Discovered singing in a noted New York City watering hole, the Syracuse native's successful major label debut quickly made him a rising star who garnered comparisons to Mario Lanza--from Tony Bennet, no less. But Amante's ... more »showy, soaring style and good looks seemed destined for a wider audience than opera's, and indeed this sophomore release largely delivers on the tenor's rich crossover potential. While many classically educated singers seem challenged to throw off the formal constraints of their rigorous training in tackling pop material, Amante's journeyman musical background has gifted him with a more pliant delivery. It's hard to imagine Bocelli tackling such oldies Top 40 fodder as Gary Puckett's "Young Girl," let alone imbuing it with the melodrama that Amante effortlessly imparts it here. His "Delilah" strives for the kitschy verve of Tom Jones' original, with a voice whose natural power begs comparison with the Welsh sex symbol on the opening "Till" as well. Amante mixes enough Neopolitan standards and originals into the mix to maintain its crossover appeal, but curiously it's pop standards like his soaring, emotional take on Orbison's "Crying" (in a performance that reminds us that the rock legend was arguably a crossover pioneer as well) and a cover of "Back On My Feet" that seem to best engage his considerable talents. It's an album more oriented towards Vegas than Verdi, which seems precisely the intent. --Jerry McCulley« less
Discovered singing in a noted New York City watering hole, the Syracuse native's successful major label debut quickly made him a rising star who garnered comparisons to Mario Lanza--from Tony Bennet, no less. But Amante's showy, soaring style and good looks seemed destined for a wider audience than opera's, and indeed this sophomore release largely delivers on the tenor's rich crossover potential. While many classically educated singers seem challenged to throw off the formal constraints of their rigorous training in tackling pop material, Amante's journeyman musical background has gifted him with a more pliant delivery. It's hard to imagine Bocelli tackling such oldies Top 40 fodder as Gary Puckett's "Young Girl," let alone imbuing it with the melodrama that Amante effortlessly imparts it here. His "Delilah" strives for the kitschy verve of Tom Jones' original, with a voice whose natural power begs comparison with the Welsh sex symbol on the opening "Till" as well. Amante mixes enough Neopolitan standards and originals into the mix to maintain its crossover appeal, but curiously it's pop standards like his soaring, emotional take on Orbison's "Crying" (in a performance that reminds us that the rock legend was arguably a crossover pioneer as well) and a cover of "Back On My Feet" that seem to best engage his considerable talents. It's an album more oriented towards Vegas than Verdi, which seems precisely the intent. --Jerry McCulley
"My husband and I are huge fans of Michael Amante, and already had his PBS special concert video as well as his first CD of Italian opera arias and classic Italian songs, which showed off his fabulous Italian tenor voice as also the concert video did. This new CD, "Tell Her I Love Her" demonstrates this dramatic, powerful voice too, but also the "lighter" side of his voice, as well as a different arrangement of some of his standard classical & pop songs that I believe anyone who enjoyed his first CD and loves a great tenor voice would want to have in their music collection. It is interesting to hear how he sings pop songs and a nice change from the operatic fare, especially if you like "oldies" like Delilah, Young Girl, Crying, for example that he sings as well and in fact BETTER than the original singers of these songs (Tom Jones, Gary Puckett, Roy Orbison). In all of the selections you can appreciate his world-class tenor voice, but also this time get to hear his softer, "pop voice", which is very pleasant,warm and SO charming doing songs he sings during his concerts, as well as new ones I'd never heard from him, including 2 songs, one of which he co-wrote ("Last Morning of My Life"), and another he wrote by himself, ("It Comes to This"); both are very beautiful. The only song I didn't care for too much was "Back on My Feet", but that's just me. My personal favorites in this new CD are "Till", "Be My Love", "Core 'N Grato", and "Because You're Mine", the latter 3 songs the great tenor Mario Lanza was noted for. (In fact, Amante plans to do a Broadway play on Mario Lanza's life and songs soon). Here, Michael Amante gives them a lighter touch than he usually does in his concerts and the orchestration is different. There are also at least 4 other Italian pop songs in it he does in Italian, some in both Italian and English, which are refreshing because they are different in style than many others he sings. Altogether, they show the wide range he has in both his voice and his ability to sing so well so many different styles and types of songs. And he still demonstrates the clear, ringing high C (and above) he is noted for, as at the end of "Be My Love." I highly recommend this CD for those who want to enjoy a strong, beautiful tenor voice singing pop and classic love songs,including Italian ones. Also recommend it to those who've already heard/know him but want to discover a new facet of his voice and singing - you won't be disappointed!!"
More Than I Could Have Expected
michael schwartz | delran, nj United States | 09/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you enjoyed the first CD, you need this one."
Wonderful
James Ross | 02/03/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Some of you may have read my review of his "operatic album" which I whole heartedly condemned as trash (which it is, since the music is so poorly sung and so badly interpreted), however, this is a reflection of the man and his voice doing what it should be doing. This man is NOT an opera singer and his fans should not for a moment think they are getting any understanding of opera when they listen to him, for they are not. However, singing the music best suited to his voice, he is wonderful. This album is truly enjoyable. Here his voice can shine forth in all its splendor, and we are all enriched by what he has to offer. Why so many good singers who are simply wonderful in their own area of expertese wish to sing opera when it really doesn't suit them (even if they have the notes) is something I can't understand. Michael Amante is so wonderful here, and I found listening to him simply thrilling. ONE WORD OF ADVICE DEAR MICHAEL: Stick to what you do best and let others do what they do best. This album is really a treat, and the mellow caressing sound Amante makes is truly exciting."
Michael 's #1 Fan
jeanette zoccali | Farmingdale, NY USA | 11/13/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is just wonderful and I truly enjoy this album as I did his first alubmn...It's a great mix of classical and POP. I listen to all the songs on this album but especially enjoy "It's Come To This" which Michael wrote. I have 3 cd's(home, car, office) and listen to him all the time. Michael sings from the heart and feels every word he sings. He is going places. Waiting for the next CD ......"