Mandy Moore's Wild Hope

Ok this is totally behind the times, people! I apologise for the really outdatedness of the following content but hey! I only just began blogging here and I deserve to be forgiven and hence am forgiven, savvy?

Mandy Moore's latest album Wild Hope is a must-buy for all girls out there! Not because its bubblegum girly pop [paiseh ah, Ms Moore has grown out of her pretty blonde Candy days already, you know]. On the contrary, Mandy Moore now graces her album cover as an ethereal looking country lass. Looking angelic in a frilly white dress and casually tousled caramel tresses, the talented songbird is accompanied by the bird of wisdom - an owl sculpture.

The combination of this sweet, pure country girl with the ambassador of wisdom is reflected in her songs. The hit single "Extraordinary" is perhaps one that Mandy identifies with most. Anyone who has known Mandy since she started out would know what I mean. She was ranked among Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and Christina Aguilera as one of the young rising blonde starlets, all pretty, sexy and girl-next-door. "Extraordinary" reflected how Mandy eventually drew out from the group, leaving the three bombshells to sizzle up the charts. The courageous Miss Moore ventured onto the big screen in A Walk To Remember, dyed her hair dark brown completed with a geeky shapeless haircut [and those obsolete bangs] for her role.

Next, Miss Moore chose the opposite road from her former chart rivals. She embarked on her own "Extraordinary" journey, turning to country folk and folk-rock instead of commercial music. Putting all her passion for singing and music into this new path, Mandy eventually released this album Wild Hope, showcasing a voice both endearingly gentle yet tinged with the maturity of a dignified lady.

"Extraordinary" is a chronology of Mandy's path from bubblegum pop princess to the ethereal country music fairy she is now. Singing of how "now I'm ready to be extraordinary", Mandy reveals how far she has come as a singer and as a woman, finally stepping out of the shadow of her former image and embracing herself as who she wants to be, and who she is proud to show the world of, and whom she would never change.

After several much publicised failed romances, Mandy's self awareness is reflected in her lyrics. The harshness of reality is not diluted by her sweet voice, but mellowed into melancholic acceptance. Like they said, a princess cannot find her prince before kissing the toad(s). Mandy's songs, rather than being cynical about love, discuss how love in its many ugly forms, can in fact bring out the strength in a girl and make her the woman she was meant to be. Love can fail, and your lover can leave, but you can stand up for yourself and say that "I will be ok, and in time you'll fade into the nothing that you are". Wise words indeed, for the reality of love is that it can fail, but self-love is the one kind of love that is impermeable and indestructable. A woman who loves herself for who she is will be a beautiful woman, for self-love is harder to achieve than love given by another.

Every girl should get a copy of this album. This is an album that is all about what it is like to be a girl in this world, to face failed love, to stand up again and be quietly confident that we are worthy of love and self-love, and someday we will receive our due recognition.

Love,
Tingting