10 Years Of Hits - Ronan Keating > Reviews > When You Say Nothing At All

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Easy Listening
Disadvantages:	Teasing !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I admit I asked my kids to get me this album for Christmas! It features 10 years of Ronan Keating's hits. 3 of which are new versions from the Boyzone years.
Its release date was 11/10/2004 .This album is a huge seller by mid December it had achieved triple platinum status by remaining in the top ten album charts for 9 consecutive weeks.
Ronan Keating started out his pop stardom with the boy band Boyzone ten years ago. Him and his fellow band members were scoffed at when they performed their act (mainly miming and dancing) on an Irish talk show hosted by Gay Byrne. He sarcastically commented 'come back when your famous'....they did and the rest as they say is history.
The album includes a booklet with a foreward of dedication to Ronan's family and friends and musical contacts. The Ronan goes on to describe the songs in his album. When he first heard/recoreded/wrote them. Also a page crediting the albums the racks were taken from.
Collaborations on the album include The Way You Make Me Feel - with Bryan Adams, We've Got Tonight - with Lulu and Last Thing On My Mind -
with LeAnn Rimes.
I really like this album. I sit with my headphones on CD playing away in my laptop singing my head off. (For some reason hubby doesnt want to hear it?) Here are some of the Songs and lyrics. Some are very dodgy...but if you can just get past the "Its Ronan!" stage in your mind and listen unbiased you'd be suprised its a great album.

*1. When You Say Nothing At All

A personal favourite of mine and played at my recent wedding. A romantic ballard which is popular worldwide. The wording is very cleverly written by Richard Curtis and was recorded by Ronan as a soundtrack from the movie Notting Hill.

'The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me when ever I fall
You say it best..when you say nothing at all'

*2. Life Is A Rollercoaster

An upbeat feel good song. With instant lift appeal. A good beat with unusual lyrics but nevertheless a firm favourite. Written by Gregg Alexander in Los Angeles, Keating knew he liked it when he first heard it but didnt know of the sucess it would bring him.

'We found love, so don't fight it
Life is a rollercoaster just gotta ride it
I need you, so stop hiding
Our love is a mystery girl lets get inside'

*3. The Way You Make Me Feel

A slow smoochy number. Heart felt lyrics. Within the first chords you get the feel of the song. Written by Bryan Adams with Ronan in mind. With Adams providing the backing. It is a great track and a must for a decade of hits.

'That's the way you make me feel
Better than I've ever known it
Better than it's ever been
I can't seem to control it, no
The way you make me feel'

*4. Lovin' Each Day

This is one of the best 'mood lifting songs' around. Its upbeat 'c'mon yeah!' in the first chords give a good clue as to whats to come. Written with Gregg Alexander once again, a friend of Keatings by now it is a sure fire way to get people's feet tapping.

'Girl I'm on a mission
To cure my condition
Cos' without your kissin'
My heart's just a prison
I'm hoping and wishin'
That girl I'm forgiven'

*5. If Tomorrow Never Comes

Another slow song. But one with great meaning. A little morbid perhaps to spend your life worrying if you've loved enough instead of getting on with it but all the same a classic. Recorded by Garth Brooks in a concert in 98', Ronan knew as soon as he heard it he had to record this beautiful song himself.

'If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face the world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes'

*6. I Love It When We Do

Hmm this one. Upbeat yes. But hasn't quite 'got it' for me. I mean the lyrics say it all really.
'I'm running up and down the street
Hugging everyone I meet
Now you love me life is sweet
When I got you in my arms
I can't turn off the fire alarms yeah'

*7. We've Got Tonight

Not a favourite of mine. Mainly because of Ms Lulu. I'm not a huge fan of hers. Not sure why but its been festering for years. My aversion to her that is!

'We've got tonight
Who needs tomorrow?
We've got tonight
Why don't you stay?'

*8. The Long Goodbye

This song must be a difficult one for people to hear again after a break up of a relationship. Strong powerful words to a haunting melody...good song. Written by Ronan and Paul Brady this is a all time Keating classic.

'This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart?'

*9. Lost For Words

This I like! Very much. Very upbeat pop rock kind of song. Another soul lifter. One I really like. Good beat. Strangely Ronan admits this is a song 'he got wrong' strange how its one of my favourites of the entire album.

'But if I can't find the words
To tell you what I'm feeling
Baby that don't mean
It don't mean that I don't feel it
I'm trying to tell you girl
But if you don't believe just look and see
My face says what you mean to me
When I can't find the words'

*10. She Believes (In Me)

An old classic but not a firm favourite of mine I'm afraid. Originally written and recorded by Kenny Rodgers.

'And she believes in me
I’ll never know just what she sees in me
I told her someday
If she was my girl, I could change the world
With my songs,
But I was wrong
But she has faith in me'

*11. Last Thing On My Mind

This one is a favourite of mine featuring LeAnn Rimes powerful voice. The pair make a fabulous partnership. In harmonies and vocals. A lovely song. Written by Keating and one of his and his families all time favourites.

'No I won't let go,
not while we can be
I wont watch my life, crashing down on me
as i had it all, right there before my eyes, yeah
girl im sorry now, you were the last thing on my mind'

*12. Father And Son

Ronan met Islam (Cat Stevens) when Boyzone performed on the British music show Top Of The Pops in the 1990s, and pair has remained friends. Ronan, a fan of Cat's and his original song "Father &Son" had said he felt compelled to include a cover of ' Father and Son ' on his latest album.

'Its now time to make make a change'
just relax and take it easy, your still young,
thats you fault,
there's so much you have to know
fing a girl settle down,
if you want you can marry,
look at me I am old but I am happy'

*13. Words

Written originally by the Gibb Brothers, this is a
remix of the old Boyzone Classic. It brings happy memories back to Ronan about his earlier Boyzone days. To me its a nice song with good lyrics but not a favourite.

'It's only words
And words are all I have
To take your heart away'

*14. Baby Can I Hold You

Once again an old Boyzone number which Ronan does justice with his own version. Not too different from their original but more simple. Written by Tracy Chapman who was a huge musical influence on keating's career.

'I'm sorry,"
It's all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like "sorry" (like sorry....like sorry..)'

*15. I Hope You Dance

This is one of Ronan's latest releases.
This one I really like. Lovely words and beat, and melody to go along with it. I don't know it too well but its one I skip to regularly. it seems a highly emotive song with a message of keeping your feet on the ground and in times of trouble choosing to dance which seems to imply instead of sitting doing nothing ...choose to take action.

' I hope you'll never loose your sense of wonder,
get to your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leaves you empty handed.

and when you get the chance to sit it out or dance?
I hope you dance'

*16. Somebody Else

Another I don't know well and is one I skip a lot but its a catchy enough song. As Ronan himself says it sounds as if its a song of a love triangle but when you listen to the words carefully it is infact a song about a parents love of their newborn child...'somebody else'

' I hear the laughter, and I know that something specials going on.
I hear the passion when you mention his name.
You're talking on the phone,'and you tell your friends everythings different and everythings changed'

*17. This Is Your Song (Uk Bonus Track)
Written by Ronan Keating and Steve Mac.
This is another I'd never heard before. Apparently a dedication to someone (possibly his mother?)
' This is your song
we wrote it for you
it won't take all day
just a minute or two.
You were our friend,

I realise many don't think,l istening to and recording the lyrics down on paper as being part and parcel of a review. But in my opinion the lyrics and melody make the song, as I don't write out music scores my only option to get across the quality (or otherwise) is to give people an idea of the content of lyrics in each song. Sorry if this offends some readers.

Price:

The prices appear to be on average:
On the internet the best price I could find was actually with Amazon.co.uk priced at £8.99 for the CD.
In the High Street I found this album at
Asda priced at £9.97 for the CD.

There is a book of the album again I found on Amazon.co.uk for £14.97 and a DVD version available once again on Amazon.co.uk for a price of £10.99.

I am absolutely certain that there will be plenty of people who do not agree and have a dislike of Ronan keating. But hat's off to him.... he's still here like it or not!

A great album....Thanks kids!