Customer Reviews

Born to Sing

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I never noticed En Vogue much growing up. I guess I was more invovled with the hip-hop/soul quirkiness of TLC to really notice this sassy quartet. Sure I had heard of their mind blowing "Free Your Mind" and harmonizing funk of "Never Gonna Get My Love" from their highly acclaimed 1992 release "Funky Divas" but I never really delved into their music untill now. I brought "Born To Sing" at my local used music store and I was amazed at how fresh this album sounds even though this album is fifteen years old!
En Vogue has a style that is sexy, brash and classy, not to mention their stellar vocal stylings which all four women mesh well together and never sound boring or competing. The women of En Vogue (Dawn, Cindy, Terri and Maxine) take turns sharing the spotlight on their 1990 debut and they all can hold their own.
With a little help from Club Noveau (spell?-they brought you the remake of the Bill Withers classic "Lean On Me" and were once called the Timex Social Club which had a hit called "Rumors") members Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, En Vogue captures the esscense of early 90's New Jack with their debut.
The hits were the street funky "Hold On" which features a nice little intro of the Jackson 5's "Who's Loving You" but seems out of place with the song itself. "Lies" was next with it's hip-hop New Jack piano and a female rapper named Debbie T. Then the harmonious "You Don't Have To Worry" and the drum machine drenched "Don't Go" summed up the biggest hits off the album and also the best songs off the album. The other tracks hold up well against the hits, such as the quirky and sharp "Strange" and the small interlude of the Andrews Sisters classic "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" which had a hip-hop flair to it and that I wished was longer. "Luv Lines" is another notable which features some great keyboard work and showcases some demanding singing from Dawn. And the bonus track "Waitin' On You" features some sultry vocals from Cindy and a wonderful sax by late great sax player Grover Washington Jr. and the glorious remake of "Just Can't Stay Away" holds well with the original. Still there are some duds like the eerie "Part Of Me" which isn't great at times and it can be sleep enducing but still En Vogue take turns at singing lead on this one and I give them props for that. Also "Time Goes On" is verry annoying after a couple of listens especially with the repetative "Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock" it practically drove me insane at first listen!
With some funny interludes ("Party" features the girls at a party being approached by some stupid guys, it's verry funny and it reminds me of some of the guys that approach me at parties-you do want to say "NOOO!"), harmonous vocals, toe-tapping music and a sense of style and class from these ladies you will fully enjoy "Born To Sing" if you buy it. I'm now planning on purchasing "Funky Divas" and more En Vogue albums (though sadly Dawn left and the group it was never the same). A very good solid debut that makes you want to stand up and applaud!

StarSprinkles Top 5
1. Lies
2. Don't Go
3. You Don' Have To Worry
4. Luv Lines
5. Waitin' On You (tie w/Hold On)

These girls are talented, in a "old-school" sense. Like the musicians and artists your parents listened to. Not this "comptuerized, studio-enhanced" stuff were are forced to listen to now. Well, there were four women (I say were because everyone know that Dawn is no longer with the group.) They first popped onto the scene when R & B music was just that-real music. That had looks, voices and the ability to harmonize with the best of them. Anndddd, they also took turns singing lead (no Beyonce's here, Thank God.!) The first single, "Hold On", introduced us into this female quartet. They later blessed us with "Lies", "Don't Go" and other gems like "Part of Me," "Just Can't Stay Away" and the seductive, "Waiting on You." If you have not heard of En Vogue by now, do two things: Move to Western society and stop living in a cave and then buy this album!

The Supremes set the standard. TLC broke new grounds. Destiny's Child keeps up the tradition. The Spice Girls threw a wrech in the clock. However, only one woman singing group's music stops me in my tracks no matter what I'm doing.

"Born to Sing" introduced the world to the quartet known as En Vogue. If you're soul isn't lifted after hearing "Hold On" or "Don't Go", you're either souless or just plain dead. If you like things that are sexy, sweet, sassy, seductive and smooth, you'll want this album. I recommend all of En Vogue's records, especaily this one.

For a long time, this album was locked in my player. There are only two songs that I feel are skip-worthy. Otherwise it's definitely worth a listen. And a buy.

This album represents the EnVogue we all came to know and love -- when there were four members of the group and they were striving to make it in the music industry. "Hold On" is a song that can be heard 20 years from now and one will still bounce their head to. Also gems on this album are "You Don't Have To Worry," "Lies" and "Waiting on You." I recommend this album to anyone who likes to hear good singing.

Cindy has the airy voice. Dawn, the soul. Terry, the power. Maxine, the sexiness. Combined, they were one of the most well-known girl goups known to man: En Vogue.

En Vogue was spawned by a couple of memebers from Culture Club, Denny Foster and Thomas McElroy. Who would've known what a group EV would turn out to be? En Vogue is the group that most artists then and now modeled themselves after and list as inspirations.

You can't go wrong with soulful voices that all fit the bill of being a true soloist. The voices blended together create harmony that is almost unheard of these days. Even in the faster songs you hear the harmony that we all loved. "Hold On" is the most recognized song that shot EV to super-stardom. It starts with a lovely and well-known acappella version of "Who's Lovin' You" from Jackson 5. Terry leads and the girls back her up well, and then Cindy throws down on the rest of the leads. Cindy also leads on the classic "You Don't Have To Worry", another hit for the girls. All of the girls share leads on the tight New Jack Swing song "Lies", which also has a cameo from a relatively unknown Debbie T (those of you with ears to the underground know her, mainstream America doesn't). The song flows effervescently. Also worth mentioning is the song "Luv Lines", in which Dawn belts out with the soul we all love.

If anything, a girl group must come hard with ballads or they will fall into obscurity; never the case with En Vogue. With such lovely-blended voices, how can you go wrong with ballads? Check out "Part of Me", my favorite song on the album. Each girls sings a lead and then harmonizes well, and the harmony soars throughout the song. This song isn't really a ballad as much as it is a socially themed song, but the girls reall shine on it. Definitely check out the song "Don't Go", in which Terry really shows off her vocal versatility. The girls throw down with this old-school type song. Speaking of old school, "Just Can't Stay Away" is one of the best remakes I have heard in a while. The girls' voices soar over Terry's leads, and this song is just a masterpiece!

We also are treated to a couple of interludes...one, a funny one in the beginning of the album, "Party" is just too much for me! lol. Also, at the end of "Strange", you get a funny interlude with Terry and Cindy talking about people. Also, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is an updated version of the classic Andrews Sister song...just listen to Terry say "uh uh, not that version" and you will laugh like crazy. En Vogue is definitely known for their crazy interludes.

The one song I didn't care for on here was "Time Goes On". I just couldn't get into it, because it really grated on my nerves after trying to like it.

En Vogue epitomizes harmony in every sense of the word. When you think of En Vogue, you think, "man, them girls can sing!". What a perfect title for this album. A definite R&B collector's item!!

Born to Sing is an awesome cd where all the women of En Vogue show their amazing vocals. The songs Just Can't Stay Away, Part of Me, You Don't Have To Worry and Waitin On You are prime examples. On this album you'll find the amazing hits Hold On, Lies, Don't Go, and You Don't Have to Worry. With this being their first album EV showed that they are the best girl group ever!

This was it! This is the album that introduced the world to the funky divas. And this might have been their best. From the can't be stopped groove of "hold on" to the seducing "don't go" this is a great album almost entirely from start to finish. The reason they were so popular, I believe is because they were the first girl group where each lady was strong enough vocally to be a solo artist. Consequently, they never had the problem most 80s and 90s girl groups had of sounding like chipmunks. If you've never heard EV, start here.

This is the kind of album that females like me use to affirm our power and status..hehe...but honestly folks, Dawn, Maxine, Terry, and Cindy get their feministic message across without tramping on guys. They DO employ some frightfully unsettling English accents on "Strange", but the song rocks. Oh that's such a pedestrian term. It Kicks Ass! The rythums are dark and shuffling and their delivery is superb. "Party" is a funny kiss off to annoying guys, "Lies" is a smart social consicous tune about lies that we tell to others and ourselves. "Waiting On You" is a sax powered slow scorcher in the traditon of Anita Baker and Keith Sweat, with rain sound effects included. "Hold On" is the best on here, but every last song here is a promise of great things of that would later come from these fantastic females!!

The early 90's spawned a lot of girl groups. Some more memorable than others. En Vogue is certainly a group that won't be forgotten, in regards to their contributions to the music. Their major hit making prowess garnered a lot of attention and they didn't feel the need to dumb down their integrity once they had a larger audience. Usually when you have crossover appeal you have to keep feeding the machine, in order to achieve satisfying record sales. What's amazing to me is that there isn't a major contrast in skill level from one singer to the next. Many groups would have a standout star that would tend to break out and go solo. Each member of En Vogue is an amazing vocalist and they all pull their weight without bringing one another down. This release is filled with some of their best material. "Hold On" is a great choice for a single and an obvious standout. The song starts out acapella then builds with harmonizing and when the beat finally drops you know the party's rocking. My personal favorite is "You Don't Have To Worry" which features more vintage En Vogue harmonies. The closer "Waitin' On You" is the perfect night cap. "Born To Sing" is appropriately titled and I'm sure the album helped open the floodgates to many solid girl groups that would appear throughout the 90's.