It's been quite some time since Lily Allen released a new solo single. Her last effort, It's Not Me, It's You was released in 2009, with its final single "Back to the Start" getting a release in April 2010. Today (Nov. 12), after over three years away from the music scene -- wherein she took time off to start a family -- Allen is back with a hot new single "Hard Out Here."
Inherently playing off the hip-hop trope "It's hard out here for a pimp," Allen proclaims that "It's hard out here for a b----." The female empowerment anthem has Allen singing that she doesn't need to sing about her chains, money or lose weight because she "has brains, taking on popular music tropes and those who objectify women in one fell swoop.
"You're not a size six and you're not real good looking / You better be rich or be real good at cooking / You should probably lost some weight 'cause we can't see your bones / You should probably fix your face or you'll end up alone," she sings in the second verse, smashing expectations for women in 2013.
Musically, Allen has kept up with the times. Known previously for her bubblegum pop with adult themes, "Hard Out Here" incorporates modern electronic elements and a heavy beat, making it accessible to the new music listener who may have forgotten about "Smile."
The accompanying music video for "Hard Out Here" awesomely tackled hip-hop standards in today's music industry. People pressure Allen to look like she's 22 again even though she's had two kids, she attempts to twerk and there's a hilarious parody of Robin Thicke's super objectifying "Blurred Lines" music video.
When Lily Allen comes back, she comes back fighting.
Watch the music video for "Hard Out Here" below.
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
