Track Listings (10) - Disc #1| All Artists: George Michael Title: Songs From the Last Century Members Wishing: 3 Total Copies: 0 Label: Virgin Records Us Original Release Date: 12/14/1999 Release Date: 12/14/1999 Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock, Broadway & Vocalists Styles: Adult Contemporary, Vocal Pop Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPCs: 724384874025, 724384874056, 724384874124, 632427525622 |
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Search - George Michael :: Songs From the Last Century
 | George Michael Songs From the Last Century Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock, Broadway & Vocalists
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 nothi... more » |
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Amazon.com 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 Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsMixed bag John | South Africa | 03/16/2000 (3 out of 5 stars) "Although I love some of the tracks on this CD I cannot help but be a bit disappointed with others. Ever since George Michael's sexy rendition of 'Kissing a Fool' I've been looking out for a whole album of similar songs and I guess this is it ... well sort of.Favourites on this album are Roxanne, You've Changed, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Secret Love (the big band backing is superb!) These he does exceedingly well. As for the rest, Brother Can You Spare A Dime is over-dramatic, My Baby Just Cares For Me is not bad, but too short and badly scored (the instruments sound very synthetic) and the harp backing on I Remember You destroys an otherwise listenable song - a fuller backing would have been a great improvement.The other choices are OK, but quite unmemorable, which brings me to my next gripe about this album - the selection can hardly be called representative of the century's music, with some pretty obscure songs on this album. It would have been helpful to have the rationale behind the choice of each song included in the CD cover notes.And finally, why so short? I was just getting into the mood of the album when it ended far too abruptly.My overall impression of this album is that George Michael wanted to get out an album before the century ended and left it a bit late, resulting in a mediocre offering that does not live up to expectation, at least from this fan." Song Standards J. M. Zuurbier | Canada | 09/01/2001 (5 out of 5 stars) "Whatever you want to say about the ubiquitous George Michael, you can't brand him as lacking in the confidence department. It somehow isn't surprising that he would take it upon himself to capture the legacy of the past hundred years on SONGS FROM THE LAST CENTURY. What is surprising are the unique choices--this isn't a standard set of standards. George has managed to span and reflect the last hundred years with 10 tracks, few of which come close to belonging to that fraternity of the century's hackneyed covers.The songs are all presented, whether they be Depression-era ballads ("Brother Can You Spare a Dime") or punk/new wave anthems ("Roxanne"), in a blowsy, bluesy, super-laid-back style. With all his pop-dance leanings and overblown hits, it's almost easy to overlook a key facet of George Michael's success; the man can sing. On tracks like Rodgers & Hart's "Where or When" and the breathy, breathtaking cover of that U2/Eno side project the Passengers' "Miss Sarajevo," George's lilting tenor smooths its wayright into the heart. The perfect time capsule for upcoming generations regarding the 1900s it's not, but it does stand as a fine collection of timeless tunes from timed eras." Amazon.com versus amazon.co.uk Keith Law | Boston area, MA USA | 12/20/1999 (5 out of 5 stars) "Amazon can't get its story straight. This is from amazon.co.uk: Reviews On Songs From The Last Century, George Michael seems determined to demonstrate just how much he's matured since the carefree days of Wham!; by offering his own interpretations of some of the century's classic songs, he manages to shake off any lingering remnants of his boyband past. Michael has one of the most versatile and beautiful voices ever recorded--a voice more suited for jazz or soul than pop--a fact that his own records have often only glossed over. Much better, therefore, to have him cover songs made famous by the likes of Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Brother Can You Spare A Dime", "Where Or When" and other standards are all performed to stunning effect, lushly backed by an orchestra that's as restrained and powerful as Michael's voice. He also manages to toss some surprisingly inspired choices into the mix: on "Roxanne", he wisely realises that no one can sing like Sting and opts for a more delicate approach, while his version of "Miss Sarajevo" (from the U2/ Brian Eno collaboration Passengers) elevates this obscure track to the classic status of the other standards. --Robert Burrow"
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