Before the release of her third full length studio album, Dignity, in April 2007, Disney star Hilary Duff was known primarily for her innocent teen image from numerous family films and the iconic TV show, Lizzie McGuire. However, when her "fourth" album was finally released, fans were able to see a mature woman growing out of her tween shell. The album showcased a different side for the artist, moving from a pop/punk sound into the world of dance/electronic, bringing the genre into the spotlight. Duff became more involved in the development of the project, coming on as a co-producer and co-writing all but one of the fourteen tracks. The album is the best in Duff’s music career and always will be.
The album begins with Duff’s most mature single of her entire career. “Stranger”, released as the album’s third single, tells the story of a cheating and unfaithful boyfriend. Duff’s vocals sound the best that they have and the lyrical material present is no longer just for her tween fans, but for anyone who has an interest in dance music. The artist’s music has grown and it proves successful in every way. You are able to hear Duff’s vulnerability, but her strength as well. It is too bad the song did not see all the success it truly deserved.
The album continues with the tongue and cheek title track which has Duff poking fun at some of the young troubled starlets in Hollywood. The song can be taken as an insult towards those always in the news for the wrong reasons, but Duff’s performance makes it a fun and catchy song. It seems like some of the artist’s innocent past helped the real meaning behind the track slip under the radar.
Duff’s most successful single to date, “With Love”, really showcases the change the artist went through while recording the album. The voice that is heard is sultry and sexy, a clear departure from the sweet vocals we were used to hearing a la "Come Clean". The beats that assist the track are amped up and infectious, they allow the song to hit its dance-club potential. The song became Duff’s first number one on a Billboard chart, the Dance chart, and for good reasons.
“Danger” is a track describing the red flags of being with an older man, a subject that may have shocked listeners initially. Even though the track is not a favorite of mine from the album, the vibe is a bit darker which I do applaud Duff for. The production really works well with the lyrics, and I feel it actually keeps the record on a positive path.
One of the many highlights from the project comes from “Gypsy Woman”, which was lined up to be the fourth single. The song carries an Egyptian theme and sounds like it could be a direct sequel to “Stranger”. Duff’s vocals are to be praised because I notice her development as a true artist. The lyrics talk about a woman ruining a relationship. It sounds like it comes straight from a diary which gives it so much power.
The cute and fast paced “Never Stop” has to be considered the sweetest track that Duff has released in her career. To me, the song is the definition of bubblegum pop. The artist pours her heart to the one that she loves in a well-composed track that shows the growth of a woman. With one listen, you will be jumping around singing the lyrics, but there is nothing wrong with that.
The album unfortunately contains one disappointing moment. “No Work, All Play” is a song that I could not get into with the first listen, and I still cannot. The song is not right for Duff and I can hear her struggling with the material, not her best effort. The track is boring and does not provide anything new or exciting for the album. The lyrics are good, but I think the song was taken in the wrong direction and was hard to save.
“Between You and Me” is another fast paced track filled with a lot of sass and attitude which is very enjoyable to hear. I like the song, I am not crazy about it, but there is something about it that just draws me in. It is different than anything I have heard from the singer, different from the album as well, but I think it is a cute song that Duff can add to her resume.
Duff takes aim at her former stalker in the hilarious “Dreamer”. It is nice to see that she can take personal issues that have occurred in her life and poke fun at them a little. The beat that pumps out of the speakers helps control the delivery that Duff was going for. The song is a funny one; the lyrics portray her stalker as a crazed person that even loves watching her do laundry, creepy in a good way.
If I had to pick a favorite from the album, the award would go to “Happy”. The track is filled with so much emotion that I feel like Duff could burst out into tears in any moment. The entire thing is just one beautiful creation that should help Duff to be seen as a serious artist with immense talent. I feel I could relate to the song, and I think anyone can, even if they are not a fan of the singer.
“Burned” is a great club song, impressive and addicting as soon as it begins to play. Duff sings about her fear of relationships after her past unsuccessful ones. Again, the song is a success thanks to the performance that is given. The slow delivery of the lyrics allows them to really sink into the mind of the listener. The song is everything that pop is supposed to be at the moment, Duff proves she has a strong understanding for the genre.
The only song not written by Duff, “Outside Of You”, was actually given to her by rebel hit maker, P!nk. The song sounds exactly what a hit song by P!nk would sound like, but Duff is able to put her signature touch on it to call it her own. The track is beautifully written and the vocals capture the true meaning buried within it. The song is a good direction for the artist, powerful tracks with amazing vocals.
Duff channels some of her past performances to accomplish the rocker vibe present on “I Wish”. The song is a good one, but I think the sound is so different that it feels out of place on the album. The track would have fit in better with her second album. The vocals, instrumentals, beats and lyrics are great, it just throws off the dance vibe.
The project closes with its first single, “Play With Fire”, which was released in order to get fans comfortable with Duff’s more mature, dance sound. Critics may not have liked the track, but I loved it the moment I heard it. Duff has attitude, she actually has a voice, and I think it was a good choice as a single. The beat will get anyone dancing, the lyrics will get you singing, it is the complete package.
Dignity is a polished, nicely produced and written, dance record that shows how Duff has truly developed as an artist. Track after track contains a very different sound then what fans and audiences were used to hearing from the artist. The sound is more mature than the previous efforts provided by the singer and I think it is a successful career decision for Duff. The vocals are not entirely impressive on every single song, but there are many performances that allow the artist to shine very bright indeed. The album is a great, cohesive piece of work that Duff should be very proud of. This final full length album receives a high 88% for amazing tracks and great songwriting.
Tracks to hear: "With Love", "Gypsy Woman", "Happy", and "Burned"
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