Published on Oct 6, 2001
Let’s get one thing out of the way early on in this review:
Bubble-gum pop is designed for the youth of a particular
generation, and no matter how hard we adults try to understand it,
we won’t.
That being said, my five-year-old isn’t at the age yet where
she’s into certain groups; she pretty much listens to whatever
Mommy has on the radio or I’m listening to. So I have to try and
put myself in the shoes of today’s youth as I listen to
The Princess Diaries, the soundtrack to one of the summer’s
surprise movie hits. (Do you know how embarrassing it is to have
people walk by my office and wonder why a 30-year-old male is
listening to a CD of teeny-bop heartthrobs? I’m still trying to
explain myself.)
In truth, anyone who likes top 40 will appreciate some of the
acts included on this CD – and, to be fair, the selection of
artists is appropriate for the target audience of soundtrack and
film alike. Backstreet Boys (jeez, what CD
aren’t they on these days?) make an appearance with “What
Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful),” a song which seems to
fit the “ugly-duckling-turns-into-swan” theme of the film. (No
offense meant towards Anne Hathaway, the star of the film.) BBMak,
a group I’ve never really been into, turn in a surprisingly
powerful performance with “Miss You More,” while Aaron Carter
borrows a page from the ’60s with “Little Bitty Pretty One”. (Am I
remembering my rock history correct when I say the rhythm line
comes from the track “A Lover’s Question”?)
Interestingly enough, some of the more established names turn in
lesser performances. Hanson’s “Wake Up” is nowhere near the song
that “This Time Around” was – and, besides, I thought the group was
trying to shed their teeny-bop image. B*Witched continue the slide
that started with their sophomore album on “Hold On,” while Mandy
Moore doesn’t quite capture the magic of Annette Funicello on
“Stupid Cupid,” though in Moore’s case, it’s not from lack of
trying.
The Princess Diaries does feature some artists who will
undoubtedly be fighting for room on today’s kid’s walls in the near
future. Melissa Lefton turns in a nice performance with “I Love
Life” – and she learns it never hurts to mention the boss’s name in
the song, conjuring up Disney a few times. Nobody’s Angel does a
nice job on “Always Tomorrow,” but I have to wonder what they were
thinking by guesting with Tammy Phoenix on Lil’ J’s “Ain’t Nuthin’
But A She Thing,” the only song which really felt out of place on
this disc. 3G’s (“Crush”), krystal harris (“SuperGirl”) and Steps
(“Happy Go Lucky”) also are names to be watching for.
The kids, of course, will eat
The Princess Diaries up like so much pizza at dinnertime –
and good for them. If they have to be listening to anything, this
disc is a nice diversion for them. Who knows? Their parents might
even find something on this album that they like.