We Are One [Import]

Kelly Sweet | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 3, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Jvc Japan
• ASIN: B000STC9QQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #719,988 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. We Are One

2. Raincoat

3. Dream On

4. Caresse Sur l'Ocean

5. Crush

6. Ready for Love

7. Giorno Dopo Giorno

8. I Will Be Waiting

9. Now We Are Free

10. How 'Bout You

11. Love Song

12. Je T'Aime

13. Eternity [*]

14. Nella Fantasia [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Kelly Sweet was never a contestant on a TV singing competition, and she isn't the product of the latest svengali producer. Which, in 2007, makes her something of a rare new pop star. Her approach to the genre is pretty unexpected, too: Temperamentally, the flame-haired chanteuse falls somewhere between Celine Dion and Sarah McLachlan, which is to say she's all softness, warmth, and sincerity. Vocally, she's a ringer for Amy Lee of the rock band Evanescence, minus the goth fixation. And categorically, her closest fit within the wide world of pop is classical crossover. Consider her the female Josh Groban then, with the multilingual skills to match: In addition to a haunting and miraculously un-awful rendition of Aerosmith's "Dream On," she busts out a French track, "Je T'aime," that sends out summery flutters; a Sanskrit song from the film "Gladiator," "Now We Are Free," that impresses with its depth of feeling; and an Italian number, "Giorno Dopo Giorno," that ripples with tenderness and sentimentality. Sweet is a songbird with a wide wingspan; her debut mostly soars. --Tammy La Gorce --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

Not your typical pop record in any way, shape or form, WE ARE ONE has a much more ambitious sensibility than those being heard on Top 40 radio today. With songs sung in English, Italian, French, and Sanskrit, and melodies that partake of both jazz and classical influences, WE ARE ONE conveys a sense of depth, intimacy and sophistication not often heard in today's pop landscape. The magnificent "Giorno Dopo Giorno" couples Sweet's soaring vocals with a thrilling string arrangement, bringing listeners the kind of intense joy that can usually only be experienced in the world's finest opera houses. "The song originally had English lyrics," says Sweet, "and it was called `Who Can I Believe In?' We felt that the melody was too European and didn't work with the lyrics, so we asked Marco Marinangelli, who writes Italian lyrics for Josh Groban, to translate the words into Italian. It came out beautifully." Sweet says she has always gravitated to the beautiful sounds of languages other than English. "I was classically trained beginning at the age of 11," she says, "and that's when I began to sing in other languages. It always came very easily to me."

WE ARE ONE, then, is that rarest of musical experiences--a seamless emotional journey that deeply touches listeners of all ages with its beauty, grace, individuality, and courage. But perhaps to call Sweet courageous is overstating something that is really much simpler. "This music is not about me," she says. "It's about the soul in all of us. I am just happy to have a voice to convey these things to the world."

And the world is certainly a better place because of it. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet But Not Sappy., March 10, 2007

By 

Julia Masi "Julia Masi" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Are One (Audio CD)

Kelly Sweet's voice is like lemon merange pie light as air on top, with a strong satisfying center. Her haunting version of "Dream On" proves that she can hit the high notes and pull on the heart strings. Her linguistic abilites is quite impressive. But if you don't understand the lyrics on the Italian or French songs, don't despair, her talent isn't lost in translation.

This very relazing collection of songs is a wonderful background for an intimate dinner.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a bit of grace, March 27, 2007

By 

Martine H. Otto "D Lovely" (Center Valley, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Are One (Audio CD)

Kelly Sweet came to me as a totally unexpected promo gift a while back from an Amazon supplier I had ordered another CD from. I was and am deeply touched by this fresh and unadulterated voice. New songs!!! Yea!! And other songs newly sung. I treasure this CD. This is so NOT pop music. I hope she will climb and soar and touch many lives who seek something more than sticky sweet. Share this CD with friends, She is well worth it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unusually beautiful and unpretentious in all respects, this sets a higher standard for classical-minded pop divas, September 4, 2008

By 

Andrew J. Klimek (South Plainfield, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: We Are One (Audio CD)

First let me clarify I am not a fan of this class of music, but the fact that I own and play this disc makes it a 5-star album for this type of music! What really makes me listen to Kelly Sweet is her amazing voice. I will leave the vocal comparisons to the more familiar reviewers, but I have heard a bit of this classical-minded pop music and always shut it off because of the pretentious vocal technique. Kelly doesn't try to impress us, or even try to seduce us on the cover! Her voice and beauty seem exceptionally pure. Just when you think the next note might get a little harsh, she gracefully backs down to a softer tone. Very splendid indeed.

As for the songs, she doesn't really try to impress the radio audience with the best moment of the song being the intro. She actually lets the song build momentum and emotion. (Rather is characteristic of the electronic/post-rock music I generally play!) I see reviewer "Toady" bought the album for what s/he heard on the radio, and ended up not really liking the rest of the disc. I am not terribly surprised, as this is a more refined disc. The first three tracks are definitely the radio picks--starting with the slow, late-night, R&B-influenced "We are One" (a beautiful song!), followed by the carefree, midday-jazz "Raincoat," and finally a pleasing Aerosmith cover.

The french songs, though they show culture, are honestly my least favourite. The softly cinematic arrangements are quite typical, only her voice sets these apart from anyone else. The italian "Giorno Dopo Giorno" does a bit better and her vocal talent really shines on this one.

"Crush" is actually my other 5-star track along with the title track. She gives it time to build and it just has that great pure pop tone. "How 'bout You" is a similar track, reminding me a lot of Bliss (Import) (one of my other favorites for deeper, more positive pop music). Interestingly, her voice seems a little too potent for the airy style that many less gifted singers pull off! Anyhow it's a good track.

"Now We Are Free" really impressed me because it shows she is taking cues from probably the greatest and most unique female voice today, Lisa Gerrard. Her voice is used like an instrument in countless major films, as well as composing a few soundtracks herself. This one of course is from the end of "The Gladiator."

The remaining three tracks are of a more emotional sort of pop. Thoughtful lyrics, and as with the whole disc, beautiful singing with plenty of acoustic guitar and piano. I was also glad that the bass and drum instrumentation was R&B style for some songs, pop/rock style for others, and left out of others. Great mix.

Hope you enjoy this album!