21st Century Girl

Album: Willow: You Think You Know Me (2011)
Charted: 91 99
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This piece of electro-pop is the second single by 10-year-old entertainer Willow Smith. The song was released on February 3rd, 2011, the day after she performed the song on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
  • This was written by Drew Ryan Scott of American vocal group Varsity Fanclub and Omarr Rambert whose other credits include Justin Bieber's hit single, "Never Say Never."
    Twin and Alke, who are a Swedish record production and songwriting team consisting of Joacim Persson, Johan Alkenas and Niclas Molinder, produced the track. Other songs on their resume include Ashley Tisdale's "It's Alright, It's OK" and Charice's "Pyramid."
  • The song finds Willow celebrating being a girl of the moment and proclaiming her independence. "I set the boundaries, the rules don't own me/I'm living life on the edge, I choose my path," she sings.
  • The Rich Lee directed video was filmed in a California location on January 22, 2011. In a behind-the-scenes film, Willow explained the clip is "about girls who are being themselves. They're walking toward their goal, they're thriving to be the best - 'cause you know that you can do it."

Comments: 1

  • Amanda from Branson, MoShe is like 8 years old, she probably cant even party right.... cute kid tho.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."