"Thinking of You" (CD single)

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Heartfelt ballad from pop's naughty girl OK for tweens.
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 power ballad shows off Katy Perry's formidable range, and contains none of the bad-girl themes she's become known for. The video for the song is likewise fairly clean, although it does show Perry and her lover wrestling and kissing in bed (clothed).

  • One line, "He pulled me in, I was disgusted with myself"expresses a feeling of self-loathing in harsh terms.
  • Not applicable.
  • While it's not graphic, the lyrics do discuss a mature relationship: "What would you do if you were the one who was spending the night?"

What's the story?

Katy Perry caused quite a stir with singles like "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl," but THINKING OF YOU represents a departure both in lyrics and tone from those sensational, yet unique releases. This is a love song that's both raw ("He kissed my lips, I taste your mouth") and girlish ("'You're like an Indian summer in the middle of winter, Like a hard candy with a surprise center"). The song deals with some grown-up stuff -- the heartache of being torn between two lovers, regret, and the difficulty of moving on.


Is it any good?

 

With her low growls, high falsettos, convention-busting lyrics, and retro 40s glamour, Katy Perry is a true original. Her brazen style is unapologetically quirky, and holds a certain fascination among tweens and teens who enjoy watching her thumb her nose at society. In her choice of material, her blog, and in interviews Perry makes a point of characterizing herself as a girl who just wants to have fun -- and if that includes a bit of playful anarchy, then so be it. But "Thinking of You" shows off a romantic side of the artist that demonstrates her emotional range. For teens and tweens interested in the artist's persona, this song adds some depth to the mix -- and proves that you don't have to cause a stir to get some artistic recognition.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the song's lyrics, which deal with the difficulty of moving on from a break-up and living with a heart-wrenching choice. Have you ever given something up (a friend, a book, a toy?) only to pine for that thing and regret your decision? How long did it take you to feel better? Do you think writing about your regrets helps you get over it? Older kids: What do you think of the image Perry has created for herself and the order in which her singles have been released -- sensationalistic songs followed by tame ones? Do you think the marketing was designed to create a buzz (however negative) about the artist, only to later "prove" she can really sing?


This review was written by Caroline Knorr
Parent of 6, 10, 12, and 13 year old
June 29, 2009
 
I loved Katy song HOt 'n' cold! I loved it!!!

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Teen, 16 years old
June 3, 2009
 
katy rules!
this song is so beautiful!it makes me cry! -nazz

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Teen, 14 years old
March 3, 2009
 
LOved it!
It's a great song!! The video is not really good though!

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Adult
January 15, 2009
 
TERRIBLE SONG!
What kind of music is this? No way a 4 star Commonsense, if it was possible I would give this a 0! A true trainwreck song, terrible lyrics, terrible beat, and her voice is just awful. What a awful transition Katy Perry goes from a fun upbeat song with I Kissed A Girl to a true disaster!

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Adult
July 27, 2010
 
katy perry
i love katy perry!!!! she owns most of my iPod!!!!!!

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Kid, 11 years old
February 20, 2010
 
perfect for mautre kids
ooooo there are 2 deadly songs she sings ur so gay hot n cold HOT N COLD: B**** ur so gay some sexual words penis

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Teen, 17 years old
November 6, 2009
 
awesome!
the music video had only some sexual content. but it was a really good song. if i had kids i would totally let them listen to it. really heart-filled. i even put it on my MP3 it was so good. :D

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Teen, 17 years old
May 20, 2009
 
Decent.
Not one of my prefered songs by Katy Perry but it is ok. No lines containing offensive material really stuck in my mind, if there were any at all.

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Parent of 12 year old
December 11, 2009
 
great fun for kids

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Teen, 14 years old
June 28, 2009
 
Cry cry!
ITS SO SAD!! The vid is more grapihc than the song!!

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This review was written by Caroline Knorr
Artist:Katy Perry
Release date:January 13, 2009
Label:Capitol
Genre:Pop
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Caroline Knorr
 

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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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