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Jessica Simpson
- Do You Know
By: Brianna Nightingale, CSO Staff Journalist
10/20/08
It
has been a while since I have heard an album that, as a whole, was
quite as inspirational as Jessica Simpson’s new release, Do You
Know. There were several features on this CD, which I thoroughly
enjoyed while listening to this album. The first surprise was that
Simpson co-wrote almost every song included in the collection.
Simpson’s debut country single is the first song on the album. “Come
On Over” is a great, catchy tune that not only describes Simpson’s
life these days, but also showcases the country style that has been
hiding deep down in her voice for years.
“Remember That,” written by Rachel Proctor (“Me and Emily”) and
Victoria Banks (“Saints and Angels”) is a prodigious song about
standing up for oneself in an abusive relationship. I also found it
interesting that Proctor and Banks co-wrote “Come On Over” with
Simpson as well.
On the
days that everything seems to go wrong, don’t be afraid to ‘Pray Out
Loud’ and dig deep into the day’s occurrences so you can see that,
in one way or another, “every day is ‘Still Beautiful.’” These are
just two inspirational songs on the album that intend to remind
listeners that life is full of ups and downs, but there is always a
reason to smile.
Simpson
included a number of love songs in the collection, most of which are
lively and have an affirmative overall feel. “Still Don’t Stop Me,”
however, is not one of them. For those of you who know you should
get over someone but simply cannot find the willpower to do so,
“Still Don’t Stop Me” and “When I Loved You Like That” are perfect
for you.
We have
all had stupid fights with loved ones that we knew we would resolve
eventually. Rather than fighting, Simpson says “[we] Might As Well
Be Making Love.” Two of my favorite lines from the song are as
follows:
“If
the morning’s gonna turn it into history...
Be a page of words we wished we’d never said”
Along
the same lines is “Man Enough,” which finds Simpson confessing her
affection, yet questioning a man’s strength in a relationship.
If
“You’re My Sunday” is any indication of reality, Simpson is
certainly happy in the relationship she is in with Tony Romo. In the
“thank you” section of the CD insert, Simpson thanks him, referring
to him as “My Sunday.”
She
sounds incredible on “Do You Know,” which she sings with the writer,
the incredible, infamous Dolly Parton.
In her
website biography, Simpson said “I think to be able to sing country
music honestly, you have to experience life. There is so much
honesty in the music, and if you are not honest, the fans will know
it. Fans are the absolute lifeblood of country music, and they won’t
respond to you unless they believe you.”
I have
always heard that Simpson has been a country girl at heart
throughout her entire life; she proved that recently by releasing
her debut country album. Although previous fans were unsure about
Simpson recording a country album, I can’t imagine that too many of
them are disappointed. Simpson has proven her own philosophy; if you
have lived it, you can sing about it sincerely, pleasing old and new
fans alike.

Order yours from Amazon.com
Related Links:
Official
Website
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