Powerless (Say What You Want)

Nelly Furtado

About Powerless (Say What You Want)

"Powerless (Say What You Want)" is a pop song written by Nelly Furtado, Gerald Eaton and Brian West for Furtado's second studio album, Folklore (2003). It contains a sample of Malcolm McLaren's "Buffalo Gals" which was written by Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn and Malcolm McLaren. It was produced by Furtado and Track & Field and was chosen to be the lead single from the album, released in December 2003. Banjo player Béla Fleck appears on the track.


Year:
2003
3:53
124 
#1

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Paint my face in your magazines 
Make it look whiter than it seems 
Paint me over with your dreams 
Shove away my ethnicity 

Burn every notion that I may have a flame inside to fight 
And say just what is on my mind 
Without offending your might 

'Cause this life is too short to live it just for you 
But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do 
So say what you want, say what you want

I saw her face outside today 
Weather worn, looking all the rage 
They took her passion and her gaze and made a poster 
Now it's moccasins we sport 
We take the culture and contort 
Perhaps only to distort what we are hiding 

'Cause this life is too short to live it just for you 
But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do 
But say what you want, say what you want, say, say

Hey you, the are the one outside, are you ever gonna get in, get in 
Hey you, the one that don't fit in, how ya, how ya gonna get in 
Hey you, the one outside, are you ever gonna get in with your 
Broken teeth, broken jaw, broken mojo 

Yeah, this life is too short to live it just for you 
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do 

'Cause this life is too short to live it just for you 
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do 
'Cause this life is too short to live it just for you 
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do 

Say what you want, life is too short
Say what you want,
Say what you want, gonna do
Say what you want,
Say what you want, feel powerless
Say what you want to
Say say say, do what you wanna do
Life is too short, just for you
Feel powerless, gonna do

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Nelly Furtado

Nelly Kim Furtado (born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, which spawned two successful singles, "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light". "I'm Like A Bird" won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In 2003, Furtado released Folklore, which produced three international singles— "Powerless (Say What You Want)", "Try" and "Força". Three years later she released Loose, a worldwide commercial success. The album spawned four number-one hits: "Promiscuous", "Maneater", "Say It Right" and "All Good Things (Come to an End)". After a three-year break, she released her first full-length Spanish a… more »

3 fans

Written by: GERALD EATON, BRIAN WEST, NELLY FURTADO, MALCOLM MCLAREN, TREVOR HORN, A DUDLEY

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Date
"Powerless (Say What You Want)" was released as the lead single from Nelly Furtado's second studio album, 'Folklore', on 8th November 2003.
Chart Performance
The song reached top 10 positions in several countries around the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries in Europe. It topped the RPM's Canada Top Singles chart for two weeks and was also a top-five hit in the United Kingdom.
Genre
The song represents a departure from the pop sound of Furtado’s previous work and marks a transition to a more mature, folk-influenced style with a mix of pop and rock elements.
Lyrics
Fueled by an empowering theme, the song's lyrics are viewed as a criticism of the processed images presented in the media and the feeling of being powerless to these perceptions.
Music Video
Directed by Bryan Barber, the song's music video shows Furtado in various locations of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, including a park and a fishing boat.
Awards
The song was nominated for Single of the Year at the 2004 Juno Awards.
Remix
A remix of the song featuring Colombian singer Juanes was released in 2004 and titled 'Te Busqué' - it was a commercial hit in several Spanish-speaking territories.
Album Performance
Along with other tracks, 'Powerless (Say What You Want)' contributed to the commercial and critical success of the 'Folklore' album, which was certified Gold and Platinum in several countries.
Positive Reception
Many reviewers commended the track for its bold venture into folk-inspired music and applauded Furtado's strong & distinct vocals.
Live Performances
Furtado performed this song during her world tour for the 'Folklore' album and it continues to be a fan favorite during her concert performances.

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