I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman

by

Britney Spears

Album: Britney     Released: 2001

UK Chart: 2

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In the song, Spears is talking about how she isn't a little girl anymore but isn't an adult yet. She doesn't know where she belongs. She is just in between. (thanks, Julie - Wichita, KS)

When Britney was interviewed by Seventeen magazine, she told the story of how she receives fan mail every day from teenage girls who are in that awkward in-between stage of adolescence. She wanted to sing a song that spoke of the angst and heartache of puberty. Britney jokes that the nickname of the song is "Girman" - the combination of girl and woman. (thanks, Todd - Salt Lake City, UT)

British singer Dido wrote this with help from producers Max Martin and Rami. Dido, who had a hit with "Thank You," writes very emotional songs. Spears had more introspective songs on the album, which suited Dido's style.

Although she co-wrote 5 songs on the album, Spears feels this is the one she can best relate to. She said that it reflects who she is.

This was the second single from the album, after "I'm A Slave 4 U." "The song was written for the movie once we had the decision to make the music part of the movie," she told MTV News. "It's an inspirational song, and it's probably one of my favorite songs that I've ever sang."

This was written for Britney's first movie, Crossroads.

The video was streamed over 2 million times in 24 hours after it was put online as part of AOL's music channel.

The video features Britney standing on the edge of a cliff. The star understandably had some trepidation about being so close to the edge. "The wind started picking up a lot and almost dropped me over," Spears recalled to MTV News. "And I was like, 'OK, gotta go.'" The director Wayne Isham loved the way the video looked and told MTV News there was no green screen involved. "She went out there and, without a safety cable, just stood there with those cowboy boots on," he said. "She was standing on the edge in her cowboy boots, looking hot. We'd be right on the edge, and she had not a blink of fear."

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Comments:

Actually, Britney is neither--she's a mindless waste of talent who should be crucified for putting out the dreck that she does. She should really have kept her shaved head as she really needs as much blood as possible flowing into it. Not yet a woman-she can't even handle being of the female persuasion. Britney, go away!
- bob , hallanedale, FL

i used to love this song i have the hitclip
- michelle , raleigh, NC

U know I Hope I cn see u on stage singing 1 of my favorite song.u know i can't explain my feeling when i heard that.more success that's the spirit -lena, field,Canada
- Lena , Valenzuela, Canada

ok she keeps saying "im not a girl" and then later in the song she says "this GIRL will always find her way..." lol the name of the songs tells us that she's NOT a girl but still she calls herself A GIRL... confusing... she has no idea what shes even talking about... so are you a girl or not? make up your mind! :P
- Maria , nowhere, Other

well Britney, Calabasas, CA u are so wrong it makes her a lady LOSER!
- bek , melbourne, Australia

This song was a poem in Crossroads and its telling everyone she is pretty mature for alot of things but she isnt a women yet,she still wants to enjoy her childhood because life is so short. i dont like Britney,I use to when I was little but after the whole slutty girl she changed my life,well she got what she wanted,more attention but she payed the price,more rumors and less fans. Christina grew and said who cared about the mature girl,making me sexy has no sence so she put her feelings into it again like the hit "beautiful" but britney didnt care.
- Casie , Denver, CO

Not exactly Jenny, Some songs are for entertainment, fun, happiness etc.
- Cindy , sydney, United States

britney's songs dont really express any feelings at all. the only song with a bit of feelings "i'm not a girl, not yet a woman" and thats nothing compared 2 wot xtina can do! xtina is heaps, heaps beta than britney!!! at least xtina's songs has feelings, or emotions! isnt that wot a song is about? expressing feelings? britney should be banned from singing! xtina is the bomb!!
- jenny , aucklnad, New Zealand

Well, clearly the grammar is not perfectly correct, or the song wouldn't be on the "Songs With Bad Grammar In The Title" list, but I guess the song content itself more than makes up for that little blip. I'm sorry, but I'm a freelance writer and editor, so little things like that annoy me :o) (plus I get paid to spot them), but I can't argue with the view that there was a good chemistry in the unlikely collaboration of Britney and Dido.
- Dave , Cardiff, Wales

I love Britney's strong voice on this one, but on her more recent ballads she's been hitting ALOT of high notes and showing that she's got a much bigger vocal range than we thought. I find it strange she didn't show off more with this song, maybe she's been having vocal lessons? Either way, this beautiful, emotional song is amazing. Britney and Dido seem to have a really good chemistry, and I love Britney's voice on this track. The piano music is wonderful - and lyrically the song couldn't have suited Britney (at the time) better. She really did seem in that 'in-between' stage.
- Chester , Lincolnshire, England

When talking about this song and what it meant to her, Britney (in 2001) said words to the effect of: "I think that a girl is someone who is insecure. She's still learning and she's very inexperienced in life. I think a woman is someone who knows herself inside out. She knows her strengths, she knows her flaws - and she's comfortable with that. She's comfortable in her own skin and content in herself. She also knows how to excersise her self-control and how to use her strengths and weaknesses to her advantage. And I think, yeah... I'm kind of in between those stages. So I totally relate to this song."
- Chester , Lincolnshire, England

what? the grammar is perfectly correct.
- jessa , Brampton, ON, Canada

This song title is, in fact, gramatically incorrect - it should be "I'm Not A Girl, YET NOT A Woman", or else there should be a "But" or "And" between the words "Girl" and "Not". Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. "I'm Not A Girl..." is perhaps the most credible song that Britney has released to date, and shows a bit more maturity than some of her earlier stuff, and suggests that she's more suited to singing this type of song rather than the raunchier stuff she's better known for, where she resorts to caterwauling. Or perhaps it's because the song was written by the immensely talented Dido. If only she'd continued on this path, rather than butchering "I Love Rock And Roll" for her next release...
- Dave , Cardiff, Wales

Christina! Now that girl can SANG!
- Britney , Calabasas, CA

To answer Britney's question: I once asked this to my friend Derek, and he said it makes her a dragon. ;) And Britney has NO vocal talent. If you want to listen to a modern pop queen with real talent, then listen to Christina Aguilera, who is 1,000 times more talented vocally than Britney.
- Krie , Ft. Drum, NY

So if she's not a girl and not yet a women... doesn't that make her a man?
- Britney , Calabasas, CA

This is a greatsong because Britney actually uses her vocal talent. Also a great movie. I was very surpried that I enjoyed it.
- Maria , Atlanta, GA

Hey we need the lyrics 4 this totally wicked song coz it rox!
- Rachel , Barooga, Australia

maybe u could get more facts about it. it doesn't say that much info.
- steph , citrusheights, CA

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