Customer Reviews

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing [feat. Aygun Beyler and Mahsa Vahdat]

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

 

 

The intro really drew me in. Very middle eastern and vocalizations that reminded me of Ofra Haza. But then it moves into a relatively traditional singing of the song. It continues to shift back and forth between the more traditional song and middle eastern instrumentation/vocalizations.

I'm giving this 3 stars because I *really* like the middle eastern portions. I wish the whole song had been like that instead of this mix of new and traditional.

The intro definitely has middle-eastern influence, some parts are probably how you might have heard them if you were in the holy land a couple thousand years ago. I think that this treatment gives the song its unique appeal. If you don't like the sound of middle-eastern chant, you might want to stay away. I don't think an Arabic influence was the intent, but rather, Jerusalem. (I could be wrong, but that is what I hear.)

The song does also have standard voicing that is clearly just contemporary, but it is intermingled with middle-eastern chords and sounds. I enjoyed its uniqueness and I think it would have been interesting to hear a version that was completely middle-eastern-ized.

If you like world music and esp. middle-eastern or a fusion thereof, do download this and listen to it.

This really is a beautiful version of a Christmas classic. The Middle Eastern flair and instruments is mesmerizing and it's such a beautiful blend.

This is a very nice version of this song. A middle eastern, 'Bethlehem' feel, for sure. Love her angelic voice. You probably will too.

When I listened to the snippet, I had hopes that this would be an original take on the classic song. Sadly, after the short Middle Eastern intro, this becomes just another bland classic carol sung by a mediocre singer. If you like very traditional carols, give this a try. If you're looking for something different, this isn't it.

I'm not usually a big fan of this particular holiday song, but this version sits quite nicely with me. It seems to have just enough modern twist to it, without sounding like a pop song, that it works nicely.

This piece was a part of a holiday sampler that I got and I like it.

What kind of music is this? This song is intriguing during its Middle Eastern inspired sections, but not so much during the rest. If you listen to the whole CD you will find a varied mix of sound types and genres and this song is a great example of how this artist seems to be confused about who she wants to be.

Like many of the other reviewers, I would have enjoyed this more if she had gone with the Middle Eastern sound throughout. As it is, it's just OK.

I enjoy this song, but agree with other reviewers in some areas where the song falls short of greatness. I would have preferred the middle-eastern feel to have more heavily influenced the main interpretation of the song, rather than just been scattered throughout and underlying the traditional rendition of this (nonetheless beautiful) carol.
One other point that I can't seem to get away from when listening to this song - What is up with her pronunciation of the phrase "incarnate diety"?! It's SO distracting to me. Am I the only one who hears that as a gross mispronunciation?

If you're a fan of traditional old-school Christmas music, this is not for you. It's a classic song, but a modern interpretation that will turn off some people. Including me.