Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “North/South/East/West.”
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As a female pop singer, Kelly Clarkson has expressed frustration that for years her appearance, particularly her weight, has been a constant topic of discussion. This led her to write a song that said “Yeah, you’re right, I am a whole lot of woman, and it’s okay. I came with a brain, and I came with drive and passion and sensuality, and these things that are awesome. If you can’t handle it, that’s totally cool, but you’re not tall enough to ride this ride, then move along. It’s fine.”
Clarkson, who grew up in Texas, remarked in a profile on The New York Times that the song’s inspiration came from the challenges of being a financially secure woman looking for a man after internalizing the paradoxes of growing up in the South. Clarkson says that in the South women are told, “We want to educate you and we want you to be intelligent, but not too intelligent to where you’re intimidating; we want you to be beautiful, but not too sexy to where you’re a slut; we want you to be successful but not so successful that you make someone feel uncomfortable.”
After a conversation Clarkson had with the NOVA Wav duo–Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney–in a session in Los Angeles, the anthem Whole Lotta Woman was penned.
Whole Lotta Woman is from Kelly’s eighth studio album, Meaning of Life, and to promote the album’s release, Clarkson debuted Whole Lotta Woman in a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 31, 2017.
FUN FACTS
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- The song lyrics allude to the size of Clarkson’s waistline, her attitude, her self-worth, and her mouth using references to Southern cooking and singer Tina Turner.
- Members of the American soul band Earth, Wind & Fire, led by bass player Verdine White, were invited by Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman to play on the track.
- Critical reception of the song was mixed. It reached number 142 on Billboard’s US Digital Songs chart.
Alas, I was incapable of choosing a favorite video, so I posted THREE! 😀 😀 😀 No harm, no foul though. They’re all live performances from 1) a Nashville studio session, 2) the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, and 3) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Watch one or watch all three…they’re all amazing!
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection for Nesie’s Place!
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Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
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Whole Lotta Woman
by Kelly Clarkson
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(What? Say it ain’t so)
In the SOUTH, it don’t get realer, baby
Pot full of grits, I’m hotter than your mama’s supper, boy
Better get with it
Better watch your mouth, I might burn you, boy
You goin’, uh, downtown, gonna work
Good love I deserve
If you’re scared, go to church
Woo-woo! I’m a lover
Hold on tight, little country boy
I ain’t no girl, I’m a boss with orders
All I’m needin’ is a baby love me
Like a warm biscuit on a Sunday morning
I got what it takes, I sure got the means
I got what you want, sugar, honey, iced tea
All eyes on me, oh, oh, baby
(From the way I walk and toss my hips)
I’m a whole lotta woman
(From the sound to my voice to the gloss on my lips)
I’m a whole lotta woman
(Anything I see I want, I get)
I’m a strong, badass chick with class and confidence, yeah
And rolling like Tina
Loving heart ain’t easy
Whoo-whoo, if you mean it
Hold on tight, little country boy
I ain’t no girl, I’m a boss with orders
All I’m needin’ is a baby love me
Like a warm biscuit on a Sunday morning
I got what it takes, I sure got the means
I got what you want, sugar, honey, iced tea
All eyes on me, oh, oh, baby
(From the way I walk and toss my hips)
I said I’m a whole lotta woman
(From the sound to my voice to the gloss on my lips)
I’m a whole lotta woman
(Anything I see I want, I get)
I’m a strong, badass chick with class and confidence
It’s just can you keep up with me?
I can’t do a thing about my wicked ways with gravity
Higher than the leaves, they fall from trees like D-O-double-Gs
I reside in Tennessee, but Texas still flows deep in me
(From the way I walk and toss my hips)
I’m a whole lotta woman
(From the sound to my voice to the gloss on my lips)
I said I’m a whole lotta woman
(Anything I see I want, I get)
I’m a strong, badass chick with class and confidence
Felicia Denise, Author 
Woke me up 😆
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LOLOL! 😀
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I love a B**** with attitude! And bare feet to boot! You go girl! This was an EXCELLENT choice!
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Yesssss! Kelly takes no prisoners! Love every ounce of the attitude! Glad you enjoyed it! 👍
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Yes, us Texas women do it bigger! I have to really accommodate for this attitude because I’m all of 5’1″. Dynomite is big! Love Love Love this choice today!
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I know you can do it like a boss! 😄👍
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😀😀😀
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This is such a fun song and I watched all three videos. Kelly Clarkson is a great entertainer.
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You watched all three? Go, you! 👍 Thanks for stopping by! 😊
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It was the perfect song for International Woman’s Day.
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OMG, how did I not know about this song? I love Kellly! Seeing her succeed so big after critics tried so hard to knock her down just for her size has been one of the best things I’ve witnessed in music over the years – and this song is just another reason why she is so badass. Thanks for sharing, loved it! ❤ 😀
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Kelly is a badass, no doubt! Love her outlook and attitude and her refusal to explain, apologize or conform.
I’m pretty sure the song didn’t go “bigger” because of the southern references. Had it been a bit more generic, women everywhere would still be playing it! 😄
Fun Fact – every song on her Meaning of Life CD is a winner, IMHO. 😉
Thanks for stopping by, AC, and for the shares! 😊👍
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Awesome song. I hadn’t heard it before, but Kelly Clarkson sure has some great songs I’ve enjoyed hearing. 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed it, Barbara! If Kelly sings it, I want to hear it! LOL!
Thanks for stopping by!
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I LOVE THIS SONG! The lyrics, her singing, the backup vocalists, and the superior musicianship. Song origin is so good to learn on it. The days of females being focused on catering to what corporations say is the female ideal are over. Great choice, Nesie. P.S. Isn’t Kelly usually a country singer? This sounds more like R&B or soul genres? Whatever it is, I love it!
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It is a great song, right? 😀 The time of defining women is long gone! You can try it, but please know you’re going to get called on it! 🙂
Kelly is actually a pop singer, but so versatile, she can handle several genres, and I believe adds a touch of each one to her albums.
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Exactly, Nesie, on getting called on it. I need to look at Kelly’s music a little closer…
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I believe there’s a YouTube video for just about all of her songs! Enjoy! 🙂
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I loved Kelly Clarkson from the start of American Idol to 2010. Sadly, I haven’t caught up with music since then and it is a pity because I love “Whole Lotta Woman”. She is one talented singer!
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Agreed! I highly recommend her latest – Meaning of Life – not one bad song on the entire CD!
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