Customer Reviews

Charice

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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! =)

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!

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!!!

A few years ago, Charice is virtually unknown. The first time I saw her on Youtube was at Ellen DeGeneres, which mean I am kind a late to the show as many her video clips has been already going around for some time. The first time I saw her I said, "Who is this girl?" It turned out that most people who have seen her clips the first time has the same question, "Who is this girl? She sings so good." Soon I have been flipping up for all her videos even when she was singing when she was 9 years old. Fast forward to the Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah has not seen Charice when she guested on the show, not even on rehearsal, until the live taping and the exact same words came out from her lips, "Who are you girl?". The following week she was called by Oprah as "The most talented girl in the world". Her story is an inspiration, a modern Cinderella that has captured the hearts of millions.

Tragedy:

Charice grew up in a broken home. At a very young age, Charice helplessly watched as her father took a shotgun to shoot her mother in front of her in a fit of rage. Her mother luckily survived that dreadful moment, but her father was never to be seen again. Charice was scarred for life. Only her faith, her mother and her dreams kept her going.

The Album:

Oprah, with the legendary producer, composer David foster took Charice under their wings. This album is the fruit of that collaboration. She has already been called the new pop princess by Washington Post and one of the most promising superstars in the music industry. Each and every song was carefully chosen and fits her nicely. It has everything from ballads to contemporary beats.

1. Pyramid [Featuring Iyaz] (Writer/s - David Jassy, Lyrica Anderson, Niclas Molinder, Joacim Persson, Johan Alkenäs)
The 2nd single released prior to the album debut. Already topped Billboard's Dance/Club Play chart. An official MTV video was also shot at the famous Los Angeles Orpheum Theater with Iyaz.
2. Reset (Writer/s - Peter Habib, Adam Nierow, Charice)
Break and make-up song. You can listen to her here rapping on her native tongue.
3. In This Song (Writer/s - David Foster, Claude Kelly, Emanuel Kiriakou)
David Foster wrote this song especially for Charice. The song is the story of her life. A ballad that showcase her ability to glide through several octaves. The girl has a powerful voice, in a petite frame she can exhale 10 decibels. Truly gifted, truly talented, this song is packed with emotions. A song of inspiration.
4. Nobody's Singin' To Me (Writer - Anne Preven)
Such a cute song with a lovely melody. Catchy.
5. Thank You (Writer/s - Tom Leonard, Klaus Derendorf)
A song dedicated to somebody who has done so much for you.
6. I Love You (Writer/s - Kate Akhurst, Vince Pizzinga)
7. In Love So Deep (Writer/s - The Corrs, Richard Nowells, Billy (William) Steinberg)
8. All That I Need To Survive (Writer/s - Carole Bayer Sager, Jorgen Eloffson)
9. Nothing (Writer/s - Ryan Tim, Didrik Thott, Sebastian Thott, Sharon Vaughn)
The catchiest tune in the lot.
10. The Truth Is (Writer - Alexander James)
11. Did It For You (Writer/s - Niclas Molinder, Johan Alkenäs, Ryan Tedder)
12. Note To God (Writer - Diane Warren)
Voted the best artist performance at Oprah Show for 2009. You got to see it if you haven't seen it yet. This particular episode is one of the best performances by a singer I have ever seen in my life.

A great first original album that can attract a lucrative young market. I like the fact that the producers and songwriters didn't overuse Charice's powerful vocals, giving only hints of it through 11 songs then leaving the best for last in Note To God. The Pop/R&B genre is a great introduction for a young singer like Charice. I don't think she would sell more CD's if all the songs were powerful ballads that would be relegated to the Adult Contemporary genre. And it would not suit her age.
I know she became famous for her awesome renditions of Whitney Houston's songs but as she herself has said, the songs in her new album are the kind she listens to. I see this album as a great marketing ploy for her to build up a following. I don't expect it to break records because I don't see her as a one-hit wonder like all those record-breakers who came and went (Hello Debbie Gibson and Tiffany). I expect her to come out with albums that will get better and better each time. I can see her following Celine Dion's career path - popular in her native country first before slowly building a successful career in the U.S.
For her adult fans, I suggest buying her album My Inspiration, but for her young fans, this album is perfect.

After a long day at work, this album is such a very sweet and fantastic treat for me. Pyramid and Nobody's Singin' To Me are my instant favorites as the upbeat rhythm makes me feel more energized, undermining all my negative vibes. My exhaustion from work was gone as I kept replaying these energetic songs. All That I Need to Survive and The Truth Is are, to me, songs that will most probably become classics.

Charice is amazing on so many levels! Regardless of your age and usually favored genre of music, you will love the voice on this album. Buy one for yourself and more as gifts. Take advantage of the FREE shipping and no sales tax policies here at Amazon! You will "thank me" later :-)


Charice

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I just bought this CD after seeing Charice sing on Oprah for her new CD. This is one of the most amazing CD's that I own in my collection of 300 plus C.D's. She has the most amazing voice and the songs are very hip, current, and emotionally moving. The song "Note to God" makes me cry every time I hear her sing it. You WILL NOT be disappointed in this CD. I'm glad to pay for a CD where the money will go to someone as sweet and sincere as this young lady.

I've been experiencing Charice on youtube with her unbelievable talent (her duet with celine dion was so powerful it brought me to tears!) so my expectations were high when I bought the CD. I was not disappointed. I was actually surprised to find myself NOT disappointed. Since the music was classified as R&B/Pop, I thought the songs would not reflect the full range of her vocal abilities, but almost every song revealed the power and beauty in Charice's voice. She reminds me of Celine Dion.. If you like Celine, you'll love Charice!

AND If you are like me, tired of all these singers who really can't sing and are only where they are because they happen to be cute--yet can't even sing... If you want raw talent, someone who sings with her heart, an amazing voice, hitting all those high notes, If you're tired of studio-enhanced vocals, then Charice is what you want. Charice is among the top female powerhouses we currently have in the industry. And she is ONLY 18! I can't wait for her next release and I really hope to see a live concert on dvd out soon!

I'm 53.

I really, really like her Filippino album called "My Inspiration," where she sings extremely moving ballad type songs to and with her mother. She has a very powerful and expressive voice of extraordinary beauty.

I guess this album is just not exactly my style. It's probably me, my taste.

She is also an extremely charismatic performer. The songs from this album that I've seen her sing in person come to life more than those that I've only heard in audio.

I just hope she doesn't abandon the ballad-like genre forever.

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P.S. I've been surfing YouTube and found her performing more of these songs. Since then, I think I like the album better. It's still not my style, but she sure has a beautiful voice.