The internet exploded last week, when it was officially revealed that J. Lo isn’t saying “Are you Ellie,” in the 2001 hit duet with Ja Rule, I’m Real. In case you didn’t hear, it was discovered, after 15 years, that Jenny from the Block is actually just spelling out R-U-L-E after Ja Rule asks, “What’s my motherf#%&’in name” at the beginning of the song. Radio edits obviously removed the swear, and “Are you Elllie,” was born. Personally, I always thought she was saying, “Are you ready,” because who the heck is Ellie? But, now that we know, it doesn’t really matter! Besides having this song in my head for days now, the whole revelation got me thinking about misheard song lyrics, and how many times I’m belting out songs in my car like Adele, and I just make up lyrics because I have no clue what’s really being said!
So, I thought it might be fun to delve into all the songs I have completely misheard, and some that I simply have no idea what’s being said:
RiRi is going to the start us off. I love her song Work, it’s even on my gym playlist, but let’s be completely honest here, she is just mumbling nonsense! I’m just mumbling right along with her though, and enjoying every second of it!
Taylor Swift is up next. I’m only adding her to the list because the Starbuck’s lovers line in Blank Space is almost irritating at this point. Can you tell I’m not a big fan? Something about her whining about ex boyfriends all the time irks me, but she’s the highest paid musician in the world, right now, and you got to give the girl props. In case you were wondering, the actual lyric is “Got a long list of ex-lovers.”
This next one is actually kind of funny. I always knew the lyric in Iggy Azalea’s Black Widow, has Rita Ora singing “I’m a black widow baby,” but it really sounds like she’s saying “I’m a black wittle (like little) baby” in a sort of cutesy voice. Listen to it again if you haven’t noticed it before, it’s the only way I can hear it now!
Maroon 5, I’m not a huge fan of your music, but Adam Levine is so pretty to look at…Anyway, it totally sounds like you are saying “Like animals, animals, animals balls,” in the song Animals. When in actuality, and I had to look this up, the lyrics are “Just like animals, animals, like animals-mals.” O-kay…
We’re going to go way back for this one. I’m also going to reveal something embarrassing – I love this song. It’s MMMBop by Hanson. The lyrics don’t really matter for this song because the only part anyone sings is MMMbop ba doo bee dooo bop…I dare anyone to be sad when this song comes on, and that’s exactly why I love it!
Sia’s up next. This girl can sing – did you guys watch the Carpool Karaoke with her and James Corden? There is no doubt that she is incredibly talented, and I absolutely love every one of her songs. But, and it’s a big but, it’s really hard to understand what she’s singing. So, I can’t narrow it down to just one Sia song. Let’s just say every Sia song requires a lyric lookup if you want to sing along! Or, just make it up as you go, chances are no one will know the difference!
Alright, one more throwback and then I’m done. Jimi Hendrix might have the most famous misheard song lyric of all time in Purple Haze. He actually says, “Excuse me, while I kiss the sky,” but it sounds just like he is saying, “Excuse me, while I kiss this guy!”
I know there are so many more songs that I’m singing wrong or just mumbling through, but it’s impossible to think of them until you are actually singing them incorrectly. Until then, I’ll continue along in my ignorance, until someone embarrassingly points out my mistakes, and even then I’ll probably continue to sing whatever lyric makes me happy! Now, excuse me while I kiss this guy!
Do you have a song to add to the misheard lyrics list? What is it and what did you think the lyric was?
