In 1999, the 18 year old Ford started performing under the stage name Mandah and was signed to Music Corporation of America, MCA. While with MCA she wrote and recorded a song called "Lullaby" which was featured on the double-platinum soundtrack for the motion picture Pokémon: The First Movie. Ford's label decided to change her stage name from Mandah into Willa Ford, as to avoid confusion with Mandy Moore.
In 2000 she was one of the opening acts for the Backstreet Boys Into the Millennium Tour.
At the age of 20 the singer signed on to a new label, Lava Atlantic Records, while on a mall tour for Nautica Kids. The new contract put her into the recording studio with a variety of writers and producers. Ford preferred to write most of her own lyrics as well as becoming executive producer for most of her first album. On July 17, 2001, Willa Ford released her debut album Willa Was Here. The album gave birth to the single "I Wanna Be Bad.", which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Willa Was Here reached 56 on the Billboard 200 and sold roughly 200,000 copies. Ford went on to release a second single from the album titled "Did Ya' Understand That" which failed to garner much attention.
Ford served as the spokesperson for Pantene Pro-V's ProVoice campaign while promoting the album. She also appeared in Uncle Kracker's video for "In A Little While." On April 26, 2002, Willa Ford guest starred in an episode of Raising Dad where she played a bully named Edie. Ford also went on to guest host MTV's TRL and Say What Karaoke which led to a hosting contract with Viacom. Ford soon hosted the MTV reality shows The Morning After and I Bet You Will. That same year Willa Ford co-wrote and recorded a duet with South Korean pop star Park Ji-yoon entitled "Nastified" which appeared on Park's fifth album Man.
In 2003, Ford released a dance song incorporating a sorority chant, "A Toast to Men." The song, which featured guest rapper Lady May, was featured in daytime promo ads for soap operas. The single was from her unreleased sophomore album Sexysexobsessive which was previously titled Porn Poetry. The title track "Sexysexobsessive" was to be the second single but was only released through Ford's official website in 2004. Her sophmore album was ultimately shelved. In 2009, Willa spoke to comedian Chelsea Handler about her past entry into the music industry, commenting that it was difficult to manage and that she has no interest in recording another album.
Dare
Willa Ford Lyrics
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What do they see
Looking at you
Could they see a dare
Could they see a dare
Show them that you care
Gazing eyes and wondering minds
Are coming after you
As your standing there
As he steps your way
Steps across the floor
Coming onto you
Here is what you do
Do exactly what I say
Nasty lady Show them what they really want
Follow me
Say what they really want
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
And what they really need
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Now listen to me sing
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Now say it back to me
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Listen up boys
You should know I don't believe you
(Something could be wrong,
show them you can front (?) )
I'll (?) do own you
They'll control your thoughts
And haunt your dreams
As your standing there
As he steps your way
Across the floor (Ooh)
Coming onto you
Here is what you do
Do exactly what I say...
Nasty lady
Show them what they really want
Follow me
Say what they really want
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
And what they really need
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Now listen to me sing
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Now say it back to me
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
When it feels so good you can't let go
Your body goes in overload
You cannot hide the way you feel
It make you feel, it feels so real, Ooh
Say what they really want
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
And what they really need
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Now listen to me sing
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Now say it back to me
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
Nasty lady
Show them what they really want
And follow me my baby
Nasty lady
Show them what they really want
Follow me
Bring it all come to me
If you're really (nasty)
Let me know, we can go, if you want (nasty)
Nasty, come on say "nasty"
Ooh
Nasty, come on say "nasty"
Ooh
The song "Dare" by Willa Ford is about a woman who is challenging societal expectations and embracing her sexuality. The lyrics talk about being daring and showing the world that she cares about herself and her desires. The song encourages women to be confident in their sexuality and to be unapologetic about their desires. The chorus repeats the word "nasty" as a way to reclaim the word and use it as a symbol of empowerment, rather than as a derogatory term that is often used to shame women for their sexuality.
The song is written in a way that is meant to be empowering for women. It challenges societal norms that often shame women for expressing their desires and encourages them to embrace their sexuality. The lyrics are also catchy and upbeat, meant to inspire women to feel confident and powerful. The song has an unapologetic attitude, which can be refreshing for women who are often told to suppress their desires and conform to societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Nasty...nasty
The theme of the song revolves around being naughty and daring.
What do they see
The lyrics question what people see when they look at the singer.
Looking at you
The song is directed towards someone or something that the singer is looking at.
Could they see a dare
The lyrics ponder whether others can see that the artist is daring.
Show them that you care
The artist is being encouraged to show others that they care about their desires and wants.
Gazing eyes and wondering minds
The singer is describing the people who are looking at the singer as curious and intrigued.
Are coming after you
The lyrics suggest that people are pursuing the singer.
Coming after you this is what to do
The song tells the artist what to do when people are pursuing them.
As your standing there
The lyrics refer to a moment when the artist is standing still.
As he steps your way
A person - a man - is approaching the artist.
Steps across the floor
The man is walking across the floor towards the singer.
Coming onto you
The man is making advances towards the artist.
Here is what you do
The song tells the singer what action to take when the man approaches them.
Do exactly what I say
The singer is being instructed to follow the lyrics of the song.
Nasty lady Show them what they really want
The song is calling the singer a "nasty lady" and telling the singer to show others what they really want.
Follow me
The singer is asking the artist to follow their lead.
Say what they really want
The song is instructing the artist to verbalize what others want from them.
(Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty)
The repetition of "nasty" emphasizes the daring message of the song.
And what they really need
The song is not only about what people want, but also what they need.
Listen up boys
The song is addressing boys in particular.
You should know I don't believe you
The lyrics express doubt about what the boys are saying or doing.
(Something could be wrong, show them you can front (?) )
This line could be interpreted as telling the artist to fake it until you make it ("front" like you know what you're doing even if you don't).
I'll (?) do own you
This line is unclear, but it may be saying that if you don't take control, someone else will control you.
They'll control your thoughts
The song warns about losing control of one's own mind and thoughts.
And haunt your dreams
The lyrics suggest that if someone else controls you, it will follow you into your dreams as well.
When it feels so good you can't let go
The song is referring to a moment when something feels so good, you don't want to stop.
Your body goes in overload
This line suggests that the body's physical response to feeling good is intense.
You cannot hide the way you feel
The lyrics suggest that when you feel good, it's obvious to others.
It make you feel, it feels so real, Ooh
This line is repeating the idea that feeling good makes you feel alive and in the moment.
Nasty lady Show them what they really want
The song repeats the earlier line about showing others what they really want.
Follow me my baby
The singer is reiterating the need for the singer to follow their lead.
Bring it all come to me
This line is unclear, but it may be saying for everything to be directed towards the singer/protagonist.
If you're really (nasty)
The song makes use of the phrase "if you're really..." to insinuate that the artist is truly daring, implying that they also are "nasty."
Let me know, we can go, if you want (nasty)
The song is saying if the artist is daring and wants to go further, they should tell the singer, and they'll do things the daring way ("nasty").
Nasty, come on say "nasty"
The song repeats the idea of being daring ("nasty") and tells the listener to repeat it back ("say 'nasty'").
Ooh
The song ends with an exclamation of emotion.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY CAPPUTO, SCOTT IALACCI, AMANDA WILLIFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind