ASHLEE SIMPSON "Shadow." Music Review. CYS.

 

OVERVIEW

HOW SHE GOT STARTED

Ashlee Simpson was born on October 3rd, 1984 in Waco, Texas.  At the age of eleven years old, she was the youngest person ever to be admitted to the prestigious School of American Ballet.  At the age of fourteen she moved to Los Angles, California with her parents and sister, Jessica when her family was pursing her sister’s music career.  During this time she was a professional dancer for her sister’s performances.  It wasn’t to long after that Ashlee began to make a name for herself by breaking into professional acting by appearing in several sitcoms such as: “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Save by the Bell,” and “Seventh Heaven.”  She also made several appearances on television programs such as “The View,” “The Donnie & Marie Show,” The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.”  She also appeared in the 2002 movie, “The Hot Chick.” 

While Ashlee enjoyed the fact that she began to differentiate herself from her famous older sister (singer, Jessica Simpson), she wanted to pursue a music career of her own.  In the making of her first music album she stared in her own television reality show entitled, “The Ashlee Simpson Show” that was based around the production of her up and coming CD, Autobiography.  When the album debuted on July 23, 2004, it was instantly a smashing hit because of the hit single “Pieces of Me.”  The CD reached triple platinum status by September of 2004, making her they years biggest debut by a female artist.

 

STYLE OF MUSIC/ IMAGE

Simpson is following in her sister’s footsteps, though differentiating herself by making an image of rebellion which is evident in dyed jet black hair from her natural color of blonde.  This was a statement to draw a strong distinction between her and her sister.  Her style of dress as evident on her CD cover has sexual undertones.  One of her songs allure directly to sexual content in another one of her popular hits, “Lala.”  The lyrics to this song go: “Oh, I have waited here for you/ I have waited/ (Chorus) You make me wanna la la/ in the kitchen on the floor/ I'll be a french maid / When I meet you at the door/ I'm like an alley cat/ Drink the milk up, I want more/ You make me wanna/ You make me wanna scream.”

Her number one single “Pieces of Me” is the first song to really hit the top of the music charts, making a name for Ashlee as well as her soon to be released album.  The CD itself is a mix of rock and pop full of things that most teens connect with, such as a love with the dark side, family life and accepting yourself.  They lyrics are full of sorrow, happiness, and sometimes even some nonsense.  Her opening song entitled Autobiography lyrics go like this: “Got bruises on my heart/ and sometimes I get dark/ If you want my autobiography/ baby, just ask me.”  Ashlee Simpson’s music has been grouped artists such as: Sheryl Crow, The Pretenders, Pink, and others.

 

           

 

CONNECTIONS TO CULTURE THROUGH THIS ONE SONG
Ashlee Simpson’s song, “Shadow” makes notice of what many siblings struggle with, living in their siblings shadows.  When you have an older sibling that does well in school, sports, or singing it is hard for those to following in their wake.  Many times these siblings fall victim to trying to figure out who they are apart from the expectations that sometimes can be placed on the younger siblings.  At times parents can get caught up with one of their children’s desires and dreams that the others start to build up animosity for that sibling and their parents.

An implication of culture in this song is that is shows the desires of the society to conform, but also be individualist and unique; making a name for oneself. Our society today is one of trying to be different, setting yourself apart from others.  Ashlee demonstrates this by dying her hair black, by interesting/unique dress styles, and claiming to be different from the “norm.”

 

In an interview with IGNM, Ashlee made a comment on her song “Shadow.”  She said that for her it was “really something that I went through when I was literally 15 and 16 years old. And I was just finally writing about it, writing about how it was being in the shadows at that point and stuff.”  Ashlee she wanted to follow her dreams of singing, but she questioned at the time whether she’d be able to come out from behind her famous sister’s shadow.  She also shows that she doesn’t want sympathy from anyone on the fact that she had to fight her way out from behind her sister’s image, but rather it gave her the strength to become who she is now.
I do not believe that Ashlee had any intentions on making a spiritual insight.  There is the fact that this can be related to the story of Jacob and Esau or Rachel and Leah (Genesis chapters 25-49) in the bible because of the constant shifting of dynamics of sibling rivalry, conflict, power and intimacy.  This song shows the dynamics that underlie the complex relationships between family members.

 

 

 Shadow Sample Lyrics

 

 

IMPLICATIONS FOR MINISTRY
This song can be used if using the story of Jacob and Esau in a bible lesson to high school or middle schoolers.  Using the relationship of Jessica and Ashlee can show how two siblings can turn out quite different (their different images shows this) from one another.  This song can also be used in the example of the prodigal son in the sibling jealous of the returned son (Luke 15:11

-32).   Any of the sibling relationships that take place in the bible are usually marked with some sort of jealously.

 

           
This song can also be a great talk launcher that has to do with family issues, especially siblings.   It is common among middle and high school students to feel the pressures to live up to an older sibling’s reputation (if not siblings, could be a cousin, or even their parents), which can be either a positive or negative reputation.  This song can also lead into a great discussion just about different struggles that one is trying to overcome or feels like they are over shadowed by such a huge event that they are hardly noticed.  For those youth that fall victim to something similar to Ashlee, just being heard is a miracle.   Once a youth leader knows of “the shadow affect,” a youth leader might be a bright and shining light when the youth feels they are engulfed by the shadows.   

 

           
This could also be used at a parent meeting.  This song can really hit some families hard because of the unequal attention given to one child over the other and the anxiety that can create for those siblings.  It also shows some of the jealousy and animosity that can be created during those hard times of teenagers trying to figure out who they are.   It also shows how hard it is for younger siblings to live in the shadow of a sibling or their parents expectations to excel. 

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. “Do you ever feel like you are being over shadowed by something that you hardly feel like you are noticed?”
2. “What are some of your thoughts and feelings about Ashlee trying to separate herself from her sister?” 
   1. Do you think this affected her choice of music style?
   2. Do you think it would have been different if she wasn’t in her sister’s shadow?
3. Do you think that Ashlee has successful achieved her mission of separating herself from her sister?
   1. If yes, at what costs and how did she succeed?
   2. If no, what does she still need to do?
4. What do you think Ashlee means when she sings, “Everything is cool now” and “don’t feel sorry for me?”
   1. Do you believe her when she sings that when you listen to this song?

 

IMPLICATIONS

1. Youth leaders will want to seriously consider how much sibling relationships shape individuals.  It is common that parents are an issue, but sibling relationships are looked over in youth ministry. 
2. What is in Ashlee Simpson’s music that made it climb to the top of the charts?  A youth leader could try and find an activity that brings up the dynamics of sibling relationships.  This could be done by having one sibling leave the room, while the other is asked questions about that sibling, and visa-verse to see how much they really know about one another.  Then the youth leader can go into the importance of healthy sibling relationships and not by the example of Cain and Able or the jealousy of the prodigal brother when he returned home.  Maybe the entire night cover sibling relationships that are present in the bible and why they are included.
3. Leaders might want to be careful on this topic because it is very sensitive to some individuals, especially those that feel like they are in the midst of it.  Also a leader needs to be careful when addressing this issue with parents because some parents do not realize that they do this.  So not to jump and point the finger, but provide the information to parents about the damages at times when there is a favored child.

 

Abigail Drollinger, © 2005. CYS