Customer Reviews

Bringing Back the Groove

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If there is one name synonymous with the freestyle movement of the 1980s, that name would be Safire. Born Wilma Cosme to Puerto Rican parents in New York City, Safire was one of the first Latinas to really make a mark in popular club music due to her style and vocals. However, when times change, so do taste, and Safire almost disappeared off the map when the freestyle movement started to fizzle in the early 1990s.

"Bringing Back the Groove" is Safire's first English-language album in more than a decade. After briefly experimenting with Salsa music during most of the 1990s (like many freestyle divas of past such as Brenda K. Starr and India) Safire released this album which features a various versions of several of her hits. While I can't classify this album as having original material, it is the only album out on the market that contains Safire's English-language tracks.

"Thinking of You," a slow, yet beautiful love song, "Boy I've Been Told" (written by salsa/pop sensation Marc Anthony), and "Gonna Make It," are all freestyle anthems not only covered on this compilation in their original versions, but also in several remixed versions. My favorite versions are this album include Ricky Gonzalez's Salsa Mix of "Thinking Of You," and Choco's Old School Mix of another Safire hit, "Let Me Be The One." The first version captures Safire's hit song with a flavorful, salsa beat that will appeal to many of her Latin fans, which the latter sounds like it was remixed in today's club styles to attract a new legion of fans.

This album is a must have for any who loves freestyle! The memories it brought of me growing up in New York City are priceless and can never be relived. However, thanks to this compilation, I am finally able to listen to what popular music should sound, especially in this age of boy band drones and rivaling teen pop divas. Safire, like Lisa Lisa, Brenda K. Starr, Corina, and other Latin divas of the past, is a legend, and thanks to this album, this album will allow future generations of music lovers to rediscover a major music movement that blended Latin rhythms with English lyrics.

Its About time. This whole album bangs SAFIRE is great. Am glad you did bring it back all the way back....... 5 Stars

THIS IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE HUNT FOR 80'S DANCE WITH A LATIN TWIST. SAFIRE IS GREAT, THE BEATS ARE SO RAW ESPECIALLY "DONT BREAK MY HEART" REMIXED BY TONY MORAN, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW WHO TONY MORAN IS?, HE IS ONE OF THE "ORIGINAL LATIN RASCALS", THE WORLD FAMOUS DJ CREW FROM NYC IN THE MID TO EARLY 80'S(98.7 KISS FM). THERE WERE MANY GREAT GROUPS AND ARTIST THAT EMERGED WITH THE NEW FREESTYLE SOUND IN THE MID 80'S BUT SAFIRE REMAINED AT THE TOP WITH HITS LIKE "BOY I'VE BEEN TOLD", "GONNA MAKE IT", "DONT BREAK MY HEART", AND MANY MORE. MANY OF SAFIRE'S JAMS WERE MIXED ON CHICAGO'S OWN WBMX 102.7 BACK IN THE 80'S, AND WERE MOSTLY PUMPED IN THE DISCOS. THIS IS GREAT CD TO PURCHASE FOR THE FREESTYLE COLLECTION!

IT's great to hear a new CD from one of Top 40's & Freestyles Diva's of the 80's. This one has some really great new versions of Safire's classics and some new stuff... If you loved her from back in the day this is a MUST!!

Safire is one of the best acts to come out of the latin dance movement of the 80's & 90's. I have seen her more recently and she is as beautiful as ever! Her new cd updates several of her billboard pop & dance hits to fit into todays club scene. This girl is just as popular today as she has been for the last 15 years - she gives a electrifying stage show. Hightlights of her cd are her new version of her big pop & dance crossover hit "boy ive been told" , i swear this sounds better than the original, "eyes of a stranger" and her slammin house version of "let me be the one" - i look forward to her next project and i'm sure it won't disappoint me.

I'am very glad she is back,and i love her new cd Bringing back the groove.Is all the best hits of sa-fire,the queen of Freestyle.With her beauty voice.I just love her, so much.

SaFire is pulls out all the spots with this one! By reinventing some of her earlier hits, she makes it possible for people who never heard her name before...know it now and NEVER forget it! I loved her when she first came out, and STILL do. ROCK ON SaFire!

Not that she isnt already. what an incredible mix of her classic music. at the peak of her career, SAFIRE entered the billboard 100 charts 6 times, with her dance hits like "boy ive been told" and her pop smash ballad "thinking of you". she is definately one of the stars of the freestyle/dance/pop movement, she stands out among all freestyle/dance artists. she's got the voice, style, attitude. and what a great new cd, all her dance classics with an updated beat. IT WORKS!! i've followed her career since day 1, and she still continues to amaze me! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER!

well for starters she still got it, and she is better than ever.
she definitly brings back that groove that we all have been looking for in todays music. My personal favorite is the "let me be the one" (choco's old school mix) Man it rocks. It takes me back to the building in NYC.. but dont get it confused for being all oldschool because the versatility in this album differs from most. The line of producers is real impressive. From Tony moran,
Ricky Gonzalez, baron lopez, Kenny diaz and many more, This album is carefully constructed.
Another hot track is the "eyes of a stranger" it has a Dancy electronica feel to it that will knock you off your seat.
overall every song has a different expirence, like albums are supposed to be made...
thats why i give it a 5...
This album rocks...................Cant wait to see her LIVE...

It is about time!!! Safire sure has been missed through the Freestyle fans who have supported her since day one. I do love this cd and all the new cuts are excellent and are freestyle which is a plus. I especially love the salsa remix of "Thinking of You" its one of my favorites and the Cynthia duet is a great Freestyle song.I am not that much a fan of the house or trance genre,but the house remixes are good. I am glad shes back and hopefully ,soon we will also hear from the other Freestyle divas like Lisa Lisa, Judy Torres,Nayobe,Denine,and many others have disappeared for awhile. We must stick together and keep Freestyle alive forever! thanks Safire.