Whoa, Nelly!

Nelly Furtado | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dreamworks
• ASIN: B00004Z41Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (368 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,596 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Blame it on the bossa nova, but this chick has got soul. By filtering her Portuguese roots through the trip-hop she was weaned on, Nelly Furtado creates a hypnotic form of R&B/alternapop that at times sounds like Fiona Apple, Macy Gray, and Gwen Stefani all rolled into a Portishead song. Cutting her teeth at four Lilith Fair dates before even having a record contract, Furtado seems accelerated far beyond her 21 years. Listen, and you can hear the Portuguese fado tradition, Brazilian beats, flashy urban rhymes--enough snap, crackle, and pop to fill your breakfast bowl. Put your ear closer to the speaker, though, and you can sense that this is the sound of a multicultural young woman finding her own identity through all the pop she's been fed. If you're someone who likes to sing along to soaring vocals or who likes to get hip to a new star before she goes supernova, this is an album to own. --Heidi Sherman

Product Description

FURTADO NELLY WHOA NELLY!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 76 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Soaring! October 24, 2000

By Marc Cabir Davis

Format:Audio CD

For those of us who had heard much about Nelly but hadnt actually heard her music or her wonderful voice, her recent appearance on Jay Leno's show singing her beautiful first single 'Im like a bird' was introduction enough.

Nelly's music is arresting. From the opening numbers to the closing song, what strikes the listener most is that each of the songs could be a potential hit single, something last witnessed only on Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged little pill'. Nelly sounds nothing like Alanis, but what she manages is nothing short of extraordinary.

'Whoa, Nelly' seems like a careless album title, but its not. Once you listen to the album, you know that it captures the singer's spirit and her vibrancy perfectly. It also indicates that this is a fun album - no soulful dirges a la Sarah McLachlan and no pointless poetry like Jewel's.

This album is one of those that will set a trend - Nelly has bridged the gap between pop music and folk culture, Spanish dance and tribal chants. While there are traces of Lauryn Hill influenced hip-hop, the album remains fresh and original throughout, and evokes Joni Mitchell in patches.

One thing is certain : 'Whoa, Nelly' brings to the fore a beautiful and remarkably gifted new songstress, and I can't wait for more of her work. In the meantime, you sure will be listening to this one for much of this year. Yes, its that addictive.

Kabir Ahamed.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the most original music to ever enter my stereo May 30, 2001

A Kid's Review

Format:Audio CD

Show me another artist who has the same sound as Nelly Furtado....give up yet? She's created her own sound by combining latin, hip-hop, folk,and a little bit of rock. Can you say awesome?

1)Hey, Man!-Soaring guitar and string arrangements and a great chorus make this a superior opening song. 5/5

2)Sh-t on the Radio-Another song with a great chorus. The song's about Nelly telling somebody off. Sounds like a latin-y song with Alanis-like lyrics. 4.5/5

3)Baby Girl-I really like the jangly guitar at the beginning. This is another latin-y song that you can't help dancing and singing to. 5/5

4)Legend-At first listen I didn't really like this song but it's grown on me. I especially like in the middle of the song where it does this little breakdown thing. I'm not really sure how to describe it but it's cool. Nelly's voice sounds the best on this song. 4/5

5)I'm Like a Bird-Even though I've heard this song countless time I still love it. There's not one bad thing about this song and it's rally fun to belt it out at the end. 5/5

6)Turn Off the Light-This is my all time favorite song! There's almost a dreamlike quality quality about it and the chorus is amazing. Very uplifting. 5/5

7)Trynna Finda Way-I think this song is supposed to be about Nelly's road to fame but I'm not sure. I like how the verses are spoken and the lyrics are great. 5/5

8)Party-This is like a samba or a rhumba or one of those latin dances. A very different kind of party song and is fun to do funky latin dance moves to 4.5/5

9)Well, Well-The happy-go-lucky song on the album. The beginning is rather annoying and cheesy until the beat comes in but be sure to listen to the whole song because it's pretty good. 4/5

10)My Love Grows Deeper Part 1-This song is pretty funky and has the best chorus I've ever heard in my life, but it's weaker than the others. 3.5/5

11)I Will Make U Cry-I think this shows Nelly's insane egomaniac side. If you read the lyrics you'll see what I mean. Again the chorus is incredibly good. 4.5/5

12)Scared of You-The only slow song on the whole album. It's quite beauiful but is about 3 minutes too long which is why I don't really like it. 3/5

All in all I think this is a very promising debut and I can't wait until her next album! Love~Butterfly

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stuff September 25, 2003

By Bruce Kendall VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This Lady stopped me in my tracks. I generally hate contemporary pop music. This is really different. She has a marvellous delivery. The backup musicians are excellent. The production values are top-notch. The beat is infectious beyond belief! I don't care what genre of music you listen to, this CD has got to at least be listened to for you to form an opinion. My bet is that it will capture you instantly, as it did me.

BK