Flowers (Say My Name)

Album: Pier Pressure (2021)
Charted: 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In "Flowers (Say My Name)," ArrDee doesn't want to be tied down to a serious romance, but the girl he's seeing wants a commitment. The rapper views the relationship as being just about sex, but she wants flowers and conversation as well.
  • ArrDee raps from his own point of view:

    I can't make your day but I can make your night
    See, I ain't the trustin' type and it's lust, not love


    And his girlfriend's perspective:

    I'm doin' this time 'cause
    You make love to me like I'm the one, then run off and duck my calls for a month
    Make me feel special and then like a mug


    ArrDee came up with the idea of a song and worked on it for a while before releasing the single on November 4, 2021. "Of all the songs out there that speak on toxic relationships, not many contain this perspective," he told Apple Music. "I rap both male and female parts, but I have to admit, I am the toxic one."
  • The song samples the beat and interpolates Sweet Female Attitude's 2000 garage hit "Flowers." While the original finds the girl promising to bring their lover "flowers in the pouring rain," Arrdee puts his own bachelor twist on the updated version. He won't be giving his girlfriend any flowers, but she will have the benefit of his sexual gratification.
  • Bastille (featuring James Arthur), Katy B and DJ/producer Nathan Dawe have all recorded covers of "Flowers." Dawe's version peaked at #12 on the UK chart in 2020.
  • Arrdee also interpolates another turn-of-the-century song, Destiny's Child's "Say My Name." He quotes the 1999 pop-R&B classic to warn his girlfriend that despite his toxic treatment of her, he can still make her "say my name." ArrDee believes his girlfriend would miss him if they ever split up.
  • Rosie Matheson directed the video, which features ArrDee's rumored real-life girlfriend, social media influencer Angelyssia. Presumably, she gets more respect than the rapper's fictional girlfriend in the song.
  • The song originated when LiTek played ArrDee the "Flowers" instrumentation. When the producer played another one, the rapper told him to go back to the Sweet Female Attitude-sampling beat, as he recognized its hit potential. "They really put work into it," he told Official Charts.com, "chopped it up, made it into a whole different vibe."

    ArrDee started walking around the studio and came up with the line "I don't give girl flowers, I give you good wood though" as a joke. His manager had the same reaction he did to his verse on the "Body" remix and told him, "that's it!"
  • It was ArrDee who came up with the idea for the "Say My Name" interpolation. "Because it's quite a toxic love tune, I still wanted it to be respectful," he explained. "I love all my females, it's not a tune to cuss them. I almost wanted it so it could be sung by both genders."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Grateful Dead Characters

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."