past experiences in middle school, where she admits she wasn't considered cool. However, she mentions that "slutty girls taught me the golden rule," indicating that she has learned from others who have embraced their sexuality without shame or judgment. The chorus emphasizes the notion that being the "it girl" is within everyone's reach, suggesting that confidence and a little playful experimentation can lead to popularity and empowerment.
The bridge of the song shifts the focus to the singer's mother, implying that she was also not unfamiliar with exploring her own sexuality during her youth. This serves to normalize and challenge any societal judgment regarding female sexual expression. The verse further highlights the singer's frank and humorous attitude towards sex, stating that boys can be selfish or disappointing partners, but ultimately encourages the audience to assert their power by either giving a flirty gesture or, cheekily, by revealing their breasts.
Overall, "It Girl" can be seen as a celebration of female sexual agency, encouraging women to embrace their desires and confidently navigate relationships on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I hate to wait
I dislike waiting for things
So, I always put out on the first date
Therefore, I engage in sexual activity quickly in a relationship
My reputation's great
People have a positive opinion about me
Just ask any of my first dates
Feel free to inquire with my previous partners to confirm
In middle school, I wasn't very cool
During my time in middle school, I lacked popularity or social status
But slutty girls taught me the golden rule
However, promiscuous girls offered valuable guidance to me
To be a hit
To become popular or well-liked
It's all in the wrist
The key to success lies in one's skillful actions
You could be the it, girl
You have the potential to become the center of attention
If you use a little spit, girl
By utilizing charm or seduction techniques
Just take this advice from me
I recommend following my suggestions
You might be as popular as can be
You could achieve a high level of popularity
You'll be the it girl
You will become the person everyone wants to be
You'll be the shit girl
You will be exceptional or outstanding
You'll be the hit, call girl
Others will consistently seek your company
You'll be the it, girl
You will possess the qualities of an influencer or trendsetter
You'll be the shit, girl
You will be highly impressive or admirable
Show us your tits
Expose your breasts to gain attention or approval
To be a tough girl
To be perceived as strong or resilient
You gotta wrap it up girl
You must use protection during sexual encounters
If it ain't enough girl
If the situation is unsatisfactory
You can always nip it in the bud, girl
You can address the issue and resolve it quickly
Momma's acting so innocent
My mother pretends to be innocent
Don't doubt it
Do not question or hesitate
When she was your age she was all about it
During her youth, she was highly interested in such matters
Boys are dicks
Males can be unkind or insensitive
It hurts a little but it's quick
Although it may cause some discomfort, the experience is brief
Just the tip girl (It's never just the tip, girl)
Engaging in sexual activity without full penetration (which is often a lie)
So, next time they talk some shit
Therefore, when someone speaks negatively about you
All you gotta do is blow them a little kiss
Simply disregard their comments and respond with a small gesture of indifference
Fuck it, blow him a little kiss
Ignore the negative remarks and convey your lack of concern to that individual
That skipped
That action was neglected or omitted
Or you can show them your tits
Alternatively, you can expose your breasts to provoke a reaction
I'm the shit, girl
I possess exceptional qualities and abilities
You could be the shit, girl
You have the potential to become exceptional or impressive
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cameron Neal, Dave Scalia, Jason Frederick, Jesse Gibbon, Joseph Mcclellan, Paul Dominick Devincenzo, Tanner Schneider
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind