Music Review: It's Not Me, It's You
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this album is full of smart
observations that most young people, particularly girls, will
identify with. However, Allen covers some mature topics,
especially when it comes to sex. She talks about one-night
stands, selfish lovers, and using men for sex.
Families can talk about how Lily Allen differs from other
female pop singers like Britney Spears or Lady GaGa. How does
Allen discuss topics of sexuality differently than other pop
divas? Do you think Allen rebels against certain pop music
conventions or do you think she fits in with what's expected of
female singers?
After making a public blogging plea for fans to buy her album in the hopes of making it to the top of the charts, Lily Allen has achieved her goal. Her second album, IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU reached number one in both the US and UK. The album is a collection of a dozen tracks that takes listeners on a slightly serious trip through Allen's musings about love, politics, shopping, religion, and everything in between.
With lines like "...I'm not a saint, but I'm not a sinner, now everything is cool as long as I'm getting thinner," Lily Allen's clever, irreverent writing takes center stage with her sophomore CD. An appealing mix of edge and vulnerability makes the Brit singer-songwriter sing like that chatty girlfriend who you can always count on for an outlandish remark. "Not Fair " for example, shows what happens when bad sex happens to a good relationship, while "Who'd Have Known," captures the magic of budding love without being overly sweet: "Who'd have known? When you flash up on my phone...There's just the right amount of awkward."
Although most of the songs relate well to the real world, they might be too much for tweens and teens just beginning to come to terms with their own sexuality. The content is more appropriate for college-aged listeners who will probably be able to pick up on the satirical tone and won't take Allen's coy, sometimes controversial ideas to heart.
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