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Little Voice (by Sara Bareilles, Pop)

common sense media says

Smart, soulful songs serve up girl empowerment.

parents & educators say
See all 10 reviews | Review it

What 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.

Positive messages: 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."
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."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: 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."
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What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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?

What's the story?

What's the story?
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?

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.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: March 18, 2008
Label: BMG Import
Genre: Pop
This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

mango.grl
teen, 16 years old
10
 
Great Music
Sara Barellis is a wonderful role model for female young adults and the music is great... Me and my friends all love it.
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connielove93
educator and parent of 5 and 10 year old
10
 
Cute songs for kids ten years and older.
I love her songs and they show impowerment to people who are in love! I would let my kids listen to it if they were ten years old!
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BluePanda
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Perfect for tweens and up.
I ? Sara Bareilles! She Rocks!
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WOWitsme
teen, 14 years old
8
 
i love a few of these songs
my favorites are love song, one sweet love, bottle it up, and many the miles. it has a good message and i love the lyrics to fairytale no sex or violence and only one cuss word (you're sh*t out of luck)
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edwardlover82
teen, 17 years old
 
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Rokoman
kid, 11 years old
7
 
I LOVE "Love Song"!
My younger sister (Eight) LOVES "Love Song". I have heard it SO many times, but I still like it.
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palmtreeluva
teen, 14 years old
9
 
Cool album.
I really like it! It's way tame compared to some albums out there. She sings songs about girl power, going after an old love, and more. In one song, "Come Round Soon", she has lots of alcohol and drug references. I deleted that song from my iPod, because it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. The rest of the album is really okay, though. Probably okay for ages 9 and up.
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eleventimesthe ...
kid, 12 years old
11
 
One bad word I didnt see
I didnt realize Bottle it up had the S word!Im going to check if the one I bougth is edited
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MissGrace4
teen, 14 years old
10
 
Appropiate for all ages
Sara Bareilles has stayed out of the media's eye, being a good role model for girls around the world. Her music is pure talent and not inappropiate at all. I listen to her daily, and she is absolutely amazing. Her message's are great and gosh, just great.
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super mello
teen, 17 years old
13
 
great music for teen girls
this ios great music to listen to after abreakup, or any time your just feeling down. its also great if you want to listen to pop music and sing your heart out. its beautiful misic that empowers girls, and its definetly not the typical pop music filled with dirty lyrics and offensive messages.
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