 | 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. |
"Innocent" (CD Single)
- By Taylor Swift
- Genre: Pop
Common Sense Media says
Melancholy but clean song about forgiveness and moving on.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this song was performed live at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, in response, allegedly, to the 2009 debacle involving Kanye West's rude interruption of Swift's award acceptance speech. The song is darker and more somber than Swift's usual flavor, but its theme is uplifting: forgiving and learning from mistakes. Clean lyrics and content, but the heavy subject might be better for older kids.
What's the story?
On her third album, Speak Now, Taylor Swift is finding her voice and heart. Many of the album's songs are about former flames and heartaches, but "INNOCENT" is a solemn, powerful ballad that is rumored to be a response (or reprieve) to Kanye West's stage-storming during her award acceptance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
Is it any good?
What makes Taylor Swift's music so unique is how much of herself she puts into each song. With her album, Speak Now, she's going all in. "Innocent" is a little darker, more serious than her other tunes. The melancholy melody is haunting, with intense lyrics, heartfelt and relatable, saying: "Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days? Always a bigger bed to crawl into." The song shows Taylor's growth as a singer and person, a product of fame and life's harsh realities, but it ends inspiring and powerful with the declaration, "Everyone of us has messed up too.../Today is never too late to be brand new.../It's alright, just wait and see, your string of lights is still bright to me, you're still an innocent. Who you are is not where you've been."
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the media frenzy surrounding this song, Swift's MTV performance, and Kanye West. Do you think it is about him? Do you care? What do you think the song is about?
Do the rumors about this song's intent make it more interesting? Does it make you want to buy the music more?
The lyrics are melancholy, yet inspiring, saying, "Wasn't
it easier in your lunchbox days, always a bigger bed to crawl into/Who
you are is not where you've been or what you did." What do you think
about these lyrics? Do you think Taylor Swift is referring to herself?
Or her life as a celebrity?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 11 years old
July 5, 2011
AGE
Heartfelt
This is a really heartfelt song. It's not as fun to listen to though. It's for older kids younger kids wouldnt understand the meaning. My mom got tearryeyed when she was listening to this song.
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AGE
TS ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Common Sense Parent, so you like Ke$ha as a good role model and nto Taylor Swift? Wow that's messed up...
Taylor Swift Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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AGE
This sends a very positive message about taking the high road and forgiving people who have done you wrong, I don't think children would understand the meaning of it, but older kids would definitely appreciate it.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 13, 2011
AGE
AGAIN 6 YEAR OLDS!!!!!
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AGE
love it!
Once again, you're stupid Common Sense Parent. Every single Taylor Swift review you've made it bad. This song is amazing. There is nothing bad, and it shows good messages because TS is forgiving someone, probably Kanye West.
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AGE
Good Song
I don't like this song that much really, but the lyrics are reallly detailed
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AGE
I love this song!
This is a great song!!!! I have the Speak Now album, and listen to it often. I adore "Innocent"! It is clean, like ALL of her songs, and child appropriate, like ALL of her songs! Taylor is a wonderful role model! I luv this song!
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AGE
great song
amazing song. it brings out a great message for people :D
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AGE
Shows off Taylor's vocals beautifully.
If, as CSM says, this song is about Kayne West, Taylor Swift seems to have forgiven him. "You're still an innocent." There are also wonderfully creative lines like: "Wasn't it beautiful in your firefly-catching days?/when everything out of reach/someone bigger brought down to you." The song shows off Taylor's pure, childlike yet angelic voice, her vocals soaring up to hit the high notes perfectly.
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AGE
Explicit single not for kids
Taylor Swift's single is not for children. The messages presented in the single "Innocent" are very sexual and not age-appropiate. This explicit single is for adults only.
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| Artist: | Taylor Swift |
| Release date: | October 19, 2010 |
| Label: | Big Machine Records |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Parental advisory: | No |
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