Just Me (French Edition) [Extra tracks, Import]

Tina Arena | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 26, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Sony BMG Import
• ASIN: B00005QZ1K
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,474 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dare You to Be Happy

2. Soul Mate [single version]

3. But I Lied

4. God Only Knows

5. Symphony of Life

6. You Made Me Find Myself

7. If You Ever

8. Tangled

9. I'm Gone

10. Something's Gotta Change

11. Woman

Editorial Reviews

Tina Arena's 2001 album Just Me was written in the US and Europe with the best collaborators in the business, Nile Rodgers (Madonna, David Bowie) and Peter Vetesse (Annie Lennox, Heather Small). With a more mature and wordly electronic sound, the album rivals Dido, Massive Attack and Madonna in terms of musical quality. 14 tracks in all including three exclusive tracks to this European edition, 'Coeur De Pierre', 'Tu Es Toujours La' & 'Si Je Ne T'aimais Pas'. Also included is the first single 'Soul Mate #9'. Sony.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!, March 5, 2002

By 

agentkeith (Somewhere in the world!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Me (Australian Edition) (Audio CD)

Am just listening to it while writing this review. Just Me's very different from her previous recordings - there's no doubt that she's refused to be pidgeonholed. This time round, she's decided experiment - with delightful results!

This IS NOT a vocal album! Ballad lovers please note that there's only 1 ballad on this CD, but it's infinitely better than any other ballad that she (or any of her immediate vocal rivals) has ever released ... in fact, as someone before me said, Arena brings a rawness, sencerity and (I might add) honesty to her music that few of her contemporaries posess.

Track by track:

1/2) Dare U 2 Be Happy/Soulmate #9 (3/5)
Both are retro-disco songs with a modern touch. Soulmate #9 is more US-R&B flavoured, Dare You is more Euro flavoured. Both songs are catchy, but safe tracks, designed to illustrate to the fans this really is a different Tina, but at the same time designed not to scare them (the fans) away , after listening to these two numbers, you're gonna scratch you're head wondering if the rest of the album's gonna be the same!

3) But I Lied (4.5/5)
One of my favourite tracks, takes off from where In Deep left off. This is an out and out mid-tempo rock track with a bit of a Country flavour to it. The first thing you'll notice is that the vocal arrangement is very different - partially reminds me of one of Robert Palmer's songs "Change His Ways". It's ultra moody and very very catchy! The rifts simply ooze from Nile's guitar!!!!! :) Interesting, but you're wrong if you think that this is the limit to Arena's experimentation, in fact, it's only the beginning!

4) God Only Knows (6/5)
WOW!!! Fabulous!!! Resemble's Massive Attack's Teardrop and is a lovely slice of ambience! Cements Arena's reputation of one of the world's finest vocalist around! Her songwriting has also sharpened considerably!!

5) Symphony Of Life (6/5)
A gorgeous electronic storm - your senses will be numbed listening to this one! I could say so much more about this track, but I'll say only this - listen to it!

6) U Made Me Find Myself(6/5)
The only "traditional" ballad on this album - that is until you listen to the lyrics! This is no lovey-dovey song - it's a raw, honest, voyeuristic experience - and that's only the lyrics! The arrangements are spectacular - starts off as this intimate song and gradually opens up into a highly controlled yet emotional power ballad. Forget about "Burn" and "If I Was A River" - this one's nothing short of magical!!

7) If You Ever(4.5/5)
Start off slowly and very moodily, like a ballad the slyly changes tempo to a colourfully catchy mid-tempo disco ditty. Very interesting indeed!

8) Tangled(5/5)
Mid Eastern flavoured ambient ditty with a touch of electronica! This one's actually hauntingly catchy. Madonna, Enya (in the vocals) and Paula Abdul influences abound here along with some really addictive harmony vocals - simply superb!!

9) I'm Gone(5.5/5)
Really bouncy guitar flavoured Pop ditty - reminds me slightly of Tina's own "Standing Up", but with much better arrangements - this is what the Carpenters would sound like in the 2000's - wonderful and catchy as hell!!! :))

10) Something's Gotta Change(3.5/5)
Varying tempo song with a ambient flavour to it - really a "B" sided track, interesting, listenable, but not great when compared with best on this album!

11) Woman(6/5)
Moody electronica with a haunting ethreal vocal. It's an insight into what it feels like to be a woman and a delicious end to an almost perfect album!

(If the score awarded to the song is higher than the maximum score of 5 it means that the song exceeded my expectations)

The problem with this album is that it's for fans of "intelligent" Pop Music - so I doubt that Radio/TV will bother to give it much publicity! It's sophistication's due to the fact that Arena's spent a lot of time in Europe these past few years and is thus no longer hesitant to play around her style. I don't think she really cares much about the charts anymore.

Will this album loose her fans - yes, it will, but hopefully it'll gain her tons more! All in all - Well done!!!! :)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Me - Just Amazing!, February 7, 2005

By 

Christian "Absolutely No Regrets" (NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Me (Australian Edition) (Audio CD)

This album is one of Tina's greatest works. It definately was a big step for her to take, in comparison with her previous albums. This new brave step opened up a new bubble gum pop Tina, where she portrays happy, and lively songs, and to constrast she presents her deepest emotion in songs like 'Woman' and 'Something's Gotta Change'. This album is definately worth having. Tina Arena is an amazing music artist, song writer, and singer with one of the most amazing voices. So its a DEFINATE yes to this album.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just A Good Voice, January 14, 2003

By 

fabio-italy (milan, italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Me (Australian Edition) (Audio CD)

Well, looks like Tina is aiming high again.
This new offer has got the producing mark of Nile Rogers, Desmond Child and Pete Vettese (ex Annie Lennox).
She is moving from the ballads to the uptempos with no effort.
I DARE YOU TO BE HAPPY, SOUL MATE # 9 are the most likely songs to be chosen as singles.
IF YOU EVER is the dancefloor anthem of this project, but very radio-friendly as well.
SYMPHONY OF LIFE is a declaration of bold feelings built up onto a carpet of electronica.
The best song off the whole album is the ballad YOU MADE ME FIND MYSELF.
Pure, simple, gentle and moving to the right point.
Tina has grown up a lot again, her lyrics are more and more deeper but yet not obscure, very easy to relate.
And the music is always a welcome surprise.
I do not mind her changing directions for once, it's that voice that got me spellbound...