Common Sense Note
Unless you take a look at the CD cover, there is no way you'd guess that a 13-year-old girl is the soulful singer belting out these R&B tunes. JoJo is incredibly talented, and her success at such a young age may inspire your kids to keep working on their own skills and talents (remind them that JoJo worked very hard and probably didn't blow off her vocal lessons when she would've preferred to go to the mall).
Still, it might strike you as odd that a young teen would be singing about love and heartbreak -- you would expect this knowing tone from a seasoned soul singer such as Mary G. Blige or even Christina Aguilera, but not from someone who just finished junior high. You might ask your kids if they think that a 13-year-old can experience the deep love JoJo sings about. And although JoJo encourages girls to be themselves and not change for anyone, she also spends a lot of energy focusing on relationships and being in love. You might point out to your kids that being half of a couple isn't everything, and that happiness comes from within -- not from another person.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Common Sense Media
JoJo's appearance on "America's Most Talented Kids" last year put the young singer on the map -- and now she's all over the airwaves and MTV. JoJo is an unbelievably skilled singer (she performs the type of vocal gymnastics that made Christina Aguilera famous) and a strong songwriter for one so young (she penned the tracks "Keep On Keepin' On", "Yes or No", and "Sunshine"). She's only 13, but she sounds like an established R&B artist -- and she's more talented than Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Jessica Simpson combined.
Although JoJo sings about friendship ("Use My Shoulder"), triumphing over adversity ("Keep On Keepin' On") and female empowerment ("Not That Kinda Girl"), her main focus is love and relationships, which seems strange given her limited experience with the topics. Of course, it's age-appropriate for young teens to be interested in matters of the heart, and many kids will find comfort in singing along to "Leave (Get Out)" after experiencing heartache. Know that while some of the lyrics are definitely melodramatic ("Hope you know that when it's late at night/I hold on to my pillow tight/And think of how you promised me forever"), at least there's nothing explicitly sexual to worry about. The edgiest song is JoJo's remake of SWV's "Weak" ("My heart starts beating triple time/With thoughts of lovin' you on my mind") -- and that's as graphic as it gets.
Bottom line: This is a great R&B/pop CD that happens to be by a 13-year-old. There's much for teens to identify with and enjoy here, and you may even find yourself "borrowing" the CD when your kids are out!
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA lot of the songs involve romantic relationships, but the focus is on love and heartbreak, not sex. |
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LanguageOne "hell" in "Fairy Tales" -- that's it. |
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Social BehaviorThere's a positive girl-power message here, but JoJo also puts a lot of emphasis on romantic relationships. |
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CommercialismMostly anti-materialism but in "City Lights" JoJo debates whether she should buy "a Lexus, Beemer or Hummer". |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoNone other than the line "I'm on a high, I feel like I'm on medication" in "City Lights". |
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