Jan 20, 2003 11:58 AM
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(Updated Jan 20, 2003 12:48 PM)
Musical associations begin from the womb. My mothers love for music has been passed on to her progeny and it remains ingrained in our DNA! It is said that music has the power to calm the heart of a beast. The same hold true for humankind. Music has the capability to affect our senses whether melancholic or exultant.
Such is the power of the music of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Knighted in 1992, this British composer has written several stage musicals which have claimed the badge of popularity thus far; to name the more acclaimed, Cats, Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar. For his musical achievements, he has received many awards; Golden Globe, Tonys and Grammys to name a few. Sir Webbers association with good music is renowned the world over.
Presenting the best Andrew Lloyd Webber album of a lifetime:
The Very Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber. With eighteen original soundtracks from his best works, this album makes for some easy listening.
The tracks on this CD are:
- Memory – Elaine Page
The song of a person considered redundant but hopes for a new day to bring her new life.
- The Music Of The Night – Michael Crawford
The singer sings of the beauty of nightfall and the magic of the life that stirs when the sun sets.
- Take That Look Off Your Face – Marti Webb
A woman responding to an accusation of her loved ones fidelity.
- Any Dream Will Do – Jason Donovan
A song for children to have a dream.
- Don’t Cry For Me Argentina – Sarah Brightman
The return of the proverbial prodigal daughter of the people. Her confessions of her weaknesses and her love for them and her country.
- Love Changes Everything – Michael Ball
The singer sings of how love changes the way we look and feel about people and things around us.
- I Don’t Know How To Love Him – Sarah Brightman
A lady’s first love and she doesn’t know how to tell him or how to handle this new emotion.
- The Perfect Year – Dina Carroll
A warm welcome to the new year. The next will be the perfect year, so long as her loved one by her side.
- The Phantom Of The Opera – Sarah Brightman & Steve Harley
A singer haunted by the voice of the Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom is aware of his power over her and uses it to influence her song.
- Oh What A Circus – David Essex
An acerbic narrative on the legendary Eva Peron and the drama that ensues with her demise.
- Tell Me On A Sunday – Marti Webb
A lover expecting to be jilted and wants it to be done her way.
- Close Every Door - Phillip Schofield
A tortured melody of one who is condemned to a slow and painful end.
- With One Look – Barbra Streisand
The singer who claims the power to do anything with one look.
- All I Ask Of You – Cliff Richard & Sarah Brightman
Lovers making their demands of each other in a most endearing manner.
- Sunset Boulevard – Michael Ball
He sings of the lives that make or break on this winding boulevard of LA.
As If We Never Said Goodbye – Glenn Close Estranged from her loved one, they come together again and it seems like they were never apart.
Next Time You Fall In Love – Reva Rice & Greg Ellis
Seperated lovers want to make sure the other falls in love with them the next time they do.
- Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) – José Carreras & Sarah Brightman
Two friends proclaiming their lifelong devotion to each other.
These artistes need no introduction. They are exemplary in their vocal prowess and their interminable talent. Since Sarah Brightman is the most featured in this album, let me tell you a few things about her. As the now ex-wife of the talented Webber, Sarahs career surged ahead in leaps and bounds. With a voice that can shatter glass, Sarah Brightman is a very talented opera singer with an impressive theatrical background.
My personal favorite
Memory Why? Listen to the song. It talks of a lonely person with only memories to sustain her. She waits and hopes that one day she will be free in a metaphorical sense. She was a beautiful person, much loved by all, but in time, it vanished.
The voice of Elaine Page lifts your spirit and transports you into the complex timbres of her voice. Another favorite is The Phantom Of The Opera where the vocal forte of Sarah Brightman is at its paramount. It tells of a very talented singer who is haunted by the legendary phantom of the opera and is a strong influence in her singing.
Compiled by Andrew Lloyd Webbers own company, The Really Useful Group Ltd., this album is a worthwhile addition to any music lovers CD collection. It picks out the very best of Sir Andrews music and brings it all on one CD. The unequivocal songs will take one to another dimension where the existent world is surpassed by the surreal world of music.
