Forever Inspired: Tribute to Neil Diamond (Instrumental, orchestra)

Fawzia Begum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 2003)
• Original Release Date: March 15, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fawzia Begum
• ASIN: B000095971
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,246 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist

This is the first time in the last 35 years of Neil Diamond's successful career; anyone has single-handedly created an instrumental album that contains entire re-arrangements and full orchestration of his music in world fusion! This is also the first time that a female and a foreign-born, independent artist has done an entire album with Diamond’s music!

About the Artist

South Asian born, Orange County, California resident, Fawzia Begum started her musical training at an early age in Indian music. As a child she used to sing and has performed at various cultural gatherings and her father’s political campaigns. After developing greater desires for instruments, later Fawzia started performing mandolin at university and other smaller gatherings and gave a television performance back home. Now she mostly performs on keyboard. After coming to the US, she completed two semesters of piano and two semesters of classical/flamenco guitar at junior colleges to fulfill her musical desires, while pursuing her regular higher education. Music has always been her number one passion. Over the years in the United States, she got into western music, taught herself arrangements and started composing while working on her tribute to the music of Neil Diamond for the past one year. On May 18, 2003, Fawzia was interviewed by a Monterey radio station KNRY, 12:40 AM after the release of her debut album.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unique - yet Dissappointed !, July 19, 2003

By 

Sandeep Mukherjee (Kolkata, West Bengal India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forever Inspired: Tribute to Neil Diamond (Instrumental, orchestra) (Audio CD)

Neil Diamond's music has been intrumentally rendered by several artistes & 2 needs to be mentioned here before I comment on the musical content of this CD :London Philharmonic Orchestra & Forever in Bluegrass

This CD is quite a "first" by a fan who has created independent music, based on her musical education and use of synthesized music.Her passion and respect for Neil Diamond is truly incredible and I can identify with this as I have been a similar fan for the last 22 years !

While, she has experimented and mixed various styles in this CD, it really is difficult for the whole package to stand its ground if compared to the earlier instrumental CD/s, as these remain very true to the melody and rhythm base of the songs in question.If you have to strain your ears to find the essential Neil Diamond melody in this mix-up of sounds,most of which is electronically rendered, its not my idea of creativity. But yes, there are high points in this collection - HOLLY HOLY and SKYBIRD. But again, for the rest, its nice to hear, while you are doing something.

And, I dont do anything, when Neil Diamond is on !

However, I think all Neil Diamond Fans should buy this CD and not base their judgment on my review. One will always find this music interesting as you go about your life and hope that Fawzia finds a new platform to take her passion further.

4.0 out of 5 stars Instrumental, tribute to Neil Diamond, June 15, 2007

By 

Kenny Brooks "Kenny R." - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Forever Inspired: Tribute to Neil Diamond (Instrumental, orchestra) (Audio CD)

After you've seen Neil Diamond in person, and have all his original CD's, Box Sets, and have seen his movie, then this CD does not compare. However if you want to hum along or sing along with this easy listening CD then it is for you...I enjoy just listening to the songs at night...along with other instrumental Neil Diamond tribute CD's.....I even have a L.P. record a D.J. sample, with an interview with N.D. You follow the scrip on the record cover to ask Neil questions, then he answers them....great for recording to tape, as one would think you were sitting right there interviewing Neil Diamond....so I like anything by Neil Diamond...even this CD....

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst Neil Diamond Tribute CD Ever!, June 27, 2006

By 

M. A. Newman "cellapie" (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Forever Inspired: Tribute to Neil Diamond (Instrumental, orchestra) (Audio CD)

I got this CD for three reasons: A. I'm a huge Neil Diamond fan and love to hear different interpretations of his work; B. It was in my Amazon GoldBox offer at a reduced price; and C. The reviews were really good. The lesson I learned? Don't trust the reviews! If you like listening to etheral, synthesized New Agey music, then by all means snap up this "gem." But if you're like me and prefer ACTUAL music as opposed to VIRTUAL music then run screaming in the other direction. I made the mistake of having this as my ONLY CD in the car this morning to work as I listened to it the first time. I couldn't even tell what the songs were without looking at the CD case because the arrangements were so, well, loopy. Remember those Wurlitzer Fun Organs from the 1970s that were the size of a Buick? It sounds like this CD was created on one of those. The result? A cacophony of noise that sounds like cell phone ringers going off. If you want to get a Neil Diamond tribute, get the recently released Neil Diamond is Forever with a killer version of "Solitary Man" by Crooked Fingers. The Bluegrass tribute--Forever in Bluegrass--is also much better because the music is recognizable and played by a cadre of skilled musicians. But this CD is going to find it's way to eBay...and quick!