New Lily Allen - "Everyone's At It"
Tired of partying until sunlight, honorary Kaiser Chief Lily Allen wants to know when "we will tire of putting shit up our noses." "Everyone's At It," from the forthcoming It's Not Me, It's You, tackles the dangers facing the kids these days -- they're prescribing themselves anti-depressants in various forms -- and asks why we (i.e. politicians to young adolescents) can't be honest. Pull quote: "So your daughter's depressed? / We'll get her straight on the Prozac / But little do you know, / She already takes crack." Well ain't that a bitch. Lily's also been shooting a video for the track, which is where the above pic comes from. Any ideas who it is? Wrack your brain while you listen.
Rumors suggest it's Prince, but that's not Prince. (Prince is 50 years old.) This message of hope and change shouldn't be a surprise. Remember Lily already told us "I am trying really hard to do this album with integrity and I want you all to know that it has been thought about by me, not just some thrown together last minute industry bullshizz."
It's Not Me, It's You is out 2/9 via Parlophone.
[Screengrab via Lily's blog]
Posted at 3:36 PM by brandon
Tags: Lily Allen
It's a pretty song, but I don't like it that Lily equates illegal drugs with antidepressants here. Yes, antidepressants are overprescribed, but that doesn't negate the fact that depression is a very real medical condition with life-threatening consequences. People who need antidepressants need them just as surely as people who need medication for a heart condition need to take their medication, and there shouldn't be a stigma attached to that need equating it with being some kind of junkie. (Other sorts of prescription pills can be abused as well.) Furthermore - much as I love Lily Allen - isn't this song a little bit of a slap in the face to those who have endured years of mental illness without turning to substance abuse of any kind? No, everyone isn't "at it."
Score = 0
You picked a good place to take your stand.
Score = 8
The song itself is solid, but it ends up coming off as the bastard child of a condescending celebrity PSA and a college freshman's newly found social conscious - all marinated in good old rockstar righteous indignation. A bit awkward, and slightly embarrassing.
I honestly enjoyed Alright, Still for what it was, but when your signature song is about getting off on the suffering of others, maybe tackling misguided drug policy and addiction without a wink or a "smile" (sorry I had to...) isn't your forte. The truly great songwriters don't sit down and say to themselves "I'm going to write about drug policy" or "I'll write a song about social justice" - it happens organically, in the creative moment. When you do that, it limits your scope, and forces you to play by a very specific set of rules. And when that forced subject matter just happens to be a very serious social or political issue, it usually comes off as smug and clumsy.
Again, I like the "song", but I really hope this isn't Allen's dreaded "mature" record. It's a pet peeve of mine when musicians say in pre-release interviews, "I've grown up so much since the last record, and I really think that shows on the new one." It lacks any semblance of decency and humility. If you've really grown up, you'd know that there's so much that you don't know, and you'd be humbled by that. You wouldn't be so eager to show us what you do know.
Sorry for the pointless rant, I lack the ability to edit myself. Who knows, maybe "It's Not Me, It's You" is amazing. Here's hoping...
Score = 2
"It's a pretty song," "The song itself is solid"
What exactly are your standards? Sounds like more Brit-crap to me!
Do you people really take this tart seiously?
Score = -8
Its like an afterschool special on drugs. Saying people are abusing legal drugs is a little ridiculous. Some people take sleeping pills for perfectly valid reasons. She's going to offend people with this.
Her last album was pop-y and fun to listen to. My sister blasted it in the car and sang along full blast...not possible with a rant like this. Sorry Lily Allen, you're going to lose a lot of fans with this one.
Score = 0
Prince? I thought Prince was black, guys...
Score = -2
This is absolutely dreadful. Horrid lyrics, mediocre voice, and not the least bit catchy. Don't get me wrong, I love me some cheesy pop but this shit is ridiculous.
Score = -2
Looks like Prince to me.
Score = -1
It's gotta be Dave Navarro. What else does he have going on right now?
Score = 0
A bit hypocritical I would think considering you see so many pictures of her WASTED! Alcohol is still a drug so I dont know why you would come out with a song like this...yep, prescription drugs are as abused as illegal drugs but let's talk about alcohol and how people die from that and become addicted to that...so why doesn't she include a verse talking about how she's an alcoholic too and she's part of the problem as well?
Score = -1
A bit hypocritical, you think? Your just an another example, of someone that believes everything they read, but doesn't take the time, to read everything, about the subject. Lily Allen is a sober person, (as seen in paparazzi video tapes and countless pictures) This song is a message, to the public and press,that drug use (legal or not) is an issue, I like the title of her new work, It's not me it's you, it tells the press, that they're wrong!
Score = -1
I like it. And no doubt people will blast this out over their stereos and sing along, scary as the thought is that people actually begin to care about prescription drug abuse in the UK.
Score = 1
No! there is an addiction to anti depressants, just like an addiction to cocaine. The overall message is people ''don't need these things to feel good.I think Lily Allen's point would be that people, are being forced to believe, they ''need'' to take anti depressants, and that it's wrong, because it's done just to keep the drug companies in business,(sure people are sick but thats not the answer) it's like telling someone they need shock treatment, they don't need it. It's just cruel. And by the way Lily Allen is also sending a message to the press, that she's not dependent, on alcohol, or drugs and that they make it up, I believe that!
Score = 1
i think this sounds pretty fresh in terms of music, but it sounds a bit like Lily is trying to take a political stance on something - and is looking a teensy bit pretentious doing it. Whatever, this is a jam and hopefully not the best song on the new record.
Score = 1
and i don't think lily allen (who's been reported to do several drunk shows) is the best candidate for talking about drugs.
Score = -1
just what the world needed, a heavy-handed socially conscious song from lily allen. next, eminem should do one about domestic violence.
Score = 0
im sorry, "little do you know she already takes crack" ? im trying to enjoy this but im distracted by the jackassery
Score = 1
Is Lilly Allen really trying to make a statement? She should just stick to her reggae wanna be fluff pop tunes. The only one at it is her when she is wasted running around London with her little boobies showing. The only one not at it was the people who made this terrible song.
Score = 0
I love getting shamed about my prescription drugs by a girl i see being carried out of clubs twice i week. Very valid source. What the hell is she even getting at? Is she equating the use of crack to taking an antidepressant? Sounds like someone was a little blown out when they penned their lyrics. hhahaha.
Score = -1
I think the song is great with a good message. So far her new album sounds great to me (but different) And The points she's trying to make is drugs are drugs if they are being abused. So it really doesn't matter that she compares crack and anti-depressents they both do damaged if abused. She's not talking about people who take them for "good reasons" How stupid would that be. I'm pretty sure Lily allen has taken a vitiam or two. And I doubt Lily sat down and thought " I'm going to make a song about drugs" But I do admit when I first listened to it I thought it came of as An-D Akward.
Score = 0