Demi Lovato

The theme song of Camp Rock is punchy and sugar-sweet: all in a days work for Disney's 'tween Svengalis, who build similarly sturdy battleships for Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers and High School Musical. The production here ditches the urban pop of the latter in favor of sleek guitars and rosy cheeked affirmations for those about to rock. After spending the summer filling airwaves with tunes like "Gotta Find You," Joe Jonas' rakish mug is likely to adorn many a middle school locker come fall.

History teaches us not to dismiss kiddie pop. Stevie Wonder was once Little Stevie Wonder,
just as Lil Wayne was once little Lil Wayne, child gangsta rapper. And let's not forget
ex-Mouseketeers Britney and Justin. Purists disdain teenybopper music as cynical pap,
foisted on the young by Svengalis who lurk in the shadows, counting money. But
bubblegum can be a great farm system, honing skills that pay dividends in later lif... More >