Solange Piaget Knowles, known mononymously as Solange, is an American singe… Read Full Bio ↴Solange Piaget Knowles, known mononymously as Solange, is an American singer, songwriter, performance artist and actress. Expressing an interest in music from an early age, Knowles had several temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, which featured her elder sister, Beyoncé Knowles, among its members, before signing with her father Mathew Knowles' Music World Entertainment label. At age 16, Knowles released her first studio album Solo Star (2002). Between 2004 and 2007, Knowles had several minor acting roles, including the direct-to-video Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) and continued co-writing music for Beyoncé and former Destiny's Child group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

In 2007, Knowles began to record music again. Her second studio album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams (2008) deviated from the pop-oriented music of her debut to Motown-inspired sounds from the 60's and 70's. It peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics. She followed this up with the 1980s pop and R&B-inspired EP True (2012) on Terrible Records and her imprint Saint Records. Her third studio album, A Seat at the Table (2016) was released to widespread critical acclaim and became her first number-one album in the United States. The album's lead single, "Cranes in the Sky" won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance. Her fourth studio album, When I Get Home, was released in March 2019 to further critical acclaim.

Knowles was heavily influenced by Motown girl groups and says that her first passion is songwriting. Frequently compared by the media to her sister Beyoncé, Knowles has claimed that they have different aspirations and are musically different. She has been ranked by Billboard as the 100th most successful dance artist of all-time, and in 2017 was honored with the "Impact Award" at Billboard Women in Music. Her other ventures include an endorsement deal with Rimmel London and a line of hip-hop-oriented merchandise for young children.

Scales
Solange Lyrics

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Candy red things gonna spin
With that big body, boy, you're bound to win
And that armor in your mouth
You're gonna shine
Your wrist talking, boy, it's only time
Put the incense on
Cover up the smell
And if your boys go down, I know you'll never tell

You're a superstar
You're a superstar
Always shining in the night
And your skin glowing in the moonlight

The streets say you're a king
The world says you're a failure
And your mother is a queen
But damn she always tells ya
"You gon' end up like your daddy
But damn that nigga fresh
So if it all comes out to plan
You gon' end up like the best."
You say, "Look on the TV, they all want to be me"
For nothing, whatever it's worth, it's something
Ain't no apologizing, for all of the things you want
So if dreams only go so far
They'll come to where you are

Candy red things gonna spin
With that big body, boy, you're bound to win
And that armor in your mouth
You're gonna shine
Your wrist talking, boy, it's only time
Put the incense on
Cover up the smell
And if your boys go down, I know you'll never tell
You're a superstar
You're a superstar
Always shining in the night
And your skin glowing in the moonlight

Your love is kind
Your love is kind
But your love ain't blind
Your world is kind

Your world is kind
But your world ain't blind

Overall Meaning

In "Scales" by Solange and Kelela, the song portrays the mindset of an individual who is celebrated within their community for their success, but at the same time, they are considered a failure by the world. The verses in the song highlight the glamours life and excess of wealth the individual has achieved. The chorus, "Candy red things gonna spin, with that big body, boy, you're bound to win," depicts the shine and glitz of the individual's success, with the candy red things representing their flashy cars, with their mouth full of gold. The lyrics talk about how the individual has become a superstar with their friends never telling the truth to anyone, with the incense covering their scent, and their skin glowing in the moonlight. The song also features a voice note from Playboi Carti that says, "I don't remember nothing, I was too turnt," highlighting the idea that the individual's success is also associated with excess.

The second verse of the song portrays the other side of the individual's life. They come from a background where their mother was a queen, but their father had a bad reputation. Despite this, their father was still an influential figure, a connotation captured in the verse, "You say, 'Look on TV, they all want to be me'; For nothing, whatever it's worth, it's something." The chorus repeats itself again, but at the end of the song, the lyrics change slightly - "Your love is kind, your love is kind, but your love ain't blind; Your world is kind, your world is kind, but your world ain't blind." This final witty and ironic line implies that the individual has succeeded solely due to their status and wealth, and they might have lost their true selves beneath all the flashy exterior.

Line by Line Meaning

Candy red things gonna spin
Your fancy car will turn heads and draw attention

With that big body, boy, you're bound to win
Your physique is impressive and attractive

And that armor in your mouth
Your dental bling makes you stand out

You're gonna shine
You are destined for greatness and success

Your wrist talking, boy, it's only time
Your watch symbolizes your wealth and power

Put the incense on
Mask any unpleasant scent with a sweet aroma

Cover up the smell
Disguise any illicit activity that may have occurred

And if your boys go down, I know you'll never tell
You are loyal to your friends and will keep their secrets

You're a superstar
You possess immense talent and charisma

Always shining in the night
You draw attention no matter what the surroundings

And your skin glowing in the moonlight
Your appearance is attractive and alluring even in nature

The streets say you're a king
You have respect and notoriety among the common people

The world says you're a failure
You face criticism and rejection from society

And your mother is a queen
Your family has high expectations and regard for you

But damn she always tells ya
Your mother expresses concern and disappointment with your choices

"You gon' end up like your daddy
Your mother fears you will follow in the footsteps of your flawed father

But damn that nigga fresh
Your father had a certain charm and appeal despite his flaws

So if it all comes out to plan
If everything goes as hoped and expected

You gon' end up like the best."
You will surpass your father and become a great success

You say, "Look on the TV, they all want to be me"
You see yourself as a desirable and envied celebrity

For nothing, whatever it's worth, it's something
Your status and accomplishments may be superficial and meaningless, but they still have value

Ain't no apologizing, for all of the things you want
You are unapologetic about your ambitions and desires

So if dreams only go so far
If achieving your dreams is limited by external factors

They'll come to where you are
You will make the best of your circumstances and still achieve success

Your love is kind
Your affection for others is gentle and sincere

But your love ain't blind
You are aware of the flaws and shortcomings of those you love

Your world is kind
Your environment is pleasant and caring

But your world ain't blind
You are aware of the harsh realities and injustices of the world around you

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, WARP MUSIC LIMITED, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Solange Knowles, Adam Bainbridge, Troy Johnson, Dave Longstreth, Kwesi Sey, Patrick Wimberly

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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