About me:Couscous is back with her first review in nearly a year - be kind to me
Member since:26.05.2004
Reviews:40
Members who trust:44
Review rated by 48 Ciao members on average: very helpful
This is the sound track from the film Love Actually and in mind is brilliant. I have read some bad reviews on here of the film so even if you hate the film this sound track is bound to appeal with its range of diverse, catchy songs and slow ballads that provoke many a thought (well to me anyway.)
I bought my CD on CD-wow for £8.99 (With free P & P) but this is also available in Tesco, HMV, WHSmiths and all good record shops (as they say on the TV adverts.) The album cover is made up of a big red bow so it looks as if it’s a present that has been wrapped and it has photos of the 10 main characters on the front so no sign of any of the album artists on this soundtrack.
The only dislike I have with this album is the couple of Christmas songs it covers but more to that later.
1) Girls Aloud – Jump (For My Love)
My absolute favourite track on the whole album and a great song to open up with. It is catchy, has a great beat, great words and a brilliant funky song. Unfortunately in my view this can only be played at top volume (I am sure my neighbours are disliking me more and more each day.) It needs to be played LOUD and I defy anyone to listen to this and not tap your feet, wiggle your shoulders, and generally dance around your living room. This is taken from the part in the film where Hugh Grant is made Prime Minister and in his first night in Downing Street he is so happy and overjoyed he dances around No. 10 to this. This is a feel good song. I listen to this on the way to work and it sets me up for the day. Please ignore the fact it is sung by Girls Aloud (Remember the winning girl group from Pop Something) this is an excellent song.
2) Sugarbabes – Too Lost In You
This is taken from their new album ‘Three’ and is a bit slower but calms me down nicely as I get out of the car at work. It’s slightly slower, a lot sexier and makes me wish I had a man to dedicate this to. It might initially seem a strange choice to have after the jumpy catchy Jump (For My Love) but they go strangely well together. The Sugarbabes have chosen this as a harmonising sort of song as at points the three girls all singing different words yet they harmonise well together. This actually makes me want to buy their new album Three. (The sort of song I would play to snuggle up in bed with my man (if you know what I mean) Damn I haven’t got a man – still if I did.
This is sung by the American Pop Idol winner. It’s a good old-fashioned love song that will warm the heart of even the most miserable. However I don’t particularly like Kelly Clarkson as an artist much – she has a fantastic strong voice but towards the end tends to wail and shout a bit almost as if she is trying to hard. I love this song but find that about half way through way it has to be forwarded or her screaming voice gives me a migraine. The song basically says you have no choice in whom you fall in love with – sod it she is now screetching so on to the next one – sorry.
4) Dido- Here With Me Another classic by Dido which will appeal to all her fans. This is a typical Dido song quite slow, very catchy and not a great deal of base or beat, mainly just her stunning voice probably to be honest at its best. The songs best lyrics
“I am what I am, I do what I want, but I can’t hide I won’t go, I won’t sleep, I can’t breathe, Until your resting here with me.”
It’s a love song to sum it up but I have found that Dido appeals to men and women alike so a good choice for this album.
5) Billy Mack – Christmas Is All Around
Quite frankly the most annoying song to be listening on a warm July morning. This is a take from Wet Wet Wet’s Love Is All Around. Substitute Love in the original for Christmas and you have the jist. No variation in the words other than that, the tune is practically the same and I will definitely play this at Christmas but not today in the middle of July – sorry.
6) Norah Jones – Turn Me On
This is a typical Norah Jones song. You either love her voice or hate it. This is ‘typical Norah’ with her throaty, sexy voice and again I find myself wishing I had a man to curl up with. This is very slow almost a first dance at a wedding sort of song. Very romantic so probably won’t appeal to some but to me shows off the genius of Norah Jones voice so well. It’s sexy, sassy and definitely one to snog your partner to when they walk through the door.
7) Eva Cassidy – Songbird
The fantastic voice of Eva makes an appearance on this album. Again its slow, sexy and damn it I really need that man. Its quite a sad song for me and stirs up memories of me and Stephen and its quite hard for me to listen to – “And I love you, I love you, I love you like never before,” are just some of the lyrics. Sure you get the gist. Don’t listen to this if you have been dumped like I did or you will literally need a pack of Kleenex. Its just Eva with a guitar at parts and it probably one of the most moving songs on the album in terms of the words. Listen to it – you won’t be disappointed. The guitar is stunning, Eva is fantastic, her range of vocals never disappoints and you won’t be with this track either – even if it does make me sob buckets.
8) Maroon 5 – Sweetest Goodbye
I had never heard of Maroon 5 until I bought Love Actually and now have actually bought their album as well. Its thrusting, needs to be played loud, its poignant and shows of their voices magnificently. Its throaty, easy to sing along to and it suprises me that this song is stuck in the middle of the song track. I am surprised it’s not nearer up the play list. It has a brilliant toe tapping beat and I am afraid if you see a nutter at the traffic lights in North London singing “Pushing forwards and arching back, bring me closer to heart attack” in her car its probably me.
9) Texas – I’ll See It Through
Everyone has probably heard of Texas. This is not particularly a Texas like song if that makes any sense. The first time I heard it although Charlene’s voice is very distinctive I had no idea initially it was Texas. It’s a slow love song and miles apart from some of the songs they had released before but I love it. As a Texas song it has a strong beat, clear lyrics and a meaning that you have to listen to clearly to understand. A brilliant choice for the album and it actually makes me want to dig out my Texas Greatest Hits to hear some more from the great Charlene. Apart half way through the beat speeds up a little and you get more of the Texas you have come to know and expect – again this does not disappoint although a lot slower than the Texas songs I am used to.
10) Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now
The first time I heard this I thought it was a bit of a nothing song. It starts slows and quiet and it mainly Joni’s voice with very slow quiet musical tones underneath. It’s a good song but not for me. It’s too slow, takes to long to warm up into anything and I am afraid I find myself forwarding this on the CD player. I can’t even remember where this in the film so it obviously didn’t make much of an impression I am afraid.
11) Otis Reading – White Christmas
Everyone has heard of this. A normal Otis song, with soul rhythm and with a bit of a twist. If you love Otis Reading this is a winner but again in the Christmas time not in the middle of July when it’s 25 degrees outside. Will definitely dig this one at Christmas and listen to it with a nice mulled wine.
12) Wyclef Jean feat. Sharissa – Take Me As I Am
Again a really bizarre choice for an album. This is a good song but a typical reggae Wyclef Jean song and in my opinion appears totally out of place on this album. It just doesn’t seem to suit the mood of music on the album and having this following Otis Reading’s White Christmas in opinion was again a bad move. This is a summer mood song and I would listen to this while having a BBQ in the garden with a nice bottle of crisp white wine, as it’s a feel good song – but in my opinion a bizarre choice to have on the album.
13) Olivia Olson – All I Want For Christmas Is You
The title says it all. You will all have heard the song (Maria Carey released this a few years back.) Catchy, great to sing along to – but when I am wrapping my Christmas presents not in summer. Fits in with the album and the films Christmas theme within the film but does not fit in with the weather today.
14) The Beach Boys – God Only Knows
A classic by the Beach Boys. It is their normal style. What else can I say? A good song but when I hear the Beach Boys I always wish I could wind them up and make them sing a little bit quicker. Still a good song to sing along to but not one to blast at top volume for fear of looking like a nutter. This has lots of the Beach Boys signature bah bah bah bah bah etc – you know what I mean. A bit slow for me, a bit of nothing for me and one I fast forward if can find the remote.
15) Lynden David Hall – All You Need Is Love
I simply adore this. A classic written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and this has been modernised with a gospel choir really well. This song is hard to describe to be honest but one listen and you will be hooked. It’s beaty, catchy and has the Lennon & McCartney stamp right through the core of it. Listen loud, sing along and feel good as this song is guaranteed to do this. The lyrics are slightly repetitive at times but I will let them off, as his song is a genius created with the choir.
18) Gabrielle – Sometimes
A normal Gabrielle song. It has her throaty signature tune (think Dreams etc.) A Gabrielle love song at her best. Not much else to say about this – its actually the last song with any lyrics in it and I feel they could have perhaps finished the album with a slightly stronger song however it relaxes you and leads you in well to the two remaining tracks.
An orchestra piece if music here. Quite fitting to the album and if I am listening at home I do listen to this but not in my car. I like to sing along in my car rather than listen to the sort of music that Radio 3 plays. However after a long day its nice to curl up with my cat and a glass of wine as this is a de-stress song. It winds me down and makes me feel about ready to tackle the evening again. Very short though as its probably only about 2 minutes.
17) Craig Armstrong – PM’s Love Theme.
Again the same as the point above really. This eludes power, sovereignty, and I wish I could listen to this over and over again.
For the eagle eyes amongst you, you will notice that the numbers above 15, 18, 16, 17 are not in the correct order. On my CD the last four songs don’t play in the order that they are written down in. Gabrielle is shown as being on the CD last when in fact she is third from last hey that’s no great shakes I can live with that.
In a nutshell I love this album. It’s a feel good album that is full of tracks that just make me wish I had a man to cuddle with a whisper sweet nothings to. I don’t expect this album will appeal to everyone out there, however it does have a nice mix of songs, most of which are love songs but don’t be put off by this. I lent this to my mum and she said it would be great to have to play while they were having friends over for dinner as its unobtrusive yet easy to listen to. Make your own mind up but do beware that coming up to summer there are possibly a few songs that you may not wish to listen to unless you are starting your Christmas shopping early. Released by Universal Island Records Ltd.
I HATE, HATE, HATED this film and it's kinda tainted the soundtrack for me. Besides I refuse to buy anything with the words 'Girls Aloud' on it. Good informative review nonetheless. I have a few of those albums where the producers had too much to drink whilst compiling the album track listing :o) Carmen x
by (10%):
18.05.2005 23:02
I love this album too, but christmas tracks put me off listening to it too often. Great review. rob
31.07.2004 10:51
Excellent review and good track analysis. I'm not sure though about this soundtrack though. Also I haven't seen the film yet. --Chris--
26.07.2004 10:17
I HATE, HATE, HATED this film and it's kinda tainted the soundtrack for me. Besides I refuse to buy anything with the words 'Girls Aloud' on it. Good informative review nonetheless. I have a few of those albums where the producers had too much to drink whilst compiling the album track listing :o) Carmen x