Rolling Stone.
QUOTE
Jordin sparks was the perfect American Idol because you could see that she was working hard, learning new tricks week to week, which suits the Idol
massive's fantasy that we're teaching her how to be a star. She was wildly inconsistent, going from an excellent "I (Who Have Nothing)" to
a pitiful "Livin' on a Prayer." But that just built up her ingenue appeal: America gets to feel like we're watching the duck become a swan
before our eyes. Melinda Doolittle may have been a stronger singer, but she's also a fully formed adult - there's no way she could sing something
called "This Is My Now" with a straight face. (When Blake Lewis had to sing it, he was practically gagging all the way through.) But Sparks? Happy
to be here, happy to do what she's told, no different from millions of other pleasant-mannered teen girls. She's the kind of pop star who writes
"Nobody puts baby in a corner " on her MySpace blog and means it. <snip> The album shrewdly positions her in hip-hop-flavored R&B, which
is interesting because it's one style she never touched on the show (unless No Doubt counts). The powers that be shelled out for real songs from real
producers: StarGate (Beyonce, Rihanna), the Underdogs (Chris Brown, Ne-Yo), Robbie Nevil (High School Musical and Hannah Montana, although he blew up with
"C'est la Vie" before Sparks was born). The kickiest tracks come from Bloodshy and Avant, the Swedish team behind Britney's
"Toxic," who funk up Sparks' voice without pushing her too far into adulthood. "Young and in Love" has warped hand claps and Nu Shooz
electrobeats, while "Shy Boy" goes for Prince funk - it's an ironclad law of pop that all songs called "Shy Boy" or "Shy
Girl" are great, and this one is no exception.
3 1/2 stars out of 5
3 1/2 stars out of 5
