Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Singer-Outstanding Production!, June 28, 2006
I have been involved in the Performing Arts for over 40 years. (I am currently in rehearsal for a production of West Side Story) During that time I have heard and encountered countless singers: Operatic, Pop, Jazz, Broadway, you name it. Some good, some bad, some destined for Legendary Stardom because of their ability.
Katharine McPhee is in that final category. When I draw comparisons, the names Streisand, Houston and Dion come to mind. Then I think about the fact that she is only 22. As her career progresses, it boggles my ming to think of the level of artistry she has the potential to reach, across performance genres.
Combine that with the outstanding production on this recording, it's a sure hit! It will probably become a collector's item.
BUY IT!!
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34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Surprising and Impressive, June 27, 2006
Ok, when she sang My Destiny on the show, I was extremely dissapointed at the level of cheesiness of the song. The recorded version here on the other hand, is far from that. The song is beautiful, especially the beginning. I did not expect My Destiny to be so good. Somewhere Over the Rainbow I think we all know she can sing. This recorded version is my favorite version right now, it is just phenomonal. Both singles in my opinion are very beautifully sung, a steal for sure!
..and please do not listen to the haters. I doubt they have even bought the single, or listened to them for that matter. Buy it or listen to the iTunes clip, judge for yourself. I have and right now I am just very impressed with this result.
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34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A vocal purity heard only once in a lifetime..., June 27, 2006
While it's gratifying to see reviews here with constructive criticism for Katharine's amazing debut singles, it hadn't been that way until Amazon (thanks to them) took care of some problems. But I think most smart shoppers want to deal in reality and seek out the truth of what makes these outstanding performances worth buying. And those truths are:
First, are these two singles "My Destiny" and "(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow" really made for pop radio? Yes, they are. If you listen very carefully, you'll see that both songs were re-arranged so they fit in just fine with modern-day radio...whether that be Top 40 for "MD"--or Adult Contemporary for "OTR." Don't let anybody tell you that these songs can't resonate with a modern audience. "Over the Rainbow" may be a song written in 1939, but Katharine takes the song to another place. Also, the lyrics of "My Destiny" now have a powerful meaning if you bother to know a little about Katharine's life. And that brings me to...
Second, does Katharine make these songs all her own as well as making them sound like she's singing them just for you? Absolutely! Perhaps those who followed her journey a little closer on "American Idol" would understand better, but there's a lot of strong emotion in these songs that will really take you on a satisfying ride of longing, pain, hope and redemption. Katharine managed to turn "OTR" into something fresh from a different perspective...both on "AI" and on this recording. With recent reports that Katharine's had a lot more pain and struggle in her life than people ever knew, the lyrics to "MD" are put in a different context that becomes hauntingly poignant, yet life-affirming. And for those who voted for Katharine every week on "AI", Kat is singing right to you in these songs. She has that power to draw you in as if she's singing her thoughts to you in your own living room. Just watch her past performances on "AI" and her use of the camera to witness that. It also translates just as well with only her voice and personality on this CD.
Third, does Kat's voice compete with all the other great voices in the music marketplace? Beyond words, yes. Now, understand that perhaps pop divas like Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey may have slightly better technical ability. Even that's arguable when Katharine is in perfect vocal health and not suffering from nerves and illness as she did toward the end of "AI." But there's something magical in a voice called vocal timbre that can get into your mind and heart and make you feel euphoric when you hear one that's special. Kat's voice stands out and haunts you when you hear it on certain phrases of just about any song she sings. Her vocal purity is very rare and can only be compared to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Karen Carpenter and perhaps Jane Monheit (who Kat recently cited as a vocal influence).
Fourth, does Kat's pure voice maybe supercede the material on this CD single? Well, yes and no. Many Kat fans initially thought "My Destiny" wasn't the greatest song in the world for her to sing as her debut single. "Over the Rainbow" has been covered more times than some can count. But while the arrangements of these songs still work--they only provide the backdrop to Kat's ease of original styling and my aforementioned vocal purity.
When you add these four truths together, and give them all a chance to settle in your mind, this debut single by Katharine McPhee will make you feel powerful emotions you don't always get in pop music. While I believe Katharine is too good for the pop category itself, be glad she's there at the moment, because it's the most enriching pop music you'll probably hear in a long time.
These singles deserve a deep and respectable analysis, because some are obviously out to discredit high art just for no particular reason.
Above everything, we're witnessing one of the great voices of our time making her debut with this CD. Those looking for real voices that stay with you and meaning in music, buy this and savor it as a stunning preview of what's to come for this brilliant artist...
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