Search - Various Artists :: 1999 Grammy Nominees: Mainstream

Unbelievably Extraordinary!

Nicolas Mancuso | Montreal | 10/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you've read my reviews of the other Grammy Nominees CDs, then you know that I am generally a fan of these compilations. This CD proves no exception. However, this one is countless times superior to the best of the first four.



The nominees for Record of the Year again prove to be the best of the best songs heard over the past year. Brandy and Monica's "The Boy is Mine" was a huge hit (When did you NOT hear it?) and Celine's "My Heart Will Go On" was, modestly, quite successful. The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" was a hit on the rock circuit and Madonna's "Ray of Light" was a smash for pop music. And "You're Still the One" became Shania Twain's country-pop crossover hit.



In the Best New Artist category, there were some surprises and some deservers. The Backstreet Boys were, indeed, a surprise nominee in this category, since they've been famous in Canada since 1996. Andrea Bocelli and the Dixie Chicks well deserve their nominations, since their respective songs "Amor ti vieta" and "Wide Open Spaces" were highly enjoyable, extraordinary songs. The Fugees' Lauryn Hill scored a smash with her "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and one-hit-wonder Natalie Imbruglia was a, indeed, a wonder nevertheless, with her "Torn".



Three newcomers went against two returning hitmakers in the Best Male Pop Performance category. Eagle-Eye Cherry's "Save Tonight" is an exceptional song that was in major circulation on the airwaves. Brian McKnight and Shawn Mullins became famous with their respective "Anytime" and "Lullaby". Eric Clapton's "My Father's Eyes" is a succulent upbeat-yet-sad hit and Sting's "You Were Meant For Me" is a beautiful, powerful ballad made famous by Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain".



This is a high-quality CD that you definitely should not miss out on."

Last 20th Century Grammy Nominees

GMac | Anywhere, USA | 02/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Grammy Nominees 1999" is the best collection of 1998 music you will ever find. It really does contain THE BEST songs of the year; many of them back to back. The album is so lively and flowing that it earns the slowed down ending. A wide a variety of music is covered throught the nominees for Record Of The Year, Best New Artist and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Thankfully, there are no "track not availables", and no "repeats"; so the album a complete fifteen tracks. But what a wonderful fifteen tracks:

(1) Brandy and Monica "The Boy Is Mine" A. There is no reson why a duet has to be between a man and woman, and this is proof. The two R&B divas collaborate perfectly to create a catchy, original and intelligent R&B track. The two artists never outstage one-another and develop a passionate song about two girls going after the same guy.

(2) Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" A+. The unsinkable song from that unsinkable movie; "Titanic". Movie theme song or not, this is a truly deep, touching and heartfelt love ballad that sinks into your heartwith ease. The song is blooming with emotion that remains constant from begining to end. This is THE best song of 1998 AND Celine's career.

(3) Goo Goo Dolls "Iris" A. It may be about a relationship between a woman and an angel (it came from the "City Of Angels" sonudtrack), but anyone can relate to this song. Through the use of lyrics with powerful images, the Goo Goo Dolls achieve an extremley deep impact. Even the insturmental solo keeps the pace of the song going. This is definetly a pop/rock treasue.

(4) Madonna "Ray Of Light" A. Straight from the outset of this song, you can see how Will Orbit's production re-invented Madonna's career. Her original, philosophical words are set to Orbit's quirky, clever beat to make a dance song like no other. This is the kind of originality and invention that the dance genre is desperetly in need of today.

(5) Shania Twain "You're Still The One" A. The fact that this song crossed over from country to pop displays Shania's range. Also proving her range are the beautiful pop lyrics set to a country beat, all done with a perfect ease. This is a rare song that everyone can enjoy. She lost Best New Artist 1995 to Hootie & The Blowfish; I guess time proved differnt.

(6) Backstreet Boys "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" A-. It has no real depth to it, but it makes no intention to. THis is simply an announcment that the Backstreet Boys are here, and on the that level it is heard LOUDLY. The group makes beautiful ballads, but they can make rockin' dance numbers as well. This is a guilty pleasure that is very likable.

(7) Andrea Bocelli "Amor Ti Vieta" D. I have no idea why he was nominated for Best New Artist; he was pretty restricted to opera. The song is not even sung in english, thus the average listener has no idea what it is about. If it is about something, it's short length offers so time to develop it's content. This is quite a strange track to have here.

(8) Dixie Chicks "Wide Open Spaces" B+. Success has been so lucrative for the girls because thay make country music that appeals universaly. This song contains content that anyone can relate to with similar emotions. Wanting to find yourself is an understandable desire. The end result is an impressive debut single that gives much promise for their careers.

(9) Lauryn Hill "Doo Wop (That Thing)" A-. Lauryn became the breakout star of 1998 because we had never heard a sound quite like her. This track may lack the depth of "The Lost Ones", but is still a clever, intelligent examination of the sex game from both sides. The title also carries a double meaning as a way to react and the style that the song is in.

(10) Natalie Imbruglia "Torn" A+. A deep, heartfelt, emotional debut single with much power. This is what a pop ballad should be; beautiful words set to a strong beat. Seems so sinple on the surface, yet it carries so much dimension underneath it all. This is a quite powerful and promising debut that really does get at the heart and soul.

(11) Eagle-Eye Cherry "Save Tonight" B+. He has a unique voice and the song is filled with refreshing lyrics to make it interesting throught out. It's kinda original and never outstays it's welcome. The end result is a good song that just doesn't stick to memory as well as it should.

(12) Eric Clapton "My Father's Eyes" A. Eric Clapton has slipped a bit in recent years, but this is one of his finest works EVER. He captures true emotion and dimension with his content about a distant father and son. His voice has alot of impact, and the backing vocals by Chyna only add to thje song's depth. This is Clapton at his best.

(13) Brian McKnight "Anytime" A. Brian McKnight's music works so well because he just sings a song and lets the emotion spring out from it. This is a perfect example as the song slowly brings out emotions with it's tragic tone and lyrics. It's more R&B than pop, but that doesn't make it any less powerful than it is.

(14) Shawn Mullins "Lullaby" B. Shawn has a relaxed voice that never has to go over the top, and the song utilizes some clever, interesting lyrics. The flaws are that it becomes a little to long by the end and loses the zest that it started with. It's a flawed sing, but onme that definetly merits a listen.

(15) Sting "You Were Meant For Me" B. It's kinda nice to hear Sting perform a good, old fashioned pop tune, but it lacks the trrific touchs of his more upbeat works. Still, as is this is a well made that traditional vocal performace with perfect craft behind it. It's hard to really dislike it.

Bottom Line: ***1/2. The album would be perfect if it weren't for that damn Andrea Bocelli song. That is a minor quibble though. I completely recommend this album to anyone looking for a great collection of late 90s music. It's quite impressive to hear Eric Clapton and Lauryn Hill on the same album and realize that they share some of the same musical talents.



"

Not really exceptional

NorthofCB | 10/19/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Commenting on the tracks on this CD is more like judging whether America's National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences still honours good music. But that is something one only could say with a pinch of salt. The Record of the Year nominees, as usual, are musical showpieces of their time. In terms of quality, however, barring the goo goo dolls and Celin Dion, rest of the stuff is fairly mediocre. Brandy and Monica hardly appeal to muscial aesthetics. Ray of light is a shocking. There is good talent, however, in the male pop vocalist category; Shawn Mullins, Eric Clapton and Brian Mcknight deserve some marks. On the New Artist grouping ... some of today's most versatile and successful singers have been winners as Best New Artist- Natalie Cole, Tracy Chapman, Mariah Carey, Bette Middler.. none of those on this collection reveal that promise... but, till some thing better comes along, this will do..."