Celine Dion - These Are Special Times
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Free Music Notes for These Are Special Times
Free Music Review: Truly A Maical Christmas Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
Christmas for along time has been my favorite time of year, and there is nothing like hearing the magical Christmas songs of the season. On this CD, Celine not only gives you those classics, but she delivers new classics with same ferocity as the old. The album begins with the beautiful traditional classic 'O Holy Night' which in my opinion is one of the hardest songs to sing 'cause I've done it and it ain't the easiest thing to sing! She executes it with such power and grace that anything that I've heard pales in comparison. The only version of worthisness is Mariah Carey's on her 1994 opus, 'Merry Christmas.' Pure vocal beauty and gift. Not only is her voice exceptionaly strong, back that up with a full choir and you've got something special. This song alone is worth purchasing this album!
'Don't Save It All For Christmas Day' Celine in fact wrote part of this song, one of the vary few that she's ever helped co-write on. Here she displays the fine vocal control she has over every word, every note. A POPPY Christmas song, but what can you expect, she is a POP singer.
'Blue Christimas' A great rendintion of this bluesy Christmas tune. Her voice suits the style of this piece perfectly. The viloins work well with this piece, another great song.
Bryan Adams wrote No.4 on this CD, 'Another Year Has Gone By', which is instantly recognizable as comming from his pen. Subtle and compasionate, it shines.
A new tune writtin' for this album, well maybe not this album, but a new tune nevertheless. 'The Magic Of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)' has the holiday feel through-out. Tubular bells at the beinning open this song, triangles and angel choirs fill the rest of it with Celine's voice filling in the spaces that need it. The Magic is in the package of this song. Classic.
'Ave Maria' I could use one word to describe this song. Gorgeous. I have never heard it done like this. Another extremly hard song to sing, the voice has to be in top shape to pull it off. And she pulls this off effortlessly, as she does with everything else. Schubert would be proud, I'm sure. She does justice to this gorgeous classic.
'Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)' Another great version of a Christmas classic.
I'm not going to talk about every song on this album, there are 16 in total so it would take forever, but the songs I have mentioned above are reason enough to buy this wonderful Christmas album. Five out Five
Free Music Review: a sparkling Christmas collection
Hit: 5 Stars
From traditional songs to new, like "Don't Save it All for Christmas Day" which was co-written by Celine, this is a diverse selection of Christmas music that will appeal to those who appreciate Celine's talent and the many colorations of her agile voice.Starting with my favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night", which is here given a lovely rendition, my other top choices would be:
Track # 3, "Blue Christmas", with a superb jazzy interpretation, Celine using her smooth, smoky voice, and Diana Krall adding a lot with her piano magic. I would love to hear Celine record an entire album in this quiet style; though it does not have the powerful top notes many expect from her, it is the "Celine voice" I enjoy the most.
Track # 6, the "Ave Maria" by Charles Gounod (adapted from a prelude by J.S. Bach), is heavenly. Exquisitely gentle and tender, this familiar and beautiful melody is always a pleasure to listen to, and is sung in English and Latin.
# 9, "The Prayer", by Carol Bayer Sager and David Foster has meaningful and moving lyrics, and makes an ideal duet for Andrea Bocelli and Celine, and the pianissimo ending is perfection.
# 13, the John Lennon/Yoko Ono "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" is poignant and marvelous, and the final track, sung by the Dion family, is a joyous Brahms waltz, "Les Cloches du Hameau".
Though everyone will have tracks they will like more than others, the overall production and musicianship is top-notch, making this a very satisfying CD, and one I do not mind hearing any time of the year. The enclosed booklet has most of the lyrics, extensive recording info (many different arrangers and musicians are involved in this CD), the sound excellent, and total time is 68'28.
Free Music Review: The real christmas spirit from Celine Dion
Hit: 5 Stars
What a collection. To start with O Holy Night, the traditonal christmas song which every artist seems to put in theire christmas collection, shows what a register in here voice Celine has. Celine Dion is not a critique favourite among some critiques But the hardest "stone hearted" which is in no contact with his soul will soon forget this when listen to this stunning opener. If you are stressed this realy put you down to your innerself in a good way. You will get in to the real christmas spirit when listen to this CD, and it`s a treat if you looking for the christmas album with what we can call has the X-factor. Track 4 written by Bryan Adams Another Year has gone by, is a winner, and has the Celine magic over it.
You have it all here from Ave Maria to Happy Xmas. This is music to close you eyes too, and also open you ears too.
To put in a track with Andrea Bocelli (Track 9: The Prayer) makes you at least for a couple of minutes belive in angels. Call me to simple, to emotional,and to little intellectual, i dont mind, the music lift`s me anyway. This album is certainly special times, at least from those who open their hearts. And sometimes i dont mind if more people does that, and it will bring more peace to earth. Celine Dion is certain santas little helper when it comes to this collection. To put in Happy Xmas (war is over) written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, says it all about christmas: Let's hope it`s a good one . And this CD certainly help in that department. And you wonder why Celine Dion sells many records ? Shame on you . It`s simple. The little you need will the heart tell you when you are confused. A treat for you inner voice this one.
Free Music Review: Celine's Finest Album Just Happens to Be a Xmas Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Known for her chest-thumping excess, Celine Dion was a Vegas act waiting to happen. I always thought: If she could reign it in, if she could be more adult and sophisticated and less little-girl, she could make a masterpiece. It never happened. Her string of best-selling albums is marred by schmaltz and distracting vocal pyrotechnics.Her "At Last" lacks soul. Her "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" tries too hard to impress. But here's her masterpiece: a freakin' Christmas album! The newly penned songs, by heavyweights like Diane Warren and David Foster, stand up to the more traditional material better than expected.
As for her takes on well-worn traditional favorites: "O Holy Night" is dazzling. A carol which calls for feathery lushness in its verses and belt-out power in its chorus plays to Celine's strengths. Dion's version of "Blue Christmas" might have had Elvis churning in his grave, but she gives a restrained jazz-smoke performance. "God Bless Us Everyone" is majestic without becoming excessive. And her rendition of Gounod's haunting "Ave Maria" is staggeringly beautiful; it makes me wonder if an album of classical or sacred music wouldn't be a fine idea for the Canook soprano.
All in all, a classic for the holidays or anytime. Up there with the Carpenters' and Streisand's classic holiday albums, yes. But don't pigeonhole too much; pull it out in July as well to hear Celine Dion blow her other albums away.
Free Music Review: Celine in top form makes beautiful Christmas music
Hit: 5 Stars
There are sixteen tracks here covering all aspects of Christmas, with a well-balanced mix of original or obscure songs and familiar standards. The booklet includes the lyrics for most of the songs including all the unfamiliar material. You probably know the words to the songs for which lyrics are omitted.
Taking the standards first, they are Blue Christmas (featuring Diana Krall on piano), O holy night, Ave Maria, O come all ye faithful, The Christmas song, Brahms lullaby (although this classical piece doesn't appear often on mainstream Christmas albums), Happy Xmas war is over (the John Lennon classic) and Feliz Navidad (the Jose Feliciano classic). Suffice to say that Celine's versions are of a high quality and stand comparison with the many other recorded versions of these songs.
The remaining songs are Don't save it all for Christmas Day (co-written by Celine), Another year has gone by (co-written by Bryan Adams), The magic of Christmas Day, The prayer (a duet with Andrea Bocelli), Christmas Eve, the title track (a Dianne Warren song), I'm your angel (a duet with R Kelly, who wrote the song) and Les cloches des Hameau (a Brahms song that is somewhat less famous than his lullaby).
This album has been a popular choice among Christmas music buyers ever since its original release in 1998 and it's not difficult to see why. It is my first Celine Dion album, but it certainly won't be my last.