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Rock Steady (by No Doubt, Pop)

common sense media says

Hits are great; some lyrics have double meanings.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an upbeat collection of songs mostly about boys, and the ups and downs of liking them, or one in particular -- and it could be the wrong one. The lyrics aren't sexually explicit, but some of them are loaded with double meanings. On "Hella Good," for example, when Stefani wants to "keep on dancing," is she talking about dancing or something else? The lyrics cover long-distance love ("Making Out"), jealousy ("In My Head"), loving a bad boy ("Underneath It All"), giving the bad boy a second chance ("Don't Let Me Down"), and groupie backstage action ("Hey Baby").

Positive messages: Themes of depression ("I'm gonna sleep all through the day/I'm gonna sleep my life away") and infidelity ("Hey girl, save the liar/Can't you see his pants on fire?," "I'm gonna snoop and call you out/I caught you, your hands are red," and "Oh, I can't believe that you're still around/Almost forgot how you let me down").
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Subtle sexual connotations peppered throughout: "You got me feeling hella good/So let's just keep on dancing," "Cause I'm in the mood come on and give it up," "You give me the most gorgeous sleep that I've ever had," and "You know you need to be my lover." There's also a message about using sex to fix a fight on "Start the Fire" ("Now let's spend the morning sweetly/Get over here and complete me").
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Allusions to smoking pot ("Cottonmouth and all lit up" and "Go on and get the lighter/We're gonna need some fire/Let's get a little higher").
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Rock Steady

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what teens are thinking about: What's okay to put up with in a romantic relationship and what isn't? When is it healthier to walk away? How can you tell when you're ready for something hot and heavy? How do you deal with someone you're really into being unfaithful, or not calling you when he/she promised, or not liking you as much as you like him/her? Families can also discuss whether or not Gwen Stefani is a good role model for women. How are the lyrics in this album different from No Doubt's more introspective previous album, Return of Saturn? How has Stefani's style and music changed since she got married, had a baby, and released her first solo album?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Kids more familiar with the stuff on Gwen Stefani's solo release, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., will find a lot to like on ROCK STEADY, an album chock-full of catchy crowd-pleasers that take you from new wave to disco to dancehall. While it's quite a departure from the band's earlier work, their signature sound hasn't disappeared completely. "Making Out" and "Hella Good" are all about the funky disco beats, but "Underneath it All" feels like old-school No Doubt. Part of the album was recorded in Jamaica, and many of the tracks have a beachy breeziness, especially the reggae-influenced "In My Head" and the title track.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
At times Rock Steady seems to be all over the musical map, perhaps a side effect of the all-star cast that contributed to the collection: Prince on "Waiting Room," where his input couldn't be more apparent, and "Don't Let Me Down," co-produced by The Cars' Ric Ocasek, which seems to take you back to 1985. The only ballad on this mostly bouncy album is "Running," an ode to making a relationship work, and one in which Stefani's vocals shine. It's hard not to like No Doubt and our homegirl Stefani: She's spunky, sassy, stylish, and has a great voice.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: December 11, 2001
Label: Interscope Records
Genre: Pop
This review was written by Denise Duval
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

ParamoreFan09
teen, 15 years old
12
 
ROCK STEADY ROLE MODELS!!!
My favorite No Doubt album. :D LOVE IT!!!!
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winningloser712
adult
7
 
pretty great cd
there isnt very much bad stuff on it it is mostly up-beat and love songs
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daphnedue2be
teen, 17 years old
 
No Doubt is a good band for kids 10 and up
Gwen Stefani is a very good role model, she is probably the most well put together celebrity of all. This album has some subjects that are inapropriate but probably will fly over there head! They are truely a great tween/teen band.
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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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