The girls warn cruising males to avoid immature, disrespectful come-ons (“No Scrubs”). Despite some caveats, other cuts promote honesty (“Dear Lie”), oppose using a man for financial gain (“Silly Ho”), credit a father for his wise counsel (“My Life”) and urge women to stop letting men determine their beauty and worth (“Unpretty”).
Sexual references range from the thinly veiled to the recklessly explicit. “Fanmail” and “Come on Down” offer to fulfill a man’s desires. “I’m Good at Being Bad” states, “When I’m all alone I touch myself/A good man is hard to find/Actually, a hard man is good to find.” Both “Shout” and “Don’t Pull Out on Me Yet,” request a veritable love-making marathon. A lecherous man solicits a ménage à trois on “Whispering Playa.” A woman arrogantly defends her right to pick up casual sex partners at clubs (“My Life”). Degrading racial slang and profanity creep into numerous tracks, including “Silly Ho.” “Automatic” plots revenge.
Avid cable viewers may think TLC stands for “The Learning Channel.” But not teens. They know all about this trio, whose CrazySexyCool disc sold more than 10 million copies. Here again, even songs with positive elements contain profane, sexual lyrics. Don’t open Fanmail.
