Customer Reviews

Encore

5 star:		(1,128)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(382)

 

 

Are the critics listening to the same CD, I'm listening to? Being a fan of Watson, my wife submitted a review for the Encore NZ and now I'm doing it for this US version. She just bought the latest version of Encore as a gift for me. It is fantastic!

I swear Russell Watson comes up with a new voice every time! His new track, " Is Nothing Sacred" is sung with style, in a voice that is definitely pop, clear, not a raspy-type voice as in some of his songs, and, believe me, no critic can complain about this. If they do, it's a malicious person. He has, however, developed his raspy pop voice to the utmost on "I Just Don't Know How I Got By" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" is absolutely out of this world in more ways than one. An imaginative and completely different adaptation of this song. Russell at his best!

His classical arias, "Ave Maria", "E lucevan le stelle", and "0 sole mio" can't be beat! I've heard Italian tenors sing the latter two classics and Russell compares very favorably or better with some of the singers.

His use of two voices in Va pensiero and his duet with Lulu in "The Prayer" is what Watson is all about, a talented, versatile singer that you never get tired listening to.

This guy is the most talented singer in the world! Buy this album if you never want to get tired of listening to the same album.

Having been tuned into Russell Watson from the very first, we'd been lucky enough to be part of his American debut in Atlantic City, July 2001 - and win passes to meet him backstage! What an EXTRAORDINARY NIGHT! And he proved to be JUST as charming and lovable in person as you might imagine! He performed many new songs that night - like O Sole Mio and The Prayer - which were NOT on his original CD, THE VOICE, so we knew more than a year ago that ENCORE would be FABULOUS when it came out, in late 2001 or early 2002. We'd purchased THE VOICE for more than a dozen friends, and even bought a half dozen copies of the BRITISH release of ENCORE last Christmas (2001) from Amazon UK, long before its release here in the States yesterday (10/1/02). We just loved it and had played it into the ground, but having the UK one didn't stop us from going right out TODAY and buying the AMERICAN version, just released - as it promised 3 MORE CUTS than the UK one, including Russell's much-awaited version of Queen/Freddie Mercury's BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY! Yes, you heard me right! I think Freddie Mercury would be pleased - Russell delivers Rhapsody with his unique style and his own individual touches, but with an obvious affection for the original! And the rest of the album - an absolute delight! Even more varied than THE VOICE - coupling many classic arias, ably delivered and demonstrating the growth and maturity we, his devoted fans, expected to hear develop in his wonderful voice as he learned how to use it to full advantage. He is so much stronger now - holding notes long and fully, with no strain whatsoever. But it is the vocal VARIETY he is capable of, in his pop tunes, that is totally amazing- you can hardly believe it is the same guy from tune to tune! You've never heard anything like HIM! He moves from an old standard like VOLARE or the classic SOMEWHERE, from West Side Story - then suddenly comes at you with AVE MARIA, sung with all the reverence it deserves! Then he switches to one of his wonderful pop duets - with the likes of LULU and LIONEL RITCHIE - he has really learned how to pick the perfect duet partners for the tunes he's chosen! There is so much painful meaning when he sings "IS NOTHING SACRED (anymore, is Forever just another word?), with the sad autobiographical realization that his own marriage crumbled under the weight of his sudden success. Knowing what happened in his personal life last year, and how rarely he gets to see his 2 little girls now, well - hearing him sing that one just brought me to tears! And then - the true test - singing an original, inspirational song, written just for him - as was the title theme of the new Star Trek TV series, ENTERPRISE - called going "Where My Heart Will Take Me" Just put that on when you're tired or feeling a bit down in the dumps, and Russell's ENTERPRISE theme will surge through you and exhilarate you! If you have THE VOICE already, you must go right out and get the US VERSION of ENCORE IMMEDIATELY - 16 cuts of absolute MAGIC! ENJOY! I know you WILL!

I saw Russell Watson on the Larry King Show for only about three minutes but he thoroughly impressed me in that short time singing some song in a pop voice, then suddenly switching gears into a powerful operatic tenor voice. Quite impressive.

After listening to this intriguing voice, I came to order Encore and read some of the reviews which are laughable. The favorable reviews are written by fans in love with Russell or people like myself who are amazed by this singer. Russell Watson fans should not get overly excited about the critical reviews. Anyone with common sense will realize that the critical reviews are written by elitists opera buffs or a group of hate-Watson club members. It's unfortunate that the 1 Star ratings tend to downgrade the CD so I guess it's just a matter of more fans writing why they like the album rather than talking about the critics. Anyway, it's easy to dismiss these reviews.

I can't wait to hear Encore based on what I heard on the King show. This guy can sing!

I loved The Voice....and now there's an Encore! The USA version is fabulous. Russell's voice has such a range of sound, emotion, power, clarity, depth, and appeal. He sings from his heart and any listener can hear it. I can't even imagine what he will be like in a few more years with more experience and further training. I purchased the UK version of Encore from Amazon.co.uk last January and thoroughly enjoy listening to it. Some singers' numbers pretty much sound the same. Not so with Russell. Each number reaches different places in my soul! There is a fun, happy tune called Mattinata and the soulful and deeply moving rendition of E lucevan la stella. The USA release includes a new pop number called Is Nothing Sacred that moves one to tears. His appeal is from very young to old! Even my 4 year-old granddaughter asks to listen to Mr. Russell! I would give this CD a 10 star rating!

I am a Josh Groban and Andrea Bochelli fan. I read the critical reviews and felt comfortable with them because I essentially felt Russell Watson was going to compete with my two favorite singers. I've tried to dislike Russell Watson for the past two years but try as I may it is becoming impossible to criticize his work.

After seeing him perform on TV in different programs such as the Carolyn Rhea Show and the Wayne Brady Show aired locally in our area, you can't help but admire the versatility and talent of Watson. He is unlike Groban and Bochelli as apples and oranges. I relented and purchased Encore (Groban and Bochelli fans, I still love these two singers) which I received yesterday and I have to admit Russell Watson is so talented. The way he sings classical arias one minute, then switches to pop the next and then sings in 2-3 different voices as in "Bohemian Rhapsody" is astounding. He has a beautiful natural voice and it's not forced as most singers (even Groban and Bochelli) when singing both the pop and classic songs.

I now know why the Russell Watson fans love this singer so much. He is an amazing talent. Highly recommend getting this CD.

I bought this CD after I saw Watson perform in concert in Ohio. Although I prefer his concert singing because he is such a solid entertainer along with his unusual ability to sing both classical and pop, the Encore album is sensational!

Russell Watson is a rare talent who sings pop songs such as Is Nothing Sacred and You Are So Beautiful with the best of the great pop singers and still ranks up there with the great classical singers when singing E lucevan le stelle.

I believe the album is a 4 Star rating because his Celeste Aida and Mattinata falls a little short of the 3 great tenors versions and the Prayer is good but not excellent, in my opinion. However, after reading several of the reviews, I'm giving it a 5 Star rating to offset the mindless critical 1 Star reviews that consistently appear week after week with the same writing style and criticisms by what appears to be one or two critics writing the majority of the critical reviews every week to lower Watson's credibility.

The magnificent version of Nella fantasia from the first Watson recording just blew me away. What a feast, then, to have his second CD beginning with Va pensiero, which sent shivers down my spine. Anyone who claims Watson has choppy voice or strains on his high notes should listen to Watson's O sole mio. For my money, no one sings E lucevan le stelle better than Watson.

While I preferred the classical arias of the VOICE, there still are many highlights, notably an inspiring Ave Maria, a most alluring Pelagia's Song, and two I mentioned previously, the formidable O sole mio, and the dramatic E lucevan le stelle. Listening to Watson sing Where My Heart Will Take Me, you realize that this is what separates him from all other singers, the unbelievable ability to sing a pop tune as a pop singer and not with a classical voice. This is a most attractive album.

I can't believe the critics. I'm dumbfounded as to why the critics who disliked the VOICE are now buying Encore or supposedly listening to this recording and chastising Watson again. The same criticisms labeling Watson as a bad singer raises questionable doubts as to the validity of these reviews. The Star Trek music, WHERE MY HEART WILL TAKE ME was sung by Russell Watson at the recent Commonwealth Games. Why would the Commonwealth Games ask a boring, bland singer with no talent to sing at one of the most prestigious events in the world and televised world-wide?

I already submitted a review for the VOICE but have to support Watson for this terrific CD, Encore. I purchased the New Zealand version of Encore already, but am now buying the US version since I've been told that the two new selections, IS NOTHING SACRED and BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY are sensational. Fortunately, both albums have VA. PENSIERO which displays Russell Watson's amazing voices for opera and pop. And VOLARE is sung with such gusto and feeling unlike other versions that I've heard. YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL is stunningly magical! This CD is a great buy, whichever Encore you choose to buy.

We saw Russell Watson for the first time on the Carolyn Rhea Show for only a couple of minutes. In that short time, I was awe-struck! His singing is fabulous! I immediately went out to purchase the Encore CD and decided to order the New Zealand version too. His Va pensiero just left me breathless. I intend to follow this different kind of singer forever. His rendition of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline on the Carolyn Rhea show was just terrific. I want more of him. Encore is not enough!!

Whether it's the England, New Zealand or USA version, Russell Watson can sing any kind of song - opera, pop, Broadway-with consummate ease. While the cross-over artists such as Groban, Brightman, Bochelli sing both classical and pop in their one, albeit, beautiful voices as do Pavarotti, Domingo etc., Russell Watson does not. Listen to "O sole mio", and it will be reminiscent of Mario Lanza, powerful and strong. " Where My Heart Takes Me" at the end of the CD is sung with a Sting-like voice that will sweep you off your feet. In between you will hear, "Somewhere" in a voice that is clear and absolutely beautiful, not operatic, but in the style of a Jack Jones, that will leave you breathless.

I'm not kidding, Russell Watson has a different voice appropriately suited to the song and are all brilliant. If you want a CD that gives you everything, this is it. You will never be bored. Russell Watson will make your day as he amazes you with his phenomenal voice.