Customer Reviews

Believe in Me

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Four impressive albums into her career, Regina Belle releases her fifth and finest recording. "Believe in Me" matches gorgeous production, slick writing, and peerless vocals to make one of the most impressive soul records of the year.

What's especially impressive is that Regina has obviously discovered that less is more. Often soul music can be overlong and overblown...here only one song clocks in over five minutes, and several are under four minutes. The effect is breezy and inspires multiple listens. "Don't Let Go" and "Baby Love" are smooth midtempo numbers, "I Got It" and "Come See About Me" are examples of classic soul balladry, and "I Gotch U" even sets an example of sparse, tasteful production in a genre that can be overpowered by beats and instrumentation.

Are there lukewarm moments? Yes...the pop-flavored ones. "You Make Me Smile" and "Be in Love Again" are less than spectacular, even bordering on schmaltz, but the vocals and production still make even these songs more than listenable. And songs like "Believe in Me" and the final hidden track (untitled or credited, most likely called "The One for You" or something close) are infectious and intoxicating enough to make up for any minor shortcomings.

Regina joins the ranks of Lisa Stansfield as an artist whose albums manage to stay in her own personal style and still grow and blossom with each release. This album makes it easy to believe in Regina Belle.

I agree with the reviewer from Miami. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Regina Belle. She is definitely one of my all-time favorite singers, right up there with Nancy Wilson, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker..... This album does not reach her greatness. In fact, I have only played it one time (and I don't believe I made it through every song); on the other hand, I have played her other albums to death.

Don't get me wrong, Belle's voice sounds great on this album (as it always does). However, the songs are very boring; the arrangements are repetitive -- the same old synthisizer-laden background (that you can hear on almost any other r & b album). It didn't even sound like Belle herself was into these songs (how could she be).

Missing from this album are the great ballads and sultry moderate tempo songs that made Belle my favorite. I love it when artists experiment with different sounds; it keeps them creative and unique. However, one should not experiment with weak material. DEMAND better songs, Belle; you and your fans deserve it!!!!

Listening to this CD took me into a Smokey Jazz Club, where Regina sang each song strongly from the soul, getting a little bee-bop on at times. I enjoy every cut on this CD, the ones that stand out for me are "Believe In Me, Don't Let Go, I Gotch U, I've Had Enough, Never Should have Let You Go, Baby Love." I find this CD Relaxing, Calming, expressing the different areas of love that we all face from time to time. Regina to me is a diva in her own rights. She can hold her own, her voice is sultry and strong and can awaken your inner spirit with her voice. Its for those cuddle up moments, down to those quiet moments alone, down to singing along. Feel the smoothness of Regina Belle(Believe in Me).

Regina is trying a different sound on this Cd. I think it works!! As she is getting older, her voice is a bit more throaty......upon the first listen, i thought she was straining..! but upon the second,third, ...fifth, and fifty-fifth time listening, i began to hear the soul-ful-ness of it all. listen for yourself!

best tracks: Come See About Me, Never Let Me Go, I Got It...and the unlisted (ghost track) I think its called "I'm The One You Need"

Simply one of the best CD's out, too bad radio hasn't discovered it. Regina has set a mood with this one, subtle and romantic. Just listen to "I Gotch You" and "Come See About Me" and get ready !!!

Regina has outdone herself this time. I love to hear someone sing about LOVE again, and she does so with such passion. Whatever is her inspiration she should "Hold on tight and don't let go." I LOVED THIS CD.

What can I say about Ms.Regina Belle?
This woman,along with Anita Baker and Miki Howard,pioneered jazz/R&B!
Her incredible vocal riffs, soulful quality and stunning natural class makes her stand out amongst the greatest female vocalists of all time!
I wouldn't be surprised to hear her in a jazzy Timi Yuro tribute album soon in the next future!
There's kind of an elective affinity between the two Ladies,both extremely talented,both never fully and deservedly rated as super-powerhouses and song stylists....the same soul,the same passion is there...
Ms. Belle has a versatility that is virtually unmatched!
When you hear her sing , she has the ability to convince you that : 1) she's talking to you; and 2) this thing is REAL to her!
Very few vocalists have that ability to bring you in like that!

You'll definitely enjoy this!!

"Believe In Me" is by far one of the best albums by a female R&B artist to hit the market in 1998. This album is a stand out vocally - Ms. Belle is at her peak in terms of artistic expression. The lush instrumentation on most songs, especially Believe In Me, I've Had Enough, and Never Should Have Let You Go are the perfect complement to her fiery vocal dynamics. I listen to this CD over and over again because it never ceases to touch me in some way. Congratulations to Regina Belle, her songwriters, producers, and her new label for a wonderful listening experience that I believe will stand the test of time.

As usual, this entire CD is wonderful, and as usual Regina Belle's songs come with a powerful message. I have every CD she has ever made and she is one in a few artist that I can say that I enjoy each song on the CD. She is not an artist that as soon as you hear the song you can say, "that's Regina Belle." She is a diversified singer, with a voice out of this world. I have had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Belle and her inner beauty is as pleasurable as her music.

All I have to say is this CD was probably one of the poorest promoted CDs ever. Regina had already been an establised R&B chantreuse when this CD came out, it baffles me how MCA failed to promote this CD. It would have been a hit.