Unique

Album: The Bright Side (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Australian singer-songwriter Lenka reunited with Jason Reeves, the co-writer of her breakthrough 2008 hit "The Show," to write this folk-pop celebration of individuality. She sings about the quirks of her personality that make her different from most people - she's happy to be sad and feels lonely in a crowd - but comes to the conclusion that it's okay to be unique:

    I like to move around to different beat
    I'll walk away then smile in my own street
    And I don't really mind when you are fake
    'Cause I am me and that's unique
  • "It's actually hard to write a whole song about being unique!" Lenka admitted. But the subject matter resonated with many of her fans, who approached the singer after shows to share their appreciation.

    "They really feel like it's an anthem for them, particular people who don't feel like they fit in," she told The Jakarta Post in 2015. "A lot of people with disabilities, people from the transgender community … people with Down syndrome persons in their families and people who are not feeling good about themselves."
  • Making The Bright Side, her fourth studio album, was also challenging because Lenka didn't want to leave her toddler son to travel all over the world to meet with songwriters and producers, so most of the collaborations were done remotely - except for this one. She met up with Reeves in person for a songwriting session on the beach in California.

    "I went out to Malibu, and we sat on the sand with a guitar. He started smashing out some chords," she recalled. "We did the song together, and I went back to Australia and finessed it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.