Customer Reviews

Pretty Baby

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

 

 

The version of "Pretty Baby" in this import CD single is the "new album version", the one used in the video, and which is a thousand times better than the original. The original was weak and had no structure. To the new version, a nice, faster bass was added, a few more piano notes were also added, and the vocals were a bit sped up or resung. The result: A wonderful, lullaby-like song about a woman who cannot deal with her significant-other leaving and ending their relationship. Unfortunately, radio did not play this song as they did her previous two singles, and thus did not chart on the Billboard-Hot 100.

Included is the director's cut of the video, who's "twist" ending was edited for MTV. The one here is the original version, with the original ending. Also included are live versions of "Twighlight" and "A Thousand Miles" from her debut album "Be Not Nobody".

Vanessa's cd single 'Pretty Baby' is so beautiful. The lyrics may seem just a LITTLE weird sometimes, but the music is so amazing! My two favorite songs on Vanessa's "Be Not Nobody" album are "Twight" and "A Thousand Miles". I WAS SO GLAD TO HAVE THEM ON THERE ALSO! Twilight is one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard from anyone! And A Thousand Miles has such skillful piano in it-it's the reason why i play piano now! This cd is definetally worth your money. I promise you wont be dissapointed at all.

Vanessa Carlton's first two singles off "Be Not Nobody" were amazing songs. "1000 Miles" and "Ordinary Day" spoke highly of her strength as an artist. Alas, with any new artist, there are growing pains. There are likely to be songs that fail to live up to expectations. Carlton's third single "Pretty Baby" is one of those failures. Truly, it manages to fail on every level. Musically, it's not very impressive; lyrically, it is a bizarre ode to obsession; vocally, Carlton leans far too much on the pouty, babyish style she used only in limited moderation in her earlier songs; and, finally, the video for this song is extraordinarily bizarre and disturbing.

I like Carlton enough, and still think her voice is pleasing enough to save this song from the embarrassment of a 1-star rank. However, she needs to look at this song and realize that this was not her best effort. The elements of her two earlier singles (soaring vocals, expert piano play, etc...) are what she needs to incorporate into future efforts. I can only hope that this song is a mere anomaly.

Listening to this song and comparing to Vanessa's more superb songs, this one gets lost in the glow of the others.

The lyrics are somehow dorky and the arrangement of the Single Version is too formulaic that one would suspect that this song was only concocted to add a more pop-oriented song to her debut.

The original album version is more listenable though, with its more stripped-down, almost acoustic arrangement.

I never liked Vanessa Carlton, then when I heard this song it became one of my faves really fast! At first I thought it was Mandy Moore, it sounds like her, anyway, I dont know what it is about it, but Its a very good song!

...It is also, ironically, the reason why I gave her album 4-1/2 stars instead of 5. Listen to the lyrics of the chorus: "Pretty baby/Don't you leave me/I have been saving smiles for you"? Wha? Ah well, the melody and the rest of the lyrics are good enough for people not to care.