Music Review: Identified
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this album from Disney Channel's
High
School Musical
sweetheart is fine for kids. The more mature sound for
Hudgens -- a little bit of hip-hop is thrown in with her usual
bubblegum pop -- blends with typical teen talk about
relationships, feelings, and getting your groove on on the
dance floor.
Families can talk about the popularity of Vanessa Hudgens due to the immense success of High School Musical. Do you think people are more likely to buy her album because of she made it big on the small screen? How do you feel about the growing trend of teen singers/actors like Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, or Raven-Symone? Do these people have real talent to warrant their success, or are they simply riding on the coattails of popularity that they've garnered from their successful movies/TV shows?
Common Sense Media Review
IDENITIFIED is the sophomore album from
High
School Musical
sensation Vanessa Hudgens. Working with A-list
songwriter-producers like JR Rotem, Dr. Luke, Tim James, and
Antonina Armato, the 19-year-old singer-actor-dancer showcases
more hip-hop and contemporary beats than before.
It isn't easy to stand out among a seemingly growing crowd of teen pop stars who sing and either have their own TV show or are in a movie. Vanessa Hudgens is obviously trying to make a new name for herself as a serious singer, and not just Troy's sweet girlfriend who churns out bubblegum pop.
On Identified, her sound is different -- more mature -- yet at times more of the same innocent pop. On tracks like "Sneakernight" (the first single) and "Last Night," Hudgens brings a surprising and refreshing, bluesy side to some catchy lyrics. There's also a lot of hip-hop, synth-heavy dance beats that are great to move to -- but tend to sound like many songs you might hear already. "Identified," "Hook It Up," and "Amazed" (with Lil Mama) may not be what fans expect from little Miss HSM, but definitely showcase a shift and maturity in her voice and style, as well as upbeat, contemporary mixes. If nothing else, Vanessa proves she can hang with the rest of them, and she does so with just a little more confidence this time around.
Fans might also enjoy Miley Cyrus, Raven-Symone, or Ashley Tisdale.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
