"Right Now (Na Na Na)" (CD single)

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Akon charts a new course with clean R&B toe-tapper.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this single lacks the more graphic language and messages about sex and violence heard in Akon's other music. The video for the song takes the maturity level up a notch, however, showing the singer in some suggestive, scantily-clad bedroom scenes.

  • A healthy message about romantic relationships, referencing the roles that both sides play ("Mistakes were made between us two") and the importance of good communication ("Tell you what's been on my mind").
  • Not applicable.
  • A few veiled references ("I miss how you lie with me"), but nothing
    nearly as overt or extreme as on past Akon albums.

What's the story?

The old phrase "apple of my eye" sounds like something a grandma might say -- so it's strange to hear the words in the new single "Right Now (Na Na Na)" by Akon, one of today's notoriously hardcore R&B artists. Yet these and other mild lyrics throughout the track reflect the singer's move away from the graphic language of previous albums like Konvicted. The result of this new direction is an almost sweet song about a heartbroken guy who misses his estranged girl.


Is it any good?

 

The heavy synthesizer, infectious beats, and plaintive vocals that make Akon's music appealing are back in his new single. While the repetitive lyrics don't offer a lot of complexity, they combine with the song's stylistic allure to keep listeners singing the tune long after they hear it. That said, the track doesn't score high in originality; other songs on the full-length CD, FREEDOM, do a better job of showcasing what the singer claims is his new dance-oriented, Euro-club sound.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how relationships (romantic or otherwise) are a two-way street, as Akon acknowledges when he sings "Girl, I know / mistakes were made between us two." What are the key ingredients of a caring, respectful relationship? How can two people effectively communicate their thoughts and concerns to each other? Also, how do you feel about an artist whose repertoire contains work with both tame lyrics and explicit musical messages?


This review was written by Caroline Knorr
Adult
January 19, 2009
 
right here
i like it very much it a nice song

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Teen, 15 years old
July 25, 2010
 
.....
I wanna make love right now yeah ok.... Horrible song

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Teen, 18 years old
August 12, 2009
 
Pretty Clean
There is one swear everyone is missing its the a word. It is changed in the on the radio to ourselfs

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Adult
December 16, 2008
 
awsome
cooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Teen, 14 years old
July 6, 2011
 
clean song

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Teen, 15 years old
September 5, 2010
 
One thing everybody's missing...
... the fact that every single chorus BEGINS with "I wanna make love right now (na na na)". Seriously, I thought you guys at CommonSense got that!!!!!!

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Teen, 16 years old
July 9, 2009
 
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this song!!! LOVE AKON!!! There isn't anything wrong with this song, no language, nothing! SO GOOD LOVE YOU AKON! AND LOVE THIS SONG!

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Teen, 17 years old
May 10, 2009
 

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Adult
December 12, 2008
 
I LOVE YOU LIL WAYNE
I LOVE MY BOO LIL WAYNE

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Parent of 15 year old
August 22, 2010
 
good

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This review was written by Caroline Knorr
Artist:Akon
Release date:December 2, 2008
Label:Universal
Genre:R&B
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Caroline Knorr
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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