Chris Columbus' new movie, Rent, starring Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Jesse L. Martin, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms, is rated PG-13. While Tim and I did not hesitate to take our seven and ten year-olds to see Harry Potter IV -- which is also rated PG-13, we're not ready to introduce our kids to the implied drug use, suggestive dancing, rough and crude language, and the anti-establishment lifestyles portrayed in Rent -- -- even though we live in San Francisco, where much of the movie was filmed. Despite the overriding positive messages of love, hope and appreciating life, we'd just as soon protect our kids' innocence a bit longer, when possible. However, we are enjoying sharing the majority of the movie soundtrack with our girls.

Every morning on the way to school, Tim and I crank up the music. Sometimes it's classical. Sometimes it's Joss Stones' Super Duper Love. Sometimes it's Nickelback's How You Remind Me. Naturally, it depends on the mood and the season.

After receiving a copy of the Rent soundtrack at an early screening hosted by Chris Columbus the girls have chosen Seasons of Love as their morning sing-along song to get fired up for the day-to-come.

Rosario Dawson as "Mimi"

The soundtrack has become such a hit in our household that I am even considering using "Seasons of Love" in an upcomng personal iMovie.

I also recently learned that the Rent soundtrack is a favorite with our nephews, Noah and Jacob, who live in Wisconsin. However, just like us, Tim's brother and his wife have to exercise discretion as to which tracks are played when the boys are listening.

On the way home from school the other day, Tim put on Rent.

Thank goodness for the forward button on the CD player.

In the fourth track, Light My Candle, Mimi sings, "They say I have the best ass below 14 Street."

Wouldn't you know it that Tim forgot to turn down the sound during that part. When he realized it, he said, "Whoops." The girls had the best giggle. They were delighted to have gotten away with hearing a naughty name for a body part that our family calls "bunzooks".

While Mimi talks about losing her stash and how pure it was in this song, I'm sure this went right over the girls' head. However, if they had seen the movie, we'd have a bit of explaining to do.

Just as rap singers put out both Explicit and Clean versions of their cds, I wish Columbus & Co. and Warner Bros. would do the same with Rent, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Nearly every one of the songs has such a great beat; it's a shame to have to fast-forward through a number of them entirely -- just because of a couple of "PG-13-rated" words.

Idina Menzel as "Maureen"

Warner Bros. Records Inc. could easily change the lyrics "f..ing weird" to "really weird" in Tango Maureen and not lose the spirit of the song.

Just a hope ...

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "sharing more seasons of love by keeping it clean" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC

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