Music Review: "Kissin U" (CD single)
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that fans of
iCarly aren't going to encounter anything more mature
than what's already covered on the TV show. There's a lot of
talk of kissing, but nothing explicit or sexual really, just a
celebration of infatuation and how wonderful it is to smooch
with someone special. That's probably a little too much for
younger kids, but tweens probably won't bat an eyelash at this
generally innocent song .
- Families can talk about love and peer pressure. Do you ever feel pressured to have a boyfriend or girlfriend? Are tweens and teens ready for this level of commitment? What do you miss out on when you become exclusively involved with one person?
- Families can talk about the media pressure to have sex. Do you see characters who equate love with having sex? Do you think you can have strong feelings for someone and maintain a responsible relationship? How do you really know who "the one" for you is? What are the benefits to waiting?
- Talk about tween stars growing up. Do they go through the same issues you are dealing with? Does it help to see them change and grow, or do you feel pressure to live up to their looks and image?
Tweens and their parents are probably more familiar with seeing Miranda Cosgrove acting on the set of iCarly rather than belting out love tunes. But like so many other teen TV sitcom stars (Miley, can you hear us?), Cosgrove is releasing her debut album, Sparks. But this isn't Cosgrove's first foray onto the music scene. Before this she has dueted with Drake Bell and contributed tracks to the iCarly soundtrack.
Young love can be innocent, sweet, and irrepressible. It can also be incredibly annoying when taken to a super-sweet extreme. That's where we're at with this single. Lovebirds not jaded by love's letdowns can celebrate the purely poppy sounds and Cosgrove's limitless enthusiasm here. The rest of us will be left with a headache from constant eye rolling. After one listen you'll forever understand the meaning of "bubblegum pop."
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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