Follow Your Heart

Mario Frangoulis

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: November 9, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00066459U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,394 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Greece

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rhodesian-born, Greek-raised, London-schooled, Juilliard-scholarshipped, Maria Callas Prize Winner Mario Frangoulis is a pop singer with operatic training. The voice is a high baritone/low tenor. It's very appealing, and decidedly non-operatic sounding--Bocelli, for example, is a true opera singer compared to Frangoulis. His first CD, Sometimes I Dream, was a smash hit. This one is certain to be as well. There's little here to please the classical music lover--an arrangement, with love-song lyrics, of Verdi's "Va,pensiero" chorus from Nabucco is as close to opera as he comes. But what he has to offer is a type of introspection which he puts across with gentle sincerity, and he is as adept singing in English as he is in Italian, Spanish and Greek. Most of the selections here are slow and pensive, but a spirited duet with Spanish singer Aleyandro Fernandez and "Cu' mme," a duet with the singer Melody, with an infectious beat, stand out from the rest. Years ago, this was the type of album couples slow-danced and made out to--there's no reason why the tradition shouldn't continue. If your tastes run to Josh Groban and Russell Watson, which is to say, pop singers with classical training and amazing suaveness, then you'll find Frangoulis irresistible. --Robert Levine

Product Description

Import exclusive album finds the Greek tenor lending his sensual voice to a soulful collection of smooth pop ballads & classically flavored songs. Sony . 2004.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Die For, February 1, 2005

By	J. R. SOUTH "jon south" (Albany, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mario Frangoulis, the singing dreamboat, has done it again...and then some. I did not think it was possible to top his last CD "Sometimes I Dream", but he has.

Not to be negative or disparaging, but Mario leaves Josh Groban and even Joshua Payne far behind in the dust. He brings an utterly romantic, physical, European sensiblity to the American music scene that simply did not exist in mainstream pop until now. And, ah, to gaze at those photos of him while you listen!!!

For a taste, try Amazon's sample of "Come What May" from "Moulin Rouge". You will truly experience the song like you've never heard it before. And your heart feels like it's bursting open with passion, yes? Like you're standing on a rooftop, singing to the world, yes? That's just a snippet of what "Follow Your Heart" is like. So what are you waiting for??? Buy! Buy!!!

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars spectacular, February 4, 2005

By	groomRN "Erik" (Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed his first CD, but this new CD blows it away. What a tremendous voice! You can tell he truly believes in these songs, and most of them are achingly beautiful. I especially enjoyed Here's to the Heroes. If it doesn't move you to tears and give you goosebumps, I'll be very surprised.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRUE SPLENDOR, January 25, 2006

By	W. Budris (Cranford, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was introduced to Mario via a snippet of his PBS special while flipping channels. He was singing "Nights In White Satin" with one of his idols from the Moody Blues. A fellow fan of Linda Eder and Nana Mouskouri also recommended his previous album, however, I sampled it only and didn't act. Knowing this new album was to be released, I gave it a try with the samples provided online and at B&N Store. Totally captured! I purchased the album yesterday and can only give it raves all around. I hope this album really makes Mario here in the US, as I know his worldwide acclaim is phenomenal.

"Here's To The Heroes" is a stellar piece, and very pertinent now with our troops still doing their work in Iraq. The melody is based on an orchestral piece either from a movie or classical composition. I just can put my finger on it, but oh so wonderful with the lyrics.

As I mentioned Nana Mouskouri above, and both Mario and Nana hailing from Greece, his version of Another World (Va' Pensiero) is a variation with different lyrics (that I am aware of) from Nana's 80s worldwide hit "Song For Liberty" (Je Chante Avec Toi Liberte, Libertad, Liberdade, etc - titles in various languages). This new version, along with Nana's, gives this operatic gem two definitive versions in the popular market.

I am now psyched enough to get Mario's first US CD album and try to find other international recordings done thus far. He is amazing, and I am hoping to see him in concert some day.