Her first album was Santa Claus Lane (2002), a collection of Christmas songs which included duets with Lil Romeo, Christina Milian, and her sister Haylie Duff. Accompanied by the Disney Channel-only single “Tell Me a Story”, it peaked well outside the top 100 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart, but eventually received a gold certification. The album’s title track was included on the soundtrack to The Santa Clause 2, and another song, “What Christmas Should Be” was used in Cheaper by the Dozen. Duff sang several tracks for the soundtrack to The Lizzie McGuire Movie, including “Why Not”, which became a modest top twenty hit in Australia.
Duff’s second studio album, Metamorphosis (2003), included contributions by songwriter-producers such as The Matrix and reached number one on the U.S. and Canadian charts. It became one of the biggest selling albums of the year in the U.S. and has since gone to sell over 3.7 million copies. The lead single, “So Yesterday”, was a top ten hit in several countries and its music video received heavy airplay on MTV, while “Come Clean” became Duff’s first top forty U.S. hit and reached the top twenty elsewhere. The third single, “Little Voice”, was not released in the U.S. and was a minor hit in Canada and Australia. In late 2003 Duff embarked on her first concert tour, the Metamorphosis Club Tour and later the Most Wanted tour. All shows on her tour were sold out, a feat neither Britney Spears nor Christina Aguilera achieved that year. She won the award for Best New Artist at the 2004 World Music Awards and Best Female Artist at the Kids Choice Awards of 2004.
Duff’s third album, Most Wanted (2005), comprised her favorite tracks from her previous two albums, remixes, and new songs inspired by pop-rock musicians such as The Killers and Muse. Duff stated that it was not a greatest hits album, but that her label told her it was time to release a new album. She had more creative control over Most Wanted compared to her previous releases, co-writing and co-producing all of the new material with Joel Madden and his brother Benji, both of the band Good Charlotte. The lead single, “Wake Up”, became Duff’s highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and her highest peaking single in the U.S., and its video received heavy rotation on MTV. The video for the second single, “Beat of My Heart”, was also popular, but the single itself did not chart in the U.S. The album itself debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and became her third number-one debut in Canada. By March 2006, it had sold 1.3 million copies in the U.S. An Italy-only compilation, 4Ever, was released in 2006.
Duff’s fourth album, Dignity, was released on April 4 2007. It reached the top five in the U.S. and Canada, the top twenty in Australia and the top forty in the UK. Duff co-wrote all but two of the material for the album with Kara DioGuardi, and she also worked with producer-songwriter Rhett Lawrence in Toronto, Canada. It shows her more mature side. The Dignity tour began in mid-2007.
Although Hollywood Records was planning to release up to five singles from Dignity, only three were actually released: “Play with Fire”, presiding the album release, became a minor club hit but failed to chart in the U.S.; the second single, “With Love”, was more successful, becoming Duff’s biggest U.S. Hot 100 hit and topping the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The music video for “With Love” was used as a commercial for Duff’s first fragrance, With Love… Hilary Duff, which was launched in September 2006; “Wrapped With Love” a new fragrance was released latter in 2008. The music video for “Stranger” was released on July 6. Critics applauded Duff for the music and video, pointing: “this is how a modern pop anthem should sound”. The video has Duff dressing up as a snake charmer in a sexy Balinese-inspired costume. The video received heavy airplay on MTV and Muchmusic and was very active in charts.
On September, 2008, It was officially announced that Hilary would be leaving her record label Hollywood Records after six years of service due to lack of promotion Dignity had been having since its release and lack of creative freedom since the very first album.
In November 2008, Duff’s second greatest hits album (and last album with Hollywood Records), Best of Hilary Duff, was released with two new songs: “Holiday,” and the album’s first single “Reach Out,” which samples Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.” The song became Duff’s third #1 dance hit despite the lack of airplay.
Between labels, Duff took a hiatus for recording new music. During this time, she began appearing in independent films such as War, Inc. (2008), According to Greta (2009), and Bloodworth (2010). She later released the novel Elixir (2010), which became a New York Times best seller. The book was followed by the sequels Devoted (2011) and True (2013).
She returned to music in 2014, signing with RCA Records. Through RCA, she released two new singles, "Chasing the Sun" and "All About You", originally planned to be the lead single from her new album. Citing a change in the musical direction of the album, she released another new single "Sparks" on April 6, 2015, which debuted and peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her fourth top ten hit on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Her fifth studio album Breathe In. Breathe Out. was released on June 12, 2015. It debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200, becoming her fifth top five album. Duff also has worked with numerous charities and organizations throughout her career, and currently stars in the comedy-drama series Younger as Kelsey Peters. She has sold an estimated 15 million records since her debut in 2002.
Why Not
Hilary Duff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You act like you don't know me
When you see me on the street
Making like I turn you off
When I know you think I'm sweet
It don't have to be like that
I guess you're insecure
I might answer, sure
So I walk a little slower
And I try to catch your eye
Sometimes it's so hard to see
The good things passing by
There may never be a sign
No flashing neon light
Telling you to make your move
Or when the time is right (so)
Why not (why not)
Take a crazy chance?
Why not (why not)
Do a crazy dance?
If you lose the moment
You might lose a lot
So, why not?
Why not?
Why not take a crazy chance?
Why not take a crazy chance?
You always dress in yellow
When you wanna dress in gold
Instead of listening to your heart
You do just what you're told
You keep waiting where you are
But what you'll never know
Let's just get into your car
And go, baby, go (so)
Why not (why not)
Take a crazy chance?
Why not (why not)
Do a crazy dance?
If you lose the moment
You might lose a lot
So, why not?
Why not?
Oh, I could be the one for you
Oh yeah, maybe yes, maybe no
Oh, it could be the thing to do
What I'm saying is, you gotta let me know, oh
You'll never get to heaven
Or even to L.A.
If you don't believe there's a way
Why not (why not)
Take a star from the sky?
Why not (why not)
Spread your wings and fly (oh)
It might take a little
And it might take a lot
But, why not?
Why not
Why not (take a crazy chance)
Take a crazy chance?
Why not (do a crazy dance)
Do a crazy dance?
If you lose the moment
You might lose a lot
So, why not?
Why not?
The lyrics to Hilary Duff's song "Why Not" are all about taking risks and seizing the moment. The song starts off with Duff questioning why someone she knows acts like they don't know her or find her unattractive when she believes they secretly think she's sweet. Duff believes that the person may be insecure and is holding back from showing their true feelings. She then urges the person to take a chance and not wait for a sign to make a move or take a risk. Duff believes that if the person takes the risk, they might get an opportunity to find happiness or success that they wouldn't have otherwise.
The chorus repeats twice, urging the listener to take a crazy chance and do a crazy dance. Duff believes that if the person loses the moment, they could lose a lot. The lyrics highlight the importance of being open to new experiences and taking risks, even if it may feel uncomfortable or difficult to do so.
Throughout the song, Duff emphasizes the importance of following your heart and not always doing what you're told or waiting around for things to happen. She encourages the listener to take control of their life and not wait for a sign to take a chance or try something different. Ultimately, the message of the song is that life is short and there's no reason not to take a chance and see where it takes you.
Line by Line Meaning
You act like you don't know me
You pretend not to know me when you see me on the street
When you see me on the street
When you see me in public
Making like I turn you off
Acting like I repel you
When I know you think I'm sweet
When I know you find me appealing
It don't have to be like that
It doesn't need to be that way
I guess you're insecure
I assume that you lack self-confidence
If you say what's on your mind
If only you spoke your thoughts
I might answer, sure
I'd probably answer positively
So I walk a little slower
I slow my pace down a bit
And I try to catch your eye
I make an effort to get your attention
Sometimes it's so hard to see
At times, it is difficult to notice
The good things passing by
Positive opportunities that pass by
There may never be a sign
There is no guarantee of a clear indicator
No flashing neon light
There won't be a bright neon sign
Telling you to make your move
Urging you to take a chance
Or when the time is right
Nor is there a specific timetable to follow
Why not (why not)
Why not consider?
Take a crazy chance?
To take an irrational risk?
Do a crazy dance?
To act recklessly?
If you lose the moment
If you miss the opportunity
You might lose a lot
You might lose a lot of things
So, why not?
So, why not try?
You always dress in yellow
You always wear yellow clothes
When you wanna dress in gold
When you really want gold garments
Instead of listening to your heart
Rather than listening to your heart's desire
You do just what you're told
You follow instructions
You keep waiting where you are
You stay where you are
But what you'll never know
What you'll never discover
Let's just get into your car
Let's just get into your vehicle
And go, baby, go (so)
And take off
Oh, I could be the one for you
I could be the right match for you
Oh yeah, maybe yes, maybe no
Perhaps yes, perhaps no
Oh, it could be the thing to do
It could be the best plan
What I'm saying is, you gotta let me know, oh
What I'm trying to say is that you must inform me
You'll never get to heaven
You will never attain success
Or even to L.A.
Or even reach Los Angeles
If you don't believe there's a way
If you don't believe things are possible
Take a star from the sky?
Impossible task of taking a star from the sky?
Spread your wings and fly (oh)
Expand your horizons
It might take a little
Possibly a little effort only
And it might take a lot
Could require significant effort
But, why not?
But why not try anyway?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Matthew Gerrard, Charlie Midnight
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind