"Mona Lisa" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, taken from her debut extended play, Britney & Kevin: Chaotic.
Background[]
On December 30, 2004, Spears made a surprise appearance at Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM to premiere a rough mix of a new midtempo track, "Mona Lisa". Spears had recorded the song live with her band while on tour, and dedicated it to all the "legends and icons out there." The lyrics lament the fall of Mona Lisa, calling her "unforgettable" and "unpredictable," and cautions listeners not to have a "breakdown". She also revealed she wanted the song to be the first single of her upcoming album, tentatively titled Original Doll, and hoped to release it "probably before summertime [2005], or maybe a little sooner than that." In January 2005, Spears posted another letter on her website, saying, "I think I should rephrase myself from my previous letters when I was talking about taking a 'break'. What I meant was I am taking a break from being told what to do. ... It's cool when you look at someone and don't know whether they are at work or play since it's all the same to them. The things I've been doing for work lately have been so much fun, because it's not like work to me anymore. I've been even more 'hands on' in my management and the business side of things, and I feel more in control than ever."
A representative for Jive Records stated that although Spears was working in the studio, "no album is scheduled at the moment" and "there are no plans to service 'Mona Lisa' to radio." "Mona Lisa", written by Spears, Teddy Campbell and David Kochanski, was later re-worked and released in a bonus CD included in the DVD of Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. The re-worked version is notable for changes in the lyrics from the original version. The original phrases "she was a legend though, it's kind of pitiful that she's gone", "it's time to let her go, cause she's gone", and "now, don't have a breakdown cause you'll hit the freaking wall" were all replaced by new lyrics that are less dark. The original untagged version is available online and many people remarked on the contrast between Britney's raw, vocal performance in the demo version as compared to the released version where she performs as her brand of "sexy Britney".
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
This is a story about Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa
[Verse 1]
Ladies and gentlemen, I've got a little story to tell
About Mona Lisa, and how she suddenly fell
Now, see, everyone knew her, they knew her, oh, so well
Now I'm taking over to release her from her spell
[Chorus]
She's the original (Yeah, yeah)
She's unforgettable (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She wants you to know (Yeah)
She's been cloned
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She wants you to know (Yeah)
She's been cloned, she's been cloned, she's been cloned
[Verse 2]
She was taken under, drowning in her sea
Running like an angel, she was crying and could not see (Oh, no)
Now, see, everyone's watching as she starts to fall
They want her to break down
There will be a legend of her fall
[Chorus]
She's the original (Yeah, yeah)
She's unforgettable (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She wants you to know (Yeah)
She's been cloned
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She wants you to know (Yeah)
She's been cloned, she's been cloned, she's been cloned
[Bridge]
Now, ladies, does that make you cry?
Mona Lisa's got to fly
Nobody really dies
Everyone, may we have a moment of silence?
Right here
God
[Chorus]
She's the original (Yeah, yeah)
She's unforgettable (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She wants you to know (Yeah)
She's been cloned
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She wants you to know (Yeah)
That she's home, that she's home
[Chorus]
She's the original (Yeah, yeah)
She's unforgettable (Yeah, yeah)
She want's you to know (Yeah)
She's been cloned
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She wants you to know (Yeah)
That she's home, that she's home, that she's home
[Intro]
This is a story about Mona Lisa
That was her name, Mona Lisa
[Verse 1]
Ladies and gentlemen, I've got a little story to tell
About Mona Lisa, and how she suddenly fell, huh!
Now, see, everyone knew her, they knew her, oh, so well
Now I am taking over to release her from her spell
[Chorus]
She's unforgettable (Yeah)
She was a legend though (Yeah, yeah)
It's kind of pitiful (Yeah)
That she's gone
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah)
It's time to let her go (Yeah)
'Cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone
[Verse 2]
She was taken under, drowning in her sea, huh!
Running like an angel, she was crying but could not see (Oh, no)
Now, see, everyone's watching as she starts to fall
Now don't have a breakdown, you will hit the freaking wall
[Chorus]
She's unforgettable (Yeah)
She was a legend though (Yeah, yeah)
It's kind of pitiful (Yeah)
That she's gone
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah)
It's time to let her go (Yeah)
'Cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone
[Bridge]
Now ladies does that make you cry? huh!
Now fellas you have to say bye bye
'Cause Mona Lisa's got to fly
Everyone, may we have a moment of silence?
Right here, huh!
God?
[Chorus]
She's unforgettable (Yeah)
She was a legend though (Yeah, yeah)
It's kind of pitiful (Yeah)
That she's gone
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah)
It's time to let her go (Yeah)
'Cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone
[Chorus]
She's unforgettable (Yeah)
She was a legend though (Yeah, yeah)
It's kind of pitiful (Yeah)
That she's gone
It's kind of incredible (Yeah, yeah)
She's so unpredictable (Yeah, yeah)
It's time to let her go (Yeah)
'Cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone
'Cause she's gone, 'cause she's gone