Reyez started singing at a young age. Inspired by her father's talent for playing acoustic guitar, and singing Colombian boleros, Jessie was destined to be a creative herself. It came naturally to Jessie, as she began writing lyrics and adopting her father's talents for the guitar. But before Reyez became serious about music, she was a committed student, and studied hip-hop dance from junior high into high school. However, after a traumatic breakup with her first serious boyfriend when she was 17, Jessie poured her heartache back into music. Reyez was then introduced to Chicago-based hip-hop artist King Louie. Soon, Reyez was approached to share her songwriting and vocal talents with such notables as Calvin Harris, Babyface, Chance the Rapper. Reyez was focused on building an audience for her own work however, and in April 2017, she released a seven-song EP, 'Kiddo', which includes tracks "Figures" and "Gatekeeper". Reyez followed EP with standalone "Phone Calls" and "Cotton Candy".
In March 2018, Reyez released a reprised version of "Figures" which was performed live alongside fellow Toronto-based artist Daniel Caesar at the Juno Awards. She recieved Breakthrough Artist of the Year, dedicating the win to Canadian artists.
Reyez, currently touring with singer-songwriter Halsey in North America, commemorated her recent success with a new single: "Apple Juice".
Body Count
Jessie Reyez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't gotta tell me 'bout your body count
I don't gotta know your ex's name
'Cause if it just so happens that you turn around and ask me
I think you might feel some type of way
I dodge dick on the daily, yeah
I know it's funny, but it's true
Got the papers to prove
We don't need no one, yo', tryna take our freedom, yo'
Time won't let you stay young
So, we don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
Oh, yo', oh, yo', oh
We gon' love who we wanna love
Oh, yo', oh, yo', oh
We don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
You don't gotta tell me 'bout your body count (no, no, no)
Baby, I ain't gonna post you on my page (haha)
'Cause odds are that goodbyes are coming soon
So, maybe you should put a rubber on your heart
Before it breaks
'Cause all your friends want my baby (yup)
I know it's funny, but it's true (yeah)
But some nights I would rather make love to myself
Singing to my own damn tune
We don't need no one tryna take our freedom
Time won't let you stay young
So, we don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
Oh, yo', oh, yo', oh
We gon' love who we wanna love
Oh, yo', oh, yo', oh
We don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
I saw my ex and then I swerved, sue me
Miss me with that bullshit for the birds, sue me
Know they did me dirty while I still had the title
But I don't hold any anger, I just swerve
Hallelujah
Yeah, yeah
Hallelujah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I swear I said throw it on ya
In Jessie Reyez's song Body Count, the artist challenges societal norms and expectations surrounding relationships and sexual partners. She begins the song by saying that her partner doesn't have to disclose their "body count" (the number of people they have had sex with) or even reveal their ex-partners' names. She makes it clear that even if her partner does ask her about her own experiences, it shouldn't affect their relationship. Jessie then goes on to reveal that she chooses to abstain from sex for her own reasons, making a tongue-in-cheek joke about "dodging dick on the daily." She shows pride in her independence and self-sufficiency by mentioning how she bought a Mercedes all by herself, and emphasizes the importance of freedom and choice in love - that they don't need anyone else's approval. The song concludes with lyrics about not letting past relationships bring down one's spirit or moods, and finally ends with the artist stating that she wants to "throw it" (presumably meaning to have sex) and questioning the world's ideas about sexual expression and relationships.
Overall, Body Count is a song that encourages listeners to embrace their true selves and not feel ashamed or constrained by societal norms or other people's opinions. Jessie Reyez's confronts issues such as slut-shaming, sex positivity, and being true to one's self in her song.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't gotta tell me 'bout your body count
I don't need to know how many people you've been with.
I don't gotta know your ex's name
I don't need to know about your past relationships.
'Cause if it just so happens that you turn around and ask me
I think you might feel some type of way
If you do ask me about my body count, you might get jealous.
I dodge dick on the daily, yeah
I know it's funny, but it's true
I choose not to sleep around with men and it may sound funny, but it's true.
And I bought this Mercedes all by myself
Got the papers to prove
I worked hard to buy my own car, and I have proof of ownership.
We don't need no one, yo', tryna take our freedom, yo'
Time won't let you stay young
So, we don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
We don't want anyone trying to control us or dictate who we should love because time is fleeting, so we'll love whoever we wish to love.
You don't gotta tell me 'bout your body count (no, no, no)
Baby, I ain't gonna post you on my page (haha)
'Cause odds are that goodbyes are coming soon
So, maybe you should put a rubber on your heart
Before it breaks
I don't want to know how many people you've been with because chances are we might break up soon, so protect your heart.
'Cause all your friends want my baby (yup)
I know it's funny, but it's true (yeah)
But some nights I would rather make love to myself
Singing to my own damn tune
I know your friends are interested in me, but sometimes I'd rather take care of my own sexual desires and enjoy my own company.
We don't need no one tryna take our freedom
Time won't let you stay young
So, we don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
We don't want anyone trying to control us or dictate who we should love because time is fleeting, so we'll love whoever we wish to love.
I saw my ex and then I swerved, sue me
Miss me with that bullshit for the birds, sue me
Know they did me dirty while I still had the title
But I don't hold any anger, I just swerve
Hallelujah
Yeah, yeah
Hallelujah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I swear I said throw it on ya
I saw my ex and avoided them, you can criticize me for it. I don't want to hear any nonsense about my ex, as I've already moved on. Even though they did me wrong, I don't hold any grudges and just move on with my life. Amen. Also, I remember saying that I throw it back during sex.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jessica Reyes, Kenneth B Edmonds, Khristopher Van Riddick Tynes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@srividhyanarayanan128
LYRICS
[Intro: Jessie Reyez]
Yeah
You don't gotta tell me 'bout your body count
I don't gotta know your ex's name
'Cause if it just so happens that you turn around and ask me
I think you might feel some type of way
I dodge dick on the daily
[Verse 1: Normani]
Funny how you think I need you
But honestly, I don’t need anything
Like what you see, you can look
But I won’t let you touch up on anything
I’m independent, I’m self sufficient
And I don’t need a wedding ring
You think you made me?
You funny, you know that? You funny, boy
You were birthed by a woman, show some fucking respect
I like you much better when you shut up
And get down, down on your knees, babe
‘Cause I’m a 10 out of 10, got you saying amen
Catch me dodging that dick again and again and again
[Chorus: Jessie Reyez & Normani]
We don’t need no one (We don’t need ‘em, baby)
Tryna take our freedom (freedom)
Time won't let you stay young
So, we don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
[Post-Chorus: Jessie Reyez, Jessie & Normani]
Oh whoa, yeah, oh, oh whoa
We gon' love who we wanna love
Oh whoa, yeah, oh
We don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
[Verse 2: Kehlani]
Don’t you make me count 'em on my fingers
Gon’ be hot when I say I ran out of hands
I’m sure if tables turned and it was dollar signs per body
You would be one very rich and wealthy man
I dodge dick for some pussy, something that we can agree on
Don’t tell me it’s a turn on for you, or maybe it bothers you
That you’re the only one out the equation
[Chorus: Jessie Reyez & Kehlani]
We don’t need no one (no one)
Tryna take our freedom (no no, no no, no no)
Time won't let you stay young
So, we don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
[Post-Chorus: Jessie Reyez]
Oh whoa, yeah, oh, oh whoa
We gon' love who we wanna love
Oh whoa, yeah, oh
We don't care what they say
We gon' love who we wanna love
[Outro: Jessie Reyez, Jessie & Kehlani & Normani]
I saw my ex and then I swerved, sue me
Miss me with that bullshit for the birds, sue me
I know they did me dirty while I still had the title
But I don't hold any anger, I just swerve
Hallelujah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Hallelujah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
That's what I said to them, yeah
@ZakiBaki
“You were birthed by a woman, show some respect”
I love that lyric so much it’s crazy
@iittsyawr4189
It's basic and dumb.
@iittsyawr4189
niya's affirmations she was on a new album I listened to, on two songs. Ironically enough, those two songs had the opposite tone of this.
@imyournightmare6115
Me too
@DomoniqueRaChelle
ZakiBaki yes😇
@harmonizer87261
Normanis voice is damn smooth! Like cocoa butter.
@lilitje3833
Lol
@nadegemondesir9746
Like baby oil
@marydada1760
😂
@njomtherealest1460
Like freaking honey 🍯