Alien

Album: Summer (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cassadee Pope celebrates self-acceptance and marching to the beat of your own drum on this powerful song about individuality. "I wrote this with Ross Copperman and Jon Nite. I went into the session, and I went, 'I'm on a Shania [Twain] kick right now. I'd love to write a sassy, fun, summery song,'" she recalled to The Boot. "We started writing something, and we didn't feel super connected to it, [so] I just started telling them about my life, where I come from and what I've done. I saw their eyes just open really wide, like, 'We have to write a song about this.'"

    "I was a cheerleader, and I was in chorus. I won homecoming queen, but I had a band that played rock shows on the weekend. I was all over the place when it comes to what you're supposed to stick with," Pope added. "I loved it all, and I still do, so when I became an adult, and it was time to choose a path, and it was time to choose what I stood for, it was really hard for me, because I love everything. I have such an eclectic taste in things - fashion, music, hobbies - so I just hated being pressured into choosing something to be, so I wrote a song about, it's okay to be all these different things."

    "Society makes us feel like we have to choose, but I hope when people hear this, they feel encouraged to be themselves - all the weird aspects of themselves," she concluded. "I'm really proud of this one."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.