What You Got

Album: Colby O (2008)
Charted: 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Latino Colby O'Donis has been recording music since the age of 9.
  • This features O'Donis music mentor Akon, who also produced the track and appears in its video. In an interview with djbooth.net O'Donis discussed working with Akon: "It's crazy because, for one, with 'What You Got,' the song, we actually did that on a studio bus in Canada. It was on a bus, we were on the road, we were on the highway when we made 'What You Got.' He did it in ten minutes, the whole song. Like, literally, he made it so fast I was like, 'Wow...' He knocked it out like that. Akon calls me his little prodigy, his secret weapon prodigy, he likes to call me that all the time. He actually teaches me a lot."
  • O'Donis told Reload magazine about the song's meaning: "Its pretty much about a girl that got the world handed to her, and she keeps talking about it and I'm like you don't have to keep talking about it because you are so fly that we already see."
  • Djbooth.net asked O'Donis whether any particular woman inspired this song. The New York born singer replied: "Pretty much on the record, it can be generalized. I think everyone has experienced someone like that, that has everything, but wants more, and keeps talking about everything they got. 'Cause pretty much the song is about, like you said, that one girl that has everything - pretty much the world is handed to her. And the thing is, she keeps talkin' about it to everybody, 'Oh, I got this, and I'm wearing Gucci shoes, I got this Gucci purse,' and it's all in plain sight, we can all see it. So, pretty much, it could be generalized for guys and girls, because everyone knows someone that's always talkin' about what they got. I think that's why everyone loves it so much, because everyone can pretty much relate to it. But it's pretty much like it could be prioritized in that way."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.