Cyndi Lauper - At Last
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Free Music Notes for At Last
Free Music Review: Breathtaking
Hit: 5 Stars
The cover art is indicative of the experience you're about to have: Cyndi is pictured in a gorgeous, but understated evening gown against the world-famous Manhattan skyline. But from the OTHER side. It might even take one a moment to realize it's Manhattan since the skyscrapers are in the wrong order and the foreground buildings are quite unfamiliar. Well. The music consists of mostly famous-as-the-Manhattan-skyline songs, given quite unexpected treatment by the gorgeous, but understated interpretive gifts of Ms. Lauper. The songs sound like the island looks: brand new.I've listened to the disc at least 10 times in the last week and a half, and I don't think I'll tire of it anytime soon. From the ravishingly soulful title track to the uber-playful "Sunny Side of the Street," this is a meticulously crafted album that's devoted to one thing: the excellence of the music itself. What a treat to hear from someone with such apparent respect for the material she's presenting that she doesn't make it all about her. Most of the arrangements are also very carefully considered and illuminate the songs to striking effect. My favorites include the sensitive counter-melody of "Simple Gifts" which accompanies "Hymn to Love" (different translation than I'm familiar with, also) and the tender, heartwrenching piano work on "Unchained Melody."
A word about the title song: in general, I don't feel people should touch it. Etta James already sets such a high standard with her infectiously joyous sound and simple, unadorned delivery that any attempt to add something to it is doomed to fail. But this recording has caused me to re-think that assessment, because, although I wouldn't rank either rendition as superior to the other, it's such a different and valid take on the song that I feel as if I'm rediscovering it.
Brava, Cyndi.
Free Music Review: Cyndi's Incredible Vocals Give This a Solid 5 Stars...
Hit: 5 Stars
I drove (all night), from Florida, to see Cyndi Lauper in Concert in Syracuse, NY, for her 2 shows on Sunday Sept. 5th. It was a nice escape from the hurricane that hit us this past week. I was never so excited to see a performer as I was Cyndi, and she was fantastic. I have followed her career from the beginning, owning almost everyone of her past albums. And now I have At Last to add to my ever growing library of Cyndi Lauper music CD's. She has such a strong conviction for her art, and she shines brightly from the very opening lines of the title song(her vocals are so incredibly strong here), to the closing and appropriately upbeat lyrics of Sunny Side of the Street. I bought her CD back in January from amazon, and I can only name a handful of times that I haven't listened to it. I have an extra copy for my car, so I have it whenever I'm travelling in my job. Her voice is so calming and beautiful on songs like Hymn to Love, La Vie En Rose and Unchained Melody and amazing with the animals Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Her most chilling and haunting and challenging song, imo, belongs to her her version of french songwriter and singer, Jacques Brel's If You Go Away. It works effectingly well here, because of Cyndi's intense and emotional reading of it. And she has a highly energized remake of Maurice and the Zodiacs Stay. She decided to bring salsa sound to it, with plenty of horns and piano, and it works-- surprisingly well. There were times I felt so much energy coming from this song during my long drives, that it effected me to a point where I almost lost control of my vehicle, from her energy. The great thing about Cyndi Lauper is that she will always be relevant in an ever-changing music world. Her voice is so unique that it will never, ever be matched. She is still an unbelievable force in a otherwise very boring music scene.Free Music Review: Cyndi stays "True To Her Colors"
Hit: 5 Stars
Cyndi is as eclectic a singer as we have. She can virtually sing anything, and make it work, on an emotional and musical level. She has more magnetism than any singer that I know of. And her presence and voice always draws me in. It's because she gives so much of herself to the listener...And it's there, as plain as day, on "At Last," an adventure in sound from beginning to end. There's so much truth and emotion in her vocals--seemingly unheard of in a lot of todays cookie cutter diva wannabes. Cyndi is as far away from this disturbing trend of female singers as you can get, and thankfully so. She does a superb job with the remakes she has chosen. She chose songs that were actually the backdrop of a sometimes troubled life, growing up as an Italian Catholic in Queens NY. Cyndi has said that music was an escape for her. On "At Last," she covers Jacques Brel's "If You Go Away." This song drew me in instantly. It made me feel Cyndi's pain. There is so much despair and hurt in her voice--it's deeply moving, and really something to hear. This is Cyndi opening up her heart and bearing her soul, as we hear on the fragile and delicately beautiful "Hymn To Love" - my personal favorite. In many of the songs, most notably the ballads, she peels back the layers of each lyric, and constructs a picture for us, as if she's creating a piece of sculpture. The accompaniment, consisting of mainly bass, strings and piano is a true compliment to her vocals, put wisely out front and center. The result is a sound that is as crisp and clear as you'll ever hear. You can tell how much time and care went into this album, by the intricately woven vocal work. I take my hat off to Cyndi Lauper. She always stays true to herself and to her musical convictions.Free Music Review: Cyndi is the most Remarkable Singer of this generation
Hit: 5 Stars
What a beautiful record and what a remarkable talent Cyndi is. I never imagined i would be as effected by an album such as "At Last." It's like being led on a journey through someone's past. I read inside the CD sleeve that Cyndi was inspired by these songs from when she was a young girl in Queens, N.Y., and this was the music that would seep through the windows of the row houses in her neighborhood. I can tell how much these songs mean to her...La Vie En Rose, which she heard French singer Edith Piaf sing on Ed Sullivan in the 60's, is sung with So much heart. It's very touching and beautiful. I love the other Piaf song Cyndi covers, called Hymn to Love. It's so gorgeous, and Cyndi's vocals are pitch perfect on it--really flawless. She covers Stay, by The Four Seasons, and it has a wonderful, very Latin flavored sound. It Reminds me of Ricky Ricardo's, a.k.a. Desi Arnaz's, Babaloo. Another great one is Louis Armstrong's Sunny Side Of the Street. Cyndi gives this a really fun reggae styled beat. Her co-writer on Time After Time, Rob Hyman(The Hooters) plays backup on it. I happen to think the duet between Cyndi and Tony Bennett on Makin' Whoopee is really fun, and i love the banter between them. I read recently in an interview that Cyndi did the title song(At Last) in one take. I believe it. It just proves what a true professional she is. She also was classically trained at one point in her career, and it shows. She sang At Last live on the Today Show last month and on A&E's live by request a few days ago, and i was bowled over by her voice live. I've never heard a singer from this current generation have that kind of power and control. Cyndi Lauper is definitely OK in my book, and i'm looking forward to another 20 more years of singing from this one of a kind Diva.Free Music Review: Cyndi is the most Remarkable Singer of this generation
Hit: 5 Stars
What a beautiful reord and what a remarkable talent Cyndi is. I never imagined i would be as effected by an album such as "At Last." It's like being led on a journey through someone's past. I read inside the CD sleeve that Cyndi was inspired by these songs from when she was a young girl in Queens, N.Y., and this was the music that would seep through the windows of the row houses in her neighborhood. I can tell how much these songs mean to her...La Vie En Rose, which she heard French singer Edith Piaf sing on Ed Sullivan in the 60's, is sung with So much heart. It's very touching and beautiful. I love the other Piaf song Cyndi covers, called Hymn to Love. It's so gorgeous, and Cyndi's vocals are pitch perfect on it--really flawless. She covers Stay, by The Four Seasons, and it has a wonderful, very Latin flavored sound. It Reminds me of Ricky Ricardo's, a.k.a. Desi Arnaz's, Babaloo. Another great one is Louis Armstrong's Sunny Side Of the Street. Cyndi gives this a really fun reggae styled beat. Her co-writer on Time After Time, Rob Hyman(The Hooters) plays backup on it. I happen to think the duet between Cyndi and Tony Bennett on Makin' Whoopee is really fun, and i love the banter between them. I read recently in an interview that Cyndi did the title song(At Last) in one take. I believe it. It just proves what a true professional she is. She also was classically trained at one point in her career, and it shows. She sang At Last live on the Today Show last month and on A&E's live by request a few days ago, and i was bowled over by her voice live. I've never heard a singer from this current generation have that kind of power and control. Cyndi Lauper is definitely OK in my book, and i'm looking forward to another 20 more years of singing from this one of a kind Diva.