Just come back from an action packed week at Center Parcs. Review to follow - Ang.
Just come back from an action packed week at Center Parcs. Review to follow - Ang.
Member since:08.09.2001
Reviews:149
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Having watched Love Actually twice in the cinema in as many weeks, I went and bought the soundtrack just before Christmas, something I very rarely do. The film had a huge impact on me and I just knew I would completely love the soundtrack too.
1. Girls Aloud - Jump (For my Love)
This song was a huge hit for Girls Aloud, and they have been fairly quiet ever since. A great upbeat track that always makes me feel good about myself. It’s also a track I relate to when I think of a girl’s weekend I went on back in November. We were staying in a hotel and my friend and I, slightly tipsy at 1am, were opening our hotel doors, peering left and right down the hallway (as you do) singing this track rather loudly before running, or should I say jumping down, swapping rooms, again singing the track. How we didn’t get kicked out I’ll never know.
2. Sugababes - Too Lost in You
One of Sugababes slower tracks, but also one, which definitely works for them. A song about love, and how easy it is to fall in love and get caught up in that, forgetting everything around you. It also portrays how easy it is to get caught up in that special person, ignoring all the important things in your life.
When this was out in the charts, I would definitely reflect on the song, depending on what sort of mood I was in at the time, it could make me cry, or really appreciate my life as it was at the time.
Kelly Clarkson was the winner of American Idol. This was her second hit. It’s a very slow track, again all about love and how it can affect your state of mind. Portraying how love can make you the happiest person alive, or in fact the saddest person on earth.
I used to hear this on the radio before I saw the film, and this track isn’t actually featured until the credits at the end so it’s not heavily featured. The song hit a huge nerve with me at the time, reducing me almost to tears every time I heard it, as at the time I was truly
in love (or so I thought) with someone and my feelings weren’t truly reciprocated, therefore I thought my insides were really being ripped apart as the song tells you.
4. Dido - Here with me
Dido is a huge favourite of mine, but a lot of songs do sound very similar, and bless Dido, she doesn’t seem to have much luck in the love stakes. This track isn’t one of her newest ones, but is appropriate to the film. It tells of how she wants her love to still be there with her when he’s gone, and how she doesn’t know how she can cope without her one true love.
An obvious rip off of Wet Wet Wet - Love is all around. Basically the only difference is the work “love” is replaced with “Christmas” throughout the song. The first time I heard this, it made me chuckle, but after hearing it over and over again during the film, I have to say it gets a bit tiring. This is definitely one to skip when in the CD player. How it ever got to the top of the charts I’ll never know, but that’s the gimmick I suppose.
6. Norah Jones - Turn Me On
A completely slow track, complete Norah Jones style. This track represents someone waiting for their love to return to their arms, and how she is waiting patiently for that moment to happen.
I’m not a fan of Norah Jones, but it fits well into the film, and the more I listen to it, the more I find I do in fact like listening to it. Emotionally, however it doesn’t seem to have a lot of effect on me one way or the other.
7. Eva Cassidy - Songbird
I had never heard of Eva Cassidy before listening to this album, but it’s a very easy listening track to listen to. The song portrays how happy a person can be when with their one true love. How life becomes complete as the songbirds sing when all is well in the world. Of course people being truly happy in their lives isn’t always the case as this song also suggests, as it tells of a lost love.
It’s definitely a track to listen to when happy, as it will probably make your day that little bit more special. As for when I’m sad, it hasn’t had too much of an effect on me once again.
8. Maroon 5 - Sweetest Goodbye
This track has a slight upbeat feel to it, even though it’s talking of saying goodbye to someone you love. There are also promises of unconditional love, promising never to leave their loved one alone ever again, and how it’s making them feel by leaving them for a while. This is a good foot tapping song, one I really find myself getting into every time I listen to it.
9. The Calling - Wherever you will go
I really like this song by the Calling, portraying unconditional love. Basically suggesting that wherever you are I will follow you, whether it’s far away or near to home. I like to think that however bad I’m feeling about a certain relationship, I would be willing to go to any lengths to make that certain person happy if I loved them enough. This track definitely brings a smile to my lips when I listen to it as it can often trigger happy memories.
10. Texas - I’ll see it through
I’m not a big fan of Texas, but this track surprised me. It’s a much slower track than a lot of their songs. Talks of how all a person wants and needs is their loved one when they have found them, even though they might not be lucky enough to be with them.
For me this track can trigger some fond but possibly not the happiest memories in my life. I could see it being a tearjerker, but it hasn’t caught me off guard as yet.
11. Joni Mitchell - Both Sides
I’d heard of Joni Mitchell but never listened to any of her tracks before watching the film. I have to admit to quite liking it; it creates a warm feeling inside me every time I listen to it.
The track tells of how love is found and lost, and how easy that is to happen. It’s trying to portray both sides of every story that may happen within your life. A very slow track but it wouldn’t sound right any other way.
12. Otis Reading - White Christmas
Well the CD wouldn’t be right without a few Christmassy songs now would it, especially after the film is heavily based around the festive season.
This is one of my favourite versions of White Christmas. It’s sung with such passion and happiness. This tracks always again beings a smile to my lips.
13. Wycliff Jean feat Sharissa - Take me as I am
I didn’t recognise this to be Wycliff jean to start with. A nice upbeat track again, basically Wycliff is saying you’ll take me as I am, because I’m me and no one else. It’s a great philosophy to go by when in love, as we shouldn’t be someone we’re not.
This track is definitely an easy one to get into and you’ll find yourself singing along in no time.
14. Olivia Olsen - All I want for Christmas is you
An upbeat version of the original, being sung by the actress in the film. Hearing a child sing the song gives you a reality check about how important true love and happiness can be, even to young people. Listening to the song, about making wishes come true and not wanting any presents, snow etc, just that one special person, certainly brings it home to me how lucky we are and most of us don’t even realise it.
15. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
The good old Beach Boys feature in the CD too. I hadn’t heard this lively track before watching the film. It portrays how as long as they have breath left in them they will still believe in the love they had and will truly love them to the end of days.
Even though it has sad undertones of lost love, the Beach Boys bring it back to lively stakes but adding their famous “pah pah pah’s” into the song, creating a nice feel good song.
16. Lyden David Hall - All you need is Love
Who needs money, houses, material items when you have love? That’s the basis of the track, as long as you have love then nothing else in the world matters.
This is a song filled with hope for me. It shows me there is true love out there, and it’s there to be found, so don’t give up hope.
17. Gabrielle - Sometimes
A great track by Gabrielle. This song tells of how you can love someone, but there can also be times when you don’t love him or her for whatever reason. Shows how hard relationships can be, and how you get through them.
I like this song for the simple fact that I can relate to it. We all know relationships aren’t easy but there is hope for us all and we can get through those tough patches if we’re both willing to try at it
These all sound very similar to me and I’m not too sure why they’re on the CD. They all sound quite depressing, but I suppose as they fit into the film then they have a place on the CD.
So overall I thought this CD was brilliant, the songs compliment the CD brilliantly. Some of the artists/bands are ancient but they definitely do a great job to help make the film the hit it is. I think each and every one of you will be able to relate to at least one of the tracks listed above, just be careful when listening as the tears may flow.
I bought this from Tesco and it cost me £9.79. A tenner well invested in my opinion, and even though Christmas is featured you can listen to it all year round.
Sorry this has gone on a bit.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
yeh I love this CD so much, gives you about every emotion possible!
dakota196 09.01.2006 11:45
My favourite bit of this movie was the guy holding up the boards at that girl's door. If you liked the eva cassidy song check out her version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, if you haven't already. Great review, I might check this out on ebay. Emma :)
emilyo 15.04.2004 18:02
Great review. I reviewed this sound track too so it is interesting to hear your opinion on the songs. We agree quite a bit although I loved the the last three instrumentals and found them really emotional, Em XX
Mar 23rd, 2004
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