Artist: Victoria Black
Title: Bulletproof
Genre: Pop
Length: 3:37
Written By: V.Black, D.Khan, K.O'Neill
Produced By: Deneil
Label: Five Pesky Kids
From The Album: Beautiful Mess
Background"Bulletproof" is the second single from Victoria Black's upcoming second studio album. The sophomore record was originally titled 'The Seductres' and was set to demonstrate Black's new found interest in the rock/pop genre - a departure from the R&B influence heard on her 2011 debut release 'Hush'. The album was lead by the rock influenced break-up anthem 'Shut Your Pretty Little Mouth' which was well received by critics and went on to become Black's first number one single. After topping the charts and inking a deal with Five Pesky Kids - Weekend's record label, it looked as though Victoria was here to stay. However, after Victoria was given the opportunity to work with new producers and artists that signed with Pesky Management, she pushed the album's release date back in order to work on it again.
In early 2014 Victoria revealed that the initial second single 'God Won't Save You Now' had been shelved and the album would undergo a name change. Victoria then went on to reveal that the original tracklist which was posted online a year previous had almost been changed completely with the exception of a few songs. In March 2014, Victoria announced that the next single from the album would be titled 'Bulletproof' - a song recorded in the new sessions. Victoria also posted the official single cover onto her Instagram profile along with the first line of the chorus;
"This time around I'll be bulletproof, I'll crash into you". A day later, Black revealed that her new album will be titled "Beautiful Mess". It was also confirmed that the hit single 'Shut Your Pretty Little Mouth" will be included on the album.
"I understand that this second album has been such a long time coming. It has suffered delay after delay and i know that a lot of people weren't happy about that but I feel like releasing the record now instead of its original spring 2013 release date was for the best. Since 2011, I have been in and out of record deals, friends have come and gone, I struggled with my identity as an artist and I even thought about ending my music career at one point. However, over the last three years I have also grown as an individual, entered a serious relationship, made the transition from teenager to woman and found my spark again so it's been one hell of a ride. I wanted to come back with a powerful album. One that represents my strength, fight and growth.
Initially, I thought that 'The Seductress' was
the album and I couldn't wait for everyone to hear it. However, I had written and recorded a lot of those songs almost a year before signing to Pesky so by the time it came to releasing 'Shut Your Pretty Little Mouth' and promoting the album, the songs were about a year old and weren't fresh and exciting to me anymore. When I perform my songs I not only want to see the fans enjoy it but I also want to enjoy it myself. There's nothing worse than seeing an artist that clearly doesn't connect with their music or who obviously feels like they're being forced to do it. I still love the tracks I recorded. I worked with some extremely talented people and I appreciate everything they done for me but it just didn't feel right anymore.
The guys at Pesky, who are extremely supportive with all of their acts, allowed me to delay the record as they understood where I was coming from. A few producers and artists signed to Pesky Management around the same time I decided to push back the album. Riley [Hamilton] suggested that I meet up with a few of the new signings to see if we could find some magic so I had a few meetings, a couple of 'jam' sessions here and there and things started to take shape from there onward. I definitely think that heading into the studio again was the best decision. I found an overall sound that is like a continuation of the first but it also has elements of rock pop. The original second album was strictly rock pop and comparing it to my first, it was quite a jump and sounded like a completely different artist. Now it seems like a much smoother transition and it is all still fresh and exciting to me.
I chose 'Bulletproof' as the lead single for many reasons. 'Beautiful Mess' is a very dramatic album. There are a lot of dark tracks, soaring choruses, emotional subject matters and on overall feeling of fighting back. I think that 'Bulletproof' represents that for the most part. It has a dark tone, the chorus is powerful yet it is also fun to listen to which is exactly what a single needs to be if you want to entice people into buying the album. I have great ballads on the album but I didn't want to come back with a slow song and have people think that the new album will be all down tempo. It is a whole mixture and 'Bulletproof' is a hybrid song itself so it combines a lot of the sounds heard on 'Beautiful Mess' into one track."
Information"Bulletproof" is a mid-tempo pop song written by Victoria Black, Deneil Khan and Kerry O'Neill. The song was written and recorded in January 2014, becoming one of the last songs Black recorded for the "Beautiful Mess" album. Production of the track came from English producer/rapper, Deneil who also has a writing credit on the song. "Bulletproof" was recorded in the makeshift studio within the basement of Deneil's home.
Lyrically the song is about a turbulent relationship in which the female often finds herself under scrutiny from her partner, especially when he is drunk. She then decided to drink too for some 'Dutch courage' and let the truth out and not skip a single detail. Black stated that she doesn't believe alcohol solves any big problem and that the behaviour of the people she based the song on is "pathetic".
"I wrote this song about a couple I knew for a long time. They were actually in the family. I had known them since I was a kid. Basically, they hated each other and constantly argued. They could be okay for a while when they were sober - able to put on front for a bit however that didn't last long. The did not have anything nice to say to or about each other, especially after a few drinks. I could never understand why they were together. If you can't think of a single nice word to say about someone then why do you stay with them? In my opinion it was either due to money situations, out of guilt or simply because they didn't want to lose the roof they had over their head. It was quite pathetic and she only spoke up after a drink but would be all sorry the next day but we all know the truth comes out when someone is drunk. I have no idea if they are still together, I cut off contact as soon as I could
(laughs)."
Victoria however decided to put a slightly different spin on the song, wanting the listeners to root for the girl in the track.
"I didn't want to just retell the story, I wanted to take it and make it the way I wish it would have turned out and also use the story for a different purpose. Yes, they are drunk in the song and no, Dutch courage is not always acceptable. However, the good thing is that in the song she actually leaves the guy and states that enough is enough. I wanted it to seem like the guy in the song was this big, powerful force and she was intimidated by him and has been wanting to leave for a very long time. I hope to get the feeling of standing tall and conquering an evil across on the track. Whenever I hear it, especially the chorus, I feel so empowered and it sends chills up and down my spine."
Critical ReceptionUpon hearing the song a day prior to public release, Marc Parsons of Digital Spy stated that "Bulletproof" shows "Huge potential - another killer track for Victoria to add to her back catalogue. She may have only released four singles as a solo artist but each and every one of them has been a piece of pop perfection and this one is no exception. If Victoria's career didn't suffer multiple delays and she was more interested in making public appearances, she could well and truly be one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. She has the entire package." He also went on to applaud the production and vocals on "Bulletproof" by saying that "The song is another Deneil gem. It's hard to believe that such a big song was produced in a little basement of a London flat. Khan has worked his magic again and the epic chorus is taken to a whole new level with Black's soaring voice which sounds raw and filled with emotion as she definitely connects with the song." Parsons goes on to compare Victoria to other young female artists in the charts today. "Victoria may not be selling out arenas or on the cover of every magazine but compared to the majority of other female pop stars out there, her vocals alone win her the crown and that's not even bringing her songwriting skills into it. Whether or not this is another success and if she doesn't find herself in the charts alongside the likes of Mandy Williams, Kourtney and Isabel, it doesn't matter. Victoria has proved her talent on this track and that is all we need to hear."
"Bulletproof"Say it now, say it loud
You've taken some brave pills and your glass is running over
Say it now, say it proud
It obviously can not wait until we are both sober
Silly girl, party guy
We ain't drunk in love, just severely irked and so hungover
Tell the world, spill the truth
Oh please tell me how the end is drawing even closer
Take another shot, keep firing them at me
Goes straight to the brain, it helps numb the pain
Take another shot, keep them all coming
I'm so messed up, nothing you throw my way can hurt
This time around I'm gonna be bulletproof, I'll crash into you
This time around I'm gonna be bulletproof, I'll fly, I'll soar, I'll come straight for you
And I, I'm gonna swing like it's the battle of my life, you can't stop me if you try
This time around I'm gonna be bulletproof, yeah I'll crash into youThere's only so much I can take, if we crumble please don't resuscitate
Drink your sorrows, drink your memories away, yeah I'll wash you away
I'm feeling sick at your touch, my heart's too damaged to love
Drink your sorrows, drink your memories away, yeah I'll wash you away
Say it now, say it loud
Just gave me one more reason so I can say this is over
Say it now, say it proud
Try to humiliate me 'cause you like that don't ya?
Silly girl, party guy
Wild nights out but between the sheets it's getting colder
Tell the world, spill the truth
You're like a Jekyll and Hyde, time to show the real monster
Take another shot while they're still hot and trending
I'll drink them all up like it's going out of fashion
Take another shot, gimme some Dutch courage
I'll coat my hoarse throat from all this shouting
This time around I'm gonna be bulletproof, I'll crash into you
This time around I'm gonna be bulletproof, I'll fly, I'll soar, I'll come straight for you
And I, I'm gonna swing like it's the battle of my life, you can't stop me if you try
This time around I'm gonna be bulletproof, yeah I'll crash into youThere's only so much I can take, if we crumble please don't resuscitate
Drink your sorrows, drink your memories away, yeah I'll wash you away
I'm feeling sick at your touch, my heart's too damaged to love
Drink your sorrows, drink your memories away, yeah I'll wash you away
Wash all my sorrows and troubles away
I'm better off without you, I don't need you to stay
Now I'm bulletproof, I'm gonna make my on way, make my own way
Wash all my sorrows and troubles away
I'm better off without you, I don't need you to stay
Now I'm bulletproof, I'm gonna make my on way, make my own way
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