שלום! Sorry, but I no longer have time to read or write for this site. I wo...
שלום! Sorry, but I no longer have time to read or write for this site. I won't cancel my account but I won't be active anymore.
Member since:21.06.2000
Reviews:218
Members who trust:242
Through the patronage of Pat Metheny, Noa (whose real name is Achinoam Nini) and this album was brought to the world. And what a wonderful service he did by doing so.
If you take a quick look on Amazon.com, you'll see one reviewer there noted of her voice that "Next to her Celine Dion sounds like an old diesel engine in dire need of an oil change... ". Well, I couldn't agree with him more. Noa's voice is amazing. She can sing blues, jazz, rock, pop and even classical numbers without missing a beat.
Let me tell you about some of the tracks on this album:
1. I Don't Know - This song is one of Noa's autobiographical ones on this album. I've seen the video clip made of it, and frankly, it doesn't do it justice. All you see is her standing on cliffs (apparently in Israel) and having the wind push her small body around. The song is about her own apprehension on being able to make it. She shouldn't have worried - the song is powerful.
2. Wildflower - My personal favorite track on this album, this is also autobiographical. Noa grew up in the USA, and had problems adjusting to her surroundings. Her songs reflect these difficulties - this one in particular. In the lyrics she refers to herself as a "Wildflower/ growing in all the wrong places..." and she speaks of how her dark middle east skin "against the white-washed walls within" her home, upset her and made her introspective. Obviously, her music was her release from that introspection and allowed her to write songs like this which reach inside your heart and tug.
5. Child Of Man - (with Pat Metheny) - the influence is truly there. Listen carefully for his very typical keyboards on this track, which echo back as far as his "American Garage" album. This song, sung mostly in English has a twist finish in Hebrew. A joyous song which gives a wonderful showcase to both artists.
8. Uri - Uri is a fairly popular name given to boys in Israel. This song, sung in Hebrew speaks of what she would do with a son of her own. The melody is haunting, and the lyrics are in very classical, poetic Hebrew. I always cry when I hear this song since it reminds me of the day I brought a friend home from the hospital after she had finally given birth to her first child (a boy) after having 6 miscarrages. Even if you don't understand the words, you'll feel the bittersweetness in this song.
11. Ave Maria - Noa gives a modern, and somewhat less than totally hopeful twist to this ancient prayer. It was actually chosen by the Vatican for her to sing to the Pope (her first appearance in front of him, and the first one by any Israeli). Using the classic melody we all know as a basis for this song, she changes very little in order to get her point across. This one is a real collectors item.
You should know that this was the first album that Noa released outside of Israel, and was her first album in English. But she certainly wasn't the first Israeli artist to find her way to the international scene. No, the first was Ofra Haza with her unique Yeminite songs. Noa owes a great deal to the late Ms. Haza, not only for her break into the international music scene, but also for helping other Yeminite women in Israel find their own voice. But Noa is no copycat of Ofra Haza. Not even close. While Ofra Haza sang almost only in the Middle Eastern vent, Noa brings the taste of those sounds into the genres of Jazz, Folk, Pop and Rock. Her ability to meld her roots and ancestral sounds with modern music was and is her true genius.
In short - Noa has a voice of a cooling spring on a hot summer's day. Take the plunge, you'll never regret it.
~~~~~ Technical Stuff: This album is no longer available on Amazon.co.uk except there is one selling for £8.74 through their market place. Shame that.
Her official web page is at http://www.noasmusic.com/noasmusic.html ~~~~~
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I've really enjoyed reading this review of yours. This is my fauvorite of Noa's albums, a masterpiece of arrangements and full of evocative athmosphere. Just pure beauty.
ptitpupuk 29.06.2005 22:07
I love Noa and love every single one of her songs, whether she sings in hebrew, spanish, french or english... I do agree with your review and your comments definitely do her justice. I would just like to add, for the people who will read your review in the future, that whether you understand or not what she sings (e.g. Uri), you still get carried by her voice and the music.
TrueSatan 01.11.2003 21:09
It comes as somethig of a shock to find an excellent opinion hiding away amidst the dross of the 2000 archive. This opinion stands up well against the much improved general standard of the site in 2003.
Advantages: The mixture of genres, her voice, Gil Dor's arrangements Disadvantages: There's one track that's only OK and one that isn't totally great, but that's all.
TheChocolateLady 29.09.2003 (30.09.2003)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Now (2002) - Noa
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Noa - Noa? Click here
very helpful by (100%):
