That's What Little Girls Are Made Of

Album: Here's to New Dreams (1993)
Charted: 68
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a song from the debut album released by Raven-Symoné. The actress and singer first came to the public attention at the age of 3 when she played Denise Huxtable's precocious stepdaughter Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show.
  • Raven-Symoné was just 7 years old when she began her singing career after signing with MCA Records. She released her debut album, Here's to New Dreams, the following year after taking singing lessons from a then unknown Missy Elliott.
  • The track was co-written and co-produced by Missy Elliott, who was credited as Melissa Elliott. It was the first song that Elliott wrote for another artist; she also contributed a verse for the recording featuring scat singing and Jamaican-style toasting.
  • Missy didn't appear in the visual, which instead featured a thinner, light-skinned actress lip-syncing her part. According to Elliott, she was not informed of the video shoot and she used this disappointment as motivation. Missy would embrace and even exaggerate her look on her own recordings, such as the oversized garbage-bag costume she wore in her 1997 clip for debut single "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)."
  • The song samples both "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players and "The Payback" by James Brown.
  • Released as the lead single from Here's to New Dreams, the song peaked at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the album sales were disappointing, and Raven-Symoné was dropped from MCA Records in 1995. She subsequently found some chart success with the soundtracks for the Disney Channel's Cheetah Girls movies.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.