"Who Do You Think You Are" became the official Comic Relief song of 1997. Due to the Spice Girls' popularity at the time, with their debut album Spice having strong sales, the single was predicted to be a huge hit. Charities benefited greatly from the 2,200,000 copies sold worldwide.
Who Do You Think You Are
Spice Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The top is high so your roots are forgotten
Giving is good as long as you're getting
What's driving you it's ambition and betting
I said who do you think you are
Oh, oh (do you think you are, I said)
Ooh some kind of superstar (oh, oh, oh)
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
Swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show how good you are
You're swelling out in the wrong direction
You've got the bug, superstar, you've been bitten
Your trumpet's blowing for far too long
Climbing the snake of the ladder, but you're wrong
I said who do you think you are (oh, oh)
(Do you think you are, I said)
(Oh) some kind of superstar (oh, oh, oh)
You have got to swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
Swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show how good you are
You have got to reach on up, never lose your soul
You have got to reach on up, never lose control
I said who do you think you are (oh, oh)
(Do you think you are, I said)
(Oh) some kind of superstar (oh, oh, oh)
You have got to swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are?
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
Swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
Swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are?
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
Swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
Swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
Swing it, shake it, move it, make it
Who do you think you are
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
Show me how good you are
The lyrics of Who Do You Think You Are by Spice Girls are about the struggle of climbing to the top and maintaining one's identity while doing so. The race to the top can make people forget their roots and become overly ambitious. The song reflects on how people often inflate their own egos and act like they are superstars, when they may not necessarily have reached that level yet. The lyrics encourage people to trust themselves, use their talents and prove themselves without losing control or their essence.
The line "The race is on to get out of the bottom, the top is high so your roots are forgotten" shows that people often aspire to reach the top, but in doing so they forget who they are and where they came from. The line "Your trumpet's blowing for far too long, climbing the snake of the ladder, but you're wrong" suggests that people may be too boastful about their achievements, but they may not necessarily be going in the right direction.
The chorus "Who do you think you are, some kind of superstar? You have got to swing it, shake it, move it, make it" is about people who act like they are already famous, but they haven't proved themselves yet. The lyrics tell them to trust their abilities, use their talents, and prove themselves. The song ends with a message to not lose your soul or control as you climb the ladder of success.
Line by Line Meaning
The race is on to get out of the bottom
Everyone is trying to rise and avoid being at the bottom.
The top is high so your roots are forgotten
As one climbs higher in society, they tend to forget their origins and where they came from.
Giving is good as long as you're getting
People tend to be generous only if they will receive something in return.
What's driving you it's ambition and betting
People are driven by their ambitions and are willing to take risks to achieve their goals.
I said who do you think you are
The singer is questioning the listener's attitude and behavior.
You have got to swing it, shake it, move it, make it
The performer needs to put energy and effort into their art to be successful.
Trust it, use it, prove it, groove it
To succeed, one needs to have confidence in their abilities and showcase their talent.
Show me how good you are
The listener is being challenged to demonstrate their talent and prove their worth.
You're swelling out in the wrong direction
The listener is headed in the wrong direction and needs to redirect their efforts.
You've got the bug, superstar, you've been bitten
The listener is obsessed with success and has been bitten by the 'celebrity bug'.
Your trumpet's blowing for far too long
The listener is bragging about themselves for too long and needs to stop.
Climbing the snake of the ladder, but you're wrong
The listener is climbing the wrong ladder to success and needs to change their approach.
You have got to reach on up, never lose your soul
To succeed, one needs to aim high while maintaining their values and principles.
You have got to reach on up, never lose control
To succeed, one needs to maintain their composure and control even in challenging situations.
Who do you think you are?
The singer is once again questioning the listener's behavior and attitude.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Melanie Chisholm, Victoria Aadams, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@korubi_eCSTatic
anybody else weirded out in retrospect by the state of their own closet in the 90s?
mine was wild(ly embarrassing) and revisiting these videos reminds me of such shameful artifacts as:
skin-tight velvet crop top that was so vibrantly orange it sticks out in my memory all these years later, it also featured capped sleeves and a mock turtleneck just in case there wasn’t enough going on already
silver lamé button-down that, i think, was attempting to go for a billowy effect but the reality was more like ‘baked potato wrapped in exactly three too many inches of crinkled aluminum foil.’
b E l L b o T t o M s
every shoe a platform, from the chunky attention-seeking Demonias to the more subtle Vans.
ball. chain. choker. ONLY THE FINEST STAINLESS STEEL FOR ME!
@stevencoffin328
I love the Spice Girls because you can be a metal head, a punk, a goth, an emo, and still dance to them. They made music that everybody can enjoy.
@irishspagetti6565
spice girls were my childhood in 96-97, I am a metal and rock person now but I still love them dearly
@theotheoth
yep, behind every scary-looking metalhead-punk-goth is a wet and timorous softie who just wants to be mummy-loved.
@hopecarr9871
You sound like me and I love it!!!
@jellomaster5629
... that's why it's called pop?
@Paramurasaki
Did you notice they changed the voice recording for Viva Forever? It sounds less perfect than it was first day on TV. Now, I can't find the original. Even I saw the very old uploading like 17 years ago and that version is already changed. Why?
@chasnikole7197
2020 and still jamming to the Spice Girls. They are pop icons.
@diegolopez3519
Hola ember!
@oasis5683
Coronavirus lock down.😁
@flora7602
Dancing Quarentena Brasil :)