I Am A Singer - Billy Eckstine

Advantages: Great soundtrack with no fillers, great standalone 80s album, includes a few songs not on other 80s compilations, a few funny moments
Disadvantages: Some songs will not mean anything to people who haven't seen the film

...I am sure some of you already know that The Wedding Singer is my favourite film, indeed one of my early Ciao ops was on that very subject (it’s not recommended reading, I have to admit!) Now, hopefully to redeem myself, I thought I would review the soundtrack album, which is also a favourite of mine! The Wedding Singer is set in 1985, so the majority of songs on the album come from that era. It is a “musical” film – not in the sense of The Sound of Music or anything like that, but as the name suggests it is about a singer, and music features prominently all the way through. Hence, the vast majority of tracks are easily recognisable for anyone who has seen the film, as opposed to many films where “fillers” are selected for soundtrack albums simply because they could be heard playing on a radio in the background for about five... Read review

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Advantages: Haunting lyrics. Masterful voice.
Disadvantages: It can be rather too sombre at times.

...The critics like to bash Billy Joel. I’ve never really understood why. He’s certainly has had as many failures in his musical life-time as he has had successes. Sure, “An Innocent Man” went multi-platinum but whoever has heard of “Attila”? No, not the Hun, but the 70s rock band. I think there has to be something special about any artist who manages to get his album into a CD rack filled with the like of Clawfinger and White Zombie but who’s music tends to be mellow and mild. The thing that, for me, makes Billy Joel worth listening to are the things he that he tends to say. His lyrics are intelligent and thought provoking. Given his colourful background; a boxer, a singer in “the Lost Souls” and “the Hassle” as well as being diagnosed with, and treated for, clinical... Read review

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Advantages: Fun, upbeat pop that brings back fabulous memories!
Disadvantages: A few fillers near the end

...’ by the then teen sensation, Billie Piper. Or simply Billie, as she was known back then. When Billie first bounced on to the music scene in her baggy combats, boiler suits and little tops she was all smiles and teeth and cheesy lyrics. I remember discussing this new girl on the music scene with much excitement with the girls at school. With her mousy brown hair and girl next door looks she could have been one of us; with her cheeky, rapped vocals she could have been a karaoke singer; and with her over the top dance routines and immature choruses this could have been a complete disaster. However, none of these facts were true. Billie’s career took off with a bang and nobody was more surprised than us fellow teen girls who sat and looked on in awe. Billie’s music will always be remembered as a bit of a cheese-fest; all those choreographed dance... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful