“Waiting for Tonight” and “No Me Ames” are expressions of romantic bliss. The singer values commitment (“Promise Me You’ll Try”), embraces monogamy (“Should’ve Never”) and refuses to be cheated on by an unfaithful man (“It’s Not That Serious,” “If You Had My Love”). On “Could This Be Love,” soul searching leads her to ask, “Can I trust the way I feel?” She tells listeners to be truthful and live life to the fullest (“Let’s Get Loud”). Very sweet expressions of love, many of which demand respect from romantic partners. Unfortunately . . .
Provocative CD photos are reinforced by tracks celebrating casual sex. Lopez sings about sleeping with a guy she’s known for just a few hours (“Talk About Us”) and longs to get physical with a man “if only for one night” (the steamy “Open Off My Love”). “Too Late” berates a lover for “never stay[ing] the whole night through.” A male rapper invades the energetic “Feelin’ So Good” with derogatory slang (“n—er,” “b–ch”) and a sexual reference.
Better known for her big-screen roles in Selena, Anaconda and Out of Sight, the multitalented Lopez makes her mark on the music biz with On the 6. Bouncy, upbeat and passionate. If only she’d stuck with love songs and skipped the lust songs. Shaky sexual ethics sink this debut.
