Original is an original song first featured in The Surprise Party, the tenth episode of the second season of Smash. The song was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The version released as a single features Katharine McPhee (Karen Cartwright) on lead vocals.
In the context of Hit List, Amanda sings the song to Jesse, trying to convince him that celebrities nowadays aren't "fake"; they're simply young girls who reinvented themselves to get what they want - fame. Eventually Jesse joins in on the song.
Lyrics[]
Amanda:
Way back before she hit the scene
And she became the indie queen
She was a girl with nothing big to say
Her mouth was full of silver spoons
Singing her dime a dozen tunes
'Til she came up with something new to play
A girl so scarred, a pain so real
A life so hard, becomes a song you feel
Her tracks were leaked and all the hipsters freaked
She made herself a star
She wants, she wants, she wants to be original
She will, she will become something remarkable
Who cares, who cares, who cares what stunt she has to pull
She'll be remade as somebody original
Way back before the interviews
Before her music made the news
She was a nothing no one talked about
A mousy girl behind the mic
One more vanilla look-alike
'Til she decided to stand out
And now it's crazy clothes, a brand new name
A fixed up nose and monster fame
Though she might say that she was born this way
She made herself a star
Amanda with Jesse:
She wants, she wants, she wants to be original
She will, she will become something remarkable
Who cares, who cares, who cares what stunt she has to pull
She'll be remade as
Amanda:
Somebody original
You can wipe away everything you are
Wake up tomorrow as a star
There was a girl who blended in
That was the way her life had been
'Til she decided to be someone else
Amanda with Jesse:
She wants, she wants, she wants to be original
She will, she will become something remarkable
Who cares, who cares, who cares what stunt she has to pull
She'll be remade as
Amanda:
Somebody original
Somebody original
Somebody original
Somebody original
Videos[]
Original - Smash Cast