Search - Magdalen Hsu-Li :: Fire

Blue Jean Online by Mary Zachmeyer, age 17

Blue Jean Online | Boston, Mass. | 06/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blue Jean OnlineWhen I first stuck this CD into my CD player, I didn't know what to expect. I had no idea who Magdalen Hsu-Li was, what kind of voice she had, or what kind of music it was. Afraid of the music being something that I didn't or couldn't relate to, I pressed play.The first track-and the perfect track to be so-gave me goose bumps. Magdalen has a beautiful voice and her songs, all of which she either wrote or collaborated with someone on, have amazing lyrics. I have unusual taste in music compared to some-I enjoy songs that make me think, songs that make me feel better, and songs that have lyrics that relate to my personal songs. But most of all, I love music that doesn't conform to mainstream American pop. Piano notes float gently through many of her tracks and sometimes they don't; her voice is sometimes husky and other times light and bright. Each song feels different than the one before it. The lyrics are so powerful you can't ignore them. One of my favorite songs, "So Far Gone," says in its definitive voice, "You said can't we just have this day/ don't try to make it more/ you leave me sad and reeling and impersonal/ ... don't even talk to me/ this year has been insane/ I didn't miss you much anyway/ and what did I do that was so wrong/ and how did you get so far gone? I couldn't tell you what went on inside my head this year."It's hard to say exactly what gets me about her music. It's different, but it's the right kind of different. It's not pushy with the messages, but the messages are there and you know what they are. Another one of her songs, called "As I am," has a different way of saying, "I don't care what you think" from other singers out there. It's not just, "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" kind of lyrics-they are modern and applicable to the real world: "The messages she heard inside were really loud and clear/ don't bother trying to be yourself/ just say what others want to hear 'cause when you start to compromise/ it's worse than living in a lie/ and I've made my choice and now I'm gonna say/ are you gonna take me as I am, gonna take me as I am." Some of her songs deal with racism, a sensitive issue that she sings about without tiptoeing around any of the words. I love this CD all the more for that. If you are looking for something incredibly beautiful to listen to when you've had a bad day or when you feel like nothing is going right, listen-and love-this CD."

Magdalen rocks!

Blue Jean Online | 12/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fire is such an awesome soundtrack. I'd never heard of Magdalen until I saw her perform live on campus. Her voice is beautifal, lyrics deep and powerful. The piano and percussion fits in perfectly with her voice and lyrics. She sings about a range of topics, from being an Chink in the south to taking political/social action. Her music sends out a message, not in a forceful way, but with meaning and hope. You've just got to listen to her and see a live performance if you can (..) She definitely draws you in with her spunk and energy. Can't wait for more of her music to come out."

Well worth listening to

Dave | HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS United Kingdom | 06/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Another recommendation from Amazon which has come up trumps. Reminds me somewhat of a mixture between Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. However she has a distinctive enough style and voice of her own. You need to listen to the Songs a couple of times for them to stick in your head, but once they are there you wont be able to get them out.
Favourite tracks are Redefinition and City Of Angels.
Well worth listening to."