Unbreakable Smile (song)

## Unbreakable Smile

"**Unbreakable Smile**" is the title song from Tori Kelly's debut album.

## Background

This is the first song Tori wrote for the album. She wrote and recorded it in the first half of 2014. The idea for the song came when Tori's manager told her that people in the music industry were talking about her and suggesting that she was too boring. This prompted to go home that night and write an entire song about how she felt. She said, "I think it was some things I needed to say for a long time that I was holding in."

On August 28, 2014 Tori shared a video with "Unbreakable Smile" in the background. However, that version of the song differs from the one that actually appears on the album.

## Live performances

Before the song was officially released, Tori performed it on August 20, 2014 at an Arizona Jean event. She also performed it on August 22, 2014 at the VMA pre-party show. She also performed the song live at various radio stations in March 2015.

On July 20, 2015 Tori performed "Unbreakable Smile" on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*.

## Music video

The music video for "Unbreakable Smile" was released on April 27, 2015 which showed the studio version for the first time.

## Lyrics

La da da da dee, you’re not breaking me

La de da da da, ain’t got time for ya

La da da da dee, you won’t shatter me

La de da da da, got an unbreakable smile

Somebody told me fame is a disease

You start singing the blues when you start seeing the green

But I think it's all about what you choose

The way you live your life, depends on you

That’s when I realized I wanna make a difference

Change other people’s lives, give hope, even for a moment

Use my name for good and change the game I could

Because to make it you think I gotta act a certain way,

Be a little bit insane, live a little, it's okay

I guess we have different definitions of living, but you’ll twist my words anyway

You’ll say that I’m naive, like I don’t have a past,

You're the one being deceived, I see right behind the mask/match

Tryna to stir me up and get me mad

I smile because happiness is all I have

La da da da dee, you’re not breaking me

La de da da da, ain’t got time for ya

La da da da dee, you won’t shatter me

La de da da da, got an unbreakable smile

You see me hanging with my fam, it don’t mean I’m living in a bubble

You’ll find me at church, but that don’t mean I can’t cause trouble

So stir up a little scene cuz isn't that what you want

For me to mess up, so you can dress up

Some stories saying, Tori this’ll sell more records

But I’d rather make’em yawn than be a pawn on your chessboard

So call me boring, call me cookie cutter

Or what you wanna matter of fact

Just say it loud and don’t st-stutter

Cuz I know who I am, I’m still the same

Just a California girl with big dreams

Thinking maybe they’ll let me sing songs about real things

But baby who knows maybe I can sell out shows without taking off my clothes

God made me sexy I don't care if only I know

La da da da dee, you’re not breaking me

La de da da da, ain’t got time for ya

La da da da dee, you won’t shatter me

La de da da da, got an unbreakable smile

Ooooh Ohhh [2x]

Used to be easy to break me down

But now all I ever wanna do is smile

Yeah an unbreakable smile

So say what you want about me

I’m still gonna be the same old me

Ain’t got time for you no more no more

Got an unbreakable smile

## References

1. ↑ *MTV* - Watch Tori Kelly Stick It To The Music Industry In 'Unbreakable Smile'
2. ↑ *Youtube* - Tori Kelly: Help Me Build My Album
3. ↑ *Youtube* - Unbreakable Smile 8/20/14
4. ↑ *Youtube* - Unbreakable Smile 8/22/14
5. ↑ *Youtube* - Unbreakable Smile music video