Music Review: Bonnie McKee "American Girl"

Bonnie McKee

American Girl

Album: TBA

Year: 2013

             Bonnie McKee is too cool for school  in the flegdling  “American Girl.”

           Heady synths open the single,  setting a naïve tone. It figures she put her biology book on the bottom of the shelf. As she was trying to dig it out of her locker, he came up to her. She swiveled her head around, balancing a falling book with her hand. She remembered he made a joke about how she didn’t want to get knocked out and then he finally asked her to hang out during the  afternoon. School had let out at 11:00 am for parent-teacher conferences. She nods her head yes and takes out her phone, texting her friends to let them know she won’t be meeting them for lunch at McDonald’s. He puts his hand around her waist and she leans into him as they cross the school parking lot onto the sidewalk near her neighborhood. For about an hour, they walked the street, talking about their teachers and interests amidst traffic, gas stations and fast food restraunts. He asked her if she was thirsty and together, they went into 7/11 and he bought her a Slurpee. Once they were outside, they sat on the curb, watching traffic go by. He took out a flask and shook it, his smile wide. She popped up the top of her cup and they stared at each other as he poured the liquor.  As they drank their spiked Slurpees, he told her how that at their 10-year renioun, he will have become a well-respected educator, earning top honors in his field and on his way of being a principal. She told him she would be flying in from Los Angeles on break from her sold-out tour, her songs on constant rotation on the radio. But she’ll have to leave early to attend the Met Ball. She’ll be single, profiled in the magazines as “one to watch” and any reported relationships will be doomed because of conflicting schedules. She puts her chin on his shoulder and whispers she’ll need something to great kiss to write about. (“I fell in love in a 7/11 parking lot/Sat on the curb drinking Slurpees we mixed with alcohol/We talked about all our dreams and how we would show 'em all/I told him I got a plan and I'm gonna dominate/And I don't need any man to be getting in my way/But if you talk with your hands then we can negotiate.”)

           In the pre-chorus, she rebels against her mother, talking back to her if she asks her to do anything, goes to the best parties and does whatever she wants, regardless if its hurts someone else. (“I just keep moving my body (yeah)/I'm always ready to party (yeah)/No I don't listen to mommy (yeah)/And I'll never say that I'm sorry.”)

           In the chorus, she grew up on MTV’s reality shows and social media. It’s taught she’s going to be famous one day and that she’s special.  She’s looking out for herself, entitled to what she thinks is hers. (“Oh I'm an American girl/Hot blooded and I'm ready to go /I'm loving taking over the world/Hot blooded, all American girl (Whoa/I was raised by a television/Every day is a competition /Put the key in my ignition.”)

             She wants to travel to every state and country. She wants to be changed by something simple. In theUnited States, people can be whoever they want.  (“I wanna see all the stars and everything in between/I wanna buy a new heart out of a vending machine/Cause it's a free country so baby we can do anything.”)

                The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

                 In the bridge, she tells him they are going to be stars and are a perfect match. Their night together is only the beginning. (“You know we're gonna shine so bright (Oh we're gonna shine so brigh)/ Oh baby gonna go all night/(Oh we're gonna go all night)/You know we're gonna shine so bright/ (Oh we're gonna shine so bright)/ Oh baby gonna go all night.”)

           The chorus is sung again.

           Part of the chorus is sung again to close the single. (“Oh I'm an American girl
Hot blooded and I'm ready to go I'm loving taking over the world/I'm an American girl.”)

               McKee’s presumptuous, crowing vocals talk big and play it cool, an act she rehearses line by line in the mirror every day before school starts. She flips her hair and cocks her head like the people on her favorite reality shows do. She only reads Us Weekly. Why does she need to read books anyway? They are boring. Knowing the meaning of words like subversive totally takes time away from posting selfies on Facebook.  

       The ignorant “American Girl” dredges up the worst stereotypes of teen girls: boy crazy and attention-starved while looking for the latest party.