I've been off Ciao for a few days trying to learn how to use geocities. That's quite brave for a tec...
I've been off Ciao for a few days trying to learn how to use geocities. That's quite brave for a techno-phobe like me! Check out the results so far at http://uk.geocities.com/theusu alsuspectuk. Any advice or help is greatfully received. Take care all.
Member since:30.10.2001
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After the intial wave of attacks on the public's senses with the television programme, singles, tour and countless column inches in the press the Pop Idols and Simon Cowell began their latest money-making venture on Moday with the release of the first album, Pop Idol The Big Band Album. The choice of album I suppose was fairly obvious after the success Robbie Williams enjoyed recently with his Swing When You're Winning album. However the title does worry me slightly, I mean is the public supposed to also lap up, "Pop Idol The Abba Album" and "Pop Idol The Judges Choice Album", as well as countless others or is this a one off album just to quench the public's thirst?
I suppose that the answer to that will lie in the success of this first album. After all the negative publicity which Pop Idol has generated concerning the treatment of the eventual winner Will Young and it's bias towards the runner-up Gareth Gates, how will the public react to this latest venture? Again the sales to this album will give the answer to this question too. I for one believe that we will see this album chart at number one and probably stay there for several weeks selling several squillion copies in the process and making Simon Cowell need even deeper pockets for his wads of cash!
The most important question though is; is the album actually any good? Well in my opinion..............Yes it is, infact it is a very good album which showcases the talents of the final ten extremely well. Let's be honest though, with classic tracks like these they couldn't really go wrong.
Tracklist
1)
Beyond The Sea - featuring Will. Pete Waterman described this guy as having the most unique voice in twenty years! I'd love to know since who because in my opinion Will can sing anything, ballads, big band tunes, pop, rock.......anything! Inspite of everything Pop Idol has uncovered a true star in Will and I believe he has an almost timeless shelflife. This album helps to show that Pete Waterman may well have been right, we all know he can do pop music as his recent number one showed and here he slipping just as naturally into the guise of a 50's crooner. A belter of a track to open the album with.
2) Get Happy - featuring Zoe. This girl was born to sing big-time show tunes and this is one of the highlights on the album. With her booming voice, personality and looks, Zoe would be a sure-fire hit in musicals and personally I think she should try and forge a career for herself in the West End as oppossed to trying to become the next Whitney Houston.
3) Let There Be Love - featuring Darius. Like Zoe, the big Scot is a natural at this genre of music and although he was not the most popular of the Pop Idols he showed true strength of character to make it to the final three and in the process changed many people's perseptions of him. All his strengths are shown in this track, his laid back Sinatraesque voice and the ability and charm in his delivery. Even if he does not appeal to all, I would be confident enough to predict a bright future for Darius in either the charts, or with his style, he could be a big name in the cabaret and Vegas style circuits.
4) Mack The Knife - featuring Gareth. In my opinion this is the weak-link on the album. I know that Gareth was immensely popular but, although he will undoubtedly succeed in the pop charts, his voice was not cut out for this sort of music and, compared to the deeper more masculine voices of the other male singers on the album, the little boy lost qualities in his voice that sound so good when he sings Flying Without Wings, just stress his weaknesses even more. Also he has chosen to sing one of the best well-known of the songs on the album and unfortunately in comparison to the original he is unable to do it justice.
5) Ev'rytime We Say Goodbye - featuring Jessica. So Jessica takes a break from Eurovision to record some proper music and to be fair she does not disappoint. Slick, professional, good vocals but ultimately uninspiring. A good cover version but unlike some of the others does not really make the song her own..............just as I had expected.
6) I Get A Kick Out Of You - featuring Aaron. Hurray! The return of one of my favourites, the cheeky Geordie train driver was one of the real finds of pop idol. Despite an early exit in the pop idol finals Aaron did enough to win a fair few fans and despite my reservtions as to how well he would be able to do the show tunes I am happy to report that this is a great version of a great song.
7) I've Got You Under My Skin - featuring Zoe. Another great vocal from a real star. The more I hear of Zoe's voice the more I am convinced that I am listening to a future mega-star.
8) That Old Devil Called Love Again - featuring Hayley. Hayley was the one contestant that Simon Cowell and I completely agreed on..........she was absolutely gorgeous! Apart from that she was also a great singer and this sultry track shows off her undoubtable star quality. I won't waste your time by telling you anything but beg you to listen to this song and enjoy the sexy and sultry voice of a future star. Ps I hope she releases this as a single..........only because I can't wait to see the video!
9) I Won't Dance - featuring Will. Another top track from the nation's pop idol.
10) Night & Day - featuring Korben. How this guy was voted off first I will never know. A great voice and personality in his vocals enable Korben to perform one of the strongest tracks on this album. Like Gareth, he has chosen to sing a well-known classic but unlike Gareth he pulls it off to a tee and really makes the song his own. This is a real stand-out track and due to being voted off so early, a really pleasant surprise as well.
11) Cheek To Cheek - featuring Rosie. This was the track on the album I was least looking forward to as I would rather listen to two cats screeching through a fight than listen to Rosie warble her way through Everything I Do I Do It For You again. But, and this is a very big but, I was very pleasantly surprised. On the show she seemed determined to out do Mariah Carey on the "I can hit lots of notes in word" stakes and in my opinion blew her chances of progressing by trying to impress the judges with her musical stylings instead of the audience. On this track however she sings it straight and to her great credit, pulls off one of the strongest performances on the album.
12) They Can't Take That Away - featuring Laura. The Irish kid's Tv presenter really captured many of the hearts of the nation with her winning smile and personality but unfortunately the show was to find a pop idol and therefore a great singer. Unfortunately for Laura she was a good singer but not great and found herself on the sofa several weeks on the trot until she was eventually voted off. This track has done nothing to convince me that she should not have been voted off sooner. Maybe I am being harsh as this is one of my favourite tracks but I do not think she does a good version.
13) Oh Look At Me Know - featuring Gareth and Zoe. Why does Gareth do this to himself? Quite apart from ruining Mack The Knife he finishes the album by being completely outshone by the far better all-round singer Zoe. A nice touch to finish the album with a track by these two after the press speculation about their relationship but in my opinion it backfires on Gareth by showing who really should have gone first out of these two wannabe pop idols.
On the whole a good album if you liked Pop Idol or enjoy swing music but if you don't like either, then all I can stay is steer clear.
My copy cost £12.99 from Our Price but it can probably be picked up cheaper on-line or if you shop around.
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Considering the long, pain-staking process in selecting the nation's Pop Idol it seems a ... more
little impetuous to rush release the finished product withThe Big Band Album--but at least public interest is still riding high. Will and Gareth's singles were qui...
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