The Princess Diaries Astoria NY

The Princess Diaries

Soundtrack

Walt Disney Records, 2001

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/06/2001

Let's get one thing out of the way early on in this review:Bubble-gum pop is designed for the youth of a particulargeneration, and no matter how hard we adults try to understand it,we won't.

That being said, my five-year-old isn't at the age yet whereshe's into certain groups; she pretty much listens to whateverMommy has on the radio or I'm listening to. So I have to try andput myself in the shoes of today's youth as I listen to The Princess Diaries, the soundtrack to one of the summer'ssurprise movie hits. (Do you know how embarrassing it is to havepeople walk by my office and wonder why a 30-year-old male islistening to a CD of teeny-bop heartthrobs? I'm still trying toexplain myself.)

In truth, anyone who likes top 40 will appreciate some of theacts included on this CD - and, to be fair, the selection ofartists is appropriate for the target audience of soundtrack andfilm alike. Backstreet Boys (jeez, what CD aren't they on these days?) make an appearance with "WhatMakes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)," a song which seems tofit the "ugly-duckling-turns-into-swan" theme of the film. (Nooffense meant towards Anne Hathaway, the star of the film.) BBMak,a group I've never really been into, turn in a surprisinglypowerful performance with "Miss You More," while Aaron Carterborrows a page from the '60s with "Little Bitty Pretty One". (Am Iremembering my rock history correct when I say the rhythm linecomes from the track "A Lover's Question"?)

Interestingly enough, some of the more established names turn inlesser performances. Hanson's "Wake Up" is nowhere near the songthat "This Time Around" was - and, besides, I thought the group wastrying to shed their teeny-bop image. B*Witched continue the slidethat started with their sophomore album on "Hold On," while MandyMoore doesn't quite capture the magic of Annette Funicello on"Stupid Cupid," though in Moore's case, it's not from lack oftrying.