Music Review: "According to You" (CD single)
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this emotional roller coaster of a
song has some good "stand up for yourself" sentiments, but it
also plays around with self worth and seems to promote defining
oneself by the standards of others. Words like "useless" and
"stupid" are tossed around liberally, which might not be the
best thing for kids who have yet to become aware of the power
of words. Orianthi's strong vocals and guitar presence do make
this a bit of a female anthem for leaving a bad relationship,
but where she goes from there can be a bit iffy.
- Families can talk about bullying. How does it feel when someone says something mean to you? Do you understand responsible communication and the power that your words have?
- Talk about relationships and keeping things in balance. What are some ways to keep perspective while being in a relationship? Do you think it might be better to wait until you are older and know yourself better before trying to have a romantic relationship?
- What do you think of Orianthi's image as a respected guitar musician? How do you think this persona compares to other female singers? Do you think a woman who can play instruments gains more credibility in the music world than one that just sings and dances (and looks pretty)?
- Why do you think the narrator stays with her unsupportive boyfriend for so long? Is it ever okay to be disrespected in a relationship? What would you do, and how would you feel, if someone said mean things to you?
Orianthi is no stranger to the verbal abuse being doled out on her debut single, ACCORDING TO YOU. Having experienced bullying as a child, the singer was forced to change schools to escape her tormentors. That move would ultimately prove successful for the young Australian, who subsequently focused on fine-tuning her guitar skills and, as a result, wound up jamming with the likes of Carlos Santana. Michael Jackson chose her as his guitarist for the "This Is It" tour, and Orianthi has been appearing at numerous tribute performances. With this, her debut single on her freshman album, Orianthi sings about dissing a disrespectful boyfriend in favor of an admiring suitor.
One listen to this single and it's obvious that this is a girl that can rock! With a guitar style all her own, Orianthi moves from the backing band into the spotlight. For a guitarist, her vocals are sharp and confident, and she doesn't back down to level off the emotional intensity of the song. It would've been nice for Orianthi to show girls that they don't need to find a guy to celebrate their qualities, but maybe next time, as it's a sure bet that audiences will be hearing more from this multi-talented artist.
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