Hundred More Years

Francesca Battistelli | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fervent Records
• ASIN: B004IOP504
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,119 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The reigning GMA/Dove 'Female Vocalist of the Year' returns with a follow-up to her best-selling debut, 'My Paper Heart.' It's been a busy couple of years for Francesca, who between touring non-stop, getting married, and having her first child, still found time to write and record her sophomore album. 'Hundred More Years' embodies Francesca's signature sound fans have come to love, while exploring topics of family, friendship and life's joys and frustrations.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Francesca Battistelli [Hundred More Years] March 1, 2011

By Kevin Davis TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Christian music artist Francesca Battistelli has had a fun, fast paced ride on life's roller coaster the last few years. Her debut music album, My Paper Heart was a major hit.She was awarded the 2010 GMA Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. She's got married and this past September gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Matthew Elijah Goodwin. She's on top of the world and is ready for a second album entitled, Hundred More Years. The first single from this album, "This Is The Stuff," was released to Christian radio in January. In traditional Francesca Battistelli style, she tells it just how it is and all the things that drive her crazy. The main message of the song, despite all the little things that drive us all crazy, is to remember we are blessed. Francesca writes and sings about relatable subjects and her lyrics and melodies are completely infectious. Right from the opening notes, I knew I was in for a treat and musically this album is completely brilliant. The mandolin part reminds me of "Hey Soul Sister" by Train and "The Outsiders" by NEEDTOBREATHE. The bridge of "This Is The Stuff" also summarizes my prayer as a Christian: "To break me of impatience, Conquer my frustrations, I've got a new appreciation, It's not the end of the world..." Amen. "Constant" and "You Never Are" are also catchy pop songs. Every song includes at least one lyrical phrase that completely hits me where I am. "Constant" is about God's love and Francesca sings "Okay I really don't like change but I can't stop it, I'm moving forward with the promise, You are the anchor for my soul, That's all I need to know."

"Angel By Your Side" is a `beautiful, beautiful' ballad with a catchy guitar part and features Francesca's gorgeous vocals.... The balance of upbeat songs and ballads is another highlight as the songs flow perfectly together to create one of those unique musical experiences that makes this a stellar album. "Motion Of Mercy" grabs me with Francesca's sincere prayer, "God give me strength to give something for nothing, I wanna be a glimpse of the Kingdom that's coming soon." "Emily (It's Love)" features Dave Barnes and is destined to be a hit song, perhaps on mainstream radio. One argument Christians may make about this album is that the lyrics may in fact be too relatable to listeners. That would be a shame, as I was saved due to being hooked by the cross-over success of Jars of Clay's debut album, which introduced me to the Gospel for which I'm eternally grateful. Francesca has that "it" factor that could draw literally millions of listeners to hear the Gospel truths of her music such as in the next song "Good To Know" where there is no mistaking whose love Francesca is singing about in the lyrics, "It's good to know, It's good to feel the arms of grace, To know that my mistakes are covered by Your love." "So Long" has mainstream appeal as well, and I could imagine hearing the song in a movie soundtrack.

The last three songs are a little more like Francesca's impressive debut album as "Don't Miss It" has that driving rock beat and seize the day theme similar to "It's Your Life." The last two songs are my favorite songs on the album, "Worth It" is a gorgeous ballad and love song with biblical truth paraphrased from 1st Corinthians 13, "Love takes sacrifice, Love cuts like a knife, Sometimes love will make you cry, Love's not easy, But it's worth it." Similar to "Someday Soon" and "Forever Love," this could be a wedding song for believers making a marriage commitment. Having been married for 16 years with 3 young daughters, the song moves me to tears along with the amazing title track "Hundred More Years." The song is about finding that person that you want to spend the rest of your life with and falling in love. The song is about great moments in life and wanting them to last a hundred more years. I get goose bumps and well up when Francesca passionately sings the beautiful lyrics, "they can laugh, they can cry, the future looks so beautiful and bright, they can dance in the moonlight, cause God is smiling down on them tonight, and He wants to stay right here, make it last for a hundred more years." God wants to bless His children and this song completely blesses me. Thank you Francesca for making one of the best albums I've ever heard.

CLOSING THOUGHTS
I'm convinced Hundred More Years is easily the best album by a female artist I've heard in the Christian and mainstream music market since GRAMMY award winning 19 by Adele. Reigning female vocalist of the year Francesca Battistelli has hit on all cylinders with this stellar pop music album. Every song is a perfect blend of compelling vocals, musical excellence and lyrical relevance. There are no filler songs and this album gets 5 very enthusiastic stars! This album is a "must-have" for fans of Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles and Adele. Read more ›

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Speaks to the heart and soul - you've gotta buy this album! April 23, 2011

By V. S. Andrei

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

We live in a frantic and stressed out world where it's easily to get distracted and frustrated and lose track of the bigger picture where our plans fall short and fail, but Francesca reminds us that "we are blessed" ("This Is The Stuff"), that there is someone on whom we can depend even when times get rough ("Constant", "Motion of Mercy"), that there are angels in this world ("Angel By Your Side"), that sometimes we should slow down to "smell the roses" ("Don't Miss It"), and that waiting for real love is worth it ("Hundred More Years").

It's not often that I find an album where song after song speaks to me so sweetly, genuinely, and authentically - but this one sure does. I am very glad I bought a copy, because I'm going to be playing this one at my computer while I work, on my phone when I'm out of the house, and in my car when I'm on the road quite a bit for the next few weeks, if not longer!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sophomore Slums Are a "Hundred Years" Away for Battistelli March 2, 2011

By Timothy Yap TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Prime Cuts: Hundred More Years, Worth It, Angel By Your Side

Most telling are sophomore slums especially for singer-songwriters. While many have their entire lives to prepare for their debut effort, they normally have mere months before they are to birth their follow-up. Thankfully, Battistelli has not succumbed to such pressure. She has taken almost three years to churn out "Hundred Years More," after the inexorably success of her debut "My Paper Heart." With "My Paper Heart" Battistelli certainly caused a tsunami when the disc produced seven penthouse Christian hits. Further, Battistelli walked home wth the most coveted "Female Vocalist of the ear" at the Dove Awards last year. So, how does "A Hundred More Years" fare? Safe to say, Battistelli has avoided the sophomore slum by keeping one word in her foreground when making this follow-up album: balance. Unlike many other singer-songwriters (such as Suzanne Vega or Sara Bareilles) who are often given to self-indulgent tuneless coffee-house rumblings, Battistelli has her feet astride on sturdy melodious tunes as well as trying to express her faith and relationships in strikingly refreshing ways. Further, Battistelli has taken the adage "if it ain't broke don't fix it" to heart. Fans who have been taken in by "My Paper Heart" will find it easy to embrace this new disc with open arms as Battistelli has stuck to her contemporary pop light template that had first put her on the map of stardom.

It does not take a genius to figure out why lead single "This is the Stuff" is already a Christian radio favourite. Featuring a charming ukulele solo at the introduction, "This is the Stuff" is a sparkling upbeat number that tells of how God uses the stuff that often frustrates us to draw us into holiness.... The Bethany Dillon-influenced "Constant" is another pop sizzler that gives praise to the Almighty for his faithfulness. While many contemporary Christian songs often fall into the trapping that more is better. "You Never Are" doesn't yield to such a temptation. An acoustic stripped down backing accompanies this tune that speaks of God's graciousness of accepting us. Stamped with hit written all over is "Emily" which finds Battistelli sharing her microphone with Dave Barnes on a the ear-grabbing tune that has haunting echoes of Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles."

Though Battistelli has not deviate much from her "My Paper Heart" blueprint, this does not mean that she has not grown in her lyrical depths, spiritual outlook and her musical stylings. Marriage and motherhood have allowed this Dove winner to reflect more contemplatively on love and relationships. No longer just dwelling on songs that deal with fairytale romances (such as "Someday Soon" from her first release), Battistelli sings about the real thing on the romantic title cut "Hundred Years More." A future wedding classic "Hundred More Years" is just gorgeous ballad awash in gentle country-styling rhythms. While the piano-led "Worth It" finds Battistelli dealing with the challenges of love. And she tells us like it is warts and all- "love is not easy but it's worth it." Another high water mark moment comes with "Angel By Your Side" where Battistelli wears her heart on her sleeves as she speaks about self-sacrifice and companionship that is just heart warming.

With Battistelli co-writing all the 11 tracks, it's a challenge to maintain the same sublimity right through. The folky Good to Know" sounds quite repetitive while "So Long" is a nice yet not earth shattering guitar-led pop piece. Other than these quibbles, Battistelli has done it again with "Hundred Years More"--a well balanced effort that contains songs that deal with our relationship with God as well as songs that put our human relationships under the microscope. Sophomore slums, thank God, have taken a hiatus as far as Battistelli is concerned. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From Olivia G. April 20, 2011

By Rich Martin

Format:Audio CD

This CD is one my favorite CDs! I would request it to anyone. I love that it is upbeat, but still Christian. My favorite song on the album Hundred More Years is "Angel by Your Side." I think that it is a charming song that has a really comforting and important message throughout it. Francesca Battistelli is my favorite singer! I didn't really know who she was until I heard her song, "Free to Be Me." I had heard it before, but didn't ever listen to it again or try to figure out who sang it. She is now someone that I listen to a lot, and I know pretty much all her songs. I suggest that you listen to her music if you haven't already, and I bet you will like it!