Music Review: Keri Hilson "Pretty Girl Rock"

Keri Hilson

Pretty Girl Rock

Album: 2010

Year: No Boys Allowed

           Keri Hilson has confidence in herself in the radiant “Pretty Girl Rock.”

                 Sprightly synths open the single, setting a whimiscal tone.  She says has the attitude to pull off any look. She introduces herself and says she’s intimidates men. They fall in love with her right away. Howeever, if a guy pushes himself on her, she isn’t afraid to stand up to him.The men fire back at her, calling her a tease but she pays no attention. (“I can do the pretty girl rock rock/Rock to the pretty girl rock rock rock/Now what's your name?/My name is Keri, I'm so very/Fly oh my it's a little bit scary/Boys wanna marry looking at my derriere/You can stare but if you touch it I'ma bury/Pretty as a picture/Sweeter than a swisher/Mad cause I'm cuter than the girl that's with ya/I ain't gotta talk about it baby you can see it/But if you want I'll be happy to repeat it/My name is Keri, I'm so very/Fly oh my it's a little bit scary/Boys wanna marry looking at my derrierre/You can stare but if you touch it I'mma bury/Pretty as a picture/Sweeter than a swisher/Mad cause I'm cuter than the girl that's with ya/I can talk about it cause I know that I'm pretty/And if you know it too then ladies sing it with me.”)

              In the pre-chorus, she says people immediately notice her. People think she’s a supermodel. She ignores the snippy remarks. (“All eyes on me when I walk in/No question that this girl's a 10/Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful/Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful/My walk my talk the way I dress/It's not my fault so please don't trip/Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful/Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful.”)

                In the chorus, she encourages other women to feel good about their beauty. (“Aye, now do the pretty girl rock rock rock/Do the pretty girl rock rock rock/Do the pretty girl rock rock/All my ladies do the pretty girl rock rock rock/Do the pretty girl rock rock rock/Do the pretty girl rock rock/Do the pretty girl rock.”)

               She says she’s approachable and other women spend too much trash talking her. They need to think about themselves and fix what’s wrong. She adds that their nastiness is part of their problem. (“Now where you at?/If you're looking for me you can catch me/Cameras flashing, daddy's turned his head as soon as I passed him/Girls think I'm conceited cause I know I'm attractive/Don't worry about what I think why don't you ask him?/Get yourself together don't hate (never do it)/Jealousy is the ugliest trait (don't ever do it)/I can talk about it cause I know that I'm pretty/And if you know it too then ladies sing it with me.”)

                 The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

                  In the final section, she tells other women to strut what they have and like themselves. (“Get along with your pretty girl rock rock rock/Still show me your pretty girl rock rock rock/All my ladies do the pretty girl rock rock rock/Sing it with me now.”)

                  Hilson, to her credit, exudes kindness which makes the otherwise arrogance in the lyrics disappear. She’s simply a girl who has a healthy self-esteem and wishes other women would treat each other with respect

             The easygoing   “Pretty Girl Rock” could’ve gone really wrong. However, it’s Hilson’s quiet feistiness that strikes the right balance.