Well, by the looks of it, all the other opinions in this section are writing off A1 as "just another boy band" but I wonder just how many of you have actually heard them sing?
Now, let me clarify, I am not a teenybopper or a fan madly in love with them, I am 31. I bought their album, The A-List, for one of my daughters for Christmas and expected it to be pretty awful. It isn't, it's great.
When they released their cover version of A-Ha's Take On Me, I was sceptical. I remember the original version and prefer it. I dismissed A1, assuming they were clones of hundreds of other "pretty boy" acts singing cover versions. I was wrong.
I confess to regularly watching CD:UK on Saturday mornings, mainly because I think Ant and Dec are one of the best team of TV presenters there are at the moment.
A1 were on there one week, singing live, with Mark (the one who needs to get his sideburns shaved off, as he was quite nice looking before!) playing the piano. It was absolutely beautiful. My opinion was beginning to change.
Their album is outstanding. There are a couple of weaker tracks, but overall, it contains some wonderful songs and almost all of them are written by the band members. Christian (that's the Norwegian one) has an obvious talent, writing some of the best tracks on the album.
Same Old Brand New You was their second single off the album and made number one, rightly so. Their third single has just been released and is also really good, but in my opinion, the best two tracks on the CD haven't even been put out as singles yet!
Hearing them being interviewed on TV recently, they explained how they were chosen - not from Popstars-esque auditions, but from a selection process that recruited from music schools and people studying music at University. They were looking for talent first and foremost, looks second - which probably explains the presence of Paul, with the gorgeous voice and ever-changing hairstyle! <grin>
I suggest you listen to them the next time they're on TV. They usually perform live if the particular programme has the facility for it. You may have seen them sing live on the motown tribute show recently, an amazing performance again.
The fourth member of A1 is Ben, the one with the floppy-moppy hair and movie star looks. But I'm too old for all that, so I'll just sit back and listen to their album. Hopefully, they'll continue to climb the heights of success and prove to their many critics that they really can sing live, write songs, play instruments and that they really are NOT just another boy band.
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I am about the same age as you, and have nothing bad to say against A1, but remember the days when to be in a band you had to play music, you never hear about drummers, or guitarist nowadays, and our parents thought Duran Duran and the likes were rubish.
HellyBelly 27.02.2001 23:40
I am about the same age as you, and have nothing bad to say against A1, but remember the days when to be in a band you had to play music, you never hear about drummers, or guitarist nowadays, and our parents thought Duran Duran and the likes were rubish.
Squidget 24.02.2001 19:58
They are great, they have been around just as long as Steps, 5ive and Westlife but it is only now that they are making it big it is the same as Atomic Kitten!!
great op as usual Karen
Advantages: Play instruments, write their own songs, sing live, can dance...(let me know when to stop) Disadvantages: Are still seen as being 'just another cheesy boyband'
MelW 25.01.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of A1 - A1
Advantages: Play instruments, write their own songs, sing live, can dance...(let me know when to stop) Disadvantages: Are still seen as being 'just another cheesy boyband'
MelW 25.01.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of A1 - A1
Advantages: You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk is a greatly song - simultaneously funny and depressing. The B-SIdes and live tracks are good,.. Disadvantages: ...it's a shame all the mixes couldn't have been up to the standard of those by Brother Brown.
Feb 23rd, 2001
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