As I scoot out the door from the Yahoo Club, another night of heated remarks in the making, I need to calm my nerves. What do I do to compose myself before throwing in my point of view? I pop in the Romanza CD by the beautifully talented Andrea Bocelli. No, not one of the three Tenors, but an extremely talented and respected classical singer. I have read the other reviews on this CD and agree with all of them. The good and the bad.
It helps me to have an understanding of the singer before I can truly appreciate what the artist is all about. A biography, if you will. Andrea Bocelli is an Italian Opera Singer living in Tuscany-an area outside of Florence, Italy. His records have exceeded the 20 million mark. He was blinded by a childhood soccer accident and has a wife, Enrica and two children Amos and Mateo both under 5 years of age.
He received his law degree from the University of Pisa.
He performed for the pope on Christmas Eve (1994) and at the 1998 Academy Awards (where I first saw him). "Romanza" ranked alongside the "Titanic" soundtrack as one of the two best-selling holiday albums of the year. He has done a duet with Celine Dion on another album, "Sogno". His favorite style to listen to: Opera. How surprising?!
What motivated me to purchase this CD? I had heard this song (Con Te Partiro) played at our community pool for the Water Aerobics Class. I was a enamored spectator. My son was busy taking his lessons. I fell in love with this song. And was visibly disappointed if the teacher did not put this in the boom box. I waited a few sessions before I got my nerve up to ask the instructor what/who sang this song. She was gushing when she revealed the "secret". Andrea Bocelli's Con Te Partiro which means I will go with you.
I ran home to search for this song and download the MP3. Eureka! Struck Gold, Yeeha! I found it, I downloaded it (ssshhh) and fell in love with it. About two weeks later, pffffffffttt my hard drive crashed taking this beautiful song with it. The FBI did it, I know it. I'm convinced. All over this one (ok, there were others) CD hit.
I was petrified to download any more MP3's after my reinstallation. So, I did the proper and legal thing (not to say I won't test-drive again, Mr. FBI man - I do have 24 hours ya know!) I went out and bought the CD "Romanza". I bought it for the first track, four minutes and nine seconds of pure, passionate, calming, awestruck, blissful, beautiful "Con Te Partiro". I play it over and over and over again. It is also sung with Sarah Brightman in English and Italian on track 15 - the last one. Good Marketing. We are left on a good note pining for more of Andrea Bocelli.
I would have to agree with another reviewer in that this is not a Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras or Placido Domingo. Andrea cannot reach the heights of vocal range that these three can. But his appeal is more far-reaching. He has a bit of Pop/Rock to him that the others do not exhibit.
His CD is called "Romanza" and it holds true to its title. Some songs are a tad too sappy for me. I can picture him rose in hand below the damsels window, crooning away, yech. The duets (there are four) are ok but not great. The first duet is with Gerardina Trovato, a bit too raspy and rough for my liking. The song, Vivere or "To Live". Filled with passion but not a singer I enjoy. The second duet is with Giorgia and begins with Andrea singing "I live for her, you know, since the first time I met her. I do not remember how, but she entered within me and stayed there. I live for her because she makes my soul vibrate so strongly. I live for her and it is not a burden." If my husband sang this to me I would throw myself to the floor in fits of laughter. But this is opera and in this context its ok. This is a modern duet with references to radio and hotels. And the casual references like "you know". I doubt Pavarotti could be bothered.
Track 1 - Con Te Partiro (I will go with you) Gives me the absolute shivers as does Track 15 a repeat with Sarah Brightman in English and Italian. Breathtaking. Utterly satisfying.
There are 15 tracks on this cd all about four minutes in length. The cd jacket booklet has the words written out to each song in Italian and in English. This is always enlightening to me. The Track number is not next to each song and I'm not thrilled with that nuisance of having to look back and forth to figure out what is what.
Gripe: The duet with John Miles does have hints of Michael Bolton.
My favorite songs - Con Te Partiro and Macchine Da Guerra. Though Con Te Partiro gets unbelievable repeats. I hope I don't ruin the CD this way.
My husband loves this CD enough to recommend we get a copy for my Father-in-Law for the first track, mostly. That is a huge compliment.
I am blissfully calm after listening to this CD. I can properly compose myself and head back over to check out the Yahoo Postings.
I recommend this CD to friends if not for the first and 15th track, alone.
It has to be heard to be appreciated and then loved, no .... adored. Perfect with a bottle, I mean -glass of wine.
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