Sarah Brightman - Eden
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Free Music Notes for Eden
Free Music Review: Absolutely Sarah
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this CD, perhaps even more than "Time to Say Goodbye." She's put new twists on some familiar favorites (Kansas's "Dust in the Wind," and the love theme from Titanic in particular, although I don't particularly care for either of these). I found this CD to be a brilliant mix of upbeat, heartbreaking, and comforting, and it highlights both of her voices: the operatic one and the "pop singer" one.I found particularly unusual the opening "In Paradisum," which combined Latin chant with sitar. Very strange, but strikingly lovely. The title song, "Eden," is a very unusual and beautiful pop song, which also has interesting background chanting. I can't help but picture rows and rows of robed monks doing "The Egyptian" while she sings. (Fans of Steve Martin will get this reference.) "So Many Things" is sung very sweetly in a voice that reminds me a great deal of Olivia Newton-John when she was at her peak voice. She also uses that beautiful and sweet ONJ voice in "Only an Ocean Away."
"Anytime, Anywhere" feels very "pop-like," but she uses an opera-like voice and great background percussion to excellent effect. I found her rendition of "Dust In the Wind" to be very blah. Kansas did it better. Very disappointing. Her version of "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic (Il Mio Cuore Va) is very ethereal and dreamlike, sweet, and displays great vocal range. But, I still prefer Celine's version. However, it does have great orchestration. I suggest a new Grammy awards category: "Best use of an Oboe in a Pop Song."
"Deliver Me," another pop song, is also very sweetly sung. Each successive verse builds layer upon layer of vocals and strings, building up to a nice harmonious crescendo. The background choir has an interesting "ethnic" sound. This is one of my favorite Sarah songs, and I don't know why. It's just great. Her operatic cuts, "Nella Fantasia," "Lascia Ch'io Pianga," and "Nessun Dorma," are all breathtaking. In particular, I liked "Nessun Dorma." It's unusual to hear this piece from a soprano, but I personally think it's the best version of it I've ever heard. Absolutely heart-ripping and gut-wrenching. It's my favorite cut on the album. Third place goes to "The Last Words You Said." This is one of the sweetest love songs I've ever heard.
I can't imagine any fan of beautiful singing would want to miss this album. Listen to it with your love mate, surrounded by scented candles.
Free Music Review: In Paradisum
Hit: 5 Stars
After several good but not outstanding pop albums, Sarah Brightman hit her stride in the expansive, sensuous "Eden," a lush collection of ethereal songs that seem almost otherworldly. Brightman's beautiful voice and excellent choice of songs make this a near-perfect pop album, as deep and rich as fine velvet.
It opens with synth waves and jungle sounds in "In Paradisum," followed by a dramatic male choir in a warm, lush cover of Hooverphonic's "Eden." A slightly more acoustic sound enters with the gentle "So Many Things" and guitar-led "Dust in the Wind." Then she swerves into more operatic territory with the stirring "Il Mio Cuore Va" (an Italian cover of "My Heart Will Go On").
The album peaks with the aching tenderness of "Only An Ocean Away," a dramatic song about distance between lovers, and the stirring plea of "Deliver Me" with its chorus of rich voices repeating the title line. Then Brightman ends on a high note (no pun intended) with the musically spare, gauzy love ballad "The Last Words You Said."
Very few albums like "Eden" are made -- it draws its listeners in through intrigue and beauty rather than any obvious ploys for attention. It's hard to imagine just how it could be better than it is -- a few tweaks here and there, but no song feels out of place or superfluous. Whether she's reworking covers or dipping into Puccini, the music sounds flawless and uniform.
Brightman's vocals are usually high and sweet here, lending a fragile edge to the majestic music. In songs like "Lascia Ch'io Pianga," she gets to show a bit more of her range, with her voice becoming richly operatic. And she gets to really soar when she sings deeply emotional songs, belting out "There's an ocean between us/you know where to find me... more than a lifetime/still goes on forever/but it helps to remember/you're only an ocean away..."
The musical arrangements that accompany her are nothing short of epic -- orchestral strings that serve as a backdrop for her voice, solid drums, and even some pleasant acoustic guitar here and there. Even a few sound samples like thunder and jungles. Harkening back to her "Fly" and "Dive" days, Brightman also uses bits and pieces of electronica, adding texture to the sweeping string arrangements.
Sarah Brightman found her niche in the magnificent "Eden," a richly sensuous album full of romance, sorrow and unrestrained beauty. Definitely a must-have for fans of beautiful music.
Free Music Review: Sarah Is Still Shining Bright!
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this CD! I listen to it all the time, and I couldn't live without it!1. In Paradisum is a great beginning to this CD and works as a wonderful introduction.
2. Eden, the title track is classic Sarah! The lyrics are slightly confusing but the song is great!
3. So Many Things is not one of my favorites. It's a little slow, but Sarah's voice is gorgeous!
4. Any time, Anywhere- What can I say? This is my favorite Sarah song ever! (I actually got hooked on Sarah when I heard this song on TV used as part of a figure skating show.)
5. Bailero is a great song- I think Sarah's ability to sing in sooo many different languages is marvelous. Her CD La Luna is incredibly multilingual...
6. Dust In The Wind is a beautiful, beautiful song. My dad thought that Sarah ruined this song and showed me the original version (by Kansas? Chicago? I get all these place name bands mixed up-) and anyway who let those guys record? Sarah does a much better job!!!
7. Il Mio Cuore Va is lovely and delicate, and I can't get enough of it as the English version is one of my favorite songs ever.
8. Deliver Me is a different sort of song for Sarah and not what she usually does, but she does it well and it's fun to sing with.
9. Un Jour Il Viendra- I must confess that I cannot remember this song! So sorry!
10. Nella Fantasia- a gorgeous song! Incidentally, if you like it, there's a guy named Russell Watson or something like that who does a great version of it too.
11. Tu is a fun song. I wish I knew what the lyrics meant.
12. Lascia Chi'o Pianga is the only song that I am slightly disappointed in. Charlotte Church's version is much better.
13. Only An Ocean Away- I love to sing with this song, it is soo romantic!
14. Scene D'Amour- Another song I discovered watching a skating show, although at the time I did not know the artist was Sarah, I just liked the song!
15. Nessun Dorma is the best classical piece ever written and Sarah does it full justice. You must hear Vanessa Mae's violin version!
16. The Last Words You Said is a very pretty, haunting song, although I think the lyrics are rather depressing...
Well, that's my opinion- Hopefully you will buy this CD and find out for yourself what a great singer Sarah is!
Free Music Review: A walk in the famous garden with Sarah...
Hit: 5 Stars
The variety of songs here is probably the most attractive feature of the CD for those who appreciate Sarah Brightman's ethereal, angelic voice. And it's probably the least attractive feature for those whose musical enjoyment is sharply concentrated on one type of music. In describing her voice on this record as ethereal and angelic, I want to comment on one reviewer's comparing her with Enya. Indeed, this is a valid comparison. And yet the two are each very distinctive. You do hear the similarity on this album and on "La Luna". I feel that Ms. Brightman expresses a quality of love for each of the songs she sings. This is evident even in this case where there is such diversity of material. Each of us has favorite cuts. Mine are: Puccini's "Nessum Dorma", Kansas' "Dust In The Wind", "So Many Things", "Eden" Morricone's "Nella Fantasia", "Only an Ocean Away" and the fittingly placed "The Last Words You Said." Also quite notable are "Deliver Me", the song that first attracted me to Sarah Brightman when I heard it on a "Pure Moods" album, and also the Titanic theme with Italian lyrics. Some object to her singing songs with non-English lyrics, although for me this is part of the charm of her CD's. One becomes more involved with the beauty of the song when not distracted by the lyrics. Well, this one does anyway.
I gave the few one and two star reviews a close look for a clue to exactly who might not like this album as I do. There are purists who believe they know better than the singer as to how the song should be sung, and those would not enjoy this album. Those with less eclectic tastes and those annoyed by songs where you might not understand the foreign words would undoubtedly be annoyed by this CD. I did note that one negative review wasn't about this CD at all, but of a concert...Others listened only once to this CD and decided they didn't like it, a common mistake. I'd be missing many of my now favorite CD's had I never listened to them several times. I do hope that the one reviewer who said he was throwing his copy into the trash was joking. There are too many people who would gain much pleasure from this CD for some thoughtless person to throw it out. But to each his own.
Free Music Review: More verve than La Luna
Hit: 5 Stars
If you listened to La Luna and wondered if it was worth it to buy any of her other albums, this one is a great one to buy.Stylistically, it isn't as organic and thematic as La Luna, but it is a fine album nevertheless. It is somewhat flawed, but with enough good material to justify a good rating.
The title track does play on that male chanting made popular with Enigma and the Benedictine monks "Chant" album, but is doesn't detract from what is a solid track. This sonically stellar track is followed by So Many Things, which she sings in a higher register. It is slower in pace, but is such a lovely rendition. Another good track that follows is Anytime, Anywhere.
I know that some other reviewers slammed her for the Dust in the Wind cover, but I think that is is very good. The lyrics and melody flatter Sarah's vocal abilities.
Sarah Brightman has yet to release a flawless album (that I've heard), and Mi Cuore Va is an example of ideas that should have been scrapped in the recording studio. Her Italian here sounds forced and highly contrived. Besides, everyone grew tired of the original Celine Dion version, so to reprise that, even with some variation, can't help but be a mistake.
I am disappointed also in Deliver Me. To me, this song wants to be more uptempo- I wish someone could have remixed it. That would have been a great track 17!
On the operatic side, Nessun Dorma and Lascia Ch'io Pianga are good, the best delivery that Sarah could have done with her vocal abilities. Well, I don't see her performing in an opera at La Scala in Milan anytime soon, but these are nice interpretations. She adds coloratura to Lascia Ch'io Pianga, and the Nessun Dorma aria which Puccini composed for a male voice is given a soprano rendition which I find intriguing thematically. A lot of feminine longing there...
Two other tracks that I would be highly remiss not to mention are Tu, the Mecano song, and Only An Ocean Away. I'm moved everytime I hear both of them, especially the latter song.
Hard to believe, but I listen to to this album even more than La Luna, which first turned me on to Sarah Brightman.