Music Review: A Year Without Rain
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that while this album contains some
predictable and disappointing messages about falling head over
heels for the wrong guy, the album is squeaky clean as far as
mature content goes. You'll find no swearing, sexual
references, or other adult subject matter here, making the
record OK for Selena's legion of adoring young fans.
- Families can talk about why so many young girls like Selena have a difficult time breaking free of a guy whom they know is wrong for them. Why are young girls (and guys) drawn to partners who don't treat them well?
- When considering whether to start a new relationship, what are the five most important things to look for in the other person?
In her second CD, A YEAR WITHOUT RAIN, Wizards of Waverley Place star Selena Gomez doesn't stray far from the formula that made her debut album, Kiss and Tell, a success. That formula includes a majority of songs that ride the rollercoaster of young love, describing a girl who falls hard for a guy that invariably disappoints her -- yet she still can't break free of the relationship. Hot-button lyrics include ones like "I'm hangin' on to every word you say / And my hair color's blonde, is that okay? / 'Cause I'm getting the feeling that I just can change." Peppered between the desperate messages are more positive lyrics that encourage self-confidence such as "We all got something we don't like, even Angelina Jolie." While the overall album omits graphic language and references to mature subject matter like sex and substances, the predictable messages about young romance are somewhat disappointing.
Selena Gomez has never been the strongest singer among her Disney peers. A Year Without Rain proves that point, especially with all of the voice-distorting auto-tune that crops up throughout the record. The formulaic synth-pop arrangements are also nothing new, though they will undoubtedly make for at least a few radio-friendly hits.
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