Hudgens' debut album V was released on September 26, 2006. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number twenty four, and was later certified Gold. Hudgens released her second album, Identified, on July 1, 2008 in the U.S.
In 2003, Hudgens played a minor role in the independent drama film Thirteen, where she plays Noel, a friend of Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood's character). The film received general favorable reviews, critically successful, and surpassed its $4 million budget. She landed a role, eventually, in the 2004 science fiction-adventure film Thunderbirds as Tintin. Unfortunately, the film was commercially and critically unsuccessful, and received heavy criticism through the Internet prior to its release. In late 2005, she landed the role of shy and meek Gabriella Montez in High School Musical, opposite to Zac Efron.
Before she played her breakout role as Gabriella Montez in High School Musical, Hudgens has already appeared in television shows such as Quintuplets, Still Standing, The Brothers García, Drake & Josh and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Her performance in High School Musical received numerous nominations and awards. With the success of the film, the BBC noted that Hudgens will be a "household name" in the US.
Hudgens received a recording contract with Hollywood Records. On September 2006, the release of her debut album entitled V, charted on the Billboard 200 at number twenty-four on the chart and was certified Gold on February 27, 2007. Her first single, "Come Back to Me" became her highest-charting single and her second single was "Say OK". Billboard readers chose "V" as the seventh best album of the year. Hudgens was named Female Breakout Singer of the year at the 2007 Teen Choice Awards.
Hudgens also participated in the nationwide High School Musical: The Concert tour in fall 2006, performing the songs from the soundtrack album as well as the three songs from her debut album. She sang the duet "Still There For Me" with Corbin Bleu for his debut album. In 2007, Hudgens reprised her role as Gabriella Montez in the sequel of High School Musical, High School Musical 2. Virginia Heffernan of TV Review described Hudgens in her performance in the movie as "matte" as she "glows like a proper ingénue". In December 2007, she sang to George Bush, who was then the president of the U.S., and his family, at The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. with other singers at a Christmas event.
Hudgens reprised her role as Gabriella Montez in High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Her performance in the film made her win favorite movie actress in the 2009 Kids Choice Awards. Her sophomore album, Identified, which received generally favorable reviews, was released on July 1, 2008, debuting at #23 on the Billboard 200. The album's lead single was "Sneakernight". Hudgens's Identified Summer Tour began on August 1, 2008 and ended in early September 9 of the same year.
Hudgens performed a musical number with other artists during the 81st Academy Awards. On April 8, 2009, Hudgens's participation in a comedic short video entitled "Zac Efron's Pool Party" for the website Funny Or Die was released for public viewing. Hudgens later provided voice roles in Robot Chicken.
Hudgens played a supporting role in a musical comedy Bandslam, which was released theatrically on August 14, 2009. Hudgens plays "Sa5m", a 15-year-old awkward freshman with untapped talents. Although Bandslam was commercially unsuccessful, Hudgens' performance received praise from critics. David Waddington of the North Wales Pioneer noted that Hudgens "outshines the rest of the cast, failing to fit in with the outcast narrative and making the inevitable climactic ending all the more expected," and Philip French of The Guardian compared her acting to Thandie Newton and Dorothy Parker.
In 2009, it was announced that Hudgens will play Linda Taylor in Beastly, a film based on the book by Alex Flinn, opposite to Alex Pettyfer. She plays the "beauty" in the story. Hudgens was cast as Blondie in an action film Sucker Punch, which will release in March 2011.
And she also played in Journey 2 the Mysterious Island in 2012.
Afraid
Vanessa Hudgens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I slowly start to freeze
Just when it's feeling real I put my heart to sleep
It's the memory I can see
Then this fear comes over me
Understand that I don't mean
To push you away from me
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
You got a way of easing me out of myself
I can't stay but I can't leave, I am my worst enemy
Please understand that its not you it's what I do
Just when I'm about to run I realize what I've become
Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Now I wonder what you think of me
Don't know why I break so easily
All my fears are armed surrounding me
I can't get no sleep
I keep runnin' in circles around you
Are you the trap I wanna fall into??
Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
The song "Afraid" by Vanessa Hudgens is a poignant and emotional representation of the fear and uncertainty that come with falling in love. The opening lines of the song set the stage for a sense of trepidation and hesitancy in the singer's heart. While things might be going well in the moment, the fear of becoming too vulnerable or getting hurt begins to set in, causing her to "freeze" and put up walls around her heart.
The chorus of the song further exemplifies the singer's anxiety and confusion. The repetition of the question "Why am I so afraid?" demonstrates her inability to understand her own emotions and why she is feeling this way. The singer is desperately trying to reconcile her fear of being hurt again with her desire to be in a fulfilling and loving relationship.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of self-sabotage as the singer recognizes that her own insecurities and fears are holding her back. She acknowledges that it's not the other person causing her anxiety, but rather her own "worse enemy" - herself. The song ends with a plea for understanding and acceptance from the other person, as well as a sense of desperation and confusion with the lines "All my fears are armed surrounding me, I can't get no sleep."
Overall, "Afraid" is a heartfelt and relatable song that captures the complex emotions that come with falling in love while still carrying scars from past heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when it's getting good
As soon as things start to improve
I slowly start to freeze
I become hesitant and unsure
Just when it's feeling real I put my heart to sleep
Right when a connection begins, I shut myself off emotionally
It's the memory I can see
I am haunted by past experiences
Then this fear comes over me
I am overwhelmed by anxiety
Understand that I don't mean
Please know that I do not intend
To push you away from me
To distance myself from you
Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
Why am I scared to let my guard down and risk getting hurt again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
I am uncertain and confused about my feelings
You got a way of easing me out of myself
You have a talent for helping me relax and be myself
I can't stay but I can't leave, I am my worst enemy
I am conflicted and self-sabotaging
Please understand that its not you it's what I do
I want you to know that it's not your fault, it's my issue to deal with
Just when I'm about to run I realize what I've become
I recognize my tendency to flee when things get too real
Now I wonder what you think of me
I am curious about your opinion of me
Don't know why I break so easily
I do not understand why I am vulnerable
All my fears are armed surrounding me
My anxieties are all-consuming and feel like a barrier
I can't get no sleep
I am unable to rest peacefully
I keep runnin' in circles around you
I am stuck in a cycle of confusion and doubt around you
Are you the trap I wanna fall into??
Am I willingly setting myself up to get hurt again?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Leah Jacqueline Cooney, Daniel James Pringle, Bradley David Spalter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah Beaton
She needs to continue making music
editavanessa
love this song i listen it more when i am sad and when my heart is broken
Beebee7129
Im still in love in every song of this album!
editavanessa
love the singer and love the song just amazing
Rachelle Grach
Love this song!!
ZaynNiallLiam HarryLouisLiam
I remember, whenever I was little, i use to sing this, meaning ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to me.... . . Now i'm all grown up, and I totally understand and think "I've grown up so fast... amazing how, I STILL love her, even more then I use to"
roxanne410
cool song! first time I've ever heard it. now I know what I was missing!
sexyBAO98
LOVE her LOVE this song!
Mike Nikola
great song and great singer!!Venessa hudgens is best!!
يارا العنزي
This song is so sad 😭but I love it