~ Dido - “ Life For Rent ” ~

Released Date ( UK ) : 29 / 09 / 2003
Record Label : BMG / Arista
Ref : 828765459822

Roll back to 1999 , and a young north London girl , with musical brother and a quite superb voice , finally records an album of her own . Her record label instantly think American , and off she goes to promote it .
One track in particular , “ Thank you “ gained the attention of White American rapper Emimem , who samples it on to a song of his own , and asks for permission for it to be released . With a positive answer , the world wide mega hit “ Stan “ was born , and suddenly Dido became a name for everybody to want to know about.
In 2000 , her album is released in the UK , to resounding success , and hosting many a hit single . The album has since gone on to sell well over a million copies , and was of course “ No Angel “
Indeed such was its success , that Dido was touring / promoting “ No Angel “ until as late as May 2002 .
After a short break , it was back to writing and eventually the eagerly awaited release of her follow up album , titled “ Life For Rent “

All tracks are part written by Dido herself , and collaborators include writer / producer Rick Nowels and brother Rollo Armstrong .

All tracks are homely , intimate , romantic even domestic , and revolve around the break-up of a relationship , covering all aspects from the refusal of its ending , to its acceptance. Are they based on real life , only Dido knows.

-~- The Tracks -~-

Track 1) White Flag

The first single to be released off the album , and a huge hit . It’s a song about not recognising the relationship break-up , and the refusal to accept . Haunting is the only way to describe it.....

‘I know you think that I shouldn’t still love you or tell you that , but if I don’t say it well I’d still have felt it , where’s the sense in that , I promise I’m not trying to make your life harder or return to where we were but , I will go down with this ship and I won’t put my hands up or surrender , there will be no white flag above my door , I’m in love and always will be’.

Track 2) Stoned

A song about a one sided relationship , taken for granted , never appreciated , never recognised . Moody yet catchy , with very emotive vocal .....

‘If you won’t let me fall for you , then you won’t see the best that I would love to do for you , instead you will be missing me when I go , cos I’m bored hanging out in your cold’.

Track 3) Life For Rent

Afraid to commit , a song for the lonely hearted. Simply beautiful , soulful , hmmmm .....

‘But if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy , well I deserve nothing more than I get , cos nothing I have is truly mine’.

Track 4) Mary’s in India

The woman walks out of a relationship , promising to keep in touch , without intention , showing only deceit . the result is heartbreak . However there is light at the end of the tunnel , with new love found . Quite superb love song , and just has to be the next single release . ....

‘Danny is lonely cos Mary is in India now , she said she’d call but that was three weeks ago , she left all her things , well her books and her letters from him , and as the sun rises on Mary , it sets on him’.

Track 5) See You When You’re 40

Do reunions work , are break-ups due to a good reason . This song explores the reunion , and sees the bad that was there . Another haunting song, with matching lyrics and vocals ....

‘I thought that I would give it one more chance, cos I want , tonight , what I’ve been waiting for , but I found , tonight , what I’d been warned about , you think you are complicated , deep mystery to all , well it’s taken me a while to see , you’re not so special , all energy , no meaning , with a lot of words so paper thin that one real feeling , could knock you back’.

Track 6) Don’t Leave Home

Insecurity and the wanting to give all for love . Pure magic.....

‘and I arrived when you were weak , I’ll make you weaker , like a child , now all your love you give to me , when your heart is all I need , oh don’t leave home , oh don’t leave home....oh how quiet , quiet the world can be when it’s just you and me , everything is clear , everything is new , so you won’t be leaving will you’.

Track 7) Who Makes You Feel

The tell tale cracks that end a relationship are starting to show , love has turned to commonness , and caring has all but disappeared . ...

‘I don’t mind if you come home late , and I don’t ever ask where you’ve been , I just assume if there’s a problem , you’d tell me , but listen and think when I say , oh but listen and think when I say...’

Track 8) Sand In My Shoes

The break-up complete , you take a holiday , but its over oh so quick , and soon you’re home . Usual surroundings and the desire to rekindle the relationship...

‘ I’ve still got sand in my shoes and I can’t shake the thought of you , I should get on , forget about you but why would I want to , I know we said goodbye , anything else would have been confused , but I wanna see you again’.

Track 9) Do You Have a Little Time

Holding out an olive branch , grasping at straws , but will it go unnoticed ?....

‘If you’re feeling low and lost today , probably doing too much again , spend all your hours just rushing around , do you have a little time for me , slow down my love you’re confusing me , if you’re feeling stressed just try calling , spend your time waiting for anyone to see , do you have a little time for me’.

Track 10) This Land Is Mine

New love found , but still your barriers are raised . Old wounds take time to hear , and scars take time to fade . Still time heals....

‘this land is mine , but I’ll let you rule , I’ll let you navigate by demand , just as long as you know that this land is mine , so find your home and settle in , oh I’m ready to let you in , just as we know this land is mine , after all the battles and wars , the scars and loss , I’m still Queen of my domain , and feeling stronger now , the walls are down a little more each day , since you came , finally , finally things are changing’.

Track 11) See The Sun

Being there to mend a broken heart , that's what this song is about . Powerful , yet pleasing , and a great track to finish on.....

‘I’m coming round to open the blinds , you can’t hide here any longer , my god you need to rinse those puffy eyes , you can’t lie still any longer , and yes they’ll ask where you’ve been , and you’ll have to tell them again and again , and you probably don’t want to hear tomorrow’s another day , but I promise you you’ll see the sun again ‘.

Track 12 ) The Closer You Get

Not listed on the sleeve , with no lyrics printed either , this track seems to have been added as a bonus feature , but never advertised . Indeed it doesn’t show up as track 12 either . Track 11) ‘ See The Sun ’ ends at 5 minutes 02 seconds . You then get 2 minutes 3 seconds of silence , followed by this track , which is written to the same tune as track 11) , only new lyrics , and a full length song as well .
It’s a really beautiful song to boot , so don’t miss it when listening .

-~- The Album Sleeve -~-

Eight double sided pages , including front and back cover . Full song lyrics and plenty of photographs intermingled , plus the usual thanks .

-~- Web Links -~-

On the outer case , a web address is given ... www.lifeforrent.com . To access this you need your copy of the cd in your computer disk drive , as the site looks at your drive and accesses the disk as proof . Once accepted , you can get screen savers , wallpaper and an interview ( the picture content doe’s not work with modem connection though , even though it says it should ) .
Alternatively you can access www.didomusic.com , for some general Dido information.

~ Overview ~

On most albums , you can often find a weak track or two , often referred to as album filler material .
This album is different , and there are no weak links what-so-ever .
It is an album that all can and will relate to , and Dido’s calming voice is pure heaven .
The album is different enough from ‘No Angel’ so as not to alienate existing followers , yet of superbly high calibre to attract new followers .
Buy , you won’t be disappointed.