Bittersweet 16

Plot Summary: McKenna Grace put out her first song when she performed a song for the soundtrack of Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021, which she also acted in. Through the rest of 2021 and 2022 she released singles unattached to an album. Bittersweet 16 is the first album, an Extended Play (EP), that she has released. The album is about her insecurities as a singer and actress, as well as having clinical anxiety. "Ugly Crier" discusses how she doesn't feel like she is good enough as a performer. It also compares her to other pop stars like Taylor Swift. "Self Dysmorphia" has a music video that was filmed shortly after  she had had back surgery for scoliosis. "Post Party Trauma" is an autobiographical song about how she felt after going to a party after an awards show and having an anxiety attack ("McKenna Grace," 2023).

Author Background: McKenna Grace started her career as a child actress. From 2012 to 2014 she had a recurring role in the Disney XD show Crash and Bernstein, and from 2013 to 2015 she was in The Young and the Restless. More recently, she has had roles in Young Sheldon, The Handmaid's Tale, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (IMDb, n.d.). 

Critical Evaluation: To be honest, when I hear that an actor or actress has put out music, I'm usually a little skeptical. I didn't expect the music to be as good as it was. But it was good. I couldn't find if she wrote all or most of the songs, but her performance of the songs, no matter who wrote them was convincing. You could tell that she could feel her emotions and how the lyrics were personal to her. 

Despite her success as an actress her release of the album seems to be under the radar.

Speed-Round Album Talk or Short Album Trailer: How do child and teen actors and singers deal with the pressures of being in the spotlight? It can be hard and McKenna Grace spells it out in her debut album, Bittersweet 16.

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: There is mild swearing in some of the songs. Also, some parents are uncomfortable with discussions of mental health. Listening to music about mental health can open up a conversation about it. If mental health is not talked about it can become overwhelming.

Reason for Inclusion: I heard that McKenna Grace had put out an album after doing the movie Ghostbusters: Afterlife, but I hadn't heard much about it. I looked up some of the music to see what it was about. The content and its delivery show how anxiety affects a teen (she was literally 16 when she made this record).

References

Collider Extras. (2021, November 19). McKenna Grace interview: from gifted with Chris Evans to ghostbusters: afterlife. [YouTube]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQNwTxUdqLk.

IMDb. (n.d.). McKenna Grace. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5085683/.

McKenna Grace. (2022, July 7). Post party trauma (official lyric video). [YouTube]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHN1GHS7bDU.

McKenna Grace. (2022, November 17). Self dysmorphia (official lyric video). [YouTube]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkBelHyxYmg. 

McKenna Grace. (2023, March 23). Buzzkill baby (live from the Moroccan Lounge). [YouTube]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuQG4wo06dY.

McKenna Grace. (2023, May 7). In Wikipedia. Retrieved May 6, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mckenna_Grace.