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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 Diamandis.

Background[]

In 2007, Seventeen was first released on Marina's self-produced EP, Mermaid vs. Sailor.

On May 22, 2008, a demo of a reworked version of the song was released on MySpace,[1] this version being used in the now-deleted music video, possibly indicating its original publication date.

On July 29, 2010, the studio album version of Seventeen was released as a free download upon signing up to Diamandis' mailing list.[2]

Registration[]

The song was once registered on ASCAP/BMI,[3] and twice on GEMA,[4] 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.

Video[]

Video Credits
Marina_and_the_Diamonds_-_Seventeen
Title Seventeen
Premiere Unknown
Length 2:59
Location Regent's Canal, London
Filmed 2008
Director Chris Lewis
Producer Jim Owen

Background

Not officially released by Marina.

Official Versions[]

Version Released on Date Length
Album The Crown JewelsThe Family Jewels Album: 15 Feb 2010 3:02
EP Mermaid vs. Sailor 23 Nov 2007 2:40
Acoustic/Live
Acoustic 3:06
Live ITunes Live: London Festival '09 15 Jun 2009 2:59
Demos
Demo MySpace 22 May 2008 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

References[]

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