Customer Reviews

Faryl

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a lovely, lovely voice Faryl Smith possesses! I was caught completely off-guard by the extraordinary purity, the exceptional timbre, and especially the dynamic range of her soprano instrument - a combination which is rarely found in any vocal artist, much less one who is (barely) a teenager.

Her self-titled debut CD could not be a better showcase for her remarkable talent. Faryl performs an impressive variety of selections that span many musical genres, including sacred ("Amazing Grace"), pop ("Annie's Song"), classical ("Brahms' Lullaby"), American traditional ("Shenandoah"), and Broadway ("Somewhere" from West Side Story) music - and she excels at each of them. I found her interpretations to be transcendent; even when she sang familiar songs by other artists (such as an adaptation of ABBA's "The Way Old Friends Do"), she was able to make them completely her own.

The CD includes her 'signature' song, "Ave Maria" - a notoriously difficult selection because of the demands it makes on the performer's range and breathing - and she nails it effortlessly. However, I was most impressed by the exquisite "Mother of God, Here I Stand", a track without lyrics in which Faryl's voice becomes the predominant instrument of the London Session Orchestra; her performance of this selection put a lump in my throat the size of a baseball.

It goes without saying that Faryl Smith won't be everyone's cup of tea; no artist ever is. However, if you're a fan of outstanding vocal performances, of easy listening, or even of pop music performed with a classical twist, you will definitely want to add this phenomenal CD to your music library. Most highly recommended.

First discovered by "Britain's Got Talent", Faryl Smith's album is full of enjoyable surprises. Smith looks like a brunette Cameron Diaz, but her voice reminds me of a cross between a classically-trained Broadway singer and ABBA's Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

The album has something for everyone. There's a Celtic number - "Calon Lan," and a Broadway showtune, "Somewhere."

I enjoyed both her classical and religious numbers, such as "Amazing Grace," her signature "Ave Maria," and her lyric-less "Mother of God, Here I Stand," but was also very pleasantly surprised by her take on more modern fare, such as "Shenandoah," "Annie's Song," and my personal favorite, "How Can I Keep from Singing."

Her "The Way Old Friends Do" (by ABBA's Benny Andersson) would make a great song for high school or college graduations or reunions.

Faryl has an enormously listenable voice. It's music that you can put on in the background while you're carrying out a task, a conversation, or enjoying dinner. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of soprano/mezzo-soprana style female vocalists. You can't go wrong with this CD.

Faryl shows a very strong refreshing voice. It was made for religious songs with her strongest songs of the album Ave Maria and then Amazing Grace.

Annie's Song was a good example of her singing ability, but the arrangement was nothing special.

Mother of God, Here I Stand was a particularly beautiful rendition and even though she doesn't sing a word, her voice accompaniment was pleasure.

I found The River of Light (Blue Danube) to be somewhat odd for inclusion in this grouping of songs.

The songs are very plain and they do allow her to be the center of attention, but it would have been nice to hear some different arrangements on this hosting of long time favorites.

Shenandoah as well as A Nightingale in Berkeley Square come across as you would expect show tune style songs to do. Her voice is so strong that without a correspondingly aggressive background, she has a tendency to be a Broadway voice in these songs. Although, with Faryl singing, there is nothing particularly wrong with that. But it feels too commercial at times.

How Can I Keep From Singing is a "Enya"-like song, but there isn't the depth and interest to compete with that style. However, her voice is certainly capable.

I am a sucker for anyone singing "Somewhere", even Barbara Streisand. But this one falls flat without the chills that I normally get. I was disappointed with this one; I just wasn't as engaged as I can be.

The Way Old Friends Do was a good start to having something different.

Everyone sings Brahm's Lullaby, but there was nothing new on this one.

With the arrangements so plain, I'm not sure that this CD will be the one that you play over and over again to hear. And that is a disappointment, as Faryl's voice and carry is exceptional. She deserves more from the production of her music. Faryl's singing gets a "5", the background and production get a "3" giving the overall rating a "4".

Really pleasant cd to listen to. Faryl's vocals are crystal clear and so easy on the ear. My favorite was her version of Annie's Song. Her timing, pitch and slight Irish lilt bring new life to old songs. What a pleasure to enjoy another version of Shenandoah and How can I keep from singing.

Fans of Enya, Mary Fahl, and Michelle Tumes will find a kindred heart in Faryl's music. If you are searching for vocals that are uplifting and a joy to listen too, then this cd by Faryl is just the ticket.

I've long yearned for an album like this where the voice is pure talent and the album is meaningful. Faryl's voice is amazing and the songs she sings are more than look-how-pretty-I-can-sing-it. From the spiritual grandeur of Amazing Grace to the sweetest of lullabies in Brahm's Lullaby (where my son told me "Mom, this song puts me to sleep"), Faryl performs flawlessly with pure beauty. It's refreshing!

I don't think there is a weak song in Faryl's debut album. Each song is dynamic...with a few that will bring you to tears.

This CD is a keeper! And probably all her future ones as well.

Faryl's voice is extremely well developed for someone so young. She has wonderful tone and carries beautifully. However, I'm not sure all of the songs in the album were right for her. On some, she did quite well, inserting a lot of feeling. Others, however, I felt were too emotionally advanced, particularly those in other languages, for her to truly capture the emotional majesty, leading to a rather flattened affect.

She also still needs to work on her annunciation of words when singing.

Overall, however, a very pleasant experience, and a FANTASTIC job! It's hard to believe she's only 13! However, I wouldn't really call her a true Soprano... More an alto with a meso- soprano reaching range (which is a great range).

What talent for such a young girl. I think she should have won "So Britain"s Got Talent". I sincerely hope she stays with Classical music as her voice can only get stronger as she matures.

I downloaded "River of Light" as a freebie from iTunes and was impressed with this "Britain's Got Talent" reality show star. Hoping she wasn't a one-shot wonder, I ordered her CD album and I couldn't have been more impressed. She has a pure beauty to her voice and amazing vocal range.

Most of the songs are familiar but she shines in her renditions and makes them her own. The accompaniment is kept to a minimum which amplifies her voice- which is great because she has no need to hide behind orchestration.

One of my particular favorites is, "Mother of God, Here I Stand." No words, but the range and feeling in her voice is incredible. "Annie's Song", an old John Denver favorite, is simple and very sweet. I also recommend, if you don't plan on buying the whole CD, "River of Light (Blue Danube)." It's a familiar orchestral piece and if you add Faryl's voice- beautiful sound!

If I had to describe her voice, I would say classically trained but crossover ready. She doesn't sound like an "opera" singer but has a sophistication that some young singers often lack. Overall, her voice is sweet yet full with a wide soprano range. I think Simon Cowell said it best when he said of her, "literally one in a million...the most talented youngster I've ever heard."

I enjoy several of the (original) songs on this album, and while I'd never before heard of Faryl, I decided to give her a chance based on the number of famous people she had working with her.

First the good: Faryl's voice is excellent. She has smooth power, a great range, and a striking sound. The album description mentions the standing ovations she receives in concerts, and I would believe it. She's an excellent singer.

Unfortunately, the music and arrangements on this album are equally uninspiring. The sweeping majesty of "Amazing Grace"? Check. The resounding inspiration of "Ave Maria"? Check. The lyrical rocking of "Brahm's Lullaby"? Check. The orchestra and the choir perform admirably, but it's a pretty standard arrangement overall, and that really hurts Faryl's entire album. Place this CD in rotation with other classically trained vocalists, and the songs here just come off as average.

This album had great potential, but everything was done so by-the-book that Faryl never really has a chance to shine.

Faryl She has a voice that is incredible for any grown woman, and she is just 13. I downloaded (from Amazon) this album, and I have to say this is only the 2nd album in 33 years that I have enjoyed EVERY TRACK. Wow, she is incredible.