Rhian - born Rhiannon Afua Benson in Ghana, West Africa - grew up surrounded by music and musicians. Her mother, from Wales in Britain - is a singer, and her father, a native of Ghana , is a guitarist. Rhian's grandfather led an acclaimed big band in the '50s and '60s, her eldest uncle was a popular highlife singer - and her youngest uncle a record producer. Home for Rhian was a place of music; her childhood was immersed in the sounds of Miles Davis, Earth Wind & Fire, Ella Fitzgerald and Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti among many others.
Rhian was not meant to be a spectator, though, and her desire to become a musician coincided with a family move to India . Within weeks of arriving in New Delhi , Rhian's passion was fully ignited: she began playing the piano, and wrote her first song when she was 9. By the time she and her family returned to Ghana , Rhian was fully engrossed in the music - both listening and creating.
While music was essential to Rhian, so was education; another paradox appears when one considers that Rhian left her artistic pursuits behind to attend the prestigious London School of Economics and then Harvard, ostensibly to pursue a career in the distinctly right-brained field of banking. But while studying in Boston , life intervened: Rhian's mother had been diagnosed with a serious illness.
Rhian immediately went back to London, where her mother was undergoing intense treatment. With her family spread throughout the world, Rhian, nurturing by nature and always close to her mother, became responsible for her mother's day-to-day care. It was during that time that Rhian rediscovered music: it became a source of strength for her, helping her to get through a tremendously difficult time. As her mother began to heal physically, Rhian began to heal emotionally-- through music.
"It was a major turning point for me," Rhian says. "I couldn't ignore my deep-rooted desire to be creative and artistically expressive any longer. I came to realize that taking a risk, following your dreams and listening to your strongest instincts is the only way to become one with your spirit. One of my favorite quotes is by Paulo Coelho in his wonderful book The Alchemist. I'll never forget what he said: 'To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligationwhen you want something, all of the universe conspires in helping you achieve it."
Although her mother's health had improved, Rhian stayed in London - once she recognized the significance of music in her life, she abandoned her plans to return to Harvard -- and began performing regularly at small venues, where she was discovered and signed.
Rhian began working on her debut album (Gold Coast) in 2001 - in addition to singing and playing various instruments, she is writing and composing all the songs, collaborating with a close-knit group of other talented musicians and producers. "I love the entire process, from writing to recording," says Rhian. "There are so many things in life that I care deeply about, and it's very fulfilling to be able to capture and share them in song. The freedom of creating music is addictive - it reminds me of growing up in West Africa , with the sea, the skies, and wide open spaces everywhere."
"These same feelings are why I feel at home in California ," Rhian continues. "I've always been drawn to America and the sense of possibility that seems to lie around life's next corner."
With Rhian, that sense of possibility is now more promise than possibility. But it's not about California , it's not about paradox, and it's not about enigma - it's entirely about Rhian.
Invincible
Rhian Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't break me down
It is impossible
I'm the strongest girl in town
I have the fortitude of at least 1000 men
My friend I'm warning you
But you just will not relent
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know I'm invincible?
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know I'm invincible?
I am incredible
I have no Achilles heel
Baby, it's laughable
My spirit you could steal
I'm like the falling tide, you can't rescue me
I will roll back at night
So please just leave me be
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know I'm invincible?
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know I'm invincible?
But late at night
You find my soft spot
I say my lies
And feel my soul rot
Why do you think
That you are just what
I desire?
I feel my heart drop
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know I'm invincible?
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know?
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know, don't you know?
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know I'm invincible?
You can't hurt me, I'm not going to fade, you can't hurt me...
In the song "Invincible" by Rhian Benson, the lyrics speak to the strength and resilience of the singer. It begins with the bold proclamation, "I am invincible, you can't break me down, it is impossible, I'm the strongest girl in town". Benson sings about having "the fortitude of at least 1000 men" and warns her friend that they will not be able to bring her down. However, as the song progresses, Benson shows vulnerability, admitting that her friend has found her "soft spot" and that she feels her "soul rot". Despite this, Benson remains steadfast in her strength and declares that her friend "can't hurt me, I'm not going to fade".
This song can be interpreted as a message of self-empowerment and resilience. Benson is confident in her own strength and will not allow anyone to bring her down. However, she is also realistic about her own vulnerabilities and acknowledges that even the strongest individuals can have moments of weakness. The theme of the song can also be applied to relationships, where one person is trying to love the other despite their seemingly invincible exterior.
Line by Line Meaning
I am invincible
I am unbreakable and unstoppable
You can't break me down
You cannot weaken or defeat me
It is impossible
It is not possible for anyone to break me
I'm the strongest girl in town
I am the strongest female in this town
I have the fortitude of at least 1000 men
I have the strength and endurance of many strong men combined
My friend I'm warning you
I am cautioning you, my friend
But you just will not relent
But you refuse to give up or back down
What do you think you're doing to me
Loving me into your enemy?
Why are you turning your love into something that hurts me or makes me your adversary?
What do you think you're trying to pull
Don't you know I'm invincible?
What are you attempting to do? Don't you realize that you cannot harm me?
I am incredible
I am amazing
I have no Achilles heel
I have no weakness that can be exploited
Baby, it's laughable
Darling, it's amusing
My spirit you could steal
You could try to break my spirit, but you will fail
I'm like the falling tide, you can't rescue me
I am like the ebb and flow of the ocean, and you cannot save me from myself
I will roll back at night
So please just leave me be
I may fall back and retreat at times, so please do not interfere
But late at night
You find my soft spot
I say my lies
And feel my soul rot
But during the late hours of the night, you manage to find my vulnerability, and I tell lies that make me feel empty
Why do you think
That you are just what
I desire?
Why do you believe that you are the one I want?
I feel my heart drop
I feel my heart sink with disappointment or grief
You can't hurt me, I'm not going to fade, you can't hurt me...
You cannot injure me, I will not disappear, you cannot hurt me...
Contributed by Samuel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Derrick Davis
She was one of the last acts on Soul Train around 2004. Gorgeous and gracious too, I used to pump this anyway. And you know what, good music is still appreciated.
Blue🔵
Love her music! I've followed her since seeing Say How I Feel on BET Midnight Love.
TheOneAndOnly543
I just love this song...It has an Egyptian feel to it...
tOpIk627
Beautiful.
yoshluv7
I used to play the hell out of this song!!!