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"Alejandro" (CD single) (by Lady Gaga, Pop)

common sense media says

Unusually tame tune from edgy artist; OK for older kids.


parents & educators say
  • 36% say sexual content is an issue
  • 36% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that as far as Lady Gaga songs go, "Alejandro" is tame. There's no profanity, graphic sexual descriptions, or over-the-top substance use (beyond one mention of smoking cigarettes). The song relays an overall positive message, telling the story of someone who knows a relationship isn't working and takes the difficult step of ending it: "I know that you may love me / But I just can't be with you like this anymore." Please note that the music video is controversial, though, and is definitely not for kids.

Positive messages: Describes someone who refuses to continue a bad relationship.
Positive role models: Though this song is relatively tame, it can't overshadow the extremely mature image that has become the hallmark of Lady Gaga's career.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Nothing worse than "Don't wanna kiss, don't wanna touch."
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Talks about smoking cigarettes.

More on "Alejandro" (CD single)

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how the lack of racy subject matter affects this Lady Gaga song. Unlike so many of her previous singles, this one isn't overtly sexual or risque; does that take anything away from the song, or is it still good? Why or why not? 

  • Could Lady Gaga remain a huge success if all of her songs were as clean as "Alejandro"?

What's the story?

What's the story?

"ALEJANDRO" is the latest single from Lady Gaga, who recently performed the tune on American Idol Season 9 as part of a medley of songs. In a departure from many of her previous singles, this track is largely clean -- omitting graphic language, sexual references, and mentions of substance use, aside from one line about smoking cigarettes.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Ever since she hit the scene, Lady Gaga has drawn comparisons to Madonna, as both have built a career out of pushing the envelope through their lyrics and images. With the Spanish overtones of "Alejandro," Lady Gaga seems to be following in Madonna's footsteps once again (remember "La Isla Bonita"?). Both songs are catchy pop tunes with Spanish flair that offer solid, if not earth-shattering, vocals.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: May 11, 2010
Label: Interscope Records
Genre: Pop

This review was written by Stephanie Bruzzese
 
 

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Review "Alejandro" (CD single)





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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 14 parent & educator reviews:
  • 36% say sexual content is an issue
  • 36% say there are positive messages
  • 36% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Shame on you Common Sense
I don't know why you constantly refer to Lady Gaga as a bad role model in your reviews. She encourages her fans to be themselves and once donated all of her concert ticket/online store sells to benefit Haiti. She is an excellent role model for kids and for you to say otherwise judging solely from her music is wrong. Alejandro is a great single and I encourage everyone to buy it on iTunes!

sunrisemusik
teen, 17 years old
 
There is the surprisingly tame, enjoyable pop song. And then there is the music video.
SO THE VIDEO JUST CAME OUT. Yeah, I'll talk about THAT at the end, so as to not influence your opinion of the actual song. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| This review is focusing on the SONG, not the VIDEO. The actual song is very low on offensive content - the only thing that could be taken as "offensive" would be one line in the chorus, which mentions cigarettes: "just smoke my cigarette and hush". The song, in whole, talks about leaving a lover, who is (insinuated to be) not the best boyfriend. A positive, for once. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| The second the song comes on; you know it isn't anything that you've heard from pop. Sweeping strings accompany sweeping synthesizers in the chorus. Xylophone riffs act as a foil to acid synths in the verses. Claps, bass drums and altered hi-hats provide percussion. And a synth bass comes in and fills in the rest. All of these instruments work in tandem to provide a somehow refreshing, airy vibe to escort the lyrics, which are far, far from boring but aren’t exactly catchy. The exception is when GaGa belts out "Alejandro" in some form of a Spanish accent that you /will/ try to replicate when it gets stuck in your head. Overall, it’s not earth shattering, but it is a nice breather from the usual we’ve gotten from GaGa. The song is perfectly fine for younger kids, unlike most of her recent hits. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Okay, now about the VIDEO. First off, the video has NOTHING to do with the song, so you aren’t missing out on any “deeper” meaning. Secondly, if you are easily offended, just know that it is not for kids, teens or anybody who is traumatized very easily. If you want to enjoy the song, don’t watch the video and definitely keep it away from children. Just walk away while you are still naïve. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| The video contains a laundry list of offensive material: heavy homoerotic themes (I am not homophobic, but the way she presents it in the video is not giving it a good name), S&M, excessively suggestive chorography, extremely offensive blasphemy (she swallows a cross) and a part where she has on Madonna-pioneered extended t*ts in the form of machine gun barrels. I don’t know what is going on in her mind, but the video has made it hard for me to listen to the song. I can’t listen to Alejandro or Telephone because of her videos, which, in my opinion, are tasteless and repulsive; and they are actually hurting her sales. Which is a shame, because she makes good music – why does she feel the need to ruin it with a video? –heavy sigh- So - enjoy the song. Don’t watch the video.

xXxTayxXx
kid, 12 years old
 
I don't get...
common sense's review. If it barely has anything bad in it.. why is it innapropriate for 9 and 10 year olds?!?!?!?

MissBridgette
parent of and 6 , 9 , 13 , 14 , 17 , 18 year old
 
Horrible Music Video, not bad song
The song mentions the line "She's not broken She's just a baby But her boyfriend's like a dad, just like a dad" I don't think that anyones "boyfriend" should be compared to a father. This song isn't bad, and I happen to be a huge Lady Gaga listener, but I would not let my kids listen to this song, solely because of how very skimpy the music video is, very sexual, and very crude. Definitely not for kids under 14, and that's pushing it. Even though the song has no huge red flags, kids like to look up music videos now... so please, watch out for those Lady Gaga music videos.

lil shysty
teen, 17 years old
 
well the song is a good connetation but lady gaga her self might be wild so if your children listen to her music dont let them wach the vidios untill they can actualy understand her message through her song. the song is prety good but some songs are just to weired but i my se3lf do like her songs (:

FlickChick197
teen, 15 years old
 
Older Teens and Young Adults.
As a classic Lady Gaga fan, I LOVE the Alejandro song. The music is well written and awesome. Well what about the video? TOTAL blasphemy. It sends a chill up my spine to even type the word. Just watch the video and you will see the utter wrong doing in the video. Lady Gaga is a Catholic and was born and raised that way. Her performance in the video surprised me in the negative way. I think she should be strictly a role model to MATURE teens.

bluekangaroo13
teen, 13 years old
 
Awful!!!!
Lady Gaga is such a freak, in a bad way!!!!!!!! How is she popular? She's worse than Justin Bieber!! Her songs have catchy tunes but thats it. If you want to listen to some real music listen to Green Day or All Time Low. Or Skillet for all I care, but people, please, at least listen to some decent music.

uvkitty
teen, 17 years old
 
...
The song is cathy, but make sure your children don't watch her videos! The video has a completely different meaning...

ravenfan101999
teen, 14 years old
 
It's fine for tweens and teens
The video is worse than the song... The video is pratically a porn video. If I were a mom I wouldn't let my kids listen to it because they might be tempted to watch the video. Shes the new Madonna....

Kappa Mizu
kid, 11 years old
 
WHO CARES FOR AGE!?
THIS SONG IS AWESOME A FRIEND 6 CAN EVEN SING IT SO WHO CARES FOR THE AGE! ALEJANDRO IS THE BEST GAGA SONG!!!

izzy358
teen, 14 years old
 
Ok song, but very catchy
The song is very catchy, and it manages to get stuck in your head very quickly. The lyrics are ok.

beautiful.teen
teen, 15 years old
 
The song is appropriate for ages 11 and up, but i recommend not seeing the music video unless you're 13 or older.
The song is pretty nice and catchy, but the music video is really inappropriate! whatever u do, DON'T watch it, really...

mrmistofelees
teen, 16 years old
 
For Gaga fans who can't really handle her other songs.
This isn't so bad. It's kinda catchy too. Just don't take her songs too seriously, ok people? Most kids don't so it's fine.

TheGman447
parent of 15 year old
 
Worst song ever!!!
I HATE THIS SONG!!!

MJMJ
teen, 14 years old
 
lady No no
Your kid shouldn't listen to her AT ALL!

lakers fan
kid, 11 years old
 
Weird person, good music
What a weirdo! With those crazy costumes, random stunts that almost get her arrested, and all her songs being about boys or dancing, shes just plain weird. I hate to admit that her music is catchy though.

 
Maybe for 17 & up but 12 is way too young to listen to any Lady Gaga music
The song may be milder than her usual junk but the video is so perverted & disturbing its just sick. Lady Gaga is just warped & willing to pimp herself out however dirty or rauncy is necessary to keep up her hooker-ish "nobody's as dirty as me" attitude & image.

Joe-SF
adult
 
Another great song by GaGa---her spanish accent is horrendous...

RockCycle
teen, 15 years old
 
Weird
I'm not going to lie, I pretty much hate every Lady Gaga song that has ever hit the face of this Earth. First of all, the song is completely... weird. It's like putting together a ripped up letter that's missing some parts. Your kid might also think, "Why don't I watch the music video," and find her dressed as a Nazi! In conculion: ACK!!!!!!!!

imjustwondering
teen, 17 years old
 
its not dirty its not as provactive as 'Love Game" and " Poker Face" the only bad thing about it is the smoke and and dont wanna kiss/touch this good song of Gaga like just dance 7+ can listen to this but those other two songs not 7+ its 15+ and its about having to end a relationship thats bad with doing it in an extreme way

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age