NELLY FURTADO: LOOSE
Nelly Furtado is a young Portuguese-Canadian singer who hit it big in 2000 with the single "I'm Like a Bird," a song about youthful restlessness. The first single off her new album, LOOSE, is "Promiscuous," which combines R&B, hip-hop, and technopop in an appealing dance club mix.
Why teens might like it:
Furtado is a sweet young thing with a style that girls may admire and boys may desire. On LOOSE, her collaboration with legendary record producer Timbaland has resulted in sexy, pulsing trance music and reggaeton* dance club beats. Teens will be won over by her distinctive voice, hip phrasing, street slang, and flirtatious come-ons.
What parents should know:
The lyrics in some of the songs are extremely sexually suggestive. There's an element of recklessness in Furtado's provocative wordplay with Timbaland that sends an unwise message to teens who may be ill-equipped to handle the consequences of this kind of flirtation.
Still, there are other songs on the disc that convey responsibility and maturity. It remains to be seen whether these more heartfelt songs about love will match the popularity of "Promiscuous."
CHAMILLIONAIRE: THE SOUND OF REVENGE
Hip-hop's latest star is Chamillionaire, an underground rapper known for hard-edged lyrics, vocal dexterity, and catchy rhythmic hooks. Chamillionaire has taken his tough gangster persona mainstream in this boastful, brutal portrait of his life on the streets of inner city Houston.
Why teens might like it:
Many teens are enthralled with Chamillionaire's insolent rap ("Ridin' Dirty") about trying to outsmart the police who want to arrest him for driving under the influence. A catchy, driving beat plays under his smooth voice, which is both menacing and seductive.
Young men who want the thrill of seeing the world through the eyes of a street fighter may be attracted to Chamillionaire's swagger and success, as well as his silver-capped teeth, skullcap, and gold and diamond chains.
What parents should know:
Chamillionaire's truth is bitter, cruel, and deadly. Chilling raps represent women as sexual prey, and there are frequent references to drugs, gangs, beatings, and murder. Obscenities and gunfire are spit out with regularity, even on the edited version of the CD.
The mainstream popularity of "Ridin' Dirty" has resulted in its ringtone going triple platinum. Most of the time the rap lingo is so fast that you can't figure out what he's saying. Unfortunately, sometimes you can.
JOHN MAYER: CONTINUUM
John Mayer's 2003 pop ballad "Your Body is a Wonderland" won him a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and the adoration of thousands of teenage girls who fell for his boy-next-door good looks and romantic lyrics. His new Grammy-winning CD, CONTINUUM, reveals a maturing singer/songwriter/guitarist who combines blues and soft acoustic rock in a mix that has earned him critical and commercial success.
Why teens might like it:
Mayer's new music has depth, subtlety, and appeal. Lyrics touch on the political frustrations of his generation and the sadness of romance gone bad. There's poetry and a cool bluesy vibe to his music that may be attractive to teenage girls and may inspire teenage boys to take their guitars and garage bands out on the road.
What parents should know:
Mayer's easy listening music recalls the 1970s heyday of James Taylor and Eric Clapton, and his thoughtful lyrics are so parent-friendly that you may like this CD as much as your teen. Mayer's persona is that of a smart, sensitive young man who values the good advice of his parents. It's the contemporary musical voice that you may wish your teen, and you, could hear more of.