Amore - Andrea Bocelli

...II Travatore.

Amore was released January 2006, it has 14 tracks, produced by David Foster, total play time: 57.38 mins, the cd inlay has a burgundy background with a side black and white portrait of Bocelli.

For anyone that can understand Itallian, the lyrics are inside the CD booklet, for those that don't you can download the English translation of every song by visiting: WWW.abmusica.com/amore.

Throughout ...
...Wonder), Spanish guitars, saxaphone (Kenny G) and a surprisingly refreshing duet with Christina Aguillera (until she starts wailing half way through, which makes me cringe everytime I hear it).

Bocelli shows amazing versatility - chameleon like qualities changing from classical opera to blues to jazz and even pop - this album in particular though, has mainly an Italian/Spanish slant to it.
Choosing pop songs from the 1920's ... more

My taste in music as most people's are, is very varied, almost becoming quite mongrel like - heinz 57 and all that, from my heavy metal days - Meatloaf, Saxon, Status Quo, to hardcore dance music, bending its way around quite nicely to a smattering of classical including this little beauty:

This I warn you now is quite lengthy, I have included not only the CD content but a little resume of Bocelli's life history.

BOCELLI - The story so far:

Born September 22 1958 (just in case you want to send a card)! In Lajatico in the Tuscan countryside - Italy.

Since a young boy inspired by tenors such as Del Monaco, Gigl and Corelli, Bocelli's dream was to become a great tenor.

An excerpt from his biography:

"Despite the fact that I live in a fast-paced world, I live my life with a calm vision. I enjoy life's simple pleasures and face every challenge with passion. I try to always be optimistic by interpreting the real meaning of a quotation from the French novelist Antoine de Saint in "The Little Prince" 'You see clearly only through your heart, the essential is invisable to your eye'"

Wow, well said - I thought I would just slip that one in!

As a child he played the organ in church, in 1970 he won his first song competition "Margetierita d'oro" in Viareggio with "O sole Mio"

In the 1980's he became believe it or not a state appointed defense attorney for a year, then he decided to dedicate himself solely to music where he took music lessons from Beltarini, until Beltarini died in 1997 aged 83.

Andrea married Enrica - June 27th 1992.

In the summer of 1993 he toured throughout Europe with Zucchero the Italian rock star who first heard Bocelli on a demo of "Misere" a song composed by Zucchero and U2's Bono, later recorded by Pavarotti and Zucchero.

In 1994 he released his first cd "ll Mare Calmo Della Sera" for which he recieved his first Golden Disc.

In September 1994 he was invited to sing with Pavarotti at his benefit concert: "Pavarotti International" in Modena, also singing with Nancy Gustafson, Giorgia, Andreas Vollenweider and Bryan Adams in the finale "Brindisi" from La Traviata.

Busy year 1994 because he also sang before the Pope "Adeste Fideles" in St Peter's Basilica, Rome at Christmas.

1995 his first son - Amos was born February 22nd. Bocelli took 4th place in a competition in Sanremo.

1996 he duetted with Sarah Brightman (ex-wife of musical writer Andrew Lloyd Webber) singing "Con Te Partire" (Time to say Goodbye).

Over the next few years he released many albums, won many music awards including "Best single of the year in 1997 in Germany , "Best Italian singer" in 1998, he won the Golden Globe in Los Angeles with Celine Dion for their duet "The Prayer" the soundtrack of Warner Bros animated film "Quest for Camelot"

Bocelli has made several pop albums such as "Andrea" as well as releasing operatic works including Puccini's La Bohieme, Tosca and II Travatore.

Amore was released January 2006, it has 14 tracks, produced by David Foster, total play time: 57.38 mins, the cd inlay has a burgundy background with a side black and white portrait of Bocelli.

For anyone that can understand Itallian, the lyrics are inside the CD booklet, for those that don't you can download the English translation of every song by visiting: WWW.abmusica.com/amore.

Throughout the cd Bocelli incorporates (as well as orchestration) harmonica (Stevie Wonder), Spanish guitars, saxaphone (Kenny G) and a surprisingly refreshing duet with Christina Aguillera (until she starts wailing half way through, which makes me cringe everytime I hear it).

Bocelli shows amazing versatility - chameleon like qualities changing from classical opera to blues to jazz and even pop - this album in particular though, has mainly an Italian/Spanish slant to it.
Choosing pop songs from the 1920's - 1980's from around the world including "Somos Novios" Its's Impossible, Can't Help Falling in Love - Bocelli prooves that he can diversify from the hard core classical operatic genre to a a sound that appeals to a wider audience that offers no compromise.

So all you men out there - if you're in the dog house, grap the flowers from the supermarket (they're cheaper than at the florists) you'll then have change to get this cd. If you can't cook get a takeaway - light the old candle and play the music - she won't be mad for long, it's a beautiful, beautiful cd, the heart soars and dips with every sound that that man produces - reaching those difficult top notes, still achieving the softness with ease which only Bocelli is renown for doing. If she still doesn't forgive or thank you, your ears certainly will.

And if you're lucky to be single, it's a pure tonic for those stressful days, open the Vino, lights on low, volume on high and.......relax (don't blame me though if the neighbours bang on your wall).

Before I give you a brief description of each song I will leave you with the last word from Bocelli himself about the making of the cd:

"I've been presented with opportunities I once could only dream of, challenges I longed to confront and experiences I will cherish forever, but while recording this album I realized that now is the perfect moment to arrive at an album of this repetoire, with the perfect musicians and the perfect selection of songs"

AMAPOLA (Poppy) Typical 1950's romantic feel, commencing very softly at first reaching a crescendo in the middle with full roaring of the violins and tailing off quietly again, nice start to the cd.

BESAME MUCHO (Kiss me alot)
Typical dinner for 2 music complete with candle and shimmying up the old trouser leg stuff with toes! Complete with Spanish style guitars, violins and soft playing of hand drums (sorry don't know the correct name of these, but I'm sure you know what I mean).

LES FEUILLES MORTES (Autumn Leaves) Featuring Veronica Berti.
Eerie start to this one supplied by a haunting double base, enlightened by a flurry of violins and the deep lilting voice of Bocelli, continuing with accoustic spanish style guitars and more soothing violins, toward the end of the song we have female vocals supplied by Veronica Berti, reiterating the four lines of the chorus, subtle but effective.

MI MANCHI Featuring Kenny G
Commencing with the good old sexy Saxaphone (I love this instrument). Bocelli singing softly at first accompanied with again violins and piano.

Very soft and gentle at first, definately a smoochy one this after the dinner for two. Bocelli has the hairs sticking up on your skin at the end of this one - it's lovely.

SOMOS NOVIOS (It's Impossible) Featuring Christina Aguilera
Sung originally amongst others by Perry Como.
This is a real treat for all those Aguillera fans, she gave me a surprise, their voices really compliment each other with this classic - harmonizing wonderully, close your ears to the wailing though it's awful, fortunately it's very short.

CANZONE STONATE Featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and vocals and Bocelli on Klaviet, even though he isn't in the same league vocally as Bocelli, you kind of forgive Stevie because you can just imagine his smiley face grinning from ear to ear swaying from side to side. Again dinner music, Wonder providing only a few vocal lines which didn't upset theapple cart too much.

SOLAMENTE UNA VEZ (Only once in my life)
Violins, guitars, in the same vein as the other dinner songs, very easy listening, bit of a filler really

JURAME Featuring Mario Reyes on Flamenco Guitar
Has a very Spanish slant. A jaunty little number with Flamenco guitar, violins, it has more of an up-beat tempo than the previous songs, lovely Spanish male vocals "wailing" in the background.

PERO TE EXTRANO (You can't imagine)
Very melodic and waltz like, full orchestra including piano - Bocelli conveys easily the sincerity and melancholy of this piece. Absolute beautiful beginning and ending softly, with a very dramatic centre piece - have a listen.

MOMENTOS
Very similar vein and tempo to "It's Impossible" - violins, guitar and piano.

L'APPUNTAMENTO Bocelli on Klaviet
Very Italian, similar vein to the other songs on this cd, incorporating the usual piano, guitars etc and a hint of the Klaviet in the middle and at the end.

CUANDO ME ENAMORO
Englebert Humperdinck had a hit with this one. A piece most people will have heard before - a beautiful song - again the usual accompaniments, definately a smoochy. You can just imagine the celebs gliding across the floor to this one on Strictly Come Dancing!

ESTATE Featuring Chris Botti
Introduced with muted trumpet and piano, accompanied with yes you've guessed it - violins, Bocelli providing yet another lovely sooting piece.

CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE
I love Elvis's version and have a particular fondness of the more obscure "Lick the Tins" Irish rendition of the '80s. Bocelli as with every song certainly does it justice, very soft thoughout and easily swots the high notes at the end - Gorgeous!

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
A song specifically written for the Turin Summer Olympic Games - Italian lyrics by Andrea Bocelli, English Lyrics by Amy Foster Gillies, music by David Foster.
Stunning - all the musical accompaniments you can expect for this new classic, again starting with the piano. Bocelli and piano working in complete and perfect hamony - the amount of times I've played this over and over again!

SOMOS NOVIOS
Not many fillers, but this one I must admit is, I suppose it's there for any who don't wish to hear Aguilera.

There you have it!

The cd can be bought on-line priced at £3.43 plus £1.24 p&p at Amazon.co.uk or at most large supermarkets, Woolworths and record shops at an average price of £7.50.
 

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