I'ma break you off, let me be your motivation
To stay and give it tonight
And‚ baby‚ turn around‚ let me give you innovation, hey
'Cause I do it so right
[Verse 1]
You got that good good, baby‚ don't you?
Got that good good, baby, don't you?
But you leavin' solo
Ain't regular‚ that ain't regular
I ain't gon' keep, keep fightin' for it
Ain't gon' keep, keep fightin' for it
'Cause you know this thing here
Ain't regular, that ain't regular
[Pre-Chorus]
Fallin' into the bed
Why would we ever do somethin' instead of
Fallin' into the bed right now? Yeah
[Chorus]
I'ma break you off, let me be your motivation
To stay and give it tonight
And, baby, turn around, let me give you innovation
Hey, 'cause I do it so right
Think about it, ooh, I think about it
Think about it, ooh, take a look at me now
Hey, a little motivation, alright
You got a bad one, baby, don't you?
Got a bad one, baby, don't you?
And we both know there's no
One better, boy, no one better, boy
Too late, won't make it, I'ma tell 'em (Yeah)
Get you naked, but I won't tell 'em (Woo)
'Cause you know that there's no
One better, boy, no one better, boy
[Pre-Chorus]
Fallin' into the bed
Why would we ever do somethin' instead of
Fallin' into the bed right now?
Eh, right now, now
[Chorus]
I'ma break you off, let me be your motivation
To stay and give it tonight (And give it tonight)
And, baby, turn around, let me give you innovation
Hey, 'cause I do it so right
Think about it, ooh, I think about it
Think about it, ooh, take a look at me now
Hey, a little motivation, alright
[Bridge]
Hey, oh
A little motivation
Oh
I'ma break you off, let me be your motivation
To stay and give it tonight
And, baby, turn around, let me give you innovation
Hey, 'cause I do it so right
Think about it, ooh, I think about it
Think about it, ooh, take a look at me now
Hey, a little motivation, alright
[Outro]
Oh
Oh
About
In “Motivation”, Normani wants to keep her lover invested on her by keeping him “motivated” and giving him “innovation”. The song was first teased on August 2, 2019, when Normani posted a snippet of the track on her Twitter. She later confirmed during a Rolling Stone Morning Sessions interview that Ariana Grande co-wrote the song. Normani had been Ariana’s opening act for the better part of 2019.
“Motivation” was eventually offered to Normani. The song’s upbeat vibe was everything she had been yearning for:
I was looking for […] a song that would let me showcase everything I’m capable of from a performance standpoint, and with this song, I realised I had the opportunity to do that
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Normani spoke on the song to Rolling Stone:
I recorded this song a while back. And it’s crazy because, I’ll be on Twitter, and [fans] will be like, ‘Sis, where’s the new music? Where’s the new music? I’m like, 'Guys, it’s coming. I promise it’s coming.’ I shot the video probably a month ago. It’s going to be worth the wait…It’s an upbeat [song]. It’s a feel good record. I think that everybody will really love it. It was the first opportunity that I had to have fun. I think that people have been waiting for me to have fun and I’ve had so many records like ‘Waves’ and ‘Love Lies’….which are a little bit more R&B smooth sailing.
Ariana wrote on the record, and she was super excited when they told her that I went in to listen to it. She was so encouraging.
- Normani, via The Face
During the week ending August 31, 2019, “Motivation” debuted at #33 on the Hot 100. It is Normani’s third consecutive entry on the chart to reach the top 40.
