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STACIE'S SWEET SUCCESS AT 16
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Stacie Orrico can give Britney Spears a run for her money.
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HER MUSICAL influences are Lauryn Hill and Whitney Houston. She writes songs with a "positive approach" and her debut album, Genuine, entered the Billboard Charts at Number One. Last week, her self-titled album, Stacie Orrico (Virgin Music, cassette, Rs. 135), hit the stores in India.
Essentially based on rhythm 'n' blues grooves, Stacie's vocals are powerful and mature. In fact, she writes most of the songs herself, and fuses elements of pop and rock.
Stacie Joy Orrico, born in March 1986, is Italian by birth and owes her strong musical background and the success of her first two albums, Genuine and Christmas Wish, to her mother. The first single from Genuine, "Don't Look at Me", entered the charts at Number One, and made people sit up and take notice of the bubbly artiste. Compared to her many peers in the music industry, Stacie projected her vocal abilities, rather than her body gyrations. This, probably, limited her popularity to some extent. But with her latest album, she proves her point by belting out meaningful, powerful songs.
"I'm a teenager, living a similar life to most 16-year olds do. So whether it's from a positive perspective or a questioning one, I want to sing about the things I'm dealing with or wonder about: growing up, and guys, and family," says Stacie, in her official website. The first single, "Stuck", is highly infectious and has a mild rock flavour running through it. The theme of the song is about young girls who get into a relationship where they are not treated well, but continue to stay in the relationship because they find security in having someone who cares for them. Though the track sounds energetic, the lyrics project a more mature, deeper sentiment.
"(There's Gotta Be) More To Life" successfully blends pop, rhythm 'n' blur, and rock to give us a very feel-good, happy track that has a rhythm which stays in your mind long after the track has ended. The crescendo after the last verse pumps more energy into the song that has recently begun to create waves across Indian FM stations. "Strong Enough" is a typical ballad that exposes Stacie's vocal range and "I Promise" is soulful and emotional.
On the other hand, "I Could be the One" is faster and danceable, and "Tight" reflects loads of youthful attitude. Don't be surprised if you happen to hear a few DJs remixing this track and playing it at your neighbourhood disco. In fact the song has this `déjà vu' feel to it, making you believe that you have heard the tune somewhere before.
All the tracks in Stacie Orrico revolve around things a typical teenager would go through in his/her life. All but one, really: "Hesitation" is a slightly mystical number as it speaks about Stacie's notion of life after death. Though packaged as an ordinary pop song, the lyrics reflect the abstract, mysterious idea.
It is a relief to hear someone Stacie's age "sing" and not push herself to look or sound "mature" and "trendy". With no offence to her faithful fans, Britney Spears, probably, could take a few lessons from this album!
A. VISHNU
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