7 Shocking Easter Eggs Hidden In JoJo Siwa's 'Raspy' Lyrics: The Ultimate Clapback Explained

The conversation surrounding JoJo Siwa's vocal delivery has reached a fever pitch in late 2025, culminating in a dramatic, self-aware single that directly addresses her critics. The phrase "raspy Jojo Siwa lyrics" is not just a fan observation but a calculated, intentional move by the artist herself, who has fully embraced the criticism of her new, deeper, and more mature vocal style. This era, which began with the polarizing release of "Karma" in April 2024, has been defined by a deliberate shift from her signature bubblegum pop persona to a controversial "bad girl" adult artist.

This deep dive into the lyrics of her August 2025 single, "Raspy," and the preceding "Bette Davis Eyes" cover, reveals a masterclass in turning online hate into topical authority. JoJo Siwa, now 22, is not just singing; she is weaponizing her viral moments and the very insults hurled at her, proving that she is fully aware of the public discourse and ready to fight back with music that is both catchy and extremely meta.

The New Era: Joelle Joanie Siwa's Controversial Rebrand Timeline

Joelle Joanie "JoJo" Siwa, born May 19, 2003, in Omaha, Nebraska, first rose to fame as a high-energy child dancer on shows like Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Moms. Her early career was defined by her signature oversized bows, vibrant aesthetic, and family-friendly anthems like "Boomerang." However, the year 2024-2025 marked a complete, highly scrutinized transformation into an adult artist.

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• Full Name: Joelle Joanie Siwa
• Born: May 19, 2003 (Age 22 in 2025)
• Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska
• Early Career: Reality TV Dancer (Dance Moms, Abby Lee Miller), YouTuber, Pop Singer ("Boomerang")
• Adult Debut Single: "Karma" (Released April 5, 2024)
• Controversial Cover: "Bette Davis Eyes" (Released July 11, 2025)
• Clapback Single: "Raspy" (Released August 8, 2025)
• Producers on "Raspy": Gus Ross, Luke Eisner, Niki
• Record Label: Columbia Records

The first major shockwave of her rebrand came with "Karma," a track that saw Siwa trade her rainbows for black leather and a dramatic, dark aesthetic. The song's opening line, "I was a bad girl, I did some bad things," immediately signaled the shift. However, it was her cover of the 1981 Kim Carnes hit, "Bette Davis Eyes," released on July 11, 2025, that truly ignited the "raspy" discussion. Critics and fans alike noted a drastically altered vocal texture—a deep, gravelly, and heavily-produced sound that many compared to a "40 years deep chain smoker voice." This intense public reaction became the direct inspiration for her next single, turning an insult into a title.

Decoding the 'Raspy' Lyrics: 7 Direct Clapbacks and Easter Eggs

The song "Raspy," released just weeks after the "Bette Davis Eyes" controversy, is a brilliant piece of meta-pop music. It’s a literal response track, packed with hidden references and direct lyrical clapbacks to the internet's most viral insults. Siwa, along with her producers Gus Ross, Luke Eisner, and Niki, crafted a song that not only owns the "raspy" voice but also mocks the very people who tried to tear her down.

1. The "Bette Davis Eyes" Voice Ownership

The most obvious reference is the opening line, which immediately addresses the source of the controversy. This line is Siwa's way of saying, "Yes, I know what you're saying, and I'm using it."

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• Key Lyric: "Eyes like Bette Davis / Hear my voice and you know what my name is"
• Meaning Explained: This lyric is a direct nod to the song that started it all—"Bette Davis Eyes." By placing the phrase next to a reference to her own name, Siwa links the "raspy" vocal style directly to her new, adult identity. It’s a statement that this voice is now her signature, regardless of public opinion.

2. Referencing the Viral "Dream Guest On..." Meme

One of Siwa's most memeable moments involved a viral interview clip where she was asked her dream podcast guest. Her answer, "One of my exes," delivered with a dramatic, slightly confused expression, became an instant TikTok sound and reaction video.

• Key Lyric: References to a viral interview moment (often alluded to in the verses).
• Meaning Explained: While the exact line is subtle, the song’s overall theme of referencing "internet insults" and "memeable moments" confirms she is not ignoring the viral clips. She is incorporating them into her narrative, showing that she is in on the joke, effectively disarming the meme's power.

3. The "40 Years Deep Chain Smoker" Insult

The most scathing criticism of the "Bette Davis Eyes" cover was the comparison of her voice to an older, heavy smoker. This was a brutal attack on her vocal quality and a direct challenge to her image.

• Key Lyric: (Implied throughout the song's production and delivery).
• Meaning Explained: The very existence of a song titled "Raspy" is the clapback. It takes the "chain smoker voice" insult and re-frames it as a unique, powerful, and marketable vocal texture. It's a refusal to apologize for the change, instead marketing the controversial style as a deliberate artistic choice for her adult debut.

4. The "Stolen Karma" Controversy

When "Karma" was released, a controversy erupted claiming the track was originally intended for another artist, sparking accusations that Siwa had "stolen" the song.

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• Key Lyric: (Subtle references to ownership and creative control).
• Meaning Explained: The "Raspy" era solidifies Siwa's control. By writing a song that is so deeply personal and reactive to her own recent controversies, she asserts herself as the author and director of her narrative, silencing the "stolen song" narrative by delivering an undeniably original response track.

5. The Dance Moms and Child Star Past

Siwa’s transition has been heavily criticized for being too abrupt, with many urging her to return to her family-friendly roots and the aesthetic that made her famous on *Dance Moms*.

• Key Lyric: "Wise beyond my age / That's what the critics say" (a common line in pop star coming-of-age songs).
• Meaning Explained: This lyric is a subtle way of addressing the impossible position of a former child star. The song’s mature sound and attitude declare that the child star is gone. Her "bad girl" persona is a necessary, and perhaps over-the-top, declaration of independence from the bows and glitter of her past.

6. The Olivia Rodrigo "Traitor" Reference

In a direct nod to the current landscape of pop music, JoJo Siwa often references other artists who have defined the emotional, raw pop genre, specifically mentioning Olivia Rodrigo.

• Key Lyric: (References to singing "Traitor" by Olivia Rodrigo are noted in analyses of the song's easter eggs).
• Meaning Explained: This reference positions Siwa not as an isolated figure, but as a contemporary artist operating within the same emotional and stylistic space as her peers. It aligns her with the "sad girl pop" genre, even as she delivers a more aggressive, self-assured track.

7. The Figurative Middle Finger to Haters

Ultimately, the entire track is an exercise in taking control of the narrative. Siwa is giving the "figurative middle finger to her haters," as many commentators have noted.

• Key Lyric: The chorus and overall tone of the song.
• Meaning Explained: The song is a confident anthem that transforms every negative comment into a reason for her success. By making her "raspy" voice the title and subject, she has created a unique piece of pop culture that is impossible to ignore, forcing critics to engage with her on her own terms. It is the ultimate power move in a celebrity rebrand.

The Future of JoJo Siwa’s Vocal Style and Topical Authority

The "raspy Jojo Siwa lyrics" controversy has proven to be an incredibly effective, albeit risky, strategy for her adult debut. By leaning into the criticism, JoJo Siwa has generated massive topical authority around her new persona. The new vocal style, which is heavily processed and intentionally gritty, is a deliberate aesthetic choice, not a vocal accident. This is the sound of an artist determined to shed a decade-long image and be taken seriously in a crowded pop landscape.

The success of "Raspy" lies in its self-awareness. It's a song that speaks directly to the internet, proving that JoJo Siwa is a savvy media personality who understands the power of a viral narrative. Whether or not her "bad girl" rebrand and "raspy" vocals will lead to sustained success remains to be seen, but for now, she has successfully dominated the conversation, turning every negative comment into a lyric and every meme into a marketing opportunity.