 | ON: Content is age-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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Finally Woken
Common Sense Media says
Once more, without feeling.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the singer's breathy voice lilts over dance-club rhythm tracks. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't, but she is always careful not to offend. In fact, it often sounds as though she's not really there at all.
What's the story?
On FINALLY WOKEN, Welsh pop darling Jem Griffiths delivers 11 new songs, most of which sound tediously similar. The formula is simple: Strong dance-club rhythm tracks pound away under wispy, detached vocals. Love and loss seem to be the themes here, and the occasional sexual innuendo will go over the heads of kids who are not ready to hear it. The song "24" deals with the concept of time running out ("In 24 hours they'll be laying flowers on my life, it's over tonight"). Could be a death song, but again, there's nothing really explicit or scary to worry about."Wish I" is a musical change of pace, as the dance tracks go Latin and Jem's voice shines. The song visits the old theme of a girl sending her lover off on a grand adventure while she stays behind: "Baby, you're sailing away/Baby, you're sailing today/Sugar, wish I could go too/But honey you know I'm happy for you," she sings with disengaged perkiness.
Is it any good?
Jem's breathy voice sometimes works and sometimes doesn't as she sings over dance-club rhythms. Often the pretentious instrumentals do not do her voice justice; in fact, she sometimes seems to get lost in the shuffle. It's too bad, as she has a pretty voice and even a couple of interesting songs. Okay, not that interesting...but she does have a pretty voice. Unfortunately, the overall impression is that she doesn't really care a whole lot one way or the other.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why they think there is so much buzz about this singer. How might she improve her musical offerings?
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Kid, 10 years old
June 7, 2010
AGE
Great Music
I love Jem's songs. They don't have too much innuendo, but they do have a little. The reason I put good messages is because Jem isn't always, "BLOOD, AND DEATH, AND PAIN, AND..." You get the idea.
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| Artist: | Jem |
| Release date: | March 23, 2004 |
| Label: | Ato Records |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Parental advisory: | No |
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