Can't Pin Me Down is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Appearing on her third studio album FROOT, it is the 7th track on the album.
The song was written by Marina alone, and produced by David Kosten.
Can't Pin Me Down was represented by a grapevine 
alongside Froot on Marina's website during the era.[1]
Background[]
On June 6, 2014, Marina shared a short video on Instagram, laughing at a looped vocal take of "motherfucker" in studio.[2]
On March 11, Marina teased lyrics on her Instagram.[3]
In an interview with Nylon, David Kosten said:[4]
❝ I told her I wanted to make a record that says, 'Back off, motherfuckers'. Something that is hopefully untouchable in a creative way. She liked the idea, and that line—'Back off, motherfuckers'—is immortalized in song now ['Can't Pin Me Down']. ❞
Meaning[]
Marina wrote the song about avoiding being defined by others, written "with women in mind".[5] Later expanding in an interview with BBC:[6]
❝ That's actually about your field, [Journalism]. It's about what people write. What people think about me. About not being pigeon-holed. If I'd never worn any make-up, and turned up in a little white t-shirt and jeans, I think I'd be viewed differently. But when you have a theatrical, distinctive image people get distracted. They think it's more shine than artistry. When you're seen as a pop star, people think of you as this weird 'thing' and you don't get any adult conversations. ❞
Trivia[]
- For unknown reasons, on the vinyl, Can't Pin Me Down is paired with Better Than That, and represented by a cherry,[7] contradicting the 'Froot of the Month' campaign.
- In her track by track interview, Marina called Can't Pin Me Down one of her favourite songs from the album, and one she was most excited for fans to hear.[5]
- It is the only song marked as explicit on the album, due to the word "motherfucker" in the first verse, earning the album FROOT an explicit label on all streaming platforms.
- The song was replaced on setlist by Solitaire on the Neon Nature Tour for select showings from February 16 to 21, 2016.
Videos[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Can't Pin Me Down (Snippet) | |
| Premiere | 06 Jun 2014 | |
| Length | 0:06 | |
| Location | Muttley Ranch, London | |
| Filmed by | Marina | |
| Original Post | Instagram Post | |
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album [Inst.]
|
FROOT | 13 Mar 2015 | 3:25 |
Lyrics[]
[Chorus 1]
You can paint me any colour
And I can be your clown
But you ain't got my number
Yeah, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
[Verse 1]
Now I got your back up
What do you not like?
Do you think I'm stuck up
'Cause I'm always picking fights?
You might think I'm one thing
But I am another
You can't call my bluff
Time to back off, motherfucker
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Do you really want me to write a feminist anthem?
I'm happy cooking dinner in the kitchen for my husband
Yeah, yeah
[Chorus 1]
You can paint me any colour
And I can be your clown
But you ain't got my number
No, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
[Verse 2]
You ain't got me sussed yet
You're not even close
Baby, it's the one
Thing that I hate the most
All these contradictions pouring out of me
Just another girl in the 21st century
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I am never gonna give you anything you expect
You think I'm like the others
Boy, you need to get your eyes
Checked, checked
[Chorus 1]
You can paint me any colour
And I can be your clown
But you ain't got my number
No, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
[Bridge]
I could be your sister
I could be your mother
I could be your neighbour
I could be your lover
Do you like my body?
Do you like my mind?
What is it that you are having trouble to define?
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I am never gonna give you anything you expect
You think I'm like the others
Boy, you need to get your eyes
Checked, checked
[Chorus 2]
You can paint me any colour
I can be your Russian doll
But you ain't got my number
No, you can't make me small
You can paint me any colour
And I can be your clown
But you ain't got my number
No, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
[Outro]
Yeah, you can't pin me down
Yeah, you can't pin me down
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis — Keyboards, Lead vocal, Backing vocals
- David Kosten — Keyboards, Percussion
- Jason Cooper — Drums
- James Ahwai — Bass
- Alexander Robertshaw — Guitar
Technical[]
- Written by Marina Diamandis
- Produced by David Kosten and Marina Diamandis
- Programming by David Kosten
- Recorded at Muttley Ranch, London
- Drums recorded at Kore Studios, London and Assault's Battery Two, London
- Engineered by David Kosten
- Additional engineering by Mo Hausler
- Assistant drum recording engineers Al Lawson and Drew Smith
- Mixed down and additional programming by Wez Clarke
- Mastered by Lewis Hopkin at Star Delta Mastering
- Published by Warner / Chappell Music Publishing Ltd
References[]
- ↑
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/o63mRqpPuK
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/0F2N0_pPiU
- ↑ https://www.nylon.com/articles/marina-and-the-diamonds-cover-story
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Track by track of Froot - Marina And The Diamonds." YouTube. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31838270
- ↑ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/better-than-that-cant-pin-me-down-marina-and-the-diamonds/28730961/2673596116431
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Froot of the Month • Photography • Tumblr • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | FROOT • FROOT Acoustic EP |
| Tracklist | Happy • Froot • I'm a Ruin • Blue • Forget • Gold • Can't Pin Me Down • Solitaire • Better Than That • Weeds • Savages • Immortal |
| Non-Album | |
| Outtakes | I'm Not Hungry Anymore • Saviour • When You Take Away Control |
| Misc | Disconnect • True Colours • Unknown Song (by Little Mix) |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |