JoJo Siwa is officially back in the music spotlight with “Raspy”, her first original single since the viral release of her cover of Kim Carnes’ Bette Davis Eyes. The 22-year-old singer, reality TV alum, and unapologetic pop personality uses the hip-hop-leaning track to address everything from her husky vocals to her most publicised controversies — all while poking fun at herself.
The song’s opening verse acknowledges the internet frenzy over her smoky rendition of Bette Davis Eyes, with Siwa rapping:
“Eyes like Bette Davis, hear my voice and you know what my name is. Wise beyond my age, that’s what happens when you’re little and you’re put on the stage.”
Siwa has explained that she intentionally used a raspy tone in that cover as a nod to Carnes’ original. On “Raspy,” she makes it clear that her distinctive voice isn’t a gimmick — it’s just who she is.
A Chorus That Owns the Rasp
The chorus doubles down on her signature sound:
“Raspy, Raspy, Raspy, I get raspy. You know I’m raspy, you see I’m raspy.”
She insists the huskiness comes out when she’s happy, brushing off speculation about how she gets it. “Loads of people have asked me how much I smoke to get my voice like this,” she told fans, “but the truth is, I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life — the rasp is all-natural, baby.”
Turning Controversy Into Lyrics
The second verse is where “Raspy” takes aim at online trolls and headlines.
“Say what you want, go ahead, try to insult me. I’m sulking, I’m sulking. All press is good press. ‘Hey JoJo, you’re a mess’ – OK?”
She also slips in nods to her 2024 releases Karma and her cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s Traitor, as well as the social media storm that followed both tracks:
“Karma never came, yeah, she’s still a traitor… Look back and laugh, not with anger… Don’t want the songs, but I’ll keep them comin’.”
Pop Culture Easter Eggs
One of the track’s standout moments is an interpolation of a viral quote from her Dance Moms mentor, Abby Lee Miller:
-
Miller: “JoJo!”
-
Siwa: “What?”
-
Miller: “Have you learned nothing?”
She also jokes about her 2024 interview with Mario Lopez, when she taught him the much-memed Karma dance while wearing a bedazzled construction worker’s jacket.
Owning the Transformation
In the song’s later lines, Siwa references the bold image change she debuted during the Karma era rollout:
“No one’s made this dramatic of a change, I sound insane… I blame my age and the stage, dare I say, ‘She’s raspy today’.”
“Raspy” is more than just a clapback — it’s a self-aware, unfiltered reminder that JoJo Siwa isn’t afraid to turn criticism into catchy, quotable music.
The track is streaming now, and fans can read more about its release on Billboard. For more stories on LGBTQ+ music, pop culture, and entertainment, explore the Enola Global news section — where we keep you updated on every beat worth knowing.
