TODAY SHOW - September 12, 2014

Background:

After premiering his single last Sunday, Reese Hollinsworth has mentioned that he will appear on the Today Show on a recent appearance on the country radio show The Bobby Bones Show. Not much more is known about his plans for the show, but some have speculated that he might be previewing some songs from his debut album, Reese|Yoncía, or even premiere a new single.

Interview:

Natalie Morales: This man has been taking the world by storm with his stunning vocals and his powerful stage presence. This morning he shall take the stage at the Today Plaza, making his Today Show debut. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Reese Hollinsworth. First of all, it’s a great pleasure having you here with us.

Reese Hollinsworth: Thanks for having me, it’s an honor being here.

Natalie: Okay, so you have an album coming out at the end of October, how does that feel?

Reese: Umm… somewhere between exciting and nerve-wracking, I guess. I mean, I am truly happy that this finally gets out, but I’m afraid of the response, you know. Some of these songs are really special to me and I just want my fans and the critics out there to really listen to it and understand it. Because, sometimes people can take things the wrong way and I don’t really want to have to explain myself. It’s all in the liner notes, so I don’t really wanna have to go through that again. It’s been quite the emotional rollercoaster I’ve gone through making this album, so I’d like very much not to go through that again.

Natalie: Well, what surprises me is that you decided to preview songs one by one and then add them to the tracklist where you decided them to be. Why is that?

Reese: I guess, what I missed about music is that anticipation of what kind of songs are gonna be on the album, how are they gonna sound like, how would their placements affect the flow of the album, et cetera, et cetera. And, I guess, I wanted to revive that anticipation, that need to know about something but you can’t. It was such a beautiful feeling, even though it could get a little bit frustrating.

Natalie: You sound like someone with experience on this.

Reese: You’re talking to a 24-year-old who’s just starting out in the industry. I have, like, at least 18 years of experience on this.

Natalie: So let’s talk about what you’re doing today. So you got less than two months before the album gets released and since you’ll preview songs a few at a time, I take it that you’re previewing a couple of tracks today?

Reese: Three, actually. One is called “Number One Girl”, another is called “Haters Gonna Hate (Shake it Off)” and the last one is called “Immortal”. Not necessarily in that order.

Natalie: Can you tell us a little bit more about the songs?

Reese: Well, I worked with mISTER_b on "Immortal". At first, I wrote the song by myself, but since I wanted Drake to work on the track, I asked him to also take a look at the song, to see if it needed any changes. And when we got back to it, there were virtually no changes at all. He changed up a few words to make it rhyme, but most of the song was me, so I'm really excited for people to listen to this. And then there's "Haters Gonna Hate", on which I worked with Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift, who I think are three of the most successful songwriters the face of the Earth has ever seen. And actually meeting them for the first time was an amazing moment to share. Finally, we have "Number One Girl”, which we had a lot of fun with producing. It’s basically a pop song but it’s got an edge of, like, retro R&B, if you squint. And I'm talking too much so I'm gonna stop now.

Natalie: I can tell that this is a pretty busy week you've got next week, right?

Reese: Well, I'm gonna do one or two radio interviews and then this or next Sunday, I got the Fan Choice Awards. So I think you could say that.

Natalie: Well, there’s one thing that people really wanted to ask you, us here included. I know you’re just starting out and you’re getting a lot of attention everywhere. And you’re quite a handsome man, from the way I’m looking at you right now. But the question here is: is there anyone who’s caught your attention?

Reese: Umm… *laughs* Y’all put me on the spot like this. Umm… no one yet. I’m all about the work these days. Add in my workaholic personality and I pretty much don’t have a personal life.

Natalie: You hear that, gentlemen? He’s single. *laughs* Well, I know you have a lot of work to do later on. So I’m gonna let you go change, but not before I show you something. Let’s come to the window.

Reese: *gasps* Oh my God! There’s so many of them.

Natalie: They’ve been sleeping here since last night when they knew you were coming.

Reese: I saw them last night.

Natalie: You saw them when you came in?

Reese: No, when I drove home from the studio.

Natalie: Well, I’ll let you wave to your fans and have you changed up for your performance. We’ll see you down there. That’s a scoop of Reese Hollinsworth for you. In a few minutes, Reese will take over the last half hour of the show and three new songs from his debut album will be previewed and all of you watching this live will be the first ones to hear this. We’ll back in a minute.

~~~

[The camera diverts to an all-black set just under the Today Plaza on Fifth Avenue, standing on it are white-clad male dancers. The scenery is relatively silent for a few moments before the silence is broken by the screaming of the audience to the sight of Reese making his way from the Today Plaza to the stage, adorned with a simple silver sequined dress, black knee-high four-inch-high-heeled boots and custom-designed crystal earrings which have a thin cable-like structure to loop around the ears and also serve as earpieces. He starts singing the first half of the chorus of “Number One Girl” slowly in acapella.]

‘Cause I’ll forever be your number one girl
And I ain’t never gonna make you forget it
‘Cause I am your number one girl
And ain’t no other chick can stand in my way

[Music starts playing softly and the volume keeps going louder as Reese is approaching the end of the acapella chorus. The white-clad male dancers are slowly rising from their position of one-knee-kneeling.]

Well, I’m your number one girl
And I’m gon’ tear down the roof of this place to prove it
So do you believe me now
That you’re staring at your number one girl

[Reese makes it to the catwalk-like end of the stage when he starts singing the first verse. One of the male dancers come up to Reese and holds out his hand to offer Reese support. The singer takes it and goes up the small steps in front of the set onto the stage. He continues singing the first verse and going towards the wide end of the stage before he reaches the mic stand in front of the ‘catwalk’ and starts out the chorus again.]

Hey, baby, you so fine
I know it ‘cause I’ve been lookin’ at you for a while now
Hey, boy, I know you got some skill on ya
‘Cause I can smell a player from ten blocks away
But that’s okay, I ain’t lookin’ for love tonight
I’m just looking for a good time to party tonight
Well, baby, are you ready ‘cause I’m comin’ your way
Get ready to get your mind blown off the roof tonight

‘Cause I’ll forever be your number one girl
And I ain’t never gonna make you forget it
(Oh, oh, forget it, oh, oh)
‘Cause I am your number one girl
And ain’t no other chick can stand in my way
(oh, oh, oh, oh)
Well, I’m your number one girl
And I’m gon’ tear down the roof of this place to prove it
So do you believe me now
That you’re staring at your number one girl
Your number one girl, your number one girl

[The dancers which accompanied Reese in the first verse left the stage, leaving Reese to perform alone. He ripped the microphone off of its stand and started to walk slowly towards the end of the runway. In this part, he interacts more with the audience as he waves and points at the audience. After that, he continues to sing, now to the chorus like planned. The conclusion of the performance included three drum beats and three saxophone sounds before the music abruptly ends. Loud cheering follows the abrupt end of the music.]

Hey, you know you got that sweet little tang in your mouth
That drives me crazy every single time
Oh, and the taste of your lips every time you kiss me
Taste of vodka and heaven
Baby, you, you got me wrapped around your finger
Just one word, and I’ll go home with you at your beck and call
But enough with the chit-chat, time to get down to business
I’mma give you the show that you came to see
And blow your mind away

‘Cause I’ll forever be your number one girl
And I ain’t never gonna make you forget it
(oh, oh, forget it, oh oh)
‘Cause I am your number one girl
And ain’t no other bitch can stand in my way
(oh oh oh oh)
Well, I’m your number one girl
And I’m gon’ tear down the roof of this place to prove it~~~
(eh eh eh)
So do you believe me now
That you’re staring at your number one girl
Your number one girl, your number one girl

---

[Soft but going louder and louder piano chords start playing as Reese walks slowly back to the mic stand and put the microphone in its spot. He starts by saying, “This is for the people who’ve been hurt before,” before continuing a few moments later, “and the people who’ve hurt, as well.” He starts singing the first verse of “Immortal”.]

Silence echoes the room, as we move on from our own doom
But what’s important is I’m free from you, and there’s nothing you can do
I feel the pain showering down like the rain, but I feel free from your shackles
And your shadows won’t hurt me, ‘cause I’m all too used to you

[He takes the microphone off the stand as a man dressed in black takes the stand and moves it away from the stage. He stands alone, singing the pre-chorus. After that, he takes a powerful stand as he sings the first chorus.]

You got me down, but I won’t fall
‘Cause, baby, I’m not the weak one you used to know
You shot me down, but I can’t die
Because I’m free from you, I feel immortal
Nothing can stop me so I’m letting go

Boy, I don’t know if you know this
But because of you, I’ll never stay the same
I may be weak in the first place, but I got stronger after the pain
Nothing will ever stay the same
But I know something that’ll never change
And that would be the past, when I break free, the look on your face

[The singer walks to the very end of the stage and puts one knee down, reaching his hand out to the audience. The people at the front eagerly and excitedly grab his hand, making him slip up a little from his one-knee-down posture and chuckle in the middle of the second verse. He quickly recovers and returns his hand close to his body. When it comes to the peak of the second pre-chorus, Reese holds the microphone out to the people at the right, who does the job for him. “Y’all are so wonderful,” he said in place of the second half of the pre-chorus. He runs back to the wide end of the stage and starts singing the chorus while jumping up and down at the same time, an impressive feat in four-inch-high heels.]

Almost louder than we can hear is the silence that falls down on us on that night
But I’m sure I can hear the cries in your soul, telling you to hold me back
I don’t wanna go back, and you know why, ‘cause the freak in you is the cause why I can’t lie
And the universe agrees ‘cause look where I am now, baby

Your grenade is indestructible
But so am I and not even you can break me down
Get your whole army out, and I will stand
Firmly into the ground with my immortality
Nothing can stop me so I’m letting go

Boy, I don’t know if you know this
But because of you, I’ll never stay the same
I may be weak in the first place, but I got stronger after the pain
Nothing will ever stay the same
But I know something that’ll never change
And that would be the past, when I break free, the look on your face

[The electronic interlude comes and instead of getting a moment to rest like others do, he calls out to the audience, “Fifth Avenue, let me hear you,” to which the audience screams loudly. He then repeats the two pre-choruses as the bridge to the song before erupting into the chorus once more. The song ends with an electronic sound which fades quickly to mute.]

You got me down, but I won’t fall
‘Cause, baby, I’m not the weak one you used to know
You shot me down, but I can’t die
Because I’m free from you, I feel immortal
Your grenade is indestructible
But so am I and not even you can break me down
Get your whole army out, and I will stand
Firmly into the ground with my immortality

Boy, I don’t know if you know this
But because of you, I’ll never stay the same
I may be weak in the first place, but I got stronger after the pain
Nothing will ever stay the same
But I know something that’ll never change
And that would be the past, when I break free, the look on your face

---

[A funky drum beat starts playing and the crowd goes wild. “Are y’all ready to have fun with this last song?” Reese shouted out to the audience. “Come on, New York, get up on your feet and dance with this number,” he said before singing the first verse of “Haters Gonna Hate (Shake it Off)”.]

People say that I can’t move, with the dance that people groove
Well, that’s what people say (mmm, mmm), that’s what people say (mmm, mmm)
They say that I’m not gon’ keep up, that I will never sip their cup
At least that’s what people say (mmm, mmm), that’s what people say (mmm, mmm)

[A troupe of four ballerinas then leap onto the stage as Reese sings the pre-chorus. He interacts funnily with the ballerinas, making silly faces and skipping around at them before settling down in a spot in front of them for the chorus, where his dancing turns awkward as he ‘shakes it off’.]

And people just keep talking, but I’m ain’t even listening
Why should I be caring?
‘Cause in my mind, everything’s gonna be alright
I’m just saying, why is everyone still caring?
Can’t they just go on living?
‘Cause if they do, everything’s gonna be alright

‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, shake it off

[The ballerinas leave the stage and another troupe of four - now contemporary dancers - step onto the stage, immediately starting their extremely angsty emotional routine. Reese joins them while singing, although his movements are less extreme as he has to keep his vocals straight for the second verse. The contemporary dancers only get one verse of stage time as the cheerleaders excitedly step on for the second pre-chorus and chorus, which they stand on the sides of the runway end of the stage and get into their cheerleading routine there.]

I try to give them my respect, even when they’re trying to break me down
That’s what they don’t see (mmm, mmm), that’s what they don’t see (mmm, mmm)
I still give them a bright smile, when they try to pick a fight
That’s what they don’t know (mmm, mmm), that’s what they don’t know (mmm, mmm)

And people just keep talking, but I’m ain’t even listening
Why should I be caring?
‘Cause in my mind, everything’s gonna be alright
I’m just saying, why is everyone still caring?
Can’t they just go on living?
‘Cause if they do, everything’s gonna be alright

‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, shake it off

[A brief drum interlude ensues while the cheerleaders file into lines and walks to the main part of the stage and Reese quickly retreats back there too as two male cheerleaders do backflips on the long end of the stage. When it came time, said male cheerleaders came up to Reese and picked him up high in the air and holding him as he pseudo-raps the bridge. The music pauses for a few seconds for the cheerleaders to set Reese down onto the ground before it plays again in the middle of the singer’s peak belt of the song. Many vocal techniques are pulled out in the final chorus as confetti is repeatedly shot through the stage. The song and performance ends with three trumpet sounds and another round of confetti shot to the air.]

Hey, hey, hey
If you’re still lying around on your bed
Moping around about that one annoying person who just keeps hating on you
Then get up on your feet and shake it off, and just ignore them frickin’ little crazies
Let me tell you, that boy or girl or man or woman
Is just jealous ‘bout the things that you do and that you can do
So don’t worry ‘bout them haters anymore
‘Cause them haters gonna hate, and hate, and hate, and hate

Hey, hey, yeah~~~
Oh, oh, oh~~~
(‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate)
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, shake it off
(Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake) And fake, and fake, and fake
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, I’m just gonna shake, baby
Shake it off, shake it off, baby

Shake it off, shake it off, I, I, I shake it off, shake it off, I, I
I shake it off, shake it off, I, I, I shake it off, shake it off
Shake it off, shake it off, I, I, I shake it off, shake it off, I, I
I shake it off, shake it off, I, I, I shake it off, shake it off