Big Band Explosion [Import, Limited Edition]

Nina Hagen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 24, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Berliner Germany
• ASIN: B0000CER8E
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,243 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Let Me Entertain You

2. Sugar Blues

3. I Want to Be Happy

4. The Lady Loves Me

5. Rhythm & Romance

6. Rainbow

7. If You Ever Should Leave

8. Fever

9. Love & Kisses

10. All Over Nothing @ All

11. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

12. Starlit Hour

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing, indeed..., January 6, 2004

By 

Dana C. Steinman (SyracuseNY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Band Explosion (Audio CD)

If your notion that a big band orchestra is an odd pairing for Ms. Hagen-Daas, you're completely right. However, Nina's own liner notes declare that her affection for these standards make her decision to sing them right on--and it does. More than just a curio, Big Band Explosion is Nina's return to the inspired vocal adventure that's been either missing or forced on recent past recordings. Sounding more capable to sing these songs than any seasoned caberet veteran, she ultimately proves that she is a consumate vocalist--on par with any legendary elites--on much of these readings. Rarely before has Nina's voice been more entertaining, more inventive than it is here, which is only to confirm her love for this material. And that's this record's unwitting charm. (Wow, even Little Rascals' own Froggy gets channelled through Nina's sririt!) Obviously an artist who's made her own rules, this record was not a stab at an aging market by an aging artist. This is the most satisfying work Nina has unleashed since...well, Return Of The Mother. But consider her track record before that. Her reading of "Fever" here would have punctuated any of her Polygram releases; "Let Me Entertain You" offers you a real good time and by the time the fat-free funk (remember, a big band is indeed backing her) of "Starlit Hour" closes the set she's made more than good on her promise, ignoring any cliched pre-rock posturing in the process and exploiting her interpretive license to its intended artistic fullest. Of course, some listeners simply are not universal enough to understand a diversion as seemingly radical as this, but this truly is a Nina record as resplendantly bold as Nunsexmonkrock, as comically fearless as Fearless. After Nina has passed on to other intergalactic occupancies, Big Band Explosion will be the most interesting footnote to her Earthly legacy.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Nina treat, June 3, 2004

By 

Franz "Franz" (Athens, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Band Explosion (Audio CD)

You want punk Nina? Then listen to punk Nina, there's plenty of it. You want Cosma Shiva Nina? Pick up 'Om Namah Shivay'. You want rock Nina? Etc.. Nina Hagen is an artist, and everything she touches becomes her. This is true for any artist, be it in singing, acting, or visual arts. So don't hold punk as the Nina standard, it's just not true. This woman has moved way beyond that genre and she has incorporated whatever tickles her fancy into her life and music over the years. You like vocals? Check this out and crack up. It's great in a Hagen kind of way.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Metamorphasis, November 12, 2004

By 

jumpndawg (new mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Band Explosion (Audio CD)

Nina's incredible voice once more titilattes the soul with independence and spirit, albeit in an ultimate lounge lizard style. As always, Nina's recording and production engineers are superb. On a very solid sound system (bryston, sennheiser,etc..), the nuances of her impeccably unique voice and the supeb technical recording will have you smiling and chuckling. Lucas is a perfect voice match. Sweet.