Inspired (Chi) [Import]

Lea Salonga | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sony Bmg Europe
• ASIN: B000MXPE3S
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,581 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

A collection of her personal favorites & a few originals. 'To Hear You Say' (Jim Brickman), 'Do You Hear It' (Lani Macaraeg) and her official wedding song'Two Words' (Louie Ocampo). Sony BMG. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent crossover artist!, August 19, 2007

By 

brent975link "brent9752000" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inspired (Chi) (Audio CD)

Lea Salonga is a captivating Broadway singer-actress with a wonderful vocal gift for ballads. It's however nice to hear her perform covers of pop songs well beyond her usual theater genre. Few crossover artists have such an ease of transition, of which only a few notable come to mind including Anthony Warlow, Patti Lupone and Sarah Brightman. This album features lush melodies, beautiful score and topnotch arrangement. Salonga may not be as prolific as other artists, but every album that she records is a vocal masterpiece worth keeping and listening to for ages.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, January 9, 2009

By 

F. Callanta "FC" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inspired (Chi) (Audio CD)

Here's my take on "Inspired." I love the fact that Lea is famous for her beautiful renditions of songs that have been rearranged to suit her style. A great example is her "When October Goes" (from her Stage L.A. concert tribute to Mercer) which is a complete departure from the original Barry Manilow version. I guess the audience wasn't expecting such soft melodius and emotional rendition that she received the biggest ovation among other Broadway veteran performers at that concert. Since then, I have been hoping for a new album with that song but arranged by her brother, Gerard Salonga be released. Finally, "Inspired" was released. A perfect parting gift to her fans before she took the reign of the doomed Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway in 2006. Not the expected Broadway selection but this time, a tribute to popular classic and jazz songs.

Let me start with "Two Words" (did you know this was her actual wedding vow?). The introduction is new as compared to the last official recording and live performances. The sweeping orchestral movement was beautiful. It's mesmerizing and one can only admire the genius of Gerard Salonga who is indeed a master of his craft. This artiste deserves an award for the entire album or the least for this song. Lea's version of Beverley Craven's "Promise Me" is personally, a better arrangement and vocal style. It's also refreshing to hear Sergio Mendez' s classic "Waiting for Love". Reminiscent of smokey jazz bars from the 50's, I thought Lea did a splendid job in "Who Are You?" and "Foolish Heart." "Do You Hear It" is something I would like to listen to when I just want to relax. Now, straight from the 80's, I didn't know that the melody from the tv movie Brian's Song had lyrics. It's a nice retrospective of that era with a nice pop touch to it. "When Winter's Gone" is a refreshing epilogue to a more emotional "When October Goes." This version of October has a jazzier upbeat as compared to her very emotional Mercer song yet Gerard still managed to keep the beautiful signature "Falling Leaves" melody intact. Overall, this is her best non-Broadway album to date. It is a beautiful timeless recording that I can listen to over and over again. I highly recommend it to everyone.

PS. This album was "repackaged" in 2007 with 2 new additional songs "If You're Not Here" and "Of All The Things". Well worth the second purchase just for the 2 new songs.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lea Has Done It Again!, August 2, 2007

By 

FlashWriter "flashwriter" (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inspired (Chi) (Audio CD)

I'm just writing this off the top of my head, but I had to say something. I've been a fan of Lea Salonga's since her KCET Les Miserables concert... about 12(?) years ago. I had recently seen the play locally and the wonderful music from that play was still bouncing around in my head and I was just flipping channels when I ran across this TV special. Up pops this character with a voice that immediately brought tears to my eyes. So good, sooooo VERY great. Lea brought the house down...blew the doors out as no other performer in the cast did. (Man, this is just like remembering my first date.)

Everything she's ever done since then has had that effect on me. I have to listen to her CDs half a dozen times before I can put away the kleenex box (THIS CD is very much included). Yeah, go ahead and laugh (and you who have never heard her would laugh and those who HAVE will understand and maybe smile a little), but her work, her songs, her interpretations, to me, are just that beautiful.

This woman is the real deal. Maybe the best female ballad and broadway singer in a generation. New records from her have been hard to find for awhile (no wonder: getting married, doing plays in Manila, and staring in her own concert in Carnegie Hall when she was 8 months pregnant, then having a daughter and just being a mother). But she's back and all here in this CD. I don't care if this thing cost me $30.00, I'd pay twice that. Frankly, I can't understand why there are only 3 reviews here--there should be about 800!

For you Lea fans, I don't have to say anything more. For you who have never heard her: fall in love with life again. Get this CD and listen to one of the purest and most beautiful singing voices on the planet. Because you'll fall in love with more than life, you'll fall in love with her tallent and everything she puts into a song. You will, as so many of her fans have done, fall in love with her.