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Proud (Original)

Type: Official
Writers: Grace Vanderwaal, Eric Cannata, Britanny Campbell, Niko Mansikka-aho
Times Performed: 1
Play Official Video

Notes

Grace talked about the song in interviews with Nylon Magazine, and Billboard, and was quoted in an article in Rolling Stone.

"Proud is the story of the ‘golden child’ archetype. A child who neglects their needs in order to be seen as valued, loved, or mature. As a kid, you have an undying need for validation. In some cases, you abandon yourself, and you aren’t granted what you need mentally. You’re choosing to be strong only because it’s your responsibility to be strong. You’re adopting strength when it’s not appropriate. It was important for me to use phrases like, 'Cause you’re so special’ because they’re weaponized words to control children. Since you’re young, you want to feel strong, mature, and grown up, but no kid should have to do all of those things." (Rolling Stone) "I wanted to talk about subliminal conditioning and how nothing is black and white. What makes something so complicated is when there’s no one to blame — that would be so easy. If you’re getting exposed to millions of people who are saying, 'You’re great at this, you’re doing good,' while your brain is literally forming — of course, there would be repercussions of that. But no one did anything wrong." (Billboard)

In an interview with Chris Cantada on his "Once and always a fanboy” podcast, Grace explained that "The song is about taking on weight, and kind of putting yourself through pain or hell or these like exaggerated experiences, to feel like you’re deserving of someone being proud of you. I think that it was a really important song to introduce, “Childstar”, because that’s kind of the heart of everything that I wanted to do. When you develop a relationship with validation like that, it really stems into every single side of you. So, there are a lot of different songs that are still based in the mentality of proud. There is not really a message; it's more just a story."



Performances

2025.03.21 Not performed but made available online
2025.03.25 At home 1:15 of song

Reviews, Reactions etc.

Type Comment Link
Song related contentProud - Performance video

Releases

Release Date Record Type Track
2025-03-21ProudSingle1
2025-04-04Child StarLP1

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Humble child, promise I’ll be small
I won’t take up space at all
Remember gratitude, you tell me I’m great when I don’t cry and I never ask for nothing
Ground yourself, remember your place
You don’t have a voice yet, you don’t get to say
Apologise, better self-correct
Promise it’s the best if you never ask for nothing

[Pre-Chorus]
Cause baby, you’re so special
Baby, you’re so special

[Chorus]
Designed and made
Does it impress how well I play?
Did I make you proud?
Did I take your breath away?
Did I make you proud?
And I won’t complain
Bend around the edge like cellophane
Did I make you proud?
Did I take your breath away?
Did I make you proud?
‘Cause baby, I’m so special
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[Verse 2]
Nightmares blend into my daydreams
I’m everything you taught me
I’m everything you wanted me to be
Wanted me to be
Perfection, hide under my blankie for one moment of safety
I’m everything you wanted me to be
Wanted me to be

[Chorus]
Designed and made
Does it impress how well I play?
Did I make you proud?
Did I take your breath away?
Did I make you proud?
And I won’t complain
Bend around the edge like cellophane
Did I make you proud?
Did I take your breath away?
Did I make you proud?
‘Cause baby, I’m so special

[Outro]
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
(Did I make you proud?)
Ah, oh, oh, oh
(Did I make you proud?)
Cause baby, I'm so special

Covers and Remixes

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