What Do We Think About Ashlyne Huff’s “Heart of Gold”?

I’m torn. In Ashlyne Huff‘s debut single “Heart of Gold”, there are some real hits, but many misses, and I’m left wondering whether or not I like it. I just can’t decide.

For some reason, they’ve decided to take this singer-songwriter and turn her into a pop star, rather than toning it down a few notches and keeping her to her roots as a more typical singer-songwriter. I think due to her image, positioning, and such, she ends up coming off as a pop star wannabe, which is a shame because there’s a lot of talent there.

Why did they focus so much on the smoke-and-mirrors than the artistry?

Lyrically, this is a smart song with really good melodies; but since they went there, the image is just a mess. She’s gorgeous, but she photographs and looks older in her video. This brand of pop tends to rely on youthfulness. Would Britney Spears be a big star if she started now that she’s nearing 30? No, most of her success was because her fans were tweens. This seems to be a bit backward. I can’t imagine their target audience is tween/high schooler. It seems that they’re targeting a more college-age/mid-20s audience using a more Britney-pop youthful sound. All together, it just seems like a bit of a waste of smart pop lyrics.

I would have preferred this song with her behind a piano or behind a mic, simple composition, with a focus on the lyrics and her voice. Instead, we have a girl in tight, torn pants vainly romping around in front of mirrors.

The other thing I keep thinking is that the only way to make this song work in this form is if she had a bigger voice than she has. Her voice is more fitting for a stripped, simple singer-songwriter, but as an attempt at a full-blown pop song like this…it almost comes off as a demo-sounding song to be recorded by a pop star who’s more familiar with this territory.

Again, I admit, I am not completely convinced this song/image doesn’t work. Does it work for you?

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