Music Review: Hope Partlow "Who We Are"

Hope Partlow

Who We Are

Album: Who We Are

Year: 2005

           Hope Partlow is ok with herself in the self-reliant   “Who We Are.”

           A rebellious guitar opens the guitar, setting a free-spirited tone.  She combs her hair. She brushes through a pile of lipsticks, eyeshadow and blush compacts and shoves them aside. None of it is actually her. She looks back into the mirror, appreciating the lines in her eyes. It may be imperfect but it’s at least it’s real. (“I don't wanna put on my make up /Just like every girl in a magazine /That's not who I am when I wake up /That's not who I wanna be.”)

                  In the pre-chorus, she says she’s determined and reads classic books. She listens to National Public Radio (NPR) and paints in her spare time. Most people would assume she’s just a pretty face. (“There's so much more to me than /Meets the eye /In this life /I know one thing.”)

              In the chorus, she says if she wants to dress in all black, that’s her choice. If she drives a rundown Honda, it doesn’t mean she’s a loser. She enjoys her life and that’s what matters. (“It doesn't really matter what you wear /Let the people stare /Cause we are who we are who we are who we are /It doesn't really matter what car you drive /It's good to be alive /Yeah we are who we are who we are who we are /Who we are.”)

             A young woman giggles at her and she glares back at her. She wonders what the young woman has done to her body to fit into the mainstream: breast implants, fillers, a butt lift maybe? She doesn’t get why the commercials show all the long-legged blondes with shimmering hai. She’ll never be them nor does she aspire to be. (“ Tell me baby do I look like the real thing /Or would you change the color of my eyes /Tell me why my television's filling me with lies .”)

           The chorus is sung again.

          In the bridge, she says people shouldn’t be shallow. They need to look beyond physical and try to get to know a person before judging them. (“There is beauty on the inside /Yeah you're beautiful /All right.”)

            The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

         Partlow’s coarse vocals don’t hold anything back. She says what she feels. Unfortunately, and due to the fault of the production, her voice more rock while the single is trying to be chirpy pop tone. It’s a mismatch and in an ironic way, if the producer had let her be herself the problem wouldn’t exist.

              The  resisilient  “Who We Are” is a bit rough around the edges but deserves to be found one day and covered endless times