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.
Gone With The Wind
Vanessa Hudgens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Being like you
Was the key to having everything every dream come true
I used to think
Following the crowd
Was the only thing that I could do until I found out
I'm OK (dig it)
Every winter turns to spring (dig it)
And everybodys got there own wings
The little girl you knew
The one that never stood up to you
Who kept her silence too long
Well shes gone with the wind
And now I'm standin' my ground
And who I am and for that I'm proud
And the girl that you knew
Well she's gone with the wind
[Chorus]
She's gone gone (she's gone she's gone)
She's gone gone (she's gone she's gone)
She's gone gone (she's gone she's gone)
Yeah she's gone with the wind
I'm speakin' up
My conscience is clear
And I don't care what anybody thinks I've released my fear
And I don't have to be
What you want me to be
Cause every time I try to fit it it feels like I'm in a prison
I'm OK (dig it)
Sometimes you gotta do your own thing (dig it)
Every winter turns to spring (dig it)
And everybodys got there own wings
The little girl you knew
The one that never stood up to you
Who kept her silence too long
Well shes gone with the wind
And now I'm standin' my ground
And who I am and for that I'm proud
And the girl that I was
Well she's gone with the wind
[Chorus]
One look in my eyes
And you will see I'm different
I'm findin' myself everyday and I'm on the way
I have changed
The little girl you knew
The one that never stood up to you
Who kept her silence too long
Well shes gone with the wind
And now I'm standin' my ground
And who I am and for that I'm proud
And the girl that you knew
Well she's gone with the wind
[Chorus]
In "Gone With the Wind," Vanessa Hudgens sings about discovering her own identity and breaking free from the expectations of others. She remembers a time when she thought conforming to the standards of those around her was the only way to achieve success and happiness. However, now she asserts her independence and is proud of who she is. She refuses to be limited by the opinions of others, declaring that she has found her own voice and will no longer remain silent. The chorus emphasizes this sentiment, as she repeats the phrase "she's gone with the wind" to signal her transformation.
The verses of the song relate Hudgens's personal journey to greater self-awareness and self-acceptance. She notes that she used to be a "little girl" who would not stand up for herself or speak her mind, but that girl is now "gone with the wind." The message of the song is that it is important to follow your dreams and be true to yourself, even if it means going against the wishes of others. Hudgens's confident delivery and uplifting lyrics make "Gone With the Wind" an inspiring anthem for anyone seeking to break free from societal constraints and discover their own unique voice.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to think
Being like you
Was the key to having everything every dream come true
I used to believe that imitating you was the only way to achieve my hopes and dreams.
I used to think
Following the crowd
Was the only thing that I could do until I found out
I used to feel that following everyone else's lead was the only way for me to live until I realized its limitations.
I'm OK (dig it)
Sometimes you gotta do your own thing (dig it)
Every winter turns to spring (dig it)
And everybodys got there own wings
I'm doing fine, and sometimes you have to make choices that work for you. Seasons change, and everyone has unique qualities.
The little girl you knew
The one that never stood up to you
Who kept her silence too long
Well shes gone with the wind
And now I'm standin' my ground
And who I am and for that I'm proud
And the girl that you knew
Well she's gone with the wind
The girl that you used to know, who was too afraid to speak up or challenge you, has become a thing of the past. I'm now standing firm in my values and identity, and I'm proud of the person I've become.
[Chorus]
She's gone gone (she's gone she's gone)
She's gone gone (she's gone she's gone)
She's gone gone (she's gone she's gone)
Yeah she's gone with the wind
The old me, who always tried to please others and went along with the crowd, is gone and will never return. I've moved on and embraced a new version of myself.
I'm speakin' up
My conscience is clear
And I don't care what anybody thinks I've released my fear
And I don't have to be
What you want me to be
Cause every time I try to fit it it feels like I'm in a prison
I'm speaking my mind and have nothing to hide. I'm no longer afraid of what people think, and I won't comply with others' expectations. I've learned that trying to fit into someone else's mold only makes me feel trapped and powerless.
One look in my eyes
And you will see I'm different
I'm findin' myself everyday and I'm on the way
I have changed
If you look into my eyes, you'll realize that I'm a changed person. I'm discovering new things about myself each day and making great strides in my personal journey.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WALTER AFANASIEFF, ZUKHAN BEY, KARA DIOGUARDI, BRANDON HOWARD, EMANUEL KIRIAKOU, MAIMOUNA YOUSEFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DANNY ICE
Hey, yeah
I used to think
Being like you
Was the key to having everything
Every dream come true
I used to think
Following the crowd
Was the only thing that I could do
Until I found out
I'm OK
Sometimes you have to do your own thing
Every winter turns to spring
And everybody's got their own wings
[Chorus:]
The little girl you knew
The one who never stood up to you
Who kept her silence to long
Well she's gone with the wind
And now I'm standing my ground
And who I am and for that I'm proud
And the girl that you knew
Well she's gone with the wind
She's gone (she's gone)
Gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone)
Gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone)
Gone (she's gone)
Yea she's gone with the wind
I'm speaking out
My conscious is clear
And I don't care what anybody thinks
I still fear less fear
And I don't have to be
What you want me to be
Cause every time I try to fit in
Feels like i'm in a prison
I'm OK
Sometimes you have to do your own thing
Every winter turns to spring
And everybody's got their own wings
[Chorus]
One look in my eyes
And you'll see I'm different
I'm finding myself everyday
And i'm on the way
I have changed
[Chorus]
dinnybbq
This is DEFINITELY her best song vocally and lyrically. It's very inspirational too. Reminds me of her when singing in HSM, I like when she uses her voice this way. She's a good singer for sure. Barely any computerization which is cuz she has a nice voice. Nice job Vanessa ;)
Leo Digiosia
i miss you bestie!
purplelove010
One of the best songs on the album along with Vulnerable
DANNY ICE
Hey, yeah
I used to think
Being like you
Was the key to having everything
Every dream come true
I used to think
Following the crowd
Was the only thing that I could do
Until I found out
I'm OK
Sometimes you have to do your own thing
Every winter turns to spring
And everybody's got their own wings
[Chorus:]
The little girl you knew
The one who never stood up to you
Who kept her silence to long
Well she's gone with the wind
And now I'm standing my ground
And who I am and for that I'm proud
And the girl that you knew
Well she's gone with the wind
She's gone (she's gone)
Gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone)
Gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone)
Gone (she's gone)
Yea she's gone with the wind
I'm speaking out
My conscious is clear
And I don't care what anybody thinks
I still fear less fear
And I don't have to be
What you want me to be
Cause every time I try to fit in
Feels like i'm in a prison
I'm OK
Sometimes you have to do your own thing
Every winter turns to spring
And everybody's got their own wings
[Chorus]
One look in my eyes
And you'll see I'm different
I'm finding myself everyday
And i'm on the way
I have changed
[Chorus]
Pissedoffsonattheworld
I can relate to this so much, I used to be shy, never stood up to anyone, now I'm not shy I stood up for myself, and vanessa inspired me for most of it in 2006 (2005 I fought back to bullies) ITS A HARD LIFE DEALING W THEM, especially wen racists hate me as a white boy in a black high school, but after I saw the first high school musical, I fell in love at first sight, shy for a long time, now around 2010 was wen I wasn't shy no more, but vanessa inspired me to write songs, poems, movies, everything, even track when I thought about her I won every race, I wish to meet her one day even jst a 1minute talk to tell her how much she inspired me, she is perfect!
Marco Wina
I don’t know you but I’m proud of you ❤️
rock3tar
now this sounds more like "the real Vanessa". better than some other of her songs from identified.
M.Onizouka
Damn ! I learn the existance of this song 11 year after, now i understand when they say is the best Vanessa's performance.
Desert Moon
This is the best vocal performance Vanessa has EVER done. Show the haters you can sing, V!!!!
taymaylarae
GAH I love this song so much! I love ALL of vanessa hudgens' songs.