Customer Reviews

Just Me (French Edition)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!!!! :)

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.

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...

I have often been disappointed by Tina Arena's choice of material, which never did her voice any justice. With the exception of the dynamic "I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You" from The Mask of Zorro, and Lloyd Webber's "Whistle Down The Wind", the rest of her last album, In Deep, felt like she'd swum out too far and was in danger of drowning.
However the new album, Just Me, is bound to stun her detractors to silence. Here, the music is an inspired blend of lush strings and electronica, dance pop and balladry that showcases one of Pop's finest and most underrated talents of the past decade. Tracks like the ambient "God Only Knows" (which bears resemblance to Massive Attack's 'Teardrop'), the philosophical "Symphony Of Life", the upbeat "If You Ever" and the middle-eastern flavoured "Tangled", are all stand-out tracks that make this such a stunning ablum. It is obvious that Arena is experimenting with more adventurous sounds on this album, and thus it is her most eclectic to date. If you like the power and technique behind Celine Dion's voice and the more 'enlightened' style Madonna has adopted on her most recent albums, then I highly recommend this collection. Tina Arena brings a rawness and sincerity to her music that few of her contemporaries possess.

A word of advice: if you are able to get your hands on the import version with three bonus tracks in French, it's well worth the effort!

Who knows, maybe this time she'll gain the recognition she greatly deserves, and repeat the success she had with "Chains", back in 1994.

I have often been disappointed by Tina Arena's choice of material, which never did her voice any justice. With the exception of the dynamic "I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You" from The Mask of Zorro, and Lloyd Webber's "Whistle Down The Wind", the rest of her last album, In Deep, felt like she'd swum out too far and was in danger of drowning.
However the new album, Just Me, is bound to stun her detractors to silence. Here, the music is an inspired blend of lush strings and electronica, dance pop and balladry that showcases one of Pop's finest and most underrated talents of the past decade. Tracks like the ambient "God Only Knows" (which bears resemblance to Massive Attack's 'Teardrop'), the philosophical "Symphony Of Life", the upbeat "If You Ever" and the middle-eastern flavoured "Tangled", are all stand-out tracks that make this such a stunning ablum. It is obvious that Arena is experimenting with more adventurous sounds on this album, and thus it is her most eclectic to date. If you like the power and technique behind Celine Dion's voice and the more 'enlightened' style Madonna has adopted on her most recent albums, then I highly recommend this collection. Tina Arena brings a rawness and sincerity to her music that few of her contemporaries possess.

A word of advice: if you are able to get your hands on the import version with three bonus tracks in French, it's well worth the effort!

Who knows, maybe this time she'll gain the recognition she greatly deserves, and repeat the success she had with "Chains", back in 1994.

Australian recording artist and songwriter Tina Arena shines on her fourth release in her home country and her third release in Europe and Asia. The entire CD is a well-blended mix of Pop, R&B, Disco, and Adult Comtemporary songs. Tina has colaborated with many songwriters for this CD (Desmond Child and Robbie Neville, being of note). Every song on the CD is excellent; the standouts include the lead single in Australia, "Soul Mate #9" (whom she co-wrote with Child, has a very good R&B feel to it and is one of my favorites), the Disco sounding "Dare You To Be Happy", the Lisa Loeb-ish sounding "But I Lied" and two of my other favorites, the pure Disco/Dance sound of "If You Ever" and the Pop tune "Symphony of Life". As with Tina's style, no CD from her would be complete if it did not have ballads; the best being "You Made Me Find Myself" and the final track "Woman". I highly recommend that this CD be purchased even though it is not available in the United States. This is an outstanding CD from an artist who has a fantastic voice and, sadly, is being overlooked in this country!

After attempts made by her record company to make her Down Under's answer to Celine Dion seemingly failed, Aussie diva Tina Arena takes a different musical tack for her fourth studio long-player JUST ME. Gone are the bombastic, over-the-top ballads that showcased her admittedly potent range, and in their place we find music heavily geared toward dance and electronica. The tracks with Chic mastermind Nile Rodgers work best, particularly
the dance-driven 'Dare You To Be Happy', the funky disco nugget 'Soulmate #9', and the acoustic pop-rocker 'But I Lied'. The remainder of the set, produced by Peter Vetesse, leans toward electronic touches not unlike something you might here on a Dido or Olive album, the difference being that Arena's meaty vocals on occasion are not always a solid fit for the ethereal sounds of the music itself('God Only Knows' and 'Symphony of Life' being examples). That aside, this is a solid step forward for a vocalist who has yet to receive the international recognition she's long deserved.

JUST ME is Tina's first studio album since her last offering, 1997's IN DEEP. During the four year period, Tina was found promoting In Deep, as well as doing various side projects. Now she's back and its worth the wait. It's a whole new Tina, and a whole new direction musically. JUST ME is a more uptempo dance album than her past two albums DONT ASK and IN DEEP. In fact on this collection there is few ballads to be found, and the ones which are on here and like diamonds, simply beautiful. The first single Soulmate #9 is an uptempo disco/dance type song with a killer chorus and addictive backing track, which will keep you dancing on the dancefloor. Same can be said for her latest single "Dare You To Be Happy", which is also very disco influenced, and she sings the very true to live lyrics "When in doubt leave it out, put your faith in life.". This album will truly stun critics and fans alike with its sharp new direction musically. "God Only Knows" and "Woman" remind me very much of Massive Attack's MEZZANINE, which is a good thing. A lot of the songs have different sounds, from underground electronica, to middle eastern, there is something for everyone here. One of the best tracks on the album has to be "You Made Me Find Myself" be sure to check that out. This is the version of the album with three bonus tracks in French, they are "Coeur De Pierre", "Tu Es Toujours La" and "Si Je Ne T' Aimes Pas". They are worth the extra money, trust me. Other highlights on this sparking wonderful CD include the catchy "But I Lied" and equally catchy "Something's Gotta Change", "If You Ever" and "Tangled". However "Woman" and "You Made Me Find Myself" have to be the most poignant ones in the set. Lyrically she has continued to grow with this album. Overall this is a welcome change, and fans who haven't heard this, I urge you to check it out for something new you wouldn't expect from her.

Tina returns to the scene with another set of brilliant love songs, and oddly enough, some really great dance tracks. "Dare you to be happy" and "Soulmate #9" are incredible. Thanks to the producing skills of Nile Rodgers, Tina sounds stronger than she ever has!

"JUST ME" Tina Arena's latest 2001 release has given me inspiration, made me sad, joyous, quite off-set and just getting through the whole CD is like experiencing life all over again. It is because all the emotions are poured through this very CD. TRULY AN ALBUM WORTH KEEPING. ARENA SHINES AGAIN AS THAT AGELESS VOICE HAUNTS HER LEGIONS OF FANS AND NEW LISTENERS! A MUST HAVE! FROM "DARE YOU TO BE HAPPY" ALL THE WAY TO "WOMAN"... IT'S JUST PERFECT!
Arena will release another album this 2004 so WATCH OUT FOR IT!