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I
have been a Charlotte fan since I saw an advertisement for
her debut album a week before it's release, I joined the
CharlotteChurch.net mailing list the same night (4 days
before release).
I have always been exposed to classical/opera music, but
have not been a very big fan. Personally, I would rather
listen to 50's & 60's, or 80's music, and if you want to
know my age to justify anything it's 23, soon to be 24 in 3
months.
And what did grab me about Charlotte's music at first was
her age, and the fact "that voice" was not coming
out of someone twice as old or even more.
But when I received the CD, I realized it was very good!
There were happy songs, sad songs, soft songs, and songs
that culminated in huge crescendos. I saw Charlotte on
several talk shows and was impressed by the way she handled
herself. She seemed very bright, happy, not at all afraid or
intimidated of being in the public's eye. She also never
seemed too nervous, or out of breath after a performance.
When the second CD came out, it was just as good as #1, and
50% better... (Except the US version is missing Silent
Night, and I had to buy a whole other compilation CD from
Target just to get it!) There were fewer songs I
recognized, but I especially liked the fact that "The
Holy City" was included, as my mother has always named
this as her favorite Christmas song, since it is one of few
memories of her
father.
I
played both CD's equally from then on, and when I heard
Charlotte was to release a Christmas album, I thought it
very appropriate, as she had already sung a few tunes that
have been associated with Christmas.
I eagerly anticipated the release of Miss Church's new work,
and read of where to obtain the CD. On Friday Oct 13th at
about 1 am, I ordered a copy off the internet, from a
company that does not do advance or back orders, only for
what is in stock. Imagine my surprise when, at 3:30 Pm
Saturday, the postman knocks on my door with a package...
Yep, the CD!
Woohoo! I got it 3 days before official release...
I have listened to it 3 times now, and will try to give my
best review... I'm not planning to talk about each
track, and I'm no critic, although I'm known to be critical.
First off, for any US fan that wishes for the UK cover, it's
the US back cover. There is a little pink sticker on
the front that says "Dream a Dream" - a duet with
country singing sensation BILLY GILMAN!
And
yes, Billy's name is all in CAPS.
There are 6 photographs inside a 16 page booklet, along with
the cover art, and another photo on the back of the
booklet... the CD and the inner back cover have the same
photo with the exception of the back cover photo being in
color...
The back cover photo has a LOT of red, but very nice... I
think the best photo is on page 7 which includes the
lyrics to "Winter Wonderland" She is hugging her
knees... and smiling of course!
On to the Music...
"Dream a Dream", the title track, doesn't sound
too "Christmassy' but
it's good.
For fans of Billy, he's not included too much, Charlotte
does most of the solo work, and maybe it's because I'm not a
Gilman fan, but if I didn't know he was there, and then
didn't hear two voices, I wouldn't know he was there...
He has a high voice that does not sound very country at all,
and only has the song to himself maybe 20 seconds. Also the
song doesn't sound classical, or like opera, or country...
it's an odd mix, with a little "technoish" beat
that fades in and out of the song...
Of the two 'fun" songs, "Winter Wonderland",
and "The Christmas Song", Charlotte sounds better
on the latter, although it's a tough choice. Mel Torme's
song gives her voice more of a workout as she holds notes
and "warbles" them more than
"Wonderland" Yet, she seems to sound like she's
having fun singing "Wonderland", it's a nice
happy, uncomplicated song. And, yes, in 'The Christmas
Song" she does sing, "Merry Christmas", not
"Happy Christmas".
For the other 'traditional", 'God Rest Ye Merry
Gentlemen", is very good, but doesn't even hit 2
minutes... just too short. "O Come All Ye
Faithful" and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing",
along with 'Joy To The World" all have some of the
songs sung with a choir, and "Joy" is just too
short.... I want to hear Charlotte, not a choir.
"What Child Is This?' aka "Greensleeves".
"Ave Maria" and "Silent Night" are very
good, but the best 2 songs are "Little Drummer
Boy", and "O Holy Night" with the second #1.
It just sounds so good, as it starts soft, ends with her
'hitting all the right high notes", (but when doesn't
she hit the right notes?), which a good many artist cannot
do well. This song was made for her, quite simply. It is
also the longest track on the album at almost 4 and one half
minutes. "Drummer Boy" is another song that shows
that she is truly singing from the heart, and not just from
a piece of paper, or from words she memorized, it also
distances itself from the rest of the CD, by having a
different sound, but a good sound at that.
"Mary's Boy Child" is a song I've only heard done
by Harry Belafonte, and while the "calypso" sound
Mr. Belafonte gave it, has been replaced by a lovely harp,
and the music given to 'Little Drummer Boy", it works
amazingly well.
"Ding Dong! Merrily On High" when I first heard
the title sounded like a "fun" song, yet it
sounds very similar to, "Angels We Have Heard On
High" with its "Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis deo",
but it is sung differently, and with a slight difference in pronunciation.
"Ave Maria" is much different than the version on
album #1 primarily because it is the Bach/Gounod version.
This was the first time for me to hear any of the
following..."When A Child Is Born "Coventry
Carol", "Gabriel's Message", "Lo! How A
Rose E'er Blooming", and they are nice, with the last
two the best when you stop and listen to the lyrics.
"Draw
Tua Bethlehem/Far Over Bethlehem" sounds beautiful,
Charlotte always sounds wonderful singing in her homeland's
native language, although this song is half English.
That's the only thing with this CD, and the other 2, you
have to "train" our ears to understand the lyrics,
since she sings so high at times, and holds notes so long
that this can be difficult at sometimes.
Fortunately, like the last 2 CD's, the lyrics are in the
booklet. Unfortunately, like "Charlotte Church",
when she sings other than English, it's not translated.
All in all, out of 5 stars I give this a 4 1/2.
If I was arranging the CD I'd maybe skip "Coventry
Carol" but all the rest are excellent.
I wish it had two of my favorites, "Angels We Have
Heard on High", and "Away in a Manger".
Buy it. Play it. Read the lyrics and take them to heart as
well. You've spent enough time reading this, now get online,
or get to your record store, and get "Dream a Dream'
now!
Sincerely, and with a great sense of accomplishment,
John Paul Saragosa
10/15/00
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