Music Review: "Hollywood's Not America" (CD single)
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this ballad is featured on
American Idol. There's nothing objectionable in this
song except for the passing mention of a woman coming to
Hollywood to make it and ending up a centerfold. The rest of
the lyrics reinforce the idea of being true to yourself.
Families can talk about how a reality show can catapult someone
into a star. Do you think Ferras would be as popular without
the name
American Idol behind him?
This heartfelt ballad is the exit song for losing contestants on American Idol. Staying true to your roots and not getting caught up in the Hollywood scene is what it's all about.
There's a reason why American Idol picked newcomer Ferras' song for their show: it's sincere, it's inoffensive, and it speaks to anyone who's ever had a dream. (Although, it's kind of strange for a show about making it big in Hollywood's music industry to choose a song about how Hollywood isn't real life.) Ferras' voice is good -- save for a few high notes -- and he glides over the piano keys like someone who's been playing for quite some time. Yes, the lyrics are generic ("And I know, what you're doin'/I know that you, you can be/anything you want to be") and at times a bit too preachy ("If you can make a million dollars/you might lose yourself/and you can take the heat/where your heart grow cold"), but this easy-to-listen-to, blue-eyed-soul singer will be big.
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