"Try" is track #4 on the album Gypsy Heart (Side A). It was co-written by R&B legend Kenneth “babyface” Edmonds and Colbie Caillat.
In this song, Colbie Caillat makes a thoughtful statement about unfair beauty ideals by shunning hair and make-up, and it is all from personal experiences. This song is about how people try so hard to fit in and they don't need to.
Colbie reveals,
“I felt like people were trying to change me in the industry. I was getting so tired of how exhausting it is being a woman, trying to look sexy and wear tons of makeup on TV. And if you don’t, people think you look weird or awkward.”
She explained that when she went back in the studio with Grammy winning Producer Babyface and her long time co-writers and friends Jason Reeves and Tony, she vetted these frustrations. They responded simply, “You don’t have to try. You need to go against what they are saying.” She conceded, “We wrote ‘Try’ that moment.”
Don’t think these messages are coming from a man to make a woman look a certain way, but here is a man encouraging Colbie to write about it.
Obviously, Colbie is a public character, but she is extraordinarily brave because she didn’t have Photoshop on this album cover. She didn’t prepare or starve herself and over-exercise, neither did she get her nails and hair done, nor get a facial or a stylist.
Just like the characters who are in this song’s video, everyone is trying to hide their faults from each other. When they have blemishes on their skin, gain weight, have crooked teeth, are bald, or have hair roots that are going grey, they pulled themselves on the stage, to remove all their ornaments and makeup. They are confident to show their weakness of appearance to the audiences and the video looks like they are having fun at party.
The hardest part about being a female in today’s society is to try to live up to other people’s expectations. When we do get dolled up, we get more compliments. The first thing people comment on is your image when you have a cute outfit on and your makeup looks amazing. When you don’t wear makeup, you hear things like, “Oh, you look tired or you’re so brave for not wearing makeup!"
Remember that makeup and accessories do not necessarily cover you for life.
Get inspired by these lyrics of Try:
You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing
Wait a second,
Why, should you care, what they think of you
When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you?
Do you like you?
Take your make-up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, at yourself
Don't you like you?
Cause I like you
I know that once a person gets used to something, it’s hard to change your habits. But please stop having materialistic perspectives about women. Tell someone who’s not outside beautiful but on the inside, “you are the apple in my eyes”.
In this song, Colbie Caillat makes a thoughtful statement about unfair beauty ideals by shunning hair and make-up, and it is all from personal experiences. This song is about how people try so hard to fit in and they don't need to.
Colbie reveals,
“I felt like people were trying to change me in the industry. I was getting so tired of how exhausting it is being a woman, trying to look sexy and wear tons of makeup on TV. And if you don’t, people think you look weird or awkward.”
She explained that when she went back in the studio with Grammy winning Producer Babyface and her long time co-writers and friends Jason Reeves and Tony, she vetted these frustrations. They responded simply, “You don’t have to try. You need to go against what they are saying.” She conceded, “We wrote ‘Try’ that moment.”
Don’t think these messages are coming from a man to make a woman look a certain way, but here is a man encouraging Colbie to write about it.
Obviously, Colbie is a public character, but she is extraordinarily brave because she didn’t have Photoshop on this album cover. She didn’t prepare or starve herself and over-exercise, neither did she get her nails and hair done, nor get a facial or a stylist.
Just like the characters who are in this song’s video, everyone is trying to hide their faults from each other. When they have blemishes on their skin, gain weight, have crooked teeth, are bald, or have hair roots that are going grey, they pulled themselves on the stage, to remove all their ornaments and makeup. They are confident to show their weakness of appearance to the audiences and the video looks like they are having fun at party.
The hardest part about being a female in today’s society is to try to live up to other people’s expectations. When we do get dolled up, we get more compliments. The first thing people comment on is your image when you have a cute outfit on and your makeup looks amazing. When you don’t wear makeup, you hear things like, “Oh, you look tired or you’re so brave for not wearing makeup!"
Remember that makeup and accessories do not necessarily cover you for life.
Get inspired by these lyrics of Try:
You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing
Wait a second,
Why, should you care, what they think of you
When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you?
Do you like you?
Take your make-up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, at yourself
Don't you like you?
Cause I like you
I know that once a person gets used to something, it’s hard to change your habits. But please stop having materialistic perspectives about women. Tell someone who’s not outside beautiful but on the inside, “you are the apple in my eyes”.