 | 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. |
Rent Soundtrack
- Genre: Soundtrack
Common Sense Media says
Just enough for most casual fans. Teens and up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there are a few four-letter words involved in the lyrics, but the songs are pretty tame given that the subject matter of the movie involves the gritty side of urban life, including young people dealing with poverty, alternative lifestyles, love, and the AIDS virus.
What's the story?
Although diehard RENT fans probably already own the two-disc Original Broadway Cast Recording, this 17-track CD sampler of songs from the 2005 movie version will be more than enough to satisfy most newer, more casual fans. More than a taste, less than overkill, it provides a sampler of incredibly performed musical highlights from director Chris Columbus' big-screen adaptation of the popular stage musical, itself based on Puccini's "La Boheme."
Is it any good?
Given that the subject matter of the movie involves the gritty side of urban life, the songs are pretty tame. Lines like "I didn't recognize you without the handcuffs" (in "Light My Candle") or the joyfully howled lyrics in "Out Tonight" are as thematically risqué as it gets, and parental mileage will vary on appropriateness for younger kids and tweens. Impressive vocal performances and excellent musicianship, along with careful song selections and sequencing, cause the album to bubble along, perfectly paced and seamlessly mixed.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about older teens' hopes and fears about living independently as young adults. They can also talk about classics inspiring modern productions, as Rent is based on Puccini's "La Boheme."
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- Teens & kids
AGE
No day but today!
Although I prefer the Broadway version (I am a die-hard RENThead), this one is also pretty good. Although there is some mild innuendo, the message is positive. The overwhelming theme is: live your life to the fullest. That's the meaning behind "No Day But Today", the tagline of the film and the hook in the songs "Life Support" and "Another Day", as well as the song "Seasons Of Love" ("Measure your life in love..."). Overall, I highly reccomend RENT, but I would reccomend the Broadway soundtrack over this one- my only complaint is that the movie version sounds a little overproduced.
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AGE
Amazing.
Rent is a fantastic musical. The messages are great and the characters are inspiring, helping me to get through of the worst of days.
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AGE
Brilliant, but Rough...
First off, parents should be warned that both the complete and "highlights only" editions of the RENT soundtrack are explicit and are for ages 15+ only. That said, the innapropriate content is isolated in select songs, and some of the numbers are kid-friendly. I wouldn't recommend any songs besides "Seasons of Love" and "Finale B" for anyone under the age of 12, but most of the songs are good for ages 13+. Secondly, parents should know that in the movie and recording, lots of songs (even harmless G-rated fare like "I'll Cover You") are sung by homosexual couples, thus, the implication of something racy is always present, even when explicit content is not. Almost all of the songs besides the three mentioned above contain mild profanities ("d**n" and "h**l") and considerable, though pretty vague, innuendo (look up individual song lyrics for details). Two songs on the CD ("Tango Maureen" and "La Vie Boheme") are explicit and not for anyone under 15. The first song contains two "f" words and is about a character who cheats with both men and women. The latter song may/may not contain another "f" word (depending on what version you listen to) and numerous references to mature things like AIDS, homosexuality, homelessness, S&M, marijuana, and anarchy.
This is really good music that contains iffy stuff, but also promotes friendship and loyalty. As a rule, though, keep the majority of songs for when your kids can understand and appreciate them.
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AGE
Great soundtrack. It's amazing music, and the messages in a few of the songs are great. "I'll Cover You" is particularly adorable. Some of the songs are sung by LBGT couples, but they're the best on the soundtrack.
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AGE
Good Songs
Some of the songs are pretty adictive.
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| Release date: | November 15, 2005 |
| Label: | Warner Brothers |
| Genre: | Soundtrack |
| Parental advisory: | No |
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