Little Voice - Sara Bareilles
Smart, soulful songs serve up girl empowerment.
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Music details
- Artist(s): Sara Bareilles
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Sony / BMG Import
- Parental Advisory: No
- Edited Version: No
- Release Date: 03/18/2008
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that Sara Bareilles is not your average pop tartlet. Sure, she sings about crushes and break-ups, but this singer/songwriter is a modern girl who takes an independent, thoughtful look at love and relationships on her debut album. Although there are a few references to mature topics such as smoking, for the most part, Bareilles provides positive girl-empowerment messages.
Families can talk about how the media promotes certain romantic conventions and how women buy into these myths. Bareilles confronts this on "Fairytale," where she discusses fairy-tale ideas of female subordination. In what ways do modern fairy tales exist in film, TV, and music? How do these stories depict women? Are women usually seen in a role of power, or are they in need of a man?
Families can talk about how the media promotes certain romantic conventions and how women buy into these myths. Bareilles confronts this on "Fairytale," where she discusses fairy-tale ideas of female subordination. In what ways do modern fairy tales exist in film, TV, and music? How do these stories depict women? Are women usually seen in a role of power, or are they in need of a man?
Message
Social Behavior:
Positive messages for girls about love and not getting caught up in unrealistic stereotypes: "'Cause I don't care for you fairy tales...Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom/Man made up a story said that I should believe him/go and tell your white knight that he's handsome in hindsight."
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Brief references to smoking and alcohol: "I could use another cigarette, but don't worry daddy, I'm not addicted yet/One too many drinks tonight and I miss you like you were mine" and "Cinderella's on her bedroom floor/she's got a crush on the guy at the liquor store."
Violence
Just one allegorical mention of suicide: "The earth that is the space between/I'd banish it from under me...to get to you/Your unexpected love provides my solitary's suicide...oh I wish I knew."
Sex
Lots of talk of love and loss, but nothing explicit. Lyrics often discuss abstract desires: "Sleepless nights you creep inside of me/paint your shadows on the breath that we share/you take more than just my sanity/you take my reason not to care."
Language
One crude word: "Get down to the heart of it/no it's my heart you're s--t out of your luck/Don't make me tell you again my love love love love."
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Jacqueline Rupp
Sara Bareilles was thrust onto the pop charts with her infectious single "Love Song." Now her breakthrough album featuring the popular EP has been rereleased. The rest of her album's 11 tracks follow the same tone with introspective, frank, and irreverent lyrics about love, love, and more love.
Is it any good?
Bareilles comes off as the easy-to-talk-to girlfriend who shoots from the hip and doesn't hold back her feelings -- particularly when it comes to men and relationships. Her smooth vocals don't overwhelm the ears, but instead roll along through winding tales of angst and longing, making the album especially appealing to teen girls. Poetic imagery in songs such as "Many the Miles" and "One Sweet Love" remain grounded by Bareilles' refreshingly straightforward observations on tracks like "Vegas" ("Gonna sell my house and cross the border/'Cause somebody told me dreams live in Mexico/Gonna sell my house/I got to lose ten pounds"). No doubt that on LITTLE VOICE, Bareilles flips pop conventions into an opportunity for girl-empowerment.
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