No Angel - Dido

...also appeared in the video). No Angel was Dido's debut album and was released in 1999 (in the US, it didn't appear in the UK until 2000). The album shot Dido to worldwide fame due to its mass appeal.

NO ANGEL
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As a debut artist, very few singer/bands find themselves with a dynamite debut album. Those who do are extremely talented and lucky. Dido is one of these ...
...'My lover's gone,
No earthly ships will ever bring him home again'

5. All you want (3.53)
This is the story of the one that got away - or at least it starts out that way. Dido is singing to an ex-lover she has never got over. The song is soft and relaxed but there is a twist, the singer finds herself no longer entrapped by her emotions and therefore able to let go of the love she thought she once had. I personally ... more

I wanted to review this album because although I am not a massive fan of Dido's music, I do think that she has immense talent and is one of the best female singer-songwriters we have in music today. Her voice is unique, her manner relaxed and her abilities to write a moving song, unparalleled. So, here we go!

DIDO
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Dido was born on December 25th 1971 in London, her full name is Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong (I can see why she shortened it!). Her mother is a French poet and her father an Irish publisher. Dido showed promise in music early on, attending the Guildhall School of Music from the age of 6. Prior to her solo success, Dido sang guest vocals on a few Faithless tracks (Rollo, Dido's brother is a member of the group) and this is something that she continues to do.

Dido's big break came when, in 1998, Eminem sampled one of her tracks 'Thank You' onto his 'Stan' single (Dido also appeared in the video). No Angel was Dido's debut album and was released in 1999 (in the US, it didn't appear in the UK until 2000). The album shot Dido to worldwide fame due to its mass appeal.

NO ANGEL
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As a debut artist, very few singer/bands find themselves with a dynamite debut album. Those who do are extremely talented and lucky. Dido is one of these few. No Angel was the top selling album of 2001 in the UK and debuted at No. 1, spending months leaving the spot, only to regain it weeks later. All in all, the album sold 13.5 million copies worldwide - a massive achievement for an established act let alone a newcomer. Dido was responsible for all song writing and music credits on the album.

TRACK BY TRACK
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1. Here with me (4.14)
As many of the tracks on this album are, this is an excellent chill out tune. The song is about, for me, the loneliness that someone feels when they are not with their loved ones. There is a touch of desperation about the lyrics and it almost seems as though the singer is anxious about being alone. Dido's vocals are fantastic and there is a soft beat resonating underneath the tune. This was the first single from the album and reached No. 4 in the UK charts.

'I won't leave
I won't go
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me'

2. Hunter (3.57)
The pace picks up here as we are told the story of a woman wanting to get out of an unhappy relationship. We are given images of feeling trapped and helpless. Lyrically this is a great song and a nice change of pace.

'If you were a King, up there on your throne,
Would you be wise enough to let me go?
For this Queen you think you own,
Wants to be a hunter again'

3. Don't think of me (4.32)
Here Dido tells us the story of a woman scorned. Jilted by her lover, this is a revenge track - and probably my favourite song on the album. It's a bit more up tempo and angry than most songs on here and Dido sounds amazing.

'When you see her sweet smile baby,
Don't think of me,
When she lays in your warm arms,
Don't think of me'

4. My lover's gone (4.27)
This is a sad song about the loss of a loved one, the beat is very low, the lyrics haunting and Dido's voice relatively quiet.

'My lover's gone,
No earthly ships will ever bring him home again'

5. All you want (3.53)
This is the story of the one that got away - or at least it starts out that way. Dido is singing to an ex-lover she has never got over. The song is soft and relaxed but there is a twist, the singer finds herself no longer entrapped by her emotions and therefore able to let go of the love she thought she once had. I personally love this song and think it is one of the best for chilling out to - despite its subject matter.

'And I can sleep what side I want,
It's not the same, with you gone'

6. Thank You (3.37)
The full length version of the sample used by Eminem, this track was everywhere on its release. You couldn't switch on a radio without hearing it, I personally had had enough of this song by the time I bought the album but had it not been for its overplaying, I think it would be my out and out favourite. More upbeat and a happier subject matter - it is a song that praises love.

'I want to thank you,
For giving me the best day of my life'

7. Honestly ok (4.37)
That's exactly what I feel about this song! It is ok, a mediocre track which is lyrically very slow and has a weird kind of hip hop beat underneath it.
'I just want to feel safe in my own skin,
I just want to feel happy again'

8. Slide (4.53)
Again, another average track in my opinion, lyrically quite weak (for Dido), the tune is unmemorable and the song, as a result doesn't come over as heartfelt as some of the other tracks.

'It's alright to make mistakes,
You're only human'

9. Isobel (3.54)
This is, another (!) sad song, this time about a girl who has disappeared. Her car has been found with no signs of life. Dido is reflective here about the times they shared and the song is made more emotional by the vocals.

'It's been a long day coming, and long will it last,
When it's last day leaving and I'm helping it pass'

10. I'm no angel (3.55)
This is Dido's description of herself. She acknowledges that she has faults and this, as a result is a very unassuming song. It puts Dido on the same level as the listener.

'I know I'm not perfect, but I can smile,
And I hope that you can see this heart behind my tired eyes'

11. My life (3.09)
No, not a Frank Sinatra cover, this song is the story of Dido but from an angrier point of view than before. With only a piano and vocals, this shows off Dido's range of abilities to their full effect.

'What I choose to do is of no concern to you and your friends,
Where I lay my hat my not be my home, but I will last on my own'

12. Take my hand (6.42)
This is a dance track. Not in keeping with the rest of the material - nearer to a Faithless track in fact. The beat is good but I am still not keen on this song. It is, in my opinion, the weakest track here.

'Take my hand and if I'm lying to you,
I'll always be alone'

COVER AND SLEEVE
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The front cover and sleeve are done in three colours; black, white and red. Inside, there are pictures of Dido ranging from childhood to present day, there are also lyrics listings for all the songs.

OVERALL
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This album is never going to make my top ten albums list or anything but I can see why some people would list it in theirs. It's a great chill out album and whilst many of the songs sound similar/have similar themes, Dido sings and writes them with subtle differences. Vocally she is brilliant and I would recommend the album just for that.

OTHER STUFF
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The album is widely available, Amazon currently have it at £4.97 new or second hand from 87p! There is more information on Dido at her official website, www.didomusic.com

Ok that's my lot! Thanks for reading,

Sarah x 

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