Hilary Erhard Duff was born on September 28, 1987 in
Houston, Texas. She played the lead
character in the Disney Channel series ‘Lizzie McGuire’ from 2001-2004. She currently stars in the comedy-drama
series ‘Younger’. Her first three studio
albums were: SANTA CLAUS LANE (2002), METAMORPHOSIS (2003), and HILARY DUFF
(2004). Fast forward to 2007 and she
released her fourth studio album, DIGNITY (Hollywood Records). It debuted at #3 on the U.S. Billboard
200. Here, I am reviewing the standard
14 track version of the album. In the
liner notes Hilary writes: “This is the first time I have written a record
completely based on how I was feeling on any particular day. Good mood, bad mood, sad, happy, playful,
funny, lonely, stressed out, or really calm and peaceful. It’s all there!!” She adds: “Most importantly, I want to thank
God for loving me, guiding me, and giving me all of the blessings that I have”.
Starting things off is the album’s third single,
‘Stranger’. It hit #1 on the US
Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and was written by Hilary, Kara DioGuardi,
Vada Nobles, Derrick Haruin, and Julius ‘Logic’ Diaz. It’s a song about being disappointed in a
guy: “You treat me like a queen when we go out/Wanna show everyone what our
love’s about/All wrapped up in me whenever there is a crowd/But when no one’s
around/There’s no kindness in your eyes/The way you look at me, it’s just not
right/I can tell what’s going on this time/There’s a stranger in my life”. The title track, ‘Dignity’, follows. It takes aim at celebrity: “Where’s your
dignity?.../Can’t buy respect, but you can pick up the bill.../You’d show up to
the opening of an envelope!/Why?/Does everybody care about where you go?”
‘With Love’ was penned by Hilary, Kara DioGuardi, Vada
Nobles, and Julius ‘Logic’ Diaz. It was
the album’s second single and also a #1 hit on the US Billboard Dance Club
Songs chart. It hit #24 on the US
Billboard Hot 100. Hilary speaks
directly with her guy: “Slow me down, slow me down/I know you will always be
around/Baby, you can be tough/Say enough is enough/I’m wrong/That I’m coming on
way too strong/Don’t think I’ll be crushed/Just do it with love, love, love,
love”. ‘Danger’ finds Hilary falling for
a guy she knows she shouldn’t: “I’m smarter than this and know better than
this/Cause there’s something really missin’ in your kiss/I’m smarter than this
and know better than this/But there’s something that you got that is tough to
resist/It’s tough to resist/Cause I see danger, danger, danger in your
eyes/Cause danger, danger, danger, you disguise/So, baby lift your head up to
the light/There’s danger in those eyes”.
‘Gypsy Woman’ was written by Hilary and Haylie Duff, and
OneRepublic’s lead singer Ryan Tedder.
It’s a terrific pop song that is mesmerizing. It, like Proverbs, warns of a dangerous
woman: “She can swallow knives, she can swallow lives/Gold and black
stare/Brought the night of your demise.../She can rob you blind with just one
look from those eyes/Out of all the thieves that trained her/None of them could
tame her”. ‘Never Stop’ begins with
these words of encouragement: “Sometimes you feel your world is breaking
down/Baby, don’t stop/There’s trouble everywhere, it’s all around/Baby, don’t
stop/Cause I’m here to turn the corner with you/And when we’re together,
there’s nothing that we can’t do”.
‘No Work, All Play’ is a smooth flowing pop ballad that
offers good advice: “Sometimes it’s hard looking at yourself/You’d rather place
the blame than point it your own way/I still do hide from my feelings
myself/But I’m trying hard these days not to procrastinate/And face my
fate/Stay on my case.../You gotta know yourself to be yourself/It’s a struggle
everyday”. ‘Between You and Me’ finds
Hilary being upfront with a guy: “My love is not up for negotiation/’Hello’
doesn’t mean an open invitation/Don’t take it personally/Cause you and me,
we’re wrong/So move on/Move on (2X)/Now, I’m not saying you’re not nice/Let me
give you some advice/There’s a girl across the room who’d kill to be with you
tonight”.
‘Dreamer’ is a pop/dance track directed at an obsessed fan
it seems: “I’m at the grocery store and there you are just watchin’ me/Pick up
my clothes from the cleaners and look who I see/I try to lose you in my car,
but you won’t go away/Come on buddy/Don’t you think you’ve overstayed your
stay?/Don’t you have better things to do with your life than hang around and
stare at me and complicate mine?” The
next song, ‘Happy’, is about a girl who has moved on: “I understand why you’re
looking for tears in my eyes/Trust me, they were there but now the well has run
dry/I was in so deep but couldn’t get out/I sat on feelings that I buried deep
down/I knew there’d come a day when our paths would cross/And glad it’s today
cause now I am strong/I’m happy and I can thank myself/If it were up to you I’d
be in my bed crying”.
‘Burned’ has lyrics many of us who’ve been hurt before will
relate to: “When somebody’s knockin’/When somebody wants me/When somebody’s
trying to love me completely/I get scared/Don’t know how it works/Will somebody
save me?/Or will I get burned?” Alecia
Moore (Pink), Chantal Kreviazuk, and Raine Maida wrote ‘Outside of You’, a
pop/rock song that pines for a guy: “I’m outside of you and I can’t get
through/Overlooking the beauty that’s dying inside me/Can’t you see?/I’m
outside of you and I’m so confused/You keep missing the small things/The safety
that love brings/Can’t you see?/I’m outside of you”.
‘I Wish’ is a pop song that’s catchy and includes a great
electric guitar solo. It’s also one of
honesty: “You always hurt the people closest to ya/Guess I blamed you for
everything wrong/And I don’t know why it’s so hard to tell ya/I guess that’s
why I’m writing you this song!/Yeah/You wanna know why I look so sad and
lonely/You wanna know why I can barely talk/Well, it’s not your fault, so let
me say I’m sorry/For makin’ you the reason for my fall”. Last up, ironically, is the album’s lead
single. ‘Play With Fire’ was written by
Hilary, Kara DioGuardi, Rhett Lawrence, and will.i.am. This pop/dance number minces no words: “You
never know just what you got till it’s gone/You freak out/But I’m not falling
for that game/Boys like you never change/You made me feel I wasn’t enough,
wasn’t enough/For your love/But it was insecurity that made you run/It wasn’t
me/So, don’t you sit there trying to give me more excuses/I don’t have time for
this/I’m off to play in Houston!”
Style-wise DIGNITY is a bubblegum pop/dance album that
musically reminds me of Britney Spears, but with cleaner lyrics. It’d be a good album to work out to. Lyrically, the songs deal with a wide variety
of topics. Hilary sings about
relationship problems, gives men advice, speaks of dangerous women, and moving
on when there’s no potential for a romantic relationship. Hilary warns against getting an inflated ego
and people following celebrities too closely.
She encourages introspection and self improvement. This album shows great growth from her
previous efforts. Hilary was 19 when
DIGNITY came out. I’m rating it
93%. For more info visit: www.hilaryduff.com.