Lzzy Hale, frontwoman of rock band Halestorm, recently reflected on her bold approach to sexuality in her music. She shared insights on Louder Sound.
The discussion centered on Halestorm’s 2009 song “I Get Off” and how Hale’s willingness to be explicit in her lyrics ultimately became empowering rather than controversial. Hale explained the evolution of the song’s lyrics and her initial concerns about potential backlash.
“I remember the beginnings of the song, I sang something like, ‘I love the fact that you have fallen in love with me.’ And then it slowly devolved into, ‘I get off on you getting off on me,'” Hale said. “I always know when something is going to be special when there’s only two choices: people are gonna absolutely hate it or absolutely love it.”
Rather than facing the parental complaints she anticipated, Hale found that her openness resonated positively with audiences. She described an encounter that exemplified this unexpected response.
“The crazy thing about that song is that it ended up really empowering me as far as owning that type of sexuality in lyrics, and being bold enough to say that,” she continued. “Over the years, I kept thinking I was gonna get angry letters from parents or something, like, ‘Excuse me, what are you saying? My kids are listening to this!’ But it’s actually been the opposite; in fact, recently, this dad came to our meet-and-greet with his two daughters, and he hugged me and he’s like, ‘I just wanna tell you, I hope that my two daughters are comfortable enough in their sexuality to talk about it in the way that you do in your songs.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my god!’ It just made it that much worth it.”
The journey of “I Get Off” reveals how Hale’s artistic vision transformed a simple concept into a cultural statement. 102.9 WMGK reported that the song’s first draft was actually about how the band won over a few hardened record executives in the audience at a live showcase. However, during the co-writing process, the track evolved into something far more provocative and personal.
Lyrically, the song describes deriving pleasure from sexual exhibitionism and voyeurism. It conveys these themes through a provocative and catchy hard rock style. This explicit theme challenged conventional norms in the rock genre and made some listeners uncomfortable—a reaction that Hale later used as creative fuel for her artistic identity.
The explicit theme and bold lyricism have contributed significantly to the song’s impact as a form of empowerment. In a behind-the-scenes discussion on YouTube, Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm gave fans the inside story on the band’s first-ever single. They revealed how the track helped establish Halestorm’s strong identity early in their career. Hale’s artistic approach embraces candid, unapologetic expressions of sexual confidence. This led to the song being embraced by fans and helped normalize open discussions of desire and identity within the rock community.
Beyond the immediate success of “I Get Off,” Hale’s broader message of empowerment through self-acceptance and authenticity has resonated with listeners of all ages. Her willingness to encourage young listeners to embrace their identities openly has made her a role model for fans seeking representation in rock music. The song stands as a sexually explicit yet empowering rock anthem that pushed boundaries in 2009. It reflects Lzzy Hale’s bold artistic vision and continues to resonate as a symbol of self-confidence and authentic expression in contemporary rock music.
