If tomorrow never comes, she wants her man to know “I Have Loved You.” Simpson is giddily in love (“My Way Home”), appreciative of the strength she has drawn from her partner (“You Don’t Have to Let Go,” “Everyday I See You”) and enjoying the ability to be herself around her husband (“With You”). On “Be,” she imagines a beautiful future filled with babies and walks in the park. The confessional title track lets fans know that, despite glamorous magazine covers, this chiseled blonde has insecurities too (“I’m the one they want to be/Still don’t feel I’m good enough … don’t feel I’m thin enough”), however …
To anyone familiar with Simpson’s choice of magazine spreads (including the racy FHM), it will sound like hypocritical whining, especially punctuated by her plea, “Love me for me.” Breathless anticipation of sex characterizes “Forbidden Fruit” and the descriptive “Sweetest Sin.” As a romantic date winds down, a woman knows she should go home but asks to stay on “Loving You”(it’s not explicitly sexual, but could be interpreted as an impending sleepover).
MTV’s reality series The Newlyweds recently captured Simpson’s first four months of marriage to 98 Degrees squeeze Nick Lachey. So fans know she’s hitched. Still, all the tunes about “makin’ love” on In This Skin treat forbidden fruit as the sweetest kind. Sorely misguided.
