Letting out jazzy runs, hypnotic hooks, and an unfiltered operatic scream from the gut, Whitney Woerz sparks a physical reaction with every performance in the studio and on stage. With over 135 million YouTube views, 20 million streams, and acclaim from Billboard, Vanyaland, and more, she traces her 2020 10:22pm/Island Records debut back to one such moment and a life-changing realization…
“I fell to the floor,” she recalls. “I discovered my voice, my sound, and my genre in one take. I realized I didn’t have to play by any rules. I could just sing what came naturally. Rather than just touching on it, I’m bringing out what’s underneath the feelings and the sadness. If you analyze my lyrics, they’re real. It’s music that might help you learn something about yourself.”
Whitney discovered herself through music. Singing before she could talk, she enrolled in vocal lessons as early as kindergarten before participating in her first musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a year later. Falling in love with performance, she continued to hone her voice through rigorous traditional training. Studying opera, lyrical, classical, and jazz, her range encompassed an expansive swath of styles.
Facing turmoil in school, she retreated into her art.
“In my hometown, everybody was skinny with straight blonde hair and played sports,” she says. “If you weren’t playing at a high level, you weren’t cool. I got bullied because I did performing arts. Can you believe that? At the time, I was bigger than everyone else and had curly hair. It could be really tough.”
She siphoned that struggle into songs. Retreating to Nashville with GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Glenn Rosenstein [Madonna, U2, Talking Heads], she recorded her independent Behind The Smile EP in 2016. Written after a friend admitted to suicidal intent during an online chat, the single “Ghost Story” took off as an anthem of encouragement and empowerment. Citing the song as “one of the most significant moments of my life, because my friend said it saved her,” the accompanying video went viral with 10 million-plus views. Bring Change 2 Mind—the organization founded by Academy® Award nominee Glenn Close—sought her out as an ambassador. Maintaining this momentum, “Love Me Not” racked up over 60 million YouTube views and 4.5 million Spotify streams in 2018. Along the way, she shared the stage with everyone from Jason Mraz and Jesse McCartney to Nina Nesbitt in addition to performing on The Today Show as Elvis Duran’s “Artist of the Month.” During 2019, she fully realized her sonic identity. Striking a balance between jazz phrasing, lo-fi production, and pop power, Whitney introduces a singular style on Sad Love.
“It’s pop fused with jazz influences and urban elements,” she explains. “It’s left-of-center, and it nods to everything I love. I grew up practicing opera. The theatricality is in there. I love standards by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday, so it has some of those elements. It’s quirky like me. I feel like what I’m doing now really represents who I am.”
The lead single and title track “Sad Love” tiptoes between airy keys and a glitchy beat as her soothing vocals give way to a sassy bridge. Meanwhile, her voice ascends to towering heights with an impassioned refrain, “Baby, that’s sad love,” backed by a revival-style call-and-response.
“I was with the only boyfriend I’ve ever had for my junior year of high school,” she remarks. “I was way too in love with him. He became my life. I didn’t even matter anymore. One day, he came over and he told me he didn’t love me anymore. Then, a few months later when I wrote ‘Sad Love,’ I wasn’t healed all the way. But, then I realized I wouldn’t be anywhere if he didn’t break my heart. I became so powerful in my mind that I took all of me back. I finally became myself again. It’s an oxymoron, but the sadness brought me to self-love. You have to break before you can grow.”
Elsewhere on the EP as her journey carried on, lithe guitar wraps entwine with swells of strings as her angelic delivery emanates through “Philophobia.” Once again, she makes a stark confession, “Philophobia means ‘fear of falling in love.’ I’m admitting that I’m scared of meeting my match, getting attached, and giving my heart without getting it back’.” The droning production of “Weirdos” gives way to a schizophrenic performance as her voice flutters between hushed verses and fits of triumphant as she declares, “The odd are getting even.”
“If you’re weird, embrace it,” she continues. “That’s the message of the song. Weird is the new cool. It’s our turn. Back in the day, I was bullied for theater and singing. I’m taking an awful time in my life and adding light again.”
In the end, Whitney might just move you emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
“I want you to take away positive energy, encouragement, and unconditional love,” she leaves off. “That’s the most important thing to me. I want to be a light in the world by being real.”
Renegades
Whitney Woerz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost souls in revelry
Running wild and running free
Two kids, you and me
And I said hey, hey
Living like we′re renegades
Hey, hey
Living like we're renegadesRenegades, renegades
Long live the pioneers
Rebels and mutineers
Go forth and have no fear
Come close and lend an ear
And I said hey, hey
Living like we′re renegades
Hey, hey
Living like we're renegades
Renegades, renegades
So, all hail the underdogs
All hail the new kids
All hail the outlaws
Spielbergs and Kubricks
It's our time to make a move
It′s our time to make amends
It′s our time to break the rules
Let's begin...
And I said hey, hey
Living like we′re renegades
Hey, hey
Living like we're renegades
Renegades, renegades
In Whitney Woerz's song "Renegades," the lyrics call for a carefree and rebellious attitude towards life. It's a song for the people who are tired of abiding by the rules set out by society and just want to live their lives on their own terms. The lyrics talk about two people who have left their past behind, "run away" from everything, and decided to live in "revelry." They refuse to conform to what is expected of them, instead embracing their "Renegade" lifestyle. The song encourages people to be daring, have no fear, and do what makes them happy. It celebrates the pioneers, rebels, mutineers, underdogs, new kids, and outlaws, who are often overlooked by society, yet accomplished amazing things. The song is a reminder to anyone that it's never too late to make a move, break the rules, and start living the way they want.
Line by Line Meaning
Run away-ay with me
Let's take off and leave everything behind
Lost souls in revelry
We don't know where we are going but we are enjoying the journey
Running wild and running free
We are not limited by anything and we are enjoying life to the fullest
Two kids, you and me
We are young and naive, but that is what makes this experience exciting
And I said hey, hey
I am calling out to you with excitement and enthusiasm
Living like we′re renegades
We are not following anyone's rules, we are making our own path
Renegades, renegades
We are rebels, we are outsiders, and we are proud of it
Long live the pioneers
We admire those who came before us and paved the way for our freedom
Rebels and mutineers
We are on a mission to inspire others to break free and follow their own passions
Go forth and have no fear
We are not afraid to take risks or pursue our dreams
Come close and lend an ear
We want others to listen to our message and join us on this adventure
So, all hail the underdogs
We celebrate those who have been underestimated but have risen to greatness
All hail the new kids
We believe that young people can make a difference and bring about positive change
All hail the outlaws
We respect those who challenge authority and question the status quo
Spielbergs and Kubricks
We look up to visionary creators who have left their mark on the world
It's our time to make a move
We believe that this is our moment to take action and make a difference
It's our time to make amends
We want to fix the mistakes of the past and create a better future for all
It's our time to break the rules
We want to challenge the norms and rewrite the rules to reflect our values
Let's begin...
We are ready to start this journey and see where it takes us
Writer(s): Alexander Junior Grant, Samuel Nelson Harris, Adam Levin, Casey Wakeley Harris, Noah G. Feldshuh
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SummerAlleriaWindrunner
Run away-ay with me
Lost souls in revelry
Running wild and running free
Two kids, you and me
And I said hey
Hey,
Living like we're renegades
Hey,
Hey,
Living like we're renegades
Renegades, renegades
Long live the pioneers
Rebels and mutineers
Go forth and have no fear
Come close and lend an ear
And I said hey
Hey,
Living like we're renegades
Hey,
Hey,
Living like we're renegades
Renegades, renegades
So, all hail the underdogs
All hail the new kids
All hail the outlaws
Spielbergs and Kubricks
It's our time to make a move
It's our time to make amends
It's our time to break the rules
Let's begin...
And I said hey
Hey,
Living like we're renegades
Hey,
Hey,
Living like we're renegades
Renegades, renegades
@ravensmith12
I clicked on an advertisement for this while waiting on my video to play. This is beautiful, good work.
@WhitneyWoerz
Thank you!!
@ItsStarryNight1
Same here
@WhitneyWoerz
Thanks for this!
@rosar5494
Same with me!!!
@cowgirlgaming4027
This is amazing I heard this on the radio and it sounded exactly the same
@rainherington9061
she's 14??? jesus the talent gets younger every year.
@syd7382
I thought she was 15 or 16
@xx_hanahaki_xx5705
+Syd Pehm same
@rainherington9061
It's in the description.