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Tween Pop Goes Parent-Friendly

By Dave Rogers - Mon Jul 7, 2008 5:04pm PDT
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Confused by the Jonas Brothers and the Naked Brothers? (Hint: The Jo Bros are at left.) Unsure which is real—Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus? Worried about the messages coming from rising tween überstars?

Well, relax and let Los Angeles Times pop music critic Ann Powers do the heavy lifting. In a refreshing and witty piece, Powers peels back the hysteria and reveals the Big Secret: "No longer is teen pop based on the Lolita principle. Instead, it's a tool for learning, transforming the individualism and irreverence of the rock era into good-girl-and-boy self-empowerment."

That's right: Tween pop has gone parent-friendly. "Growing up is the subject of tween pop, and nobody wants to skip the process," says Powers—and although those over 12 may find the tunes "not quite a whole meal," we can still enjoy the artists' genuine intent to rock out.

Accompanying Powers' observations are two engaging galleries, the first a gentle deconstruction of several tween chart-toppers, the second a timeline of kid rock history. (Remember Ricky Nelson? Hands?)

Ready to check out some of this new tween pop? We suggest Eventually, the newest video from The Naked Brothers Band. Enjoy!

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Other Parents Say…

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Posted by Olynthus Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:45pm PDT

Tween pop is no longer based on the Lolita principle? Somebody should let Miley Cyrus know that, then.

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Posted by ems299 Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:59pm PDT

wut kind of name is this " the naked brothers band" hello thier wut 14,15 they coulnd think of a better name?? i love the Jonas brothers!! they rock!

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Posted by adam Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:49pm PDT

your all dumb

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Posted by SHAWNA T Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:46pm PDT

assemble_0f_5 What a deadbeat!!! You are on a kids sight. I cannot believe that you have such disrespect and disregard to the others on here. The UGLY person here is YOU. Anyone that would leave a post like this on a kids sight is just completely out of line. If you are a child then you should have listened to you're parents when you were younger about courtesy and manners. If you are not a child then posting something like you're post should be a crime. You almost sound like the type of person who would be a saddistic Psyscophrenic or a Pedaphile! Grow up !!!

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Posted by texasbth@sbcglobal.net Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:55pm PDT

just a terrible influence, for kids behavoir

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Posted by texasbth@sbcglobal.net Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:02pm PDT

people should also talk with othrers to sovle probs

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Posted by Patrick R Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:34pm PDT

This article is totally correct. What is the point of music if not to conform to authority? The author admits the tunes intellectually do "not (provide) quite a whole meal," but in the end why should music stimulate thought? I mean the band are quirky and fun to sing to, who cares if they provide children with shallow icons, as long it's not challenging the kids to think about something new...

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Posted by JOP_yawl Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:24am PDT

i hate naked brothers band!! and iko u is right!!! look at their name!! and their tv show is the lamest!!!! i was over at a friends and she had their tv show on and i was like "such immature losers!" and she said "i love them!!" she has bad taste in music though so i wasnt suprised. but i do not know how they got to where they are right now!!! if i ever saw them i would diss them and walk off. they dont deserve any fans!! but the jonas brothers..... they r great people! and their music rocks!! i hate pop. they arent really pop. and there are some band that start out childish but then get really punky or cool to teens not just kids and i would say they have earned every type of fan!! all ages!! they rock!!

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Posted by lajasmineorduno@sbcglobal.net Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:00am PDT

JONAS BROTHERS ROCK. I LUV YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!! AND THE NACKED BROTHERS SUCK THERE SONGS AND BAND NAME ARE WERD. YOU SUCK NACKED BROTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU SUCK !!!!!!!!! NACKED BROTHERS SHOULD MAKE A SONG SAYING WE SUCK WE SUCK AND WE ARE THE WERIDEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!

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Posted by Erica P Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:17am PDT

all of my friends (im 13) love the jonas brothers. not their songs. its because they think the "jo bros" are hot. i however hate the jonas brothers because my friends talk about nothing but them.

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