Il Divo - Ancora
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Free Music Notes for Ancora
Free Music Review: Il Divo Part II
Hit: 5 Stars
I was in an HMV store in the UK last November when I heard this beautiful music playing. I asked who it was and was told it was the new Il Divo CD which had just come out that day, so I got it.
Much like their debut, `Ancora' is filled with lush, romantic love songs, performed in English, Spanish and Italian. If there is any change from their debut, it is that this features (just a bit) more guitars, and more subdued percussion. If you're looking for something edgy and groundbreaking, this isn't the CD for you. However, if you like beautiful, touching music performed by four excellent vocalists, you just might like this.
`Ancora' features covers of Mariah Carey's `Hero', The Righteous Brother's `Unchained melody', Eric Carmen's `All by myself', and Celine Dion's `Pour que tu m'aimes encore'. Celine Dion duets on `I believe in you'. I'm not really a fan of Ms Dion but this works much better than I expected.
`Isabel' is simply stunning. Lush strings, delicate percussion, and the four tenors rising to a crescendo towards the end in an achingly touching vocal performance. Definitely my favourite!
Other standouts include the tender, yet dramatic `Si tu me amas', `Hasta mi final', the largely acoustic/string filled dramatic `En aranjuez con tu amor' (superb vocal performance and the most operatic sounding song), and `Esisti dentro me'.
The UK version contains `Ave Maria' and a lush, sweeping rendition of `O holy night'.
Free Music Review: A beautiful encore!
Hit: 5 Stars
Il Divo's self-named first cd was a much needed breath of fresh air in an era crowded with hip-hop and pop singers who prefer to sing about how many "hos" they have or about the ridiculous amount of bling-bling they sport. Thank God, we have a second round from the quartet with the smooth, rich voices! Although I would have preferred a disc with 13 or 14 songs, this cd is still full of great songs sung by men who can ACTUALLY sing! From the first song, "Solo Otra Vez" to the beautiful (and my personal favorite) duet with Celine Dion called "I Believe in You (Je Crois en Toi)" this selection of romantic songs makes the listener realize how music is meant to sound. "Isabel" is also incredibly beautiful and the group's cover of Mariah Carey's "Hero", is another gem in this well crafted cd. Another cover in Spanish of Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up", entitled "Por ti sere" is a triumph as well as the closing song, "Pour Que tu M'aimes encore". I love the fact that these guys mix up Italian, Spanish, French and English songs in their selections proving that good music is good music, even if it is not sung in your mother tongue! Whether you love or hate Simon Cowell, you have to give him credit for finding a talented group of men who know what sounds good and have voices full of range and that blend so well with each other. A great cd for the special person in your life on Valentine's Day---or any day for that matter! Highly recommended!!Free Music Review: A big guilty pleasure of mine
Hit: 5 Stars
I must confess...I never really had a high opinion of Il Divo. Anything that Simon Cowell touches I try to avoid like the plague. A couple of months ago on my local PBS station I caught a performance from Il Divo. I have to admit I was hooked line and sinker especially when they sung an Italian version of Mariah Carey's "Hero". I finally broke down and actually acquired an Il Divo cd via my cd club (and for free too). The cd I got was "Ancora", the group's second album. Well the sentimental sap in me fell in love with "Ancora". Yes it is schmaltzy and over the top with the guy's operatic vocals. Unfortunately they had to do an unnecessary cover of "You Raise Me Up". Enough! Everyone under the sun has covered that song and it has become tiresome. Il Divo's version offers nothing new or anything interesting. I'll take Celtic Woman and Josh Groban's version over Il Divo's any day. As much as I don't like Celine Dion (which would be putting it mildly), I have to admit I loved the gorgeous ballad "I Believe in You". Celine actually didn't bother me for once and I thought her vocals complimented nicely with the guys in Il Divo. "Ancora" is a bit too short. It falls just under 40 minutes but I guess that beats listening to a cd over an hour long with music I do not like. Does my enjoyment of "Ancora" mean that I have become a fan of Il Divo? No. I still find their music schmaltzy and overly dramatic. Guilty pleasure? Yes.Free Music Review: There should be some guidelines
Hit: 5 Stars
I am deeply offended by a review about this CD. I feel Amazon should have some guidelines about what people can say in their reviews. The reviewer who stated people who bought this CD should die should not be allowed to have his review published. I checked his other reviews and one said if you didn't agree with his opinion you should commit suicide. This drivel should not be seen by the public. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but most people are smart enough to give their opinions without offending too many people. Oh, wait--that was his intention. He wanted to offend people and get our attention. Well, he got mine. But his opinion just shows his lack of education and intelligence.
Enough about him (or her, or whatever). This is a good CD. It is so refreshing to listen to men sing. And that is what Il Divo does--they sing. They don't sound like they are having surgery without anesthesia as so many "artists" of today do. On this CD, the singers actually carry a tune. And, they have beautiful voices as well.
I am just sorry I had to read the hate-filled review. It pains me to be reminded of the terribly misguided people in our world today.
Free Music Review: Fantastico!
Hit: 5 Stars
It's amazing how many people out there apparently hate excellence; they despise purity, recoil at beauty, and rant against melody and harmony. That's what I can gather from some of the earlier reviews of "Ancora," by Il Divo. Of course, it's very possible (and probable) that those particularly zealous negative reviewers did not even listen to this CD.
Well, I have listened to it. Often. And it is a tremendously enjoyable and moving experience. Josh Groban's standard, "You Raise Me Up" receives a fresh new treatment here that perfectly suites the beauty and majesty of the song. The irresistable "Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore" is a stunner. It takes a strong man to admit he likes Celine Dion, but I am a strong man, so I particularly appreciate her collaboration with Il Divo on "I Believe in You."
There's nothing wrong with having a wide and varied taste in music. I love everything from Santana to Antonio Carlos Jobim to Johnny Cash to, yes, Il Divo. Give them a chance. And besides, ladies love a man who appreciates Il Divo (at least, one special lady I know does). 'Nuff said!