Customer Reviews

Heart Over Mind

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've never heard the name Jennifer Rush - you need to! This womans voice is outstanding. Having purchased albums by many of todays Divas - I often wonder why Jennifer Rush never achieved the success in the US that she so deserves. I have been a fan for many years, purchasing most of her CD's upon their release. I still listen to her CD's and rate them among my favorites. If you enjoy Celine, Sara, Mariah, and the other Divas, give this "should be Diva" a try.

I first heard of Jennifer Rush when her duet with Elton John, "Flames Of Paradise" hit the Top 40, and I was taken by the resonant, deep but exotic voice that accompanied Elton. The rest of the album is a combination of fiery guitar rock and heavy synthesizers, not like Ron Nevison's brand. Four producers cooked the broth that became Heart Over Mind, along with well-known songwriters and session musicians, and the differing styles make a symphonic mélange of 80's synth/rock guitar music.

The intense keyboards and crunchy rock guitars, the latter done here by Bon Jovi's Ritchie Sambora demonstrate that sound in "I Come Undone" which has the intensity of Cutting Crew's "I Just Died In Your Arms." Ellen Shipley, well known for her association with Belinda Carlisle's solo albums, wrote and did backing vocals for here.

Desmond Child produced and co-wrote "Down To You" call it a power keyboard ballad, highlighted by sheets of synths over which Jen's voice rises in its glory.

Harold Faltermeyer produced the title track which is symphonic keyboards and guitar that's an emotional anthem. "Look over your shoulder and then leave it behind/put all the heartbreak away/we'll start all over one step at a time/don't let the past take my place" she declares. Notable personnel: Dan Huff's guitar and Siedah Garrett's backing vocals. The most powerful track on this album, and one that leaves me short of breath.

Faltermeyer's hands are also on "Search the Sky", which is what one does when asking why love sometimes lies, looking for a reason why. Again, her voice really soars here.

"Stronghold" is another power keyboard ballad, this time an Andy Goldmark/Bruce Roberts production. She keeps the power going on in the chorus when she affirms "this time I won't let go."

"Walking talking like a flame, baby..." Yes, that upbeat song that barely cracked the Top 40, "Flames Of Paradise" with its skippy keyboards and drums, brassy synths that come in during the chorus. A rare gem that was overlooked, but then again, Elton wasn't scoring the same success in the mid-80s that he was in the 70's. This merited a Top Ten charting at the very least, as Elton and Jennifer make a great duo.

The Harold Faltermeyer-penned "Love Of A Stranger" is a slower keyboard affair that really highlights Rush's voice to an operatic splendour, with haunting backing vocals to match, including that of Rush and Siedah Garrett, who helped Michael Jackson take his "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" to #1. Another beware of love song, because "love will hold your heart for ransome here/'til it's gone and leaves you all alone." Dan Huff's fiery guitar helps her here as it did Tiffany.

Desmond Child loaned his pen and backing vocals on "Heart Wars", which from the get-go compares two people as fighting nations, asking "is this the state of all human relations/words are like weapons, take aim and fire/love loses reason in the name of reason." It calls for sunshine instead of thunder, but given the Cold War context, this song does have a subliminal political agenda. A standout cut.

A loyal "Sidekick" is what Jennifer offers to be when a man is blindingly seduced by a "flash and trash" girl in snakeskin leather, that someone to catch him when he falls and when the snakeskin girl stalls.

It's songs like this that made me wish Michael Bolton stuck to songwriting instead of singing like he normally drinks a can of Drano after every meal. "Call My Name" is a winning ballad, where Rush's operatic timbre comes in. The keyboards and backing vocals become symphonic and operatic themselves towards the end. The production of Gus Dudgeon, best known for producing Elton John's crucial 70's albums, comes through in spades.

After hearing this, I went after her Passion album, which I enjoyed immensely, but that's another review away. As for this album, it's a strong rocking powerhouse of emotional power ballads and a woman who's got a very powerful voice whose potency I can only take a little at a time.

Jennifer Rush is the most powerfull women-voice. Just try to listening "The power of love" (the original version) and, after that, listen version of Cellin Dion (very good version). You'll understand

Possessing one of the most robust voices of any 80s pop singer, Jennifer Rush (born Heidi Stern on 9-29-60) sings like she really means everything she says. Whether it's a downtempo number like "Call My Name" or a harder- driving power-popper like the duet with Elton John "Flames Of Paradise", it is Jennifer's voice that makes everything work.

Jennifer Rush released 3 albums on Sony here in the states
in the 80's. This CD rocks. This was the second release.
She has a duet with Elton John "Flames of Paradise" and this
song is explosive. Elton John like her voice so much he asked
if he could do a duet with her-and this rocks. I am telling
you this song is awesome-Elton John can barely keep up with
her-she is just so powerful on the song. It is a great dance
song--one of the best ever recorded. The rest of the CD is more
rock sounding than the rest of Jennifer Rush's CD's but this
CD is rocking

I love this CD! "Search the Sky" is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard. Definitely worth tracking down (it's out of print). I originally got into Jennifer because I am a HUGE Celine Dion fan and Celine covered one of Jennifer's songs (THE POWER OF LOVE, a #1 hit for both of them). The reason I picked up this one so quick is because it features a duet with Elton John, FLAMES OF PARADISE. I am also a HUGE fan of Elton John. As soon as I heard the first few seconds of this song I knew it wasn't good. It is the worst track on the album. They're voices mix together, well, not nicely. Beside that fact, this is a wonderful CD! Pick up a copy somewhere before it thoroughly becomes extinct!

i can't give it five stars, since i will always believe, that the international version is THE jennifer rush album. Having been crazy about this artist for years, it is an honour to give my review.

The voice: there is nothing in today's market that can compare.

The style: a stylish voice, not just delivering but interpreting the songs.

Whatever happened to here

steve

If you like alternative and pop female vocalists and appreciate powerful,intense, and commanding voices (almost operatuic), then you need to get ALL of Jennifer Rush's CDs. A phenomenal success in Europe and Asia all through the late 80's and 90's, she has seen little penetration into the US market, although lots of her songs (i.e. The Power Of Love) have been copied/re-recorded by other artists.

Try her 1st album named Jennifer Rush after her name as a starter...You will be pleasantly surprised...If like Sarah McLaughlin & the Lilith Fair crew, the Crannberies, Enya,Tori Amos,Sinead O'Connor,and Sade, then add Jennifer Rush to your collection to compleat the spectrum of voices!

Jennifer Rush is one of the most underrated talents on this side of the Atlantic. Though having sold millions of records around the world, she is still relatively unknown in the US. If you like Celine Dion or Laura Branigan, you'll like Jennifer. She has worked with the biggest producers in the business and has several great albums not available in the US. "Out of my Hands" is great! She has a big "throaty" voice with mega-power. Heart Over Mind has a kick-ass duet with Elton John and her first album "Jennifer Rush" has the original version of "The Power of Love", which is still the biggest selling single by a female vocalist in British history. Check her out!