It seems as if Lindsay Pagano may have inhaled and overdosed on some of Mariah Carey's glitter and is now trying to spread some herself by imitating Carey with cookie-cutter precision on her new album "Love&Faith&Inspiration."
Pagano is only 15, so one wonders, whatever happened to days of yore when children actually had a childhood? They did normal things like going to high school and attending proms. Now, seemingly everyone wants to be the latest breakthrough LeAnn Rimes or Britney Spears, but the number of teen girls who end up becoming divas-in-training while still in training bras are a dime a dozen. Just what the world needs is another teen-pop songstress.
The "Love+Faith+Inspiration" mantra is chanted over and over again in the title track as if it were a demonic Buddhist chant gone awry. Visions of a cult chanting this song come to mind. The reprise of the song didn't do much to make it more likable either; it was the same song only with the added sound effects of people screaming while riding a roller coaster. Wasn't that same sound effect once used by Carey?
On her Web site Pagano notes, "I've got my own style - I'd say it's very soulful with lots of pop flavor. One thing it's definitely not is bubble-gum. I'm young, but I would prefer that people focus on my talent - and not my age." Pagano also said she is pursuing some career goals by touring nationally with Aaron Carter and auditioning for acting roles.
Pagano was born in Philadelphia and raised by parents who performed in a band. Her mother was the singer, and her father played bass guitar. While in fifth grade, Pagano won a talent show signing Mariah Carey's "Hero."
According to VH1.com, Pagano was discovered after singing three songs for her friends at her 13th birthday party, including Aretha Franklin's "Respect." A family friend asked for a videotape of her performance and got it into the hands of singer/songwriter Jude Cole, who signed on as Pagano's songwriter and producer. Cole also wrote all the songs on "Love&Faith&Inspiration," except for Paul McCartney's "So Bad."
Even on "So Bad," on which McCartney accompanies Pagano on vocals, the song doesn't quite flow and McCartney's help isn't enough to make the song work. He is just faintly heard pitching in and repeating every verse she has just sung.
"Love&Faith&Inspiration" is not an album most people would want to listen to repeatedly. It does offer some nice lullabies that could cure insomnia, such as "Cryin' Shame" and "Amazing High."
The annoyingly cheerful ballad, "Everything U R," is the best dish served up on this album comprised of 10 tracks. Only a few tracks are worthy of devoting listening time to.
Pagano has a lot of vocal background help along with effects such as electric and toy piano, organ and bass fills. As if that weren't enough, there's also trumpet, drum, toy flute and synthesizer.
Her lyrics are cheesy: "You're No. 1 with a bullet, baby;" and she uses a lot of teen grammar and slang such as "'Cuz" which is used in about every song. All of her songs sound the same with the same riffs, same-sounding lyrics and same theme - love.
Pagano is still young enough to mature and evolve as an artist but she seems to be copying Carey too much. Pagano even has rainbows on her album cover and booklet just like on Carey's "Rainbow." Also like Carey, every song on "Love&Faith&Inspiration" has love as the theme. After all, at 15 how much heartbreak could Pagano have endured?
Pagano seems to be trying too hard to emulate other artists instead of just trying to find her individual style. It will be interesting to see what this teenager plans to do in the years to come as her credits include the theme song for the WB show, "Maybe It's Me," along with a Reebok endorsement deal.
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