I first saw Stacie Orrico on MTV with her video More to Life and I found myself captivated by the versatility of Orrico, the catchiness of the song and the message involved.

     I've got it all/but I feel so deprived/I go up, I come down and I’m emptier inside/Tell me what is this thing that I feel I’m missing/And why can’t I let it go…There’s gotta be more to life/than chasing down every temporary high/to satisfy me/Cause the more that I’m/tripping out thinking there must be more to life/Well it’s life, but I’m sure…there’s gotta be more/than wanting more. In one song, Orrico captured exactly how I feel at my current job outside YBFREE.com. She hit the nail right on the head and I immediately wanted more from this talented singer.

     The 17-year-old is much more mature than her age suggests, putting out a CD that is hook-laden, very catchy, polished and very radio friendly while escaping the bubblegum pop Britney Spears is forever trapped in. The infectious music has a message and unlike today’s pop stars, Orrico can be aggressive without being a slut to get her messages across. In fact the song, Tight, sports a similar beat and rhythm to Christina Aguilera’s Girl’s Anthem, but uses the music and more importantly the lyrics for promoting authentic feminism.

     A better song to discuss is the opening track, Stuck, which is similar to Pink’s You Make Me sick, discussing how young girls get involved in relationships where they are not being treated very well and end up staying with them anyway. And I can’t take it/what am I waiting for?/My heart’s still breaking/I miss you even more/And I can’t fake it the way I could before/I hate you, but I love you/I can’t stop thinking of you/It’s true/I’m stuck on you. See, an edgier subject, with a very melodic sound and awesome chorus, without Orrico having to demean herself to the sexual innuendos that are prolific in today’s music.

     Probably one of the best songs is about the common misconceptions we have for people, more specifically the homeless and foreigners. Orrico tackles the subject and makes people take a look deep inside to see how it would feel if the show was on the other foot. A new point of view/a walk in your shoes/I wish I could get inside your head/to see what you see/when you look at me/cause I could’ve lived your life instead.

     Very deep themes and appreciation for spirituality made this CD excellent from beginning to end; conscious, strong and empowering, without being too sappy and boring. Orrico respects herself too much to fall into the gutter slut genre popular today, and because of that self respect one cannot help to respect her equally in return. Hopefully, Orrico will be the next new pop icon. In a realistic world, she deserves to be.

     Send your comments and or questions about this article to JMinners@ybfree.com.

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