Song Meaning
Miss Kittin's stark examination of identity, "What To Wear," isn't about fashion in the conventional sense; it's about the masks we don, the personas we curate for social consumption. The driving, repetitive beat underscores the anxiety of choice: "Your ugly face / Your pretty face." This isn't mere vanity; it's a psychological excavation. The question isn't just about superficial appearance but about the authenticity—or lack thereof—in our interactions. Are we presenting "real words" or calculated "lies"? The lyrics deftly highlight the performative nature of modern existence, suggesting that our sense of self is often contingent on external validation and the ever-shifting social landscape. The French verses, seamlessly integrated, amplify the feeling of alienation and the search for genuine connection in a world saturated with artifice.
The "A-side / B-side" reference is particularly telling in this lyrics analysis. It's a callback to vinyl records, where the listener chooses which version to present, which narrative to spin. Are we the carefully constructed A-side, polished and presentable, or the raw, unfiltered B-side that remains largely hidden? The insistent demand, "Show me your face / Show me the truth," becomes a desperate plea for vulnerability in a culture obsessed with curated perfection. It's a challenge to strip away the layers of pretense and reveal the person beneath the performance.
The song's genius lies in its simplicity. Miss Kittin doesn't offer easy answers or comforting platitudes. Instead, “What To Wear” serves as a mirror, reflecting our own complicity in the charade. The repetition of "Who are you?" becomes an almost existential mantra, forcing us to confront the uncomfortable question of self-definition in a world that often rewards conformity over authenticity. The song meaning ultimately resonates because it taps into a universal anxiety: the fear of being exposed as inauthentic, of being seen as someone we are not. It suggests the only way to find relief is to shed our masks and embrace the messy, complicated truth of who we really are.
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