Search - Eros Ramazzotti :: Calma Aparente (Spanish) (Spanish)

Unbiased Review -- SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!!!!! :-)

Amaury Fernandez | Homestead, FL United States | 11/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Greetings Everyone:



I just hope to write a decent review of this album so as to possibly assist any interested parties in making a purchase decision of this CD. Granted, I am not musically inclined, meaning I just listen to it, and this aforementioned statement may reflect itself in my review in that it isn't very refined or full of intelligently articulated arguments as to why I gave this CD the rating I did. My review is more emotional, yet unbiased and direct, than anything else. With reference to the just stated, you can expect me to be brutally honest when reviewing or talking about this album; in fact, there is at least one song on this album that leads me to wonder why Eros would ever place such a song in the midst of so many other great ones.



I have been an Eros Ramazzotti fan since I first listened to his music on the radio in the Dominican Republic, in 1992, when I was just 10 years old. Now at 24 years of age, and an Eros fan for more than half of my life, I've come to expect the very best from each and every one of his albums. I have been waiting for this album for quite some time, and trust me, had this album not lived up to the "hype," 5 stars is the last thing you'd see on this rating of mine. OK, now let me write about the album:



I bought the Spanish version, just in case you're wondering, since I don't speak or understand Italian, yet grew up with Spanish as my first language and understand it perfectly:



OK, the CD as a whole, in terms of truly Vintage-Eros-Songs, great songs, classics, relative to the entire number of songs in the CD, is a 7 out of 13 (with 5 songs that are really good, just not great, and one song that makes you scratch your head), which in my book is right up there with any other of Eros' classic CD's ("Todo Historias," "Donde Hay Musica,"Eros," etc.)



I would say this is definitely one of Eros' best albums, maybe not THE best, as such a statement can be disputable until robots rule the world, but certainly right up there with any of the other truly great albums he's blessed us with.



This is how I categorize each song, with a little comment about each one:



This is the category where I write down the song (s) on the CD that makes you wonder why the heck Eros included it in this CD. Had this song been on another album, perhaps a not so great one as this one, it may have fit it better there.



7- Una nueva edad: In my humble opinion, hands down, this is the worst song on the CD, the only song that I would consider, with all intents and purposes, "bad." The split second you first hear this song, I swear it sounds like an R&B song! Hahahahhaa! Yes, R&B, you know, Usher, Destiny's Child, that kind of rhythm. And despite having an affinity for hip-hop (rap), or at least I used to when I was younger, I have never been a fan of R&B music, thus take this review as slightly biased and with a grain of salt, albeit I would be flabbergasted to find anyone who would consider this song among his/her favorites on this album. Furthermore, this song leaves that R&B'ish sound, which I couldn't stand, and became more of a typical, solid, good Eros song.







These are the kind of songs that after listening to long enough, and assuming you identify clearly with either the lyrics and/or the rhythm, could become a truly awesome song to you:





5- Solaridad: This song starts off with a very hip type of beat, very catchy, but the song doesn't seem to evolve into anything great, but rather stagnates into a simply "good" song with a catchy rhythm, nonetheless.



9- No es amor: This song starts off OK, it doesn't sound like anything special. The first third of this song makes it seem pretty ordinary, certainly a level or two below the other outstanding songs on this CD. However, the great chorus slightly makes up for what I just mentioned, in that it gives the song a different feel, taking it in a much needed different direction, and making this song solid, but nothing to write to your grandma about.



10- Ultimo metro: This song starts off nostalgic, with a slow beat, Eros narrating about an encounter with a lovely woman on the subway, then the rhythm picks up and makes this song a true winner! This is probably the best song in this category of "good" but not outstanding songs.



12- Vivo sin ti: Man, the beginning of this song (rhythmically speaking) immediately reminded me of a Justin Timberlake song, which isn't necessarily a thrill to me. This song sounds like the kind of song Eros would team up with Santana to do, it's movey, tropical-like, and it's quite good, just not a classic.



13- Calma Aparente: This is the song which renders this album its name, Calma Aparente, and it's an above average song, with a very distinct guitar sound that is accompanied by a "pop-like" beat halfway through the song, giving it a much needed boost. Certainly an above-average song, good to listen to.



TRULY AWESOME SONGS (These are the kind of songs that even after listening to for the first time, your ears are aware of the special moment they're experiencing. It didn't take me long to realize that this is one of the truly rare album's that starts off with 4 truly inspiring, all-time favorite caliber songs in a row):



1- Nuestra Vida: My goodness, as soon as I popped in this CD into my disc player, I immediately knew this song would be one of the all-time favorites. It's quite amazing, the message is true, heartfelt, and Eros' spills his emotions about life in general, making you reflect and take command of your own life and dreams. This song furnishes this album with one of the best initial songs to any of Eros' CDs. ("9" -- Eros' last album -- has an outstanding beginning, with yet another one of my all-time favorites, "Un minuto de Paz")



2- El Equilibrista: This song starts off with solo piano along with Eros' voice, and slowly begins to take shape. After the first 40 seconds or so, Eros begins to take this song into unchartered territory, as the song truly becomes a classic! Wow, what an outstanding piece of work! This is a self-reflective song where Eros' painting with words makes you want to have everyone you live experience the joy derived from listening to this special piece.



3- Como un Nino: Now this song truly changes the feel of the entire album, its music is lively, happy, dreamy, very contagious! My goodness, this song is so good you have a hard time appreciating the music and instruments while simultaneously listening to the lyrics and realizing how Eros' voice flows over the surface of the music like butter over hot toast. OH, and this song features a little HARMONICA play at the end (giving it a little country western feel), which at first I thought was kind of corny, stupid, or uncalled for, but after listening to this amazing song for a few times the harmonica actually adds a very interesting twist, kinda cute :-)



4- Tu eres: The best word to describe this song is: Beautiful! The kind of song that will have a reserved seat in the bus load of romantic love songs I have endeared into my heart when thinking about my lovely girlfriend. This is a typical mushy song, from man to woman, romantic song, but the beat is lively, the lyrics flow over the surface of the composition seamlessly, as this song flows like a gorgeous cascade of melody and happiness.



6- Esta pasando noviembre: The rhythmic start to this song is very different, it kind of sounds like the kind of song you'd hear Eros performing at a funeral, a gloomy and dark sort of tone. But when you close your eyes, listen to the lyrics, and feel the piano intertwine with the message being delivered, Wow, the song indeed becomes marvelous! A true great! And I must note, that about a minute and fifteen seconds into this song, the gloominess fades away and the song takes on another complexion, with a beat (which it didn't have before, it was just Piano in the beginning), and some orchestral strings! Special song, different in a majestic way.



8- Nomadas de amor: This song starts off with guitar and with Eros' lyrics talking about a lovely woman of his fancy, what a classic sure-fire combination! Hahahahaha! The lyrics are breathtaking, probably, one of the most special songs on the album in that department (lyrically). The song starts off slow and then picks up and takes you to places...a moving experience, an outstanding track of excellence.



11- I belong to you (duet with Anastacia): I generally don't like duets. I don't know, I guess when I pay for someone's album the last thing I wish to experience is a role call of a posse of friends jumping in front of the "mike" every other song. And I'll tell you, Anastacia has a truly beautiful unique voice...Hahahahahaha, and I even laugh when I say it. Well I laugh because when she sings in normal tone, her voice sounds KIND of like Christina Aguilera, maybe better, BUT when she takes off and sings on her own (solo) in the song, when her voice clearly "changes," she kind of sounds like Arethra (spelling?) Franklin or one of those old school classic lady artists. It's interesting. This song is DEFINITELY a notch above Eros' duet with Cher, and maybe even Tina Turner. Oh, and we hear Eros sing in English, what more could we ask for? :-)



In conclusion, if you are an EROS fan and have enjoyed any of his songs or past albums, you will probably really enjoy, or LOVE (as I do), this album. If you aren't an Eros fan, take it from me, keep your receipt just in case, because Eros' style is certainly not for everyone (a sort of nasal-like voice (some LOVE IT, and a few seem to not care much for it), poppy mixed with alternative/jazzy/sometimes ballady music, let's just say he's unique in every way).



I loved this album, and will enjoy this one until the next one arrives, God willing, and for many years to come :-)



Cheers to all, and I hope this review was of some assistance to you."

Eros is absolutely the best !!!

Janie Lauryn | Spain | 11/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am long-time fan of Eros, and I have to say that this Spanish album album of his is worth having even if you already have acquired the italian version! Not because the Spanish version is better than Italian, but because it's different, and without having them both you can not seize the whole spectrum of emotions transmitted by his troubling voice. If you're lucky to understand both languages you can even compare the lyrics.

My favourite songs from the album are:

"Vivo sin ti", where Eros sings about the he's pretty happy without her, enjoying his liberty to a full extent, but still thinks about her a lot, the beat tells us that no matter how hard it sometimes is, we have to move forward, start and new life. Very encoraging, sad and optimistic at the same time.



"Solaridad"- an optimistic song titled,which is a logical continuation of the previously released "If one beautiful song was enough",in both Eros sings about changing the world for the better one without lies that hurt us so much, about giving the people a new hope and more light. Pointing attention to the importance of fighting together for a better world, an amazing song!



"Esta pasando noviembre" - a heart-touching troubling ballad with rather melancholy lyrics " You can play flying after a comet while you're on your journey around the universe, may be now you would be able to reach your goal, the different world that you were never able to find before, only that it shouldn't have been like this, the lonliness is greater without you"



Between others I like "No es amor" for its catching rythm, "Como un niño", "El último metro ", "Tu eres","El equilibrista", "Nomadas de amor", "Una nueva edad" for their meaningful lyrics,and of course the duet with Anastacia can't be left unnoticed, as well as his other English-Italian duets with Tina Turner and Cher it is a great track, although I keep liking "Più che puoi" with Cher the most.



To my mind this one is Eros' best album together with "9" both of which demonstrate a new level that Eros has reached in singing and songwriting. The overall mood of the album corresponds to its title "Visible calm", Eros is doing every effort to stay calm throughout the entire CD.

I recommend this album as well to all-time fans of Eros as to all lovers of good music."

Eros does it again!

beyondBlue | USA | 11/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eros Ramazzotti has done it again... He is a true artist with a unique voice and an ever growing spirit that is reflected in his music. "Calma Aparente" is very similar to "9" (previous CD) in its reflective mood, although the tone tends to be somewhat more positive. While "9" alludes to a dark time of change (with a divorce and the death of his mother), "Calma Aparente" transmits a more romantic and inspirational spirit. What I have most enjoyed in Eros' career has been his evolving maturity reflected in his music. He truly sings about his life experiences, yet is always consistent with his "pop" music background, bringing catchy lyrics and easy to listen to rhythms. Eros is truly a gem of Italy and Europe. His duet with Anastasia (another euro sensation), "I belong to you" is just fabulous. This CD is great to listen in the car or while enjoying glass of wine with close friends. He has not found fame in the U.S. yet those that truly love music from all over the world will find him and will understand what I mean!"