Kristine Flaherty grew up outside of Chicago, devouring her father's classic rock records and staying up late dancing to Parliament-Funkadelic in the living room. It was this same musical open-mindedness that would later spark her artistic development. She found her musical voice in college, fusing the eclectic power of the Bay Area hip hop scene with her own unique presence, inspired by strong, independent female artists ranging from Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill to Fiona Apple and Liz Phair.
On stage, K.Flay is a one-woman whirlwind: whether she’s creating beats, singing, rapping or playing guitar, her wit and acerbic charm shine through. Her talents have led her to share the stage with artists including Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, and 3OH!3, where she quickly won over audiences who hadn’t seen anything quite like her before. Further setting her apart from the pack, she serves as her own producer in the studio, methodically infusing her hip hop swagger with a dose of sonic exploration.
With one mixtape (the genre-hopping MASHed Potatoes) already available online, K.Flay is spending the rest of 2010 recording in San Francisco and touring with Passion Pit in October and 3oh!3 in November.
Hollywood Forever
k.flay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm frightened of sex
Despising my image
I'm enlightened and slightly obsessed
In the dark everything it looks better, whoa
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
In the dark everything it feels better, whoa
I'm scared I'm a loser
Aware of my face
My father was a user
And I'm afraid I'm just the same
I used to be so confident
So sober and awake, I never thought to act
Devoted and ashamed, wanted to call my ex
To hear him say my name over the phone to me
In the dark everything it looks better, whoa
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
In the dark everything it feels better, whoa
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
In a house on a cliff on the coast
Well I prayed to my god with a toast
Said a cheers to the reasons I've been at it all evening
All I wanted was to never get old
On a bed in a room with a key
I was reading a rag magazine
Said a cheers to the demons who've been with me all evening
All I wanted was to never be seen
In the dark everything it looks better, whoa
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
In the dark I'm alive, I'm a legend, whoa
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
In the dark everything it looks better, whoa
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
The lyrics to K.Flay's song Hollywood Forever delve into the insecurities and anxieties of modern-day Hollywood culture. The first verse portrays a lack of self-confidence and fear of being judged. The line "I'm frightened of sex/Despising my image" suggests that the pressures of the entertainment industry can lead to a distorted self-image and self-doubt, even when it comes to one's sexuality. The following line, "I'm enlightened and slightly obsessed," could be interpreted as the singer recognizing the unrealistic standards of Hollywood and attempting to rise above them.
The chorus, "In the dark everything it looks better/Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever/In the dark everything it feels better/Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever," reflects on the glamorous image Hollywood portrays, which may be false or exaggerated. The "dark" represents the unspoken truth and the "forever" suggests the perpetuity of this deception.
The second verse touches on the fear of inheriting negative traits from one's parents, which is a common anxiety for many people. The singer recognizes her own flaws and is struggling to accept them. The lines, "Devoted and ashamed, wanted to call my ex/To hear him say my name over the phone to me," reveal a desire for acceptance and validation from an ex-partner, further illustrating the singer's insecurity.
The final verse discusses the dread of growing older and being forgotten. The line, "All I wanted was to never get old," speaks to the eternal youth and beauty that Hollywood demands, while "Said a cheers to the demons who've been with me all evening/All I wanted was to never be seen," suggests the singer's disillusionment with the entertainment industry and a desire for privacy.
Overall, K.Flay's Hollywood Forever is a commentary on the façade of the entertainment industry, the pressures on individuals to conform to unrealistic standards, and the toll it takes on one's mental health and self-worth.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hiding from mirrors
I'm avoiding mirrors because I don't like what I see.
I'm frightened of sex
I'm scared of having sex.
Despising my image
I hate the way I look.
I'm enlightened and slightly obsessed
I feel like I've gained some knowledge and I can't stop thinking about it.
In the dark everything it looks better, whoa
I feel a lot better when it's dark and I can't see clearly.
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
Hollywood is a place of immortality and people strive to be remembered there.
I'm scared I'm a loser
I'm afraid I'm not successful or cool.
Aware of my face
I know what my face looks like and I don't like it.
My father was a user
My dad had a substance abuse problem.
And I'm afraid I'm just the same
I'm scared that I'll end up like my dad.
I used to be so confident
I used to feel really good about myself.
So sober and awake, I never thought to act
I was really clear-headed and I never considered doing things I'd regret.
Devoted and ashamed, wanted to call my ex
I was committed to my ex but also regretful about something.
To hear him say my name over the phone to me
I wanted to hear my ex say my name to me on the phone.
In a house on a cliff on the coast
I was in a house on the edge of the water.
Well I prayed to my god with a toast
I made a toast to my god.
Said a cheers to the reasons I've been at it all evening
I made a toast to why I've been doing what I'm doing all evening.
All I wanted was to never get old
I don't want to age.
On a bed in a room with a key
I was on a bed in a locked room.
I was reading a rag magazine
I was reading a low-quality magazine.
Said a cheers to the demons who've been with me all evening
I made a toast to the negative forces that have been with me all evening.
All I wanted was to never be seen
I don't want to be noticed or recognized.
In the dark I'm alive, I'm a legend, whoa
I feel more alive and important when it's dark.
In the dark everything it looks better, whoa
I feel a lot better when it's dark and I can't see clearly.
Hollywood forever, Hollywood forever
Hollywood is a place of immortality and people strive to be remembered there.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KRISTINE FLAHERTY, JUSTIN THOMAS DALY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind