Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits 1994-2004

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Prime Cuts: Wasn't It Good, Sorrento Moon, Heaven Help My Heart

Greatest Hits albums are a kiss of death. They can signal one of two things: on one hand, it could suggest that the artist is taking an extended break without a new album on the horizon. On the other hand, it could also indicate that the recording company has decided to turn the artist loose. For Melbourne born Tina Arena, sadly it is the latter. Earlier in 2004, Sony Music Australia has decided to drop their once platinum studded star after a commercially abysmal album "Just Me" and Arena's failed attempts to crack the American pop market. To prove that there's no rancor in the parting, Sony has been altruistic in coming up with a generous dollop of 27 tracks for this double disc collection! Culled from Arena's 3 studio albums, movie soundtracks, remixes from various singles, a couple of new tracks and 9 foreign language album tracks, this is indeed value for money.

But it's not the quantity, but also the quality of Arena's performance and her dexterously chosen songs that make this CD such a magnum opus. Vocally, Arena has the tenacious resilience of a Celine Dion, the mellifluous sweetness of an Olivia Newton-John and the bombastic exuberance of a Barbra Streisand. And she puts her voice to best use especially on those big pop ballads like the ultra romantic "Sorrento Moon," the poignantly lustful "Burn" and the endearing Foreigner classic "I Want to Know What Love Is." Being a writer herself, Arena has the gift of exploring new tributaries of pain. This is especially evident in the caliginous "Heaven Help My Heart." Written as a prayer of a forlorn lover to God, "Heaven Help My Heart" has such an intimate dimension that you might have thought it is a tete-a-tete conversation with the Divine. Equally effectual is the plaintive "Wasn't It Good." Heartbreak had never been so eloquently articulated and so melodically prehensile. Though an expatriate to the American country music community, Arena's scribal skills have been acknowledged when "Burn" and "Heaven Help My Heart" have re-recorded and became hits for Jo Dee Messina and Wynonna Judd respectively.

When it comes to the more jocund side of romance, she equally excels on the melodically superior "If I Didn't Love You," a big hit from her "In Deep" CD. Teaming with songwriter and producer Desmond Child, "Soulmate #9," the chic vanguard single from her "Just Me," finds a fun filled Arena kicking up her heels. With a fresh beat and a bouncy tune, Arena shows that she can just be a hip as Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears without sacrificing an iota of her integrity. Though it covers no new territory, the catchy "That's What a Woman Needs" is a stately feministic anthem without giving in to any tetchy male bashing. Stately and pensive, Diane Warren's ballad "If I Was a River" has all the fingerprints of the hit writer. However, titillated to the more cliché side, "If I Was a River" is no where near the profundity this lady hit writer is capable of.

"Italian Love Song" (an English language midtempo number with a fresh beat) is the first of the two new cuts. Already a top 40 Australian hit, "Italian Love Song" finds Arena going to her Italian roots. Though one would wish Arena and her co-writers would utilize the Italian influence more pronouncedly both lyrically and melodically. Fiona Kernaghan's (an Australian country artist in her own right) "Take Me Apart" has a 70s pop feel without being too acerbic.

Why American pop radio has not embraced Arena is an enigma. At the apogee of her career, her "Don't Ask" CD was even outselling Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Celine Dion in Australia. In France, Arena has been a mainstay on their pop charts. Corollary this has resulted in the 9 foreign language tracks here, with her tribute to Edith Piaf "Les Trois Cloches" being the highlight. Conspicuously "Greatest Hits 1994-2004" captures conspicuously some of Arena's biggest moments over the past decade, but it is also proleptic of greater things to come from this Australian (and hopefully international) icon.

It's quite the travesty that more people didn't give Tina Arena a chance, at least stateside. She looked as though she might break back in '96, thanks to the crackerjack single "Chains", and follow-up "Show Me Heaven" was recorded specifically with US radio saturation in mind. Alas, like so many good things in life, it wasn't meant to be, and so success in Australia and later Europe had to suffice. It's a shame, as she possesses one of the more smashing voices in pop circles(as Sony's attempts to fashion her as the Australian Celine Dion amply attest to). Still, as compilations go, this particular one is quite stellar and reaffrims that Arena had far more in her beyond "Chains". Highlights include the aforementioned "Chains" and "Show Me Heaven", "Burn", "If I Was A River", a fantastic rendition of "I Want To Know What Love Is", as well as her recent, more dance-oriented material("Soulmate #9" and "Dare You To Be Happy"-the remix here shames the original). On the very miniscule downside, I was never much a fan of "Heaven Help My Heart" or "Now I Can Dance", and though "Symphony of Life" is a lovely, electronica-laden tune, Arena's hefty vocals don't mesh particularly well with that type of music(more suited to Dido or the like I'm afraid). Still, as a whole, this set outclasses alot of the assembly-line dreck that seems to be multiplying at an alarming rate nowadays. Highly recommended.

Like many reviewers, I have also wondered why Tina did not catch fire here in the USA. She has a magnificiently controlled voice, is a knockout to look at, and is a fantastic "live" performer as well. My only guess to her not breaking big in this country is the fact that right now what is "on the charts" is unfortunately not really geared towards artistry, but attitude. Sadly, when the radio programmers and owners look for the money, they have to play what is in vogue, and what is in vogue in the US right now (and for some years) is not necessarily anything that requires talent. One of the reasons Tina did not achieve what she deserved in the USA is that she was not seen or heard like she should have been. Europeans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese...they all know a good thing when they see and hear it, and Tina's success in those respective areas of the world prove it.

Tina Arena is undoubtedly one of the best female pop singers of the modern era. Her stunning voice & vocal delivery are up there with the very best of the best. And to match this she has a large repertoire of top quality pop & adult contemporary songs. I, like many people, was always amazed that she never became a massive star in the USA. Even her home country Australia eventually turned its back on Tina - who knows why? But, she was smart & moved to a country (France) where her talent, artistry and professionalism would truly be appreciated. Anyway, this Greatest Hits collection is a must for any true Tina fan or anyone wishing to become one! My alltime favourite Tina song - "If I Was a River" - is adult contemporary music at its absolute best. 5/5.

I will be honest, i would have loved this cd better if it had her very early work, such as songs as "i need your body" and "strong as steel" from her first album. I just love Tina though, in my opinion she was underrated from the very beginning, she has such a beautiful voice and sings with so much emotion much better than kylie minogue who is more famous in australia, my favourite songs are "sorrento moon" one of the most romantic songs i've ever heard and it shows a tallent that kylie minogue lacks which is why i love tina and other songs like burn ,chains(probably her most famous song) and "now i can dance" but most of her work is really good.

Fans of Female Singer/Songwriters should definitely check out 2 New Releases: Tina Arena - Greatest Hits and Amber - My Kind of World. Though practically unknown in America, Tina is a Superstar in France and her native Australia. This Disc contains all of her hits, including the Diane Warren penned "If I Was a River" (recorded for the U.S. Version of "In Deep"). Amber's latest CD is "My Kind of World". Her first Single release "You Move Me" has already hit #1 at XM Radio. Although not a Greatest Hits release like Tina's CD, "My Kind of World" may as well be. It is packed with potential Singles. "Voodoo" is already being remixed as a Second Single Release for early 2005. And the Whitney Houston Meets Pat Benatar Power Ballad "Sacrificial Lamb" and the Pat Benatar-esque "Just Like That" are possible 3rd and 4th Singles. My advice to fans of Female Singer/Songwriters? Get BOTH Tina Arena "Greatest Hits" and AMBER "My Kind of World".

I'm so sick of getting on any female diva message board or postings at all and seeing this guy writing about Amber. It's very obnoxious. Write about Amber at Amber's site or in comments about her album. I personally really like Amber's new album too, but stop.