Disney Channel Playlist - Various Artists

Album: Disney Channel Playlist Artist: Various Record Label: Walt Disney Records, 2009

Review:  I have to remember that I am an adult listening to an album of music designed, targeted and marketed to tweens.  I say that because this album doesn’t move me personally, however I’m sure young tweens will love it.  It is a collection of various artists who all already have successful recordings on their own.  This album is like the greatest hits of the all-stars of tween pop music.  The Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and The Cheetah Girls all have songs on this album.  Younger tweens will know these artists and love the music.  Themes are growing up, parties, friendship, believing in oneself, following your heart, self-confidence and self-discovery.   By far, the most popular song on the album is a duet with Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato called “One and the Same.”  Wanting the audience to identify with them, they sing “You rock out in your room, I rock a world premiere, We're more alike than, Anybody could ever tell.” The Jonas Brothers rock the playlist with “Live to Party” singing “You gotta live to party, bust your move, Everybody’s in the groove, Tell the DJ to play my song, Are you ready to rock and roll?”  Not my kind of lyrics, but it works for the young tweens.  Hannah Montana is singing “Let’s Get Crazy” in a pounding dance beat and she inspires her audience to “Just be courageous, this style’s contagious, Everyone can rock out like a superstar.”  The Cheetah Girls are not to be outdone as they join in the party and invite the listener to “Dance Me if You Can.”  Young tweens will probably learn their first dance moves with this album and then look back five years later and wonder what they were thinking. 

Genre: Pop rock, Pop

Interest Level: Ages 8 and up.

Breakout - Miley Cyrus

Album: Breakout Artist: Miley Cyrus Record Label: Hollywood Records, 2008

Review:  Perhaps wanting to distance herself from her Disney Channel role of Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus cranks it up on this album.  I appreciate the fact that Cyrus co-wrote eight of the twelve songs on this album. Tweens may be inspired by the creative expression demonstrated by this young performer (sixteen when she released this album). Typical teen themes run through the songs; school, romance, emotions, growing up. The song “Wake Up America” encourages tweens to take responsibility and explore environmental issues; “Wake up America, We're all in this together, It's our home so let's take care of it, And everything you do matters.”  Sounding a little “edgy” and similar to Brittany Spears on the hit single "Fly On The Wall", Miley sings, “A little communication, Well that'll go a long way, You're getting misinformation, Too much hearsay, hearsay” will have tweens identifying with gossip which too often swirls in the tween world.  Another hit single is “7 Things”.  This song captures tween romantic relationships and the emotional, contradictory feelings. She sings, “The 7 things I hate about you, You're vain, your games, you're insecure, You love me, you like her

You make me laugh, you make me cry” and then in the same song, “The 7 things I like about you, Your hair, your eyes, your old Levi's, When we kiss,You make me laugh, you make me cry, Your hand in mine.”  Tweens have already embraced Miley Cyrus in great numbers.  These songs would get tweens moving at the middle school dance. This is another artist that I would not normally seek out, but I am impressed with her talent and recommend “Breakout”.

Genre: Pop rock, Pop

Interest Level: Ages 8 and up.

My Worlds Acoustic - Justin Bieber

Album: My Worlds Acoustic Artist: Justin Bieber Record Label: Island, RBMG, 2010

Review:  I had to go out of my comfort zone for this music.  I specifically sought out an artist/album who appeals to the younger tweens.  I had not listened to Bieber’s music prior to this album, but I had certainly heard of “Bieber Fever.”  I have to acknowledge, after listening, the young man (17 years old) has talent. This particular album is a compilation of songs from his previous two albums and is featuring Justin playing acoustic guitar on all of the 10 songs.  My understanding is that when an artist releases an “acoustic” album, all of the instruments are acoustic.  This is not the case with this album, there are plenty of electric instruments being played, but they do not hinder the performance.  All of the songs are extremely listenable - good beat, good rhythm, good pace, excellent vocals.  Lyrics are always important to me (and probably are to parents of tweens) and should be to the tweens listening as well.  The lyrics in this album match the clean cut “teen heart throb” image that Justin has (not incorrectly) been labeled with. He is listed as a co-writer on 7 of the 10 songs. The first three songs on the album are love songs which is predictable, but the are hopeful and positive and I imagine igniting dreams in many tween girls.  “down to Earth” appears to be a positive appeal to mend the stress of parent-child conflicts. (What tween hasn’t experienced that?) ”So it's up to you and it's up to me That we meet in the middle on our way back down to Earth” Songs 5 through 8 are more songs where Justin declares his adoration for, comparisons to Romeo and Juliet and sadness over loss of his girl.  “Never Say Never” is the theme song from the movie “The Karate Kid” and encourages us to never give up, face challenges with courage, find yourself, and fight for what you believe in.  In the final song “Pray” Justin expands his themes to world hunger, homelessness and war. It seems sincere when he sings “I close my eyes and I can see a better day, I close my eyes and pray, Oh, I got a vision to make a difference. And it's starting today.”  Great positive messages, dreams of first love, and good music gets my high recommendation.

Genre: Pop, R&B

Interest Level: Ages 7 and up.

Fearless - Taylor Swift

Album: Fearless Artist: Taylor Swift Record Label: Big Machine Records, 2008

Review:  What an incredible album!  Taylor Swift is talented and creative. This is her second album and a follow-up to her self-titled album, Taylor Swift. She wrote or co-wrote all 13 of the songs on this album. Lyrics are important in a song.  Swift uses the words to paint poignant and real life scenes that evoke emotions in the listener.  Her honesty is present - these are scenes she has lived, not invented.  Her songs are dominated by the subject of love in many forms - mostly romantic, but parents love for their children, a love for a sibling and the love for a friend.  My favorite song on the album is “Fifteen”.  This song is a story of starting high school, best friends, first love, popularity, betrayal and freedom - all in ONE song!  She sings “In your life you'll do things greater, Than dating the boy on the football team, But I didn't know it at fifteen” “'Cause when you're fifteen and, Somebody tells you they love you, You're gonna believe them.”  This song has  every chance of becoming an anthem for a generation of girls like Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen.”  The first hit single from this album is “Love Story” and Swift weaves the story of Romeo and Juliet into a modern tale of a boy and girl drawn to each other and lacking parental approval and she sings “"Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel. This love is difficult, but it's real.”  On “The Best Day” Taylor has crafted a beautiful tribute to her mother who has obviously loved and supported her.     What mother wouldn’t love to hear their daughter sing “I know you were on my side even when I was wrong, And I love you for giving me your eyes, Staying back and watching me shine, and I didn't know if you knew, So I'm taking this chance to say that I had the best day with you today”  Taylor Swift is 18 years old and she has what it takes to be performing for many years. I own this album. My daughter owns this album. Tweens who can listen, will be guided, entertained, and inspired by every song on this album.  Share this with a tween and you might just open up their heart.

Genre: Country, Pop

Interest Level: Ages 12 and up.

Awards:  Grammy Award, Album of the Year, 2010