| 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. |
Parents need to know that this is a harmless album full of bubblegum pop. Although there's a lot of talk of love and relationships, there's nothing sexual. For tweens filled with puppy love, this should be an appropriate soundtrack to their infatuation drama; parents, you'll be thankful for the invention of the earphone.
iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove began working on SPARKS FLY two years ago, way back when she was just 14 years old. Now at 16, her debut studio album has been released and even made it into the top ten on the Billboard chart. The idea for an album first got started when Cosgrove caught the singing bug while working on the iCarly soundtrack. Look for a few tracks from pop heavyweights, with Avril Lavigne having co-written "Daydream" and Ke$ha getting writing credit for "Disgusting."
Formulaic at best, painfully predictable at its worst, Sparks Fly could only be appealing to the youngest of ears, not jaded by hundreds of similarly-sounding releases. Miranda Cosgrove does bring a unique sincerity to this bubblegum love-in, and despite the forgettable accompanying pop instrumentals, her message comes through loud and clear. With a dash of spunky attitude she saves the CD from completely drowning in a sea of sweetness.
Families can talk about tween TV stars and their emerging music careers. Can you think of any other stars who play both roles: actor and singer? Why do you think the two careers go hand in hand? Do you think it's easier to market someone who is already famous and known for her TV personality than someone who is an unknown?
Do you think young stars are more likely to make public mistakes or do inappropriate things?
Talk about role models for adolescents. Who do you admire on TV today? Why? Who are some popular teen figures who don't make good role models?
| Artist: | Miranda Cosgrove |
| Release date: | May 4, 2010 |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Genre: | Pop music for kids |
| Parental advisory: | No |