Unpretty by TLC Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back the Layers of Self-Worth and Beauty Standards
Lyrics
Make you feel unpretty too
I was told I was beautiful
But what does that mean to you?
Look into the mirror who’s inside there
The one with the long hair
Same old me again today, yeah
My outsides look cool
My insides are blue
Every time I think I’m through
It’s because of you
I’ve tried different ways
But it’s all the same
At the end of the day
I have myself to blame
I’m just trippin’
You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up that MAC can make
But if you can’t look inside you
Find out who am I to
Be in the position to make me feel so
Damn unpretty
Yeah, I’ll make you feel unpretty too
Never insecure until I met you
Now I’m bein’ stupid
I used to be so cute to me
Just a little bit skinny
Why do I look to all these things
To keep you happy?
Maybe get rid of you and then I’ll get back to me (hey)
My outsides look cool
My insides are blue
Every time I think I’m through
It’s because of you
I’ve tried different ways
But it’s all the same
At the end of the day
I have myself to blame
Can’t believe I’m trippin’, yeah
You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up that MAC can make
But if you can’t look inside you
Find out who am I to
Be in the position to make me feel so
Damn unpretty
You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up that MAC can make
But if you can’t look inside you
Find out who am I to
Be in the position to make me feel so
Damn unpretty
I’ll make you feel unpretty too
I’ll make you feel unpretty
Oh-whoa, oh-oh-whoa
Oh-whoa, oh-oh-whoa-oh
Oh-whoa, oh-oh-whoa
Oh-whoa, oh-oh-whoa-oh
You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up that MAC can make
But if you can’t look inside you
Find out who am I to
Be in the position to make me feel so
Damn unpretty
You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
You can buy all the make-up that MAC can make
But if you can’t look inside you
Be in the position to make me feel so
You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
When TLC dropped ‘Unpretty’ from their 1999 album ‘FanMail’, it resonated with listeners on a profoundly personal level. This wasn’t just another catchy tune; it was a powerful social commentary packaged in a smooth R&B melody. It was as if TLC had taken the zeitgeist concerning body image and self-acceptance, and set it to music.
Beyond its initial chart success, ‘Unpretty’ remains a relevant harbinger of conversations around self-esteem and the corrosive effects of societal beauty norms. Let’s unpack the multi-faceted layers of meaning behind these seemingly straightforward lyrics, revealing an anthem that continues to empower and challenge its audience.
Beauty Through The Looking Glass
The opening lines, ‘I wish I could tie you up in my shoes / Make you feel unpretty too’, set the stage for a deeply personal narrative. It speaks to the universal experience of not feeling good enough, of the desire to have others walk in our shoes to truly understand the pressure to conform to beauty standards.
As the song progresses, we peel back the veneer of perceived perfection ‘My outsides look cool / My insides are blue’, illustrating the dichotomy between appearance and emotional reality. TLC catapults the listener into a reflective state, urging them to question what beauty means beyond the mirror’s gaze.
The Inescapable Labyrinth of Insecurity
‘Never insecure until I met you / Now I’m bein’ stupid’ reveals the impact relationships can have on self-perception. It is a poignant reminder of how external validation, or the lack thereof, shapes how we see ourselves. The song suggests that insecurity is not innate, but often planted by outside influence.
‘Just a little bit skinny’, reflects the quandary of body image issues, highlighting how even a slight deviation from ‘ideal’ can cause immense distress. TLC doesn’t just expose the personal side of these struggles; they delve into their universal resonance, capturing a shared human experience.
A Candid Look at Cosmetic Solutions
TLC uses vivid imagery to critique the notion that physical alterations can mend internal strife, ‘You can buy your hair if it won’t grow / You can fix your nose if he says so’. While acknowledging the pressure to change one’s appearance, they also point to the futility of such solutions when it comes to healing self-worth.
The repeated endorsement of a brand (‘the make-up that MAC can make’) can be construed as both a critique of consumer culture’s band-aid solutions to deep-seated issues and a recognition of the soothing but temporary relief these cosmetic fixes provide.
The Mirror’s Hidden Truth
‘But if you can’t look inside you / Find out who am I to’ constitutes the core message of the song. It’s a call to introspection, a stark reminder that self-worth should be derived from within and not dictated by external forces, an assertion that true beauty is a personal understanding of oneself.
It touches on identity — ‘who am I to’ — suggesting that only through self-awareness can a person challenge the societal norms that aim to define them. This line serves as the lyrical crescendo, rallying the listeners towards self-empowerment and authenticity.
Echoing Verses of Self-Affirmation
The line ‘Damn unpretty’ reverberates throughout the song, a raw expression of the pain stemming from feelings of inadequacy. It’s memorable because it encapsulates the complexity of the song’s theme in two potent words, bridging the gap between the vulnerability and defiance inherent in the track.
As the song closes with ‘I’ll make you feel unpretty too’, it’s transformed from a statement of solidarity into a challenge. TLC isn’t just sharing a personal story; they are inviting their audience to question—and eventually shed—the unrealistic expectations that bind them.
