Music Review: Fearless
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the songs on this album are mostly
about being young, in love, and let down in love. There’s
a mix of joy and despair, but even the more angst-ridden songs
have an empowering message and put the pain of breaking up or
being overlooked by boys in perspective. The lyrics generally
kid-appropriate, though one song does allude to virginity loss.
Families can talk about
Taylor
Swift’s enormous success and widespread appeal. Do you
think she's popular because her music speaks to more than just
country fans? Which of the songs on this album can you relate
to the most? Many of the songs seem very personal. How do you
think it would feel to have your private life in the spotlight,
as many celebrities do?
FEARLESS is like a soundtrack to the emotional roller
coaster commonly known as high school. Songs deal with liking
someone so much that you can't breathe when they're not there
("Breathe"), the frustration of knowing that you're better for
a guy than the girl he's with ("You Belong with Me"), the pain
of a 15-year-old broken heart ("Fifteen"), the exciting rush of
a first date ("Fearless"), and the disappointments of dating a
jerk ("Tell Me Why," "You're Not Sorry"). There's also a
heartfelt song about a mother-daughter relationship ("The Best
Day") that's bound to bring a tear to any parent's eyes.
Even the biggest cynic will find it hard not to see the good in this album. Swift manages to cover "boy-crazy" themes in a way that has broad appeal, even to those who aren't teens. Her lyrics, while simple, are honest and genuine, and they show insight and maturity. On the track "Fifteen," Taylor sings "But in your life you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team." And you can't help but wonder how much easier high school would have been if you'd known the things you learned about life -- and yourself -- a little later on.
LeAnn RimesCarrie Underwood
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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