Totally Hits 2003

Review

Common Sense Media says

No heights, no depths, no surprises.
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

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a cheerful, bouncy collection of recent pop hits, enjoyable on the off-chance that your entire family isn't already tired of hearing these songs on the radio.

  • Positive messages0
    CD kicks off with Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independent"--about a girl who gives up independence for love, a retro message that endures throughout the CD. Otherwise, there's nothing objectionable.
  • Violence0
    These songs are all hits for a reason; they're catchy and innocuous.
  • Sex3
    Sean Paul approaches explicit on "Like Glue"--everything else is pretty mild.
  • Language0
    Squeaky-clean, but the phrasing of the lyric "I'm a-dic...I'm addicted to you" is momentarily startling.
  • Consumerism3
    A lot of "American Idol" tie-ins here, a dreamy fantasy shopping spree on "Into You" by Fabolous (featuring Tania) that's actually pretty adorable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Occasional mild innuendo.
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What's the story?

Kelly Clarkson kicks off this compilation with "Miss Independent," a catchy ditty in which a young woman learns how to sacrifice her independence for love, delivered with the "American Idol" sweetheart's signature breathy histrionics. Offerings by artists as diverse as Santana, Fabolous, Sean Paul, Uncle Kracker, Jewel, and Luther Vandross follow.

Is it any good?

 

The strong points of TOTALLY HITS 2003 are Avril Levine's delightful "SK8ER BOI" (a young woman rejects the high school geek only to regret it later when he becomes a rock star) and Luther Vandross's heart-tugger, "Dance With My Father," beautifully written and exquisitely performed. In "Into You," by Fabolous (featuring Tania), the singer imagines taking his sweetie on a shopping spree--a sweet and dreamy fantasy with lots of duet chemistry. The most startling lyric is the peculiar phrasing of Simple Plan's "Addicted." ("I'm a-dic..addicted to you" sounds like, well, you know.) But this is a clean collection of popular hits, family-safe if a little boring at times.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about why they think certain pop songs get massive radio play and become big hits.

This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

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This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Artist:Various Artists
Release date:October 13, 2003
Label:BMG Heritage
Genre:Compilation
Parental advisory:No
This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 

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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.
Our child development rating guidelines

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