SkimIt
Artist(s): Various Artists
Genre: Soundtrack
Label: Universal
Release Date: 01/18/2013
Edited Version Available: Yes
Parental Advisory: No
Other Choices: Rock of Ages: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Glee: The Music Presents Glease (Grease), Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna
Common Sense Says: Soundtrack offers upbeat pop covers; a few steamy tunes.
Common Sense Rates It:
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that the Pitch Perfect soundtrack is a mixed bag of messages, including lyrics from positive tracks like Jessie J's "Price Tag" and Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are," along with lines from some notoriously sexy songs such as Madonna's "Like a Virgin" and Rihanna's "S&M." That said, there's no violence or profanity, just one mention of drinking, and even the sexier songs avoid graphic sexual descriptions. Overall, it's fine for older tweens and teens.
- Families can talk about soundtracks. Do the song choices here complement the movie's plot and characters?
- Which of these songs do you think are a great fit with the voices and personalities of the Bellas and the Treblemakers? Name a few other tracks you think could've been featured in the film but didn't make the cut.
- How does Pitch Perfect compare to the very similar Glee model, where the characters sing cover versions of exceptionally famous songs?
What's the story?
PITCH PERFECT (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) is a collection of 12 cover tunes from a movie musical about college students who engage in singing competitions. The actors, including Anna Kendrick (from the Twilight saga) and Rebel Wilson (from the movie Bridesmaids), contribute their own voices to the soundtrack, singing songs by a range of pop stars from the '80s through today -- including Pat Benatar, Madonna, Foreigner, Flo Rida, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, and more.
Is it any good?
Not surprisingly, most of these songs have a fun, chorus-like quality (why mess with Glee's success?) that will appeal to fans of the genre. Standout tracks include Kendrick's song "Cups," where she displays her considerable singing chops, and the "Riff Off" mashup of classic tracks including Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and Foreigner's "Feels Like the First Time."
The Good Stuff
Messages: Most of these behaviors, like engaging in sexual activity and drinking alcohol, are more adult than outright negative. A couple of the cover tunes, like "Price Tag" and "Since U Been Gone," offer positive messages about not falling prey to consumerism and having strong self-esteem.
Role Models: Not a lot of role model behaviors here, although the movie characters learn to work together.
What to watch out for
Violence Not an issue
Sex: There's nothing too raunchy in these cover songs, though a few -- "Like a Virgin," "Let's Talk About Sex," "S&M" -- feature some steamy lyrics about sex.
Language: Not an issue
Consumerism: Soundtrack to popular movie.
Drinking, drugs & smoking: One reference to drinking whiskey.
