Clown

Album: Our Version Of Events (2012)
Charted: 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Emeli explained the meaning of this slow-building piano ballad to Q magazine: "It's about trying to get into the industry, keeping faith in myself when I felt that many of the labels didn't have faith in me. It's about being called a clown or an idiot for wanting to chase after what you want, because people will always say you're rubbish and all the rest of it, but if you don't follow what you want to do then you won't achieve anything fulfilling."
  • The song's black-and-white video was directed by W.I.Z, who has previously worked with Kasabian and Arctic Monkeys. The clip finds Sandé in a military style interrogation room and its concept concerns making a stand and believing in oneself. "It's about how I felt when I was trying to get signed, I was going for all these meetings and people were looking at me like, 'What do we do with you?'" Sandé said. "It's about not allowing yourself to be judged by others or to be taken for an idiot. I feel the video reflects that."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.