Search - Various Artists :: Cover: Morning Musume

English-language cover versions of Morning Musume songs

Brian Camp | Bronx, NY | 01/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of two CDs produced by Hello! Project in Japan to offer English-language versions of hits by Morning Musume, the all-girl Japanese pop sensation. The only name performers on this one are Vanessa Williams ("I Wish") and Deniece Williams ("Dance Site"), but neither turns in the most memorable cut. The best cuts are all by one performer, Debbie Ffrench, who does three of MM's earliest hits, "Hold on Me," "Summer Night Town," and one of my favorites, "Love Machine," which is still, I believe, MM's biggest-selling hit. Ffrench, a singer I'd not previously heard of, brings a rousing R&B flavor to the songs and makes the new versions worth doing. Their inclusion here makes the CD a worthy purchase, at least for MM completists. Or you can get the MM/Hello Project International compilation (also reviewed on this site) which combines all the cuts here with all the cuts from the other CD with English-language cover versions, including songs performed by Sheena Easton, Irene Cara, and Tiffany.



Tonya Kelly's "Memories" isn't bad either. It's got a nice bluesy feel to it, although it's a little slower than the song ought to be. Also, there's a pleasant, jazzy instrumental version, with backup vocals, of "Morning Coffee," performed by Shakatak. Other performers included on this CD are: Cindy Braggs ("Peace!"), T.A.M.K. ("Summer Rainbow"), Tara McDonald ("Endless Summer"), Kuk Harrell ("A Red Diary"), and Danna McAfee ("Love Revolution"). Overall, this CD has more of a blues/R&B feel to it than the hiphop tone that dominates the other CD.

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