Search - Amanda Lear :: Heart

Brilliant album from the one and only Amanda!

07/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're a fan of the fantastic, enigmatic Ms Lear, and even if you're not you have to have this album. From a staple of 'disco divas' to emerge in the late 70's Amanda is the only one still around and recording frequently. This her first release of the 2000's is a combination of classic Amanda Lear (Love Boat, I just wanna dance again) and possibly a bit of who Ms Lear would like to be i.e. the smoky ballad chanteuse(the look of love, yesterday when I was young). Recorded in France and therefore sung mostly in French, German and even spanish, is her first album in years to feature real live musicians and not just electronics and that alone puts it amongst her best, although many fans will miss her usual sarcastic and witty lyrics as most of the songs on Heart are covers. Love Boat and I just wanna dance again have already been released in Europe as singles and have proved popular, I just wanna dance again should be massive as its a classic up tempo killer dance track, but Vol de Nuit will be even bigger. A classic Amanda Lear album with something for everyone - get it today!!!!



Has been released in Europe under the titles Love Boat and Tendance...so if you cant get your hands on this original try searching for those two titles."

Amanda, an enigmatic phoenix

learfan2 | 08/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Heart' is completely made in France. It has been recorded in Paris. Polyglot Amanda sings in five languages on this compact disc : German, French, Spanish, Italian and English. The album is produced by FX Costello and Laurent Wolf and it sounds extremely good. The songs are performed on real instruments and the arrangements are really nice. The first single 'Love boat' was already a hit, but the second single 'I just wanna dance again' is doing even better. On the French edition of the cd-maxi you can find a very nice videoclip directed by Kris Gautier. Also the other songs on the album are fabulous : 'Do you wanna see it ?' (an hilarious piece of dance), 'Tendance' (reminds me of The Pet Shop Boys), 'Manuel do guerreiro da luz', 'Lili Marlene' (a brand new version with special lyrics), 'Hier encore' (the famous song sung by Charles Aznavour and also known as 'Yesterday when I was young'), Porque me gusta' (Amanda's version of Ricky-Martin-pop), 'Vol de nuit' (French disco at his best), 'L'invitation au voyage' (sounds like a song by Serge Gainsbourg), 'The look of love' (Amanda sings Cole Porter !) and 'L'importante e finire' (a beautiful song originally sung by the Italian Mina). Don't hesitate : buy this disc ! Amanda Lear is back in business !! Amanda, let yourself go !!!"

I Just Wanna Dance Again ..... ¡Porque Me Gusta!

Søren Jensen | Copenhagen, Denmark | 11/03/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'll bet that when Amanda Lear broke through as a novelty act in 1976 with her deep smoky voice, few would imagine she'd prove to be more than a flash in the pan, in fact still be a DIVA 25 years later on! After a misguided and disappointing set of re-recordings ("Back In Your Arms", 1998), "Heart" finds Amanda in excellent shape with the strength to survive the tragedy of her life: her husband burnt to death in a terrible fire that also destroyed her home completely. Probably one of her most diverse albums, as also Amanda writes in the liner notes, there are funny tongue'n cheek tracks - just as we adore her for - the flagship single & opening track "Love Boat" is a camp remake of the classic 70s TV-theme, "Do U Wanna See It" she dares you in the next track and breathes: "I knew you would!" in the end, and in the same league is the brilliant 2nd single "I Just Wanna Dance Again" with the stunning-looking 56-year-old lady demanding: "For the best ... bring on the boys!" (check out the video!) like only she can do it. Amanda's love for chansons has been evident since her classic rendition of "Lili Marlene" in 1978, here she includes a new recording with previously unreleased lyrics by the original lyricist, as well as excellent renditions of two classy standards "Yesterday When I Was Young" and "The Look Of Love", and the closing track "L'importante è finire" (in Italian) also displays another melancholic side of her. What is sure to become the next single, "Vol De Nuit", combines this melancholy with a superb dance beat and a haunting chorus. An English version "Travel By Night" has been recorded but beware that even though some album pressings state that this is the verison included, it has yet to be released! Two of the remaining tracks, "Manuel Do Guerreiro Da Luz" and "L'invitation au voyage", feature Amanda reciting lyrics over a musical background - these tracks, however, fail to excite me as much as the rest. Nevertheless, "Heart" showcases Amanda Lear as a stellar entertainer who's better than ever."