Customer Reviews

Big Band Explosion

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I just played Nina hagen's new cd...Big band explosion...And I love it!!! I do love many of her other cds, but I'm a bit tired of religious statements, flying saucers, and pollution. With this new cd, she really sings her heart out...For EVERYONE to enjoy and understand...Not just a select few. Her sultry, smokey voice is perfect to belt out such songs as "Let me entertain you" Sugar Blues" and " I want to be happy" Where at the end of that song she makes a sound like she's hacking up a phlegm globber...And it sounds great...Now...Ann-Margret can't do that! So...Even though Nina sings a different style of song...She still shines through as only Nina can. She sings two songs with Lucas Alexander "The lady Loves me" and "Let's call the whole thing off" I have never heard of him before...But he's really good...And they seem to be having a lot of fun singing together. I hope that this CD finds a place in all her old and new fans hearts...It has mine. Enjoy...........Joe

On Big Band Explosion Nina shows more range with a mixture of humor and sersiosness. Her voice goes to places no one could have expected one to go. She really does these standards justice with her remarkable highs and lows. It reminds me of the album where she sang Pillow Talk and others where she sang The Beach Boys, Monkees, and Janice Joplin. They're true treasures. This is a true suprise because we've heard them before but not like this. I think she brings cocognition of these oldies to a new audience. My fave has to be her version of "The Lady Loves Me" by Elvis Presley & Ann-Margret.

Nina Hagen is best known over the last 20 years for her punk style and rock music, but anyone who has followed this German diva knows that she has much more to offer than the raspy, shrill voice that characterizes most of her pop work. I first really paid attention to her when I heard her version of Ava Maria on one of her earlier albums. My God what a voice. When she really lets go and sings, Nina just reaches inside you and squeezes the dopamine out of your brain (elicits a strong emotional response for you regular Joes). So I decided to take a chance and listen to this departure project Nina did, as she says, for her appreciation of singers she admired from her childhood, songs that her mother use to listen to, just to see if Nina would really SING, instead of just shrieking. Along with the very capable talents of the Leipzig Big Band, she really does provide us with a satisfying performance, "totally opening up" as she puts it. One cannot help but wonder what might have happened if she had gone the opera route instead of punking out in the '80s. She has an incredible range and she reaches deep inside to provide a rich interpretation of these timeless pieces. I think sometimes she is unnecessarily raspy on this recording, whereas she has taken this new genre to perfection with the lesser known but amazing follow-up to this album- Irgendwo Auf Der Welt- harder to get, but worth the effort. I want to see this woman in front of an orchestra now.

I was sure that this would be the largest misstep of her career. BUT, now that I've heard Ms. Hagen's interpretations of these standards, I've come away with a great feeling from listening to "Big Band Explosion". Hagen's "Through The Looking Glass". She wraps her vocal chords around these tried and true melodies with total assuredness. This is that moment in many artists lives where they can't pander to consumers expectations in all good conscience. They must go where their inspirations take them. And irony abounds. Her natural contralto voice sounds beautifully suited to the all brass accompaniment. She's in great form, period. The way I look at it, I'd much rather listen to her interpretations and delivery, than let's say, uh, rod stewart. Would I rather have had a new bombastic, stream-of-consciousness, replete with chilling atmospheres and massive overlapping voices, of course I would. That style will happen yet again. Give this disc the chance it deserves. The Leipzig Big Band provide a dynamic, muscular delicacy that hoists and carries Nina across the entire album. Her paramour, Lucas "Rocco" Alexander is more adequate and smooth than anyone had a right expect. Freaks reclaim a songbook made famous by talented squares. The Dietrich approach is totally palpable in Nina's relaxed delivery. And humor abounds. One thing I think that her fans forget that Ms. Hagen, (besides being a songwriter), is a chanteuse, and knows how to re-interpret material and make it her own. Great Excursion, overall. Safe to say, the lady's definately In Love. Her persona, idiosyncracies, and personalities are the driving force holding everything together from the first song to the last. Just gorgeous. Ditto for the beautiful artwork.

Sorry Nina, I LOVE you and I LOVE big band jazz but this just does not work for me. I had to uncheck it on my iTunes. I will give you 3 stars because you and the cover art are so beautiful.

It is experimental to sing this classics like she did, but she did it very well and Nina's voice sounds better than ever. On two songs her boyfriend Rocco Lucas Alexanders sings also and they are doing their best to entertain the people with their songs. One of the best Albums, Nina Hagen ever made, this must be an inspiration of her new love. Om namah shivay.

NiNA does as NiNA says...and here NiNA pays tribute to the music that she listened to as a child with her Mother. For more info, read the 'Editorial Review/Album Details' above written by NiNA herself!
NiNA could whistle or hum a tune and it would be AMAZING!!!