Russell Watson · The Voice
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Free Music Notes for Russell Watson · The Voice
Free Music Review: An excellent album
Hit: 5 Stars
As a lover of opera and classical music, my collection of CDs consists of Pavarotti, Domingo, among the more well-known singers, and an extensive collection of the opera greats from the past. I also ventured out and purchased Bochelli and Brightman albums. Now, I am adding Russell Watson's album to my collection. You cannot group Watson with the Pavarotti's, Domingo's and other great classical singers and he is not a proper fit with the Brightman's and Groban's. Watson is an artist who can sing both classical and pop, with an amazing array of 3 to 4 voices that perfectly suits the different song selections. He is unbelievable. You would think there are 3 to 4 different singers on his album. Reading the reviews, I'm somewhat embarrassed by the elitist attitudes that fellow classical music lovers have toward Watson and I ignore the 2-3 sentence reviews downgrading this album as a personal attack on him. I cannot fathom how reviewers are just listening to the minutest details of the failings of his voice. For example, I can also listen, note for note, and completely ruin my enjoyment of music, in comparing the three tenors singing Nessun Dorma in one of my albums with Watson's Nessun Dorma. Of course, the three tenors combined do sing this aria superbly but there is one stanza near the end in which Watson's voice is more powerful, unbelievably, than the three tenors. The tenors sing a few pop songs with their beautiful voices but uncomfortably and you cannot decipher what words are being sung. Not so, with Watson. That said, I still appreciate the three tenors singing pop tunes uncomfortably and Watson singing Nessun Dorma and the other classical arias at perhaps a level below the great tenors. Despite what the critics say, his pop songs are easy to listen to and he is more than adequate on the more difficult classical arias. He provides a versatility in his transition from pop to classic to pop that few other singers can match and do it well. This is what separates Watson from everyone else and probably the reason for his rising popularity. He is clearly opening the doors of classical music to an audience that are not devoted to classical music. His charismatic appeal is developing an extremely loyal audience, judging by the passionate 5-Star reviews and a growing public following. I will continue to pursue my love of classical music with the great classical singers but also keep an eye on this unusual, but wonderful singer, Watson, because he is a unique and talented individual that is captivating the general public and is well-described as the "people's tenor."
Free Music Review: What a voice!
Hit: 5 Stars
A lot has been said about Russell Watson - some of it good, some of it not so good. I am inclined to disagree rather strongly with the negative comments posted here. I had the good fortune to catch Mr. Watson's appearance on GMA, plus some commercials for a local music store that featured some excerpts from "The Voice." First let me say that, for all my love of classical music, I generally hate opera. I cannot, therefore, evaluate this album on its operatic merits, but I can say this much: this is some of the most beautiful vocal music I've ever experienced."The Voice" is so important because it brings opera to the casual listener. Watson's voice is clear, eminently listenable, and most importantly, unpretentious. He sings opera for people who normally run screaming in terror from the genre.
The very first track, "Nella Fantasia," is one of my favorites. In fact, it was an excerpt from this track that made me buy the CD in the first place - I wanted to hear the rest. The first time I listened to it, it brought tears to my eyes. I also particularly enjoy "Caruso" and "Miserere;" they showcase his talents and range very well. I absolutely adore "Saylon Dola." The price of the CD is worth it for this track alone. He sings it as a duet with Maire Brennan (of Clannad fame), one of my all time favorite artists. This piece has a haunting, dreamy quality thanks largely to a beautiful orchestration and excellent blending on the part of both vocalists. I hope they collaborate on future works.
"Vienna" and "Barcelona" are both truly fun tracks. It's refreshing to listen to popular pieces sung by an operatic tenor - nice to know that he doesn't eschew music that is more accessible to the public at large. My only quibble, really, is with "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." That's not to say he doesn't sing it well - he does. It's just been done and overdone to the point that hearing it sung by anyone makes me want to jump off a bridge (over troubled waters).
All in all, "The Voice" is an excellent debut album; I look forward to Mr. Watson's future efforts if this is any indication of the work he intends to put out. He is a remarkable young man with a remarkable story and a remarkable voice. I unreservedly recommend this album; it is sure be a welcome and treasured addition to any CD collection.
Free Music Review: A New Watson fan
Hit: 5 Stars
I enjoy listening to Watson's recordings because I am not a follower of classical music and THE VOICE has both soft listening and classical music, all done with an amazing versatility in his voice. I went to this site to see if Watson had made any new recordings and decided to read the reviews. I get the feeling that these reviews were written by a couple of the same people who have a personal vendetta against this talented singer or classical purists who were nitpicking every single note that Watson sings. Phrases from the critics such as "he has little vocal power" (Must not have been listening to Nessun dorma), "he sings with no feeling" (Rosie O'Donnell fell head over heals when Watson sang Caruso on her program), "his notes are predictable" (In Misere, you would swear there are two different singers), "he's a marketing gimmick" (Name me one successful singer who is not a marketing tool), "his voice is enhanced by studio doctoring" (Every singer enjoys the great acoustics coming from the larger recording studios), and "he's boring" (Why has he sold millions of records?). Fortunately, millions of music lovers are ignoring the so-called music expert critics and the critics on Amazon.com. because Watson has just won for the second straight year, two of the United Kingdom's British Classical Awards, "Best Selling British Classical Album" and the "People's Choice Award" (voted by the public). When millions of Watson's fans describe Watson and his voice in phrases such as "unbelievably versatile, blown away by his powerful voice, amazing, incredible, brings to tears to my eyes, and wonderful ability to communicate with his audience", you get the feeling that he must be an exceptional talent or performer. Is he great? I don't know but I've listened to the Voice and I believe it's an excellent album. As a senior citizen, I must admit that I have never heard any singer with the amazing versatility of Watson in my lifetime.Free Music Review: Encore! Encore! Russell Watson
Hit: 5 Stars
Have you ever been distracted by a sound so phenomenally beautiful that you just couldn't tear yourself away? I was - when I heard the sound of Russell Watson. I am convinced he will be the "Tiger Woods" of opera.I was deeply absored in an excellent book when my husband began watching a Maryand Public Television telethon. I suddenly became aware that the book, in which I had been so engrossed, was now in my lap. I had become totally spellbound by a handsome young man from England. It was Russell Watson. His magnificent tenor voice, which I later learned had benefit of NO formal training, must have come straight from God! "The Voice", quite appropriately entitled, is a near duplicate of his TV performance and gives evidence to the wide range of his singing ability. From "Sessum dorma!" and "Barcelona", to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Someone Like You", he demonstrates his broad versatility and an appeal that breaks all age barriers. The curosity of a younger generation was profoundly obvious by repeated calls asking his age and if he had a girlfriend.
Mini interviews throughout the show revealed him to have a rather endearing "touch" of devilishment and yet, to be most genuinely modest. He seemed to accept no credit for his talent. In fact, his explanation, (which is also quoted in the album leaflet), was simply, "I've got this voice, you see, and people want to hear it". He was right about that! "The Voice" goes with me in my car. He has wit, charm and a voice that will definitely make you stand up and take notice. Whether your choice of music is operatic, classical or popular, my opinion is that you won't be disappointed. In fact, I believe Russell Watson will take this country, even it's younger generation, by storm!
Free Music Review: GREAT MUSIC TO MY EARS!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the first time I've written a review of any CD. I just feel compelled to do so because of some the of negative comments I've read about it. I like it so much I just can't stop playing it. So,what's the problem I say? Is it because a mere pop singer has dared to venture into the sacred world of opera? Is he too young? Still in his twenties you know. How anyone could ever get the impression that Watson is pretentious and trying to pass himself off as an "Opera Great" is beyond my comprehension. Wouldn't selections like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Someone Like You", which definitely deviate from the arias, prove this point? And, after listening to him sing Barcelona who would think that there mightn't be just a wee bit of "Rapper" in his soul? Russell Watson proves he's got the voice in every aria he performs on this CD. And, he sounds just as great when he's singing the songs of the "common man" too. That's something that rarely happens. Helmut Lotti is the only singer that I've ever heard that sounds great to me whether he singing an aria or what might be considered popular music. All the others, even a great voice like Pavorotti belting out his rendition of "Moon River" sounds like fingernails on a blackboard to me. Most of these opera greats are just too stiff and sound awkward and not themselves when they try to sing anything but an aria. So, already Watson has one up on many of these opera greats. He can sing anything he wants to and sound good. Russell Watson does not fit the profile of your average opera singer. So what. He doesn't appear to take himself as seriously as some of his snooty critics. I even think he might be having fun. Can't Opera Singers do that? I don't care what anybody says. Russell Watson does have "the voice".