Pretty Girl Rock

Album: No Boys Allowed (2010)
Charted: 53 24
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This uptempo track is the second single by American R&B singer-songwriter Keri Hilson, from her sophomore album, No Boys Allowed.
  • This self-appreciating song was produced by Chuck Harmony and Ne-Yo and finds Hilson repping for all the gorgeous gals.
  • Hilson discussed with MTV News why every female should feel like a "pretty girl": "I think that this record could have a special place or could live in the hearts of those who are different and those who people call 'imperfect' or you know, just have a lot of insecurities," she explained. "Everyone's dealing with them. Everyone has insecurities and imperfections, and it's all about embracing those things and understanding that through your differences, you are beautiful."
  • The music video directed by Joseph Kahn ("Love The Way You Lie"), features Hilson paying tribute to a succession of star from early 20th-century singers Dorothy Dandridge and Josephine Baker, '50s screen queen Doris Day to "'90's girl group TLC. "In this video, I do nine changes, and it's almost like I have to slip in and out of multiple personalities because I'm doing, what, 10 different eras, from the '20s straight up until 2010, which is me," she explained to MTV News. Hilson added that the video is her "way of paying homage to groundbreaking women, strong women who were fearless and so bold and so confident that they made women feel that way. And I hope to do the same."

Comments: 3

  • Chinonye from Lagos, NigeriaActually, both song were nominated in different years and in different categories.
  • Chi Girl from NigeriaA fun song. She performed it on David Letterman to thunderous applause. It seems Neyo gave her the song as a compensation for giving Beyonce Irreplaceable. Both songs were nominated for grammies in the same category but Irreplaceable won.
  • Wade from Katy, TxThis has honestly got to be the biggest fail of a song for 2010
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.