Charice

Charice, Charice | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise Records
• ASIN: B003BSSVAY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,249 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Charice's self-titled debut CD includes her single, 'Pyramid' featuring labelmate Iyaz (who recently spent four weeks at #1
with his international smash hit, 'Replay').
The haunting and emotionally charged single 'Note To God' was produced by the legendary David Foster and written by Grammy winner, Diane Warren. Charice has performed the song as part of a special Oprah episode marking the finale of 'Oprah's Search for the World's Smartest and Most Talented Kids.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pure Talent of This Generation, May 11, 2010

By 

V. Phan "yimnvs" (Bay Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charice (Audio CD)

Let me start by saying that I have lost a lot of sleep in the past weeks. Who cares right? But I want to mention that Charice and her voice is the reason why I have lost sleep. I have been playing Charice's songs over and over again until the late AM almost every day ever since Oprah released those songs on her website.
I first heard of Charice about a month ago when I heard her Pyramid song on the radio in the car - I was captured at that moment and was hurrying home to look the song up on YouTube. Once on YouTube, my journey into her life began. I was fascinated that someone as small as her has that kind of a voice, a voice that really touches the heart and soul. In addition to her emotional voice, she sings with a passion; she gives it her all in every song. The performances that I saw on Oprah and various other places have all put me into an awkward emotional state. My emotions were unconsciously let out and left me with a bittersweet feeling.

I did not buy the Amazon copy of this album since this is only the version with 12 tracks. I bought the deluxe version at Target today with two bonus songs "Are We Over and "Breathe You Out" - 14 tracks total. I also ordered online on QVC the special QVC edition with four bonus tracks that's not included in this version and the Target/itunes version - 16 tracks total. I have never in my life bought two versions of the same album - this means something.
I will review the 12 tracks Amazon version of this album below:

01) Pyramid Ft. Iyaz - This is the song that lured me into getting to know this talented girl. Props to Iyaz for making this song even catchier. 4.5/5

02) Reset - I saw her performing this song live in LA on YouTube and I was hooked right away. From that moment. She can also rap! There is an interesting Taglish(Tagalog & English) rap near the end. (Also she can play the guitar, drum, beatbox and pop-lock/hiphop dance!)5/5

03) In This Song - David Foster wrote this song for her. I expect nothing less from the 15 time Grammy award winner; he did not disappoint because this is a perfect song for Charice. This song overviews the incredible story of her life. Feeling down? In This Song will lift your spirit and give you a motivational boost. 5/5

04) Nobody's Singin' to Me - This is a really catchy song that could be the next single. Her voice really matched this R&B-ish song well. 5/5

05) Thank You - This is one of my favorite songs in the album lyric-wise. I played it for Mother's day and it fitted well. Like the title suggests, the content of this song is self-explanatory. 5/5

06) I Love You - Of all the amazing songs in this album, this one was the least amazing to me. It's still good, but It does not compare with other songs. That is just my personal preference. I have to admit that the difficulty level of this song is really high and she nailed it. 4/5

07) In Love So Deep - This song to me is arguably the catchiest song in this album. The beat is unique and the lyrics are very appealing. 5/5

08) All That I need to Survive - I have to say this is the most depressing song in the album. If you are a human, this song will touch your soul and will give you unexpected teary eyes. 5/5

09) Nothing - "How can Nothing feel so good?" Sometimes you have already moved on with your break-up but you haven't realized it yet until you met that person again. Nice beat and refreshing lyrics, another one of my favorites. 5/5

10) The Truth Is - In a relationship, you need to "read between unspoken lines." A romantically good song that you can dedicate to your significant others. 4.5/5

11) I Did It For You - If you love someone, sometimes it's best let go of that person. This song is another one of my favorites. 5/5

12) Note to God - A classic song written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. This song will make you think about humanity. Charice's voice will stab your heart with this song. 5/5

The other two songs NOT included in this version are "Are We Over" and "Breathe You Out." They get scores of 5/5 and 4.5/5 respectively.

Overall score for this album is a 5/5. An astounding feat by a teenager from the Philippines.

Her voice is amazing in all of these songs - A Fantastic debut album from a rising International star.

I have not bought a physical CD in ten years and this is the first since, reason being that many albums have a few catchy songs and the rest are just mediocre fillers. All her songs in this album are addictive and fun to listen to FOR ALL AGES. This album is certainly and purposely geared towards the younger audience; however, there are songs in this album for adults and seniors, such as "Note to God" and "In This Song." This album has R&b style songs for me to listen to loudly in the car, motivational songs for me to listen to while working out in the gym, soothing songs for me to listen to before sleep, and depressing songs for me to listen to when I feel lonely - It has it all. I guaranteed you that this album and its songs will make many top charts in the near future.


Have fun listening! =)

76 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bait and Switch :), May 11, 2010

By 

yonber (Sacramento, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charice (Audio CD)

I first saw Charice her first time on the Oprah Winfrey show. I generally don't listen to the genre of music that includes Whitney, Celine, Beyonce, Mariah, etc. But when I saw Charice, I was stunned by the beauty, power and maturity of her voice and the perfection and fearlessness of her performance. (So was Oprah.) I next saw her on the PBS program, "Hit Man, David Foster and Friends." Then I looked her up on youtube.

Clip after clip of amazing performances: At an Oscars after party, she covers "Listen" so focused and intense that when she ended the last high note, I was out of breath! The clip of her singing "I Believe" with a full orchestra and chorus shows her amazing range and is one of the best performances I have ever seen. These still bring tears to my eyes.

For an example of why Charice's voice is so special, watch her duet with Celine Dion on youtube ("Because You Loved Me"). Celine sings the first phrase, Charice sings the second phrase - the exact same notes. Where Celine's voice is nasal and thin, Charice's voice is full of undertones that give it a deeper, fuller, warmer sound.

Charice became an international star by singing the best songs of the best singers of the last 30 years, with minimal backing tracks and backup singers and no engineering tricks. Just her beautiful, sweet, powerful voice and fearless performances carrying the songs. That was the bait that got me hooked on Charice. This CD is a switch.

It is aimed at a younger demographic. I am 58 and understand that Charice wants to sing contemporary songs written for her generation.

It is contemporary commercial pop, replete with engineering tricks and effects of Charice's voice. The sound has a generic commercial pop quality. Few of the songs have the same emotional impact on me as her TV peerformances, youtube live clips and even previous CD's. Because the songs are not a single performance all the way thru, but multiple takes sliced, diced and edited together, it cannot have the same drama, tension and intensity of Charice's live performances.

Most of the songs are love songs. But there is a good mix of styles. Charice's singing is always clear (when not smothered in special effects) and on pitch. All the songs have snippets of Charice's outstanding high range. But only a few songs really impressed me on first listening.

NOTE TO GOD is the clearest exception to the pop genre of the CD. It came out a year ago as a single. It displays Charice's full power and passion. But I have to complain about the last note. This should be the grandest, most inspiring note of the song. But he put some reverb effect on it that made it sound thin and metalic. She sings that note awesomely live, David's electronic tricks cannot improve on perfection!
RESET has an energetic melody, good hook, and terrific vocals.
IN THIS SONG features sweet, full-voiced singing and a terrific ending!
THANK YOU has strong, passionate, soaring vocals Charice uses to thank all the people who have helped her in her life, especially her mother. Similar message as "Because You Loved Me."
I LOVE YOU is pure pop, energetic, clear, bright vocals.
IN LOVE SO DEEP sounds like one of Beyonce's songwriters wrote this. Uh oh!
ALL THAT I NEED has a quiet, intimate accoustic begining, beautiful melody and singing.
THE TRUTH IS - a beautiful love song with sweet, powerful, passionate singing. One of my favorites on the CD.

This is an outstanding "coming out" CD for Charice. If you like commercial pop, you will love this CD. Still, for me, something is missing. I just listened to Charice's youtube vids of the Bodyguard medley, "Listen" and her best performance, "I Believe." Some songs on this CD come close, but all the special effects, production tricks and editing can't capture the awesome skill and mastery, the intensity and drama, that risk-taking fearlessness of Charice singing a song all the way thru and nailing it so beautifully, that gives me goosebumps and makes me cry, and that made her an international star!

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 100 Percent Goosebumps Rating!!, May 11, 2010

By 

mytimeandplace (Canada) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Charice (Audio CD)

Amazing! This album gave me a fabulous listening experience replete with goosebumps!

I pre-ordered Charice's debut album from Amazon and iTunes... I'm so glad I did because the album is really impressive! For one thing, it was produced by 15-time Grammy winner, David Foster, with the stellar collaboration of songwriters and musicians, who put together new songs with the catchiest tunes and meaningful lyrics. The selection of quality songs reveals that production was not rushed. Plus, the album delivers the versatile talent of Charice, whose outstanding vocals make the songs sound stunning. Charice's exceptionally wide vocal range, rich tone, extraordinary vocal control, and soulful rendition make the songs spring to life. Her phenomenal talent gets listeners to feel and appreciate each song's beautiful movements. Charice is without doubt a gifted artist whose brilliant performances turn songs of varied genres into beautiful pieces of art.

There's no denying that I've been a fan of Charice ever since I first heard her voice (when I chanced upon a PBS Special aired in December 2008). Personally, I feel that listening to the powerful vocals of Charice is like encountering some unforeseen force of nature. It is a force that has left me utterly floored countless times. That MEGAVOICE exploding from her petite frame packs an astounding power that moves and stuns the audience. Her phenomenal talent is undeniably a gift from God...what a joy to hear her sing!! To say that she is amazing is an understatement. Consider her incredible impact on audiences: big smiles, teary eyes, spontaneous applause, extended standing ovations, awe-struck exclamations, shouts of praises, and clamours for encore. If you have yet to hear her live vocals, brace yourself for the force of nature that Charice is. She is genuinely a world-class diva who delivers mind-blowing goosebump performances again and again!!!