Seventeen is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Initially on her self-released EP, Mermaid vs. Sailor, as the opening track. It was then reproduced and released on her second EP, The Crown Jewels, and her first studio album, The Family Jewels.
The album version was written by Marina, with Liam Howe credited as the main producer. Whilst the EP version was solely produced by Marina herself.
Background[]
In 2007, Seventeen was first released on Marina's self-produced EP, Mermaid vs. Sailor.
On May 22, 2008, a version of the song produced by Howe was released on MySpace under the title "S e v e n t e e n".[1]
On July 29, 2010, the studio album version of Seventeen was released as a free download upon signing up to Diamandis' mailing list.[2]
Meaning[]
In a 2009 interview with For The Record, when asked if her songs were "autobiographical", Marina said:[3]
❝ It’s like half and half, for example ‘Seventeen’ was kind of about 3 different people. But people get offended, like the person who they thought ‘Seventeen’ was about was really offended and I was like it’s not just about you, I felt a bit bad, but there are always going to be autobiographical elements to my songs. ❞
Video[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Seventeen | |
| Premiere | Unknown | |
| Length | 2:59 | |
| Location | Regent's Canal, London | |
| Filmed | 2008 | |
| Director | Chris Lewis | |
| Producer | Jim Owen | |
| Notes | This version has a BPM of 129, instead of 130. | |
Background
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album [Inst.]
|
The Crown Jewels • The Family Jewels | Album: 15 Feb 2010 | 3:02 |
| EP | Mermaid vs. Sailor | 23 Nov 2007 | 2:40 | |
| EP (No BGV on "boy") | Mermaid vs. Sailor (Alt. Tracklist) | 2:40 | ||
| Acoustic/Live | ||||
| Acoustic | 3:06 | |||
| Live | ITunes Live: London Festival '09 | 15 Jun 2009 | 2:59 | |
| Demos | ||||
| Demo ("S e v e n t e e n") | MySpace | 22 May 2008 | 3:02 | |
| Alternate Home Demo | N/A - Unreleased | Leaked: ~2012 | 2:57 | |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Used to be a major scale
But the melody went stale
Musical cacophony
Let Incy Wincy Spider free
You're a rich little boy
Who's had to work for his toys
You've got all sensibilities, oh
Of an upper class guy, no
[Pre-Chorus 1]
No, I'm not your little slave
No, I don't twist and turn that way
Only got bad things to say
You're always askin' what is up, up with me
[Chorus]
Could never tell you what happened
The day I turned seventeen
The rise of a king and the fall of a queen
Oh, seventeen
Seventeen
[Verse 2]
Oh, you were embarrassed of me
'Cause I used my tongue freely
Bet you wish I couldn't speak
'Cause when I do, you know I'll tell you why you appear weak
You want a hassle free life?
Go get your upper class wife
Oh, she's got all the personality
Oh, of a lemon that's been truly sucked dry
[Pre-Chorus 2]
You teach me how to behave
I felt you question the way-ay
I was brought up as a baby
Well, you don't know fuck about my family
[Extended Chorus]
Could never tell you what happened
The day I turned seventeen
The rise of a king and the fall of a queen
Oh, seventeen (Seventeen)
No, seventeen
Oh, seventeen
The rise of the king and the fall of a queen, oh
Seventeen
[Outro]
Never fell down like a princess
I used to get myself in distress
That it was just how things
Were meant to be
Oh, seventeen
Seventeen
[Verse 1]
Used to be a major scale
But the melody went stale
Musical cacophony
Let Incy Wincy Spider free
You're a rich little boy
Who's had to work for his toys
You've got all sensibilities, oh
Of an upper class guy, no
[Pre-Chorus 1]
No, I'm not your little slave
No, I don't twist and turn that way
Only got bad things to say
You're always askin' what is up, up with me
[Chorus]
You'll never find out what happened
The day I turned seventeen
The rise of a king and the fall of a queen
Oh, seventeen
Seventeen
[Verse 2]
Oh, you were embarrassed of me
'Cause I used my tongue freely
Bet you wish I couldn't speak
'Cause when I do, you know I'll tell you why you appear weak
You want a hassle free life?
Then find your upper class wife
Oh, she's got all the personality
Oh, of a lemon that's been truly sucked dry
[Pre-Chorus 2]
You teach me how to behave
I felt you question the wa-ay
I was brought up as a baby
Well, you don't know fuck about my family
[Chorus]
You'll never find out what happened
The day I turned seventeen
The rise of a king and the fall of a queen
Oh, seventeen
[Outro]
Never fell down like a princess
But at least I picked myself up like a queen
[Verse 1]
Used to be a major scale
But the melody went stale
Musical cacophony
Let Incy Wincy Spider free
You're a rich little boy
Who's had to work for his toys
You've got all the sensibilities, oh
Of an upper class guy, no
[Pre-Chorus 1]
No, I'm not your little slave
No, I don't twist and turn that way
Only got bad things to say
You're always asking what is up, up with me
[Chorus]
Could never tell you what happened
The day I turned seventeen
The rise of a king and the fall of a queen
Oh, seventeen
Seventeen
[Verse 2]
Oh, you were embarrassed of me
'Cause I used my tongue freely
Bet you wish I couldn't speak
'Cause when I do, you know I'll tell you why you appear weak
[Chorus]
Seventeen
The rise of a king and the fall of a queen
Oh, seventeen
Oh, seventeen
[Verse 3]
You want a hassle free life?
Go get your upper class wife
Oh, she's got all the personality
Oh, of a lemon that has been truly sucked dry
[Pre-Chorus 2]
You teach me how to behave
I felt you question the way-ay
I was brought up as a baby
Well, you don't know fuck about my family
[Chorus]
You'll never find out what happened
The day I turned seventeen
The rise of a king and the fall of a queen
Oh, seventeen
[Outro]
Never fell down like a princess
Oh, seventeen
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Vocals, keyboard - Marina Diamandis
- String arrangement, double bass - Lucy Shaw
- Violin - Alison Dods, Calina de la Mere
- Viola - Rachel Robson
- Cello - Chris Allan
- Drums - Steve Durham
- Bouzouki - Chrysostomos Tomari
- All other instruments - Liam Howe
Technical[]
- Writer - Marina Diamandis
- Producer, recorder, mixer - Liam Howe
- Engineer - Richard Wilkinson
- Master - Guy Davie at Electric Mastering, London
- Publisher - Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd
Registration[]
The song was once registered on ASCAP/BMI,[4] and twice on GEMA,[5] with the re-registration on GEMA listing Marina's own publishing company Primadonna Girl Limited, likely in order to have legal ownership over her songs.
References[]
- ↑ http://www.rockabilly.net/marina/discog/songs.shtml
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/marinadiamandis/posts/129824490393963
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20090221052027/http://4ortherecord.com/Marina-and-the-DiamondsInterview.html
- ↑ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#
ISWC: T9021497438 Work ID: 496934575 - ↑ https://online.gema.de/werke/search.faces?lang=en
GEMA work no.: 10728213-001 GEMA work no.: 10728213-003
 | |
|---|---|
| Merch • Photography • MySpace | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | Mermaid vs. Sailor |
| Tracklist | Seventeen • Horror Pop • Hermit the Frog • Daddy Was a Sailor • Simplify • Plastic Rainbow |
| Non-Album | |
| Outtakes | The Common Cold |
| Speculated | Hot, Cross Bun • Hubba • Lonely Bones • Pancake Karma • Perfect-Oh • Silver Walls • Starlight • Where Diamonds Grow |
| Misc | China's Dolls • Philosopher My Arse • This Is L.A. • Troubled Mind |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |
