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Audio CD
Publisher: Virgin Records Us
A hint: there are no Wham songs on George Michael's 10-tune tribute to the music of the 20th century. There is a song by the Police ("Roxanne"), but the reggae ballad is rendered in such a turgid manner, it resembles nothing so much as a lounge singer stoned on Quaaludes. Elsewhere, the silver-tongued former club kid covers Rodgers & Hart ("Where or When"), U2 ("Miss Sarajevo"), and Ewan MacColl ("The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"). He pours so much calculated sentiment on top of each track that the entire record oozes a prefab corniness even Hallmark would recoil at. This is not to deny the power of George Michael's velvety, potent voice (although it does sound much better singing catchy dance-pop ditties) nor the fact that he's selected an interesting selection of ballads and folk and torch tunes. And Phil Ramone's production never veers from the middle of the road, unobtrusively shifting from smooth big-band jazz to Disney movie-ish harp accompaniment. If this CD is Michael's attempt to join the company of great song interpreters of the past, from Frank Sinatra to Billie Holiday, he will have to take a lot more chances and lose the sappy reserve. --Mike McGonigal
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| Middle Of The Road George |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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When it has came willing down to it, the 90's have been very difficult for George Michael. After embattling issues with his then record label Sony Music, after feeling lack of artistry, and then dealing with a lewd conduct arrest in a Los Angeles public bathroom, and the coming out of George's announcement that he was gay on CNN, he had a lot of negativity to undergo. Still, that honestly hasn't stopped from from making the most out of his music. While his 1996 album Older was heavily overshadowed with American music buyers, fans have still remained completely loyal overseas, he still never stopped maintained making a solid range of music. But that sadly didn't strike on his first covers album.
George Michael's 1999 album Songs From The Last Century, now available as a MP3 downloadable album, is a mixed bag of cover songs that have been reflective from Pop Music, as well as musical standards from the times. While the momentum might've seemed strong, it actually felt like it fell down to Earth. The covers here feel like they are honestly very weak from his Jazz-rendered cover of The Police smash Roxanne, all the way to U2's Miss Sarajevo, and a simple version of Roberta Flack's First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. While the covers might feel like they deliver, the record itself doesn't really strike a outstanding ovation that way that George had maintained his success from the 80's with Faith and with Wham! While George let's mostly the voice from the heart do the talking, it isn't something that feels like the home run with music buyers.
All in all, George Michael's Songs From The Last Century might be a must buy for hard core George Michael fans, it sadly hasn't hit the nail with the head for anyone who has yet not heard any of George's classic smashes. I really recommend you get either Faith, Older, or enjoy George's Ladies & Gentleman: The Best Of George Michael as a must have for your music library. Those honestly are really the best of the best from George's songs of the last, 20th Century.
Album Cover: B
Songs: C
Price: C+
Mastering: C+
Overall: C 1/2+
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| Just because it is George |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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This collection was a hit back when but time has not been kind. The songs are all classics and should be a valuable addition to any collection and yet the delivery and phrasing seem staged and in some cases down-right coy. Sometimes the vocals are actually weak sounding. Not at all what I thought it would be but because it was a stretch, at the time it was recorded, I give it an additional star for effort.
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| Sheer Beauty |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Listen to his vocal mastery on these beautiful covers, how anyone can give it less than 5 stars puzzles me... (Perhaps because it's slow and no pop songs? Or because they're all covers not originals? I don't know, but I do know it's one of the richest vocal performances ever recorded.) A++++++++++
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| George can't go wrong! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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This is a CD that is different than his others. The songs are from my parents' generation. What I find is that he has great talent and a beautiful voice no matter what he sings. I will be sharing this with my mom and I know that she will love it too!
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| The Reviewer is Wrong! |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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The reviewer for Amazon totally missed the mark with his comments. This a solid CD and the highlight is George's version of Roxanne. I have seen Sting interpret this song many different ways, but I have never heard it sung as well as this version which now supplants the Sting and Brandford Marsalis version as my favorite. I purchased the CD specifically for that song.
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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Roxanne
You've Changed
My Baby Just Cares for Me
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Miss Sarajevo
I Remember You
Secret Love
Wild Is the Wind
Where or When/Its Alright With Me
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