Music Review: “The Bridge” by Melanie Fiona

2009, SRC/Universal Motown

Reviewed by Hanna Thieme, 16
Massachusetts

Melanie Fiona, an R&B artist who sings both fast and exciting songs as well as slow, meaningful ones, strikes me as an extremely different figure from many mainstream artists. She sings not about sex and drugs, but about relationships and empowerment. She shows how women can be strong in relationships and do not have to hold a submissive position to any man. This is demonstrated in "Bang Bang," a fast-paced song where she asserts her power by pursuing the man she wants. In "It Kills Me," a meaningful song with a slow tempo, Melanie Fiona shows her softer side while affirming that troubles in relationships don't always have to be solved using aggression, but rather by expressing your concerns respectfully to your partner. I especially like how Melanie Fiona is not a sex symbol. She instead focuses on her messages to girls and her beautiful voice. She is truly a role model, reminding girls that the best way to live is to be themselves.

To read an interview with Melanie Fiona conducted by Teen Voices, click here.

Learn more about Melanie Fiona here.