Customer Reviews

Unwritten

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In 2001 Daniel Bedingfield burst onto the scene with his debut single "Gotta Get Thru This" which became a massive UK No.1 single. His album followed similar success throughout 2002 and 2003 selling more than 1 million copies. Then in 2004 as he took a break to record his new album, his young sister, Miss Natasha Bedingfield, also burst onto the scene! A lot of people were sceptical to begin with as they thought she was just cashing in on the already-famous Bedingfield name, but the music soon spoke for itself. In the UK Natasha has experienced amazing success in 2004 and I'm sure this success will only continue into 2005.

After the Top 3 success of her first two singles in the UK, Natasha released her debut album "Unwritten." It went straight to No.1 in September 2004. The album itself is, for a first album, very good indeed. The music has many elements to it that make it a memorable debut, including pop, soul, rock, indie, and dance. Natasha incorporates all these themes into the songs on this album to create something that isn't just your typical pop album, but something a little bit different - a little bit left of the middle. A lot of artists do this and can't still appeal to the mass public, but Natasha has done it effortlessly here.

The album opens with the superb "These Words." The second single to be released from the album in August 2004, this song went straight to No.1 in the UK and has become one of the year's most played radio hits. It's not hard to see why because it's a breezy, upbeat song that just flows in the beautiful choruses with Natasha's gritty vocals. "Single" is the next song, and was Natasha's debut single. She sings of being independent and on her own, but we've heard all this before from Destiny's Child, Christina, Britney, etc. The song itself is good but it never really attracted my attention. "I'm A Bomb" is much better, thankfully, and is definitely worthy of being a single. The word play and clever lyrical style works well here along with the hard and loud guitars. "Unwritten" is the third and latest single to be released from the album and became a big Top 10 hit. It's a light and breezy song with a very memorable backing. The choir works very well and the chorus is also very well constructed. Someone said this sounded a bit like an Alanis Morissette song. It doesn't.

"I Bruise Easily" is another beautiful song and has a very chilled, mid-tempo feel to it. I love the beat on this song and the piano is very emotional. Natasha sings of how she's very fragile in the middle, despite her racy, brave exterior. It's a really nice song because you can relate to it very well, and the way her vocals go all breathy in the chorus makes you feel this. "If You're Gonna..." totally switches back to Natasha's daredevil nature in a fast, loud rocky pop song about taking risks in life. I love the chorus where she sings, "If you're gonna jump, then jump far! Skip the 'um' and 'ahh.' If you wanna hit the high notes then you gotta be a Diva!" The way her voice rises on 'Diva' is so funny! "Silent Movie" is another fantastic song, but it took quite a lot of listening to get me to like it. It opens very strangely like something out of an old silent movie from the 1920's where all the screen is dull and crackly, with a yellow tint to it. The chorus soon kicks in and is very refreshing. "We're All Mad" is another superb song with a catchy beat that's similar to track 4. The chorus is very strong as is the case with most of the other songs here, and the build up to it is probably the best part of the song.

"Frogs & Princes" is a really strange song that sounds like something right out of a Disney movie set in an alternative universe. The blips and beeps work very well, and the chorus is really swift. That's the only way I can really describe it because, unfortunately, it sounds like something from the Spice Girls album "Forever!" The next song, "Drop Me In The Middle," features Bizarre from D-12 and just doesn't really fit with the album. The song itself is alright, but I really hate D-12 and just to have him on an album doesn't work. Plus, Natasha makes completely different music to him and his band. "Wild Horses" thankfully is a much better song. She sings about wanting to go out into the big wide world and be free of negativity, but it's easier said than done. Horses are used as the metaphor to put this across, and I think she does it very well. "Size Matters" is a jaunty little pop number about the size of a man's heart and how he uses it. It's a bit of a corny song, because we all know what people refer to when they talk about a man's size! "Peace Of Me" closes the album but it's not a very memorable song.

OVERALL GRADE: 7/10

I'd definitely recommend this album to people who like artists such as Nelly Furtado and Alicia Keys. It has an 'alternative' appeal to it, but not really alternative to the point of abstraction from, say, Bjork or Tori Amos. I've still yet to buy an album by Daniel, and I really want his debut because I loved all the six singles that were released from it. Natasha's a better artist in my opinion because I really love this album. I can't see myself listening to it in say ten year's time, but who knows? Make up your own mind - everyone's talking about her.

"Gotta Get Thru This" put Daniel Bedingfield on the pop map as a great producer and artist. His brand of pop unashamedly infused retro Michael Jackson with recent pop trends. Who could forget "James Dean" or "If You're Not the One"? Everyone knew that that guy had an ear for good music, but it was unlikely that his sister would rise due to his success.
Natasha Bedingfield is one sister nobody saw coming. This New Zealander climbed onto her brother's rocketing success and got a contract. Surprisingly her effort, Unwritten, is not a pawn in the record industry's game is it would be.
The album approached pop with the same vigor as her brother's. Her buoyancy on tracks such as the hit single "The Words" make it a treat to listen to. Other tracks rely on a strong message and a catchy zeal like "Single" - an anthem to every lonely heart.
Standouts include the heartbreaking "I Bruise Easily" and the title track.
The lyrical tongue-and-cheek of "Frogs and Princes" is, for the lack of a better word, cute.
Unwritten is a sweet effort. Approach it with no pre-conceived notions.

So I was walking around the music store where I work, and I found this just sitting there, and I was like "Oh...Daniel's sister!" I didn't own Daniel's CDs, because the music isn't quite what I like. I listened to it, and wow...I was very surprised. She's very different than her brother, but you can tell they are siblings...they have the same accent which is actually really cool.

The music is kind of R&B and goes along the same kind of Europop/rock kinda stuff. Jeanette is a good example of what she sounds like, but she's unique just the same. It's bouncy and it's hard in places, but it has kind of this hip hop feel.

My favorite tracks on the album are "If Your Gonna" which is more rock than anything. It's hard for her album, and it's something I can dance to as well. Another favorite is "These Words" of course, is good. It sounds like PINK. I tell you, she really does sound like Pink for more American audiences.

So anyway, I love this album, it's good, it's Eurorock/pop stuff. If you're into that, pick this up. If you like Daniel, then pick this up, because it's his sister...come on!

this is one of the best CD's i own...i listen to it all the time!
I had first heard of natasha from the bbc.com's music countdown, and was completely blown away. her song- single and These words are awesome. you can definitly groove to all of them!
rockin awesome album!!!

I'm not a big fan of popish music but this was a nice surprise! I heard a track of hers in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (she is on the soundtrack) and I checked her out. Natasha Bedingfield has a nice voice and her album has catchy grooves and nice tunes. There are some really pumped up songs (such as I'm a Bomb, Frogs and Princes, If Your Gonna) that make me want to go out jogging (which in fact this is good for).

As a HUGE fan of Ms Bedingfield, I was so excited when this was released that i got it off Amazon UK (there's no way I could've waited for a US release).I expected an album with easy-to-digest songs like "Single", songs you can like with just one listen.
I was dissapointed.
The album was left untouched for a month or so, until I decided to give it another try. Unwritten is left of center, not your typical pop album.An emotional rollercoaster, if you may. Natasha darts with much ease and confidence from songs like"I Bruise Easily" to "If You're Gonna". She is, as usual, straightforward and brave, lyrically. Take note the inspiring title track- she sings it like the cool older sister I've never had.
Natasha Bedingfield is the only proof you need that a good album is all you need to be noticed.
None of those stripping down to your last 2 inches of your threads required.

I was drawn to Natasha's album from the lead song - These Words. However, I felt three tracks were worthy of stand out performance: power ballads - Wild Horses and I Bruise Easily and gospel feel - Unwritten. This is an excellent album and scores a perfect 5!

I first head the song "I Bruise Easily" When I was on vacation in New Zealand and I bought the album because I loved the song. Now it's one of the few albums I can listen to all the way though without getting bored. Bedingfield mixes it up with up-beat pop style hits (These Words, Unwritten) but proves she's got a great voice on tracks like I Bruise Easily. Overall it's a great album that I would highly recomend to anyone who has varied tastes in music.

Natasha Bedingfield is, for lack of a better word: pop. She's that same brand of pop that's been pushed out of the States for the more punk pop sounds of Good Charlotte and Simple Plan. However, unlike some of the pop stars from the past, she has an R&B edge that will propel her to success--the person who made the Pink comparison is right, however, it's the early "Can't Take Me Home" Pink style Natasha brings out with a less rough edge. Highlights include the title track "Unwritten" and the single "These Words." Natasha Bedingfield has what it takes to revive the squeaky clean pop by infusing pop and R&B. Bottom Line: If you like the Pink of Old and are itching for some clean pop...meet Natasha Bedingfield and fall in love with her soulful voice.

I stumbled on this one by accident and, boy, do I consider myself lucky. Natasha has a really cool voice- she reminds me a bit of Pink, yet her voice also has an element to it that is her own. Many of the songs are lyrically strong, and all of the songs are VERY catchy. On most pop albums, the songs kind of melt together- heck, that's a problem in all too many genres. This album has a surprising amount of variety. From the very first listening, each song distinguishes itself from the next. Excellent Urban-tinged pop from the UK- I will eagerly await a sophomore effort.