The Lover & The Beloved

Donna De Lory | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 31, 2004)
• Original Release Date: January 31, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: AJNA MUSIC
• ASIN: B0001DHQNA
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,699 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ganapati Om

2. Om Nama Shivaya

3. He Ma Durga

4. Hare Krishna

5. Govinda Jaya Jaya

6. Samba Sadashiva

7. Govinda Jaya Jaya (Mac Quayle Mix)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Donna de Lory has several solo albums out, but she's still best known as a back-up singer for Madonna, fleshing out choruses since the mid 1980s. There's more than a little bit of Madonna in De Lory's voice, at once fragile and vulnerable, yet still powerful, with a gospel-like yearning. On her own, De Lory has crafted artful pop on albums like Bliss and In the Glow, but she also tends toward the mystical and began incorporating Sanskrit mantras or Kirtans into her songs, a tact culminated on The Lover & the Beloved, a full-fledged Mantra journey. De Lory draws from the golden oldies of mantras, including "Hare Krishna," but revs them up with electronica beats, verse-chorus arrangements, multi-tracked vocals, and electronic textures sprinkled in with the sitars and tablas. Cameron Stone weaves his processed cello through De Lory's melodies and harmonium in serpentine rivulets, tying together the tablas of Girish Gambhira and the answering chants of Kirtan singer, Dave Stringer. Endowed with the materiel girl's sense of pop form and irresistible hooks, De Lory posits a confluence between pop and spiritual music, in which a repeated chorus has the same mantric effect as a chant. Her chants could be hymns to Krishna or a plea to a lover, but they are equally ecstatic and powerful. --John Diliberto

Product Description

These Sanskrit mantras bubble with a groove and atmosphere that takes tradition to heaven and back. Donna’s voice resonates with ether and earth, beauty that asks you to join in, become one with the sound of deep celebration.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Pure Genius, November 16, 2004

By 

Jared Hobbs "Music Critic" (Riverside, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lover & The Beloved (Audio CD)

Donna De Lory - a vocal talent not to be messed with. She is constantly keeping fans on edge and testing her chops on new styles and vocal abilities. She takes us from "Bliss" to the meditation styles on "Lover & The Beloved", showing us that no matter what the style of music, it can affect you in a way that nothing else can. This record is various chants and mantras, used primarily in yoga practices. Myself, not knowing anything yoga, was put in a relaxed, care feee mood when I first heard this. The vocals are soothing and the mantras, will help ease the problems and fears you have and put you in a place where you can be at one with the world. This is a must have record.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just love it!, April 10, 2005

By 

Ashwini Aragam (Worcester, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lover & The Beloved (Audio CD)

A lovely album. Donna brings a sense of creativity, melody and bkathi (devotion) to each of the songs. It starts with a catchy Ganapathi OM, continuing with the same catchiness with Om Namah Shivaya. He Ma Durga brings out the delicacy of her voice. I loved Govinda Jaya Jaya, which is ideal for a group chant that brings a lot of energy into the singing.

I found all the songs to be melodious. The lyrics are simple for anyone to remember easily. The tune is catchy and lingers on after listening. There is a nice blend of western and Indian instruments providing soothing background music. As in many Indian songs/chants, you will find repetition within each song, which is a nice thing. You probably will not notice it as it encourages you to remember the tune/song much easily.

I use this album in my Yoga classes regularly and come away humming for a long time. Just love it!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Donna's brilliant versatility present on new CD, May 22, 2004

By 

"boogiewoogie80" (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lover & The Beloved (Audio CD)

Donna De Lory -- words cannot express the varied talent this beautiful woman possesses. Donna has proven herself a superstar with the release of "The Lover & The Beloved", moving beyond the pop goodness of her first album, and the dance sensations of her later releases. Her verstality is evident in the this new disc, full of Sanskrit hymns coupled with harmonious beats. TL&TB is perfect for yoga class, periods of deep relaxion, or even if you want to clean your house! Donna's soothing voice coupled with the beauty of Sanskrit is an intoxicating blend of joy, so much that the CD has played in my car, my bedroom, my office, and my gym....

For those concerned about the language issue, I urge you to listen to the sounds clips and experience for yourelf the artistic endeavor Donna has been gracious enough to give to us. You won't regret it. try "Samba Sadashiva", it's a personal favourite of mine!

Toronto loves you Donna....we can't wait to see you again!