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Back to Black

(2007, Soul, by Amy Winehouse, Label: Universal Republic)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Soul-drenched jazz and funk from Brit boozer.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Primarily deals with Winehouse's up and down relationships with men, booze, and weed.
  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Several veiled references, including mention of an ex-lover's penchant for getting his "d--k wet."
  • Language:

    A generous helping of four-letter words ("f--k" and "s--t"), including the rarely heard "f--kery."
  • Consumerism:

    Name-drops a couple of liquor brands, including Tanqueray.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Many alcohol and pot references, including a song about her decision to skip rehab and another in which she declares her love for weed above all else.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Back to Black

Parents need to know that Amy Winehouse is one of the most gifted soul singers to come along in years, with a fantastic voice and loads of songwriting talent. But that gift lives within a person who, if the songs are indeed autobiographical as she claims, loves to abuse alcohol, weed, and men. The lyrics are deceptively vulgar at times, but that strike against her isn't enough to outweigh the fact that this is a phenomenal album of classic soul music.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Winehouse's various views on love, from scorned and adulterous to vigorously loyal. But most of all, Winehouse offers a nearly transparent view into the psyche of someone who imbibes in more than her fair share of alcohol and pot. These songs show a woman perfectly aware of her vices but unwilling to change. There's a lifetime's worth of conversations in that subject matter: Is experimentation with alcohol and pot at a certain age okay? What does drinking responsibly mean? How do you know when it's a problem?

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Our Members Say

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See all 16 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0

    hi!

    i think amy's cool!:]

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Bad role model

    A majority of her songs talk about doing drugs or relationship problems.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    pretty voice

    She has a pretty voice, but she sings a lot about different drugs. Terreble role model. she dosen't swear much in her songs, but says words parents wouldn't want their kids hearing.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 1.0

    Not a very good CD.

    The only reason I have this CD is because my mom bought it for me. I only like Rehab,the rest of the songs suck, and they aren't very kid-friendly.

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