Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Cassie's new CD contains sexual innuendo and product placement, as well as a flirty come-here-go-away message that will be familiar to many girls beginning to explore the power of their sexuality.
Families can talk about double standards in relationships. Cassie seems to be saying that she can flirt with anyone she likes but won't stand for cheating boyfriends. How do you feel about these issues? Is it different for boys than it is for girls?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Cassie is a beautiful 19-year-old with a voice that sounds like it's made of spun sugar. Under the direction of Bad Boy Records' big guns and producer Ryan Leslie, she presents a collection of pleasant songs, all settled comfortably in the arena of flirtation, sex, and love. Though there's no explicit sexuality in the lyrics, there's a lot of sexy innuendo -- along with some very mixed messages about how a young woman might conduct herself as she discovers the power of her budding sexuality.
"Me & U," Cassie's debut single, is an infectious, irresistible late-summer hit. "I know them other guys/they been talking 'bout the way I do what I do/they heard I was good/they wanna see if it's true/they know you're the one I want to give it to/I can see you want me, too," she sighs provocatively in her sweet little-girl voice. "Baby, I'll love you all the way down," she continues, "Get cha right where you like it, I promise you'll like it..." -- a flirtation perfectly suited to her vocal strengths and the song's appealing arrangement. But who are "them other guys," and what do they really know about Cassie? The singer has taken an age-old teen concern (boys gossiping about a girl's reputation) and assumed all the power. You may end up feeling sorry for the boys.
Unfortunately, the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to the promise of "Me & U." Most of the songs are lackluster filler, written with little humor or artistry. And it turns out that when the boys are the ones flirting, it really isn't OK with Cassie. On "Call You Out," she reinforces the common double standard with "The day you play me/that'll be the day you're gone," and on "Hope You're Behaving (Interlude)," she leaves a cloying phone message for a far-away boyfriend, warning him to stay out of trouble while she's gone.
CASSIE is a good, but not great, offering from a young woman who still seems to be feeling her way, both artistically and personally.
Cassie fans might also enjoy Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, and Beyoncé.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentLots of innuendo, but nothing really explicit. |
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Social BehaviorAll over the map: Sexually predatory on one track, no-nonsense insistence on fidelity on the next. |
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CommercialismA few clothing brands are mentioned, and there's an insert advertising Sean Paul perfume. |
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