Search - Shirley Bassey :: Get the Party Started

Majestic!!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 07/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Welsh/Nigerian songstress, Dame Shirley Bassey, returns with an album of classics with a contemporary twist. Produced by a slew of cutting edge producers and remixers like Bugz in the attic, and North by northwest, the project was driven by the Dame herself.



Best known by some for the Bond theme songs she sang; "Diamonds are forever", "Goldfinger". And "Moonraker", the 13 songs on this collection are heavily influenced by that. The album has already given Dame Shirley Bassey her first UK top 10 album in some decades and deservedly so.



"The living tree" is arguably the best Bond record that never was, with it's Trip Hop feel; a brooding sound, sweeping dramatic strings and explosive vocal delivery (her voice is as booming as ever - she doesn't do things by halves) from the seventy year old Dame. Similar is the self assertive "This is my life".



Lionel Richie's "Hello" is given a haunting, atmospheric treatment. Nicole's dad would be proud of the result. The lightly horn sprinkled "Can I touch you there" (the Michael Bolton song) is similarly transformed (lovely percussion and nice male harmonies).



"I who have nothing" is given a slight dub feel, while "I will survive" is transformed by epic sounding strings and skittery percussion. "What now my love" has a slight salsa feel. "You only live twice" (originally done by Nancy Sinatra) is covered superbly here, downplaying the Bond feel, and giving it a light Cuban feel.



"Where is the love" is given the disco treatment (superb sax outro, by the way), similar to her "Moonraker" hit, and her old hit "Big spender" starts off startingly like Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" in its new incarnation.



The title track is a rousing reworking of Pink's "Get the party started" with dramatic strings, and crisp enunciation from the Dame.



It is amazing to see a veteran like Dame Shirley Bassey still sounding cutting edge and not resting on her laurels. If you like your music bland and safe, this might not be for you.



Her other album of remixes, "Diamonds are forever: the remix album" is also worth checking out. "Get the party started" is a wonderful aural experience!!

"

At 70 and counting, Shirley still rocks !

sellnotsell | new york | 03/18/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Dame, raised in Cardiff's Tiger Bay (now resident in Monte Carlo), has never been shy of wading right out into a song and giving it some welly with extra lashings of showbiz sparkle. Her bold and brassy hymns to gold, diamonds, popping corks and "fun fun fun" have conquered generations of fans, and she's nowhere near quitting yet.

Shirley Bassey is celebrating her 70th year in style and the release of her first new full album for almost a decade - "Get The Party Started".

The most amazing thing is - she sounds as young (and contemporary) as ever. Whether blasting out a cover version of Pink's "Get The Party Started" or reverting to the classics such as "Kiss Me Honey Honey", Shirley is clearly having a blast - and the vibe is infectious.

The album combines new recordings and new vocals with remixes of classic tracks including "Big Spender" and "I Will Survive" and the single "The Living Tree".

The remixes and reworkings have also been assembled by some of today's most contemporary producers, including Chuck Norman and Bob Kraushaar - aka NorthxNorthwest - whose remixes include Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams and Peter Gabriel.

In addition, there's a cracking remix of the Grace Jones' classic "Slave To The Rhythm" from The Glimmers (which forms one of the album's highlights).

Needless to say, not all of this works.

Bassey's voice hasn't lost the power to shatter glass, but who thought "Big Spender" needed any help from the studio crew and their leaden drum machines? The track doesn't really benefit from a dance drumbeat: the only percussion that song ever needed was the wallop of Bassey's hips.

"Hello", for instance, is an honourable failure that's not really suited to Bassey's larger than life style, while the Bruno R remix of "Where Is The Love" is a little too disco and cheesy.

But "I Who Have Nothing" works wittily with the mournful reggae bass boom of the Police's "The Bed's Too Big Without You".

Elsewhere, Latin, lounge and disco beats flutter around that big voice like respectful members of an entourage fanning the diva.

There's no denying the fun of hearing Bassey re-do Pink (as previously heard as part of the Christmas Marks & Spencer advertising campaign), lending great heart to "This Is My Life" and giving it her all on brilliant single "The Living Tree", complete with inspired guitar solos.

It's mainly about remixes of hits from the Bassey songbook.

It's a hit and miss affair.

What hits and what misses will largely depend on how much the originals mean to you. How can you turn "You Only Live Twice" into a bosa nova effort?

Surprisingly, you can.

It's loud, it's camp, it's fun.

Enjoy !"

The Party has Started!!

cduk2001 | London England | 03/18/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dame Shirley was tempted back into the recording studio by the bond-esque "The Living Tree" and now we have this (almost) great album. The title says it all and the party has started for all of Dame Shirley's fans, new and old. The remixed tracks are based around vocals recorded in the 80's and 90's so sound superb. Dame Shirley really puts her own stamp on tracks like "I Will Survive" which is as far removed from the Gloria Gaynor version as you could imagine. Remixes of "I Who Have Nothing" and "Big Spender" take them into the 21st century. Cagedbaby's remix of "This Is My Life" is as cool as ice!. A couple of the remixed tracks don't quite work but who could forget Shirley's version of "Get The Party Started"? It's going to be a great party! Don't miss out!"