Summery, mellow and irresistibly catchy acoustic soul ode to female self-empowerment from the Detroit-raised 25-year-old. This lovely lilting folk-reggae track from Arie's debut album, the aptly titled 'Acoustic Soul', finds the singer/songwriter taking issue with all those women's magazines who teach generations of girls that it's your appearance and the price of your clothes that matter and not who you are.
With smoky soul tones and a backing which recalls the like of Bill Withers, Roberta Flack and Tracy Chapman, Arie sings the uplifting chorus: "I'm not the average girl from your video, and I ain't built like a supermodel but I learnt to love myself unconditionally, because I am a queen."
Along the way her sharp, witty lyrics are peppered with such statements as "sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't", "don't need your silicone, I prefer my own" and "am I less of a lady if I don't wear panti-hose?"
Now there's a question. Ironically now that this is getting popular on VH-1 and MTV Arie is becoming 'the average girl from your video.' Classic song.
