Music snobs look away now (Ancora - Il Divo)

Member Name: dakota196

Product:	Ancora - Il Divo
Date:	09/12/05 (4119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: it's pretty

Disadvantages: it's pretty cheesy

Several opera-types are going down this track of including versions of pop songs (Catherine Jenkins for example) but this is really the only group with the training and blended expertise to pull this off (don't you dare say 'G4' to me)

It seems hard to believe that it's around a year since this quartet brought out their self-titled first album and yet I suspect many people might still not have heard of them, so before I launch myself in an ungainly manner into a review of the album, a little history will set the scene.

********The group
'Il Divo' were the brainchild (what a horrible word) of Simon Cowell who searched the globe for suitable young men (join the club matey). The contenders were narrowed down, thankfully not through a public vote, to these four (I got their ages from www.ildivo.com):
****Sebastien is French, 32 and, in my personal opinion. He used to be a pop singer so he's labelled the 'vox populi' of the group, and he's certainly very 'populi' with me. In my opinion his voice helps keep the music 'accessible' and not flying off into opera-land.
****Urs is Swiss, 34 and has the most characterful face. He sings tenor and, according to ildivo.com started in a hard rock band at 17! He then switched and had a pretty prestigious classical training.
****Carlos is very Spanish, 37, and looks like a matador. He sounds the most 'operatic' to me -he's baritone- and has a rich voice that gives you the heebie jeebies when he sings low. On ildivo.com he says his personal ambition is "to have all the knickers on my wall of all the beautiful girls that they throw to us on stage". Geez, shoot for the stars then mate. And I really don't think it's appropriate to be throwing girls of any description on stage.
****David is American, 32, and is also a classically trained and very experienced singer. He's also a tenor, and seems mellow and intelligent.

********The tracks
1. Heroe
The album kicks off with a familiar ditty, Mariah Carey's Hero. I always liked this song. I assume the words (which are in Spanish here - at least I think it's Spanish) are the same as the original which helps to appreciate the song, although part of the strength of this song was the words, so it relies on the singing for this version. It fits their 'popera' styles quite well, building to the chorus, and they leave the popiest bits to Sebastien. Quick key change towards the end, and it still has me swaying.

2. Isabel
This is a slower song, again with Spanish words, and in fact an adaptation of Pavane, Opus 50 by Faure. I recognised the tune but I did have to look that bit of information up at the back. The orchestration is beautiful for this track, and the different voices are used well again, both individually and in harmony. The tune does repeat a lot but the arrangement varies throughout which keeps your attention. There's what seems to be the obligatory key change at the end, but it works for me.

3. I Believe in You (Je crois en toi) with Celine Dion
I think it's funny that this song begins with a wooden flute-type sound reminiscent of THAT Titanic song, and this is a duet with Celine Dion (I don't get out much). This is more of a pop ballad, and Celine's voice fits well, not least because she's singing in her native French. It's a nice enough song but not as powerful as some of the others. The lyrics (ooh, just noticed a typo in the lyrics...I really don't get out much) are supposed to be encouraging but they're a bit wishy-washy - 'let your love lead through the darkness...be yourself, an angel of kindness'?

4. Unchained Melody
This is an Italian version (Senza Catene). This song begins with the voices and strings (the familiar arpeggios - yes I do know what I'm talking about). Half way through the inevitable key change, and a fuller orchestral accompaniment kicks in. I never particularly liked this song in English, I just find it a bit repetitive. This version does get better towards the end with the Carlos's powerful voice kicking in, and I would imagine it's very good live.

5. Si tu me amas
This track begins with a little Spanish guitar and (I think) Carlos and Sebastien. It stays a slower, quieter track, with the guitar and some strings but still has that key change part way through. Because of it's simpler orchestration, and a fairly simple (but new) melody, it's easier to hear the quality of the four singers' voices individually and blended together.

6. Ave Maria
Oh how many people will use this in weddings I wonder. This begins as another elegantly simple orchestration of the famous melody (that always reminds me of Muriel's Wedding) - half way through it takes a more 'pop' turn with a pop beat and rather annoying clicking sound. Nonetheless another lovely track.

7. Hasta mi Final
Back to Spanish for this one. I think I need to listen to this a few times more for it to grow on me. After the previous slow tracks, I feel like I need something with a bit more substance. It's a simple and easily learned tune, though with a celtic style of orchestration which does provide some variety from the previous tracks.

8. All By Myself (Solo Otra Vez)
Ah the one I was waiting for. This song just deserved a version by Il Divo and every since Bridget Jones I've just loved this song. From the gentle guitar and strings of the opening, you just know this song will build which it does, eventually...ooh the anticipation. They don't go for the obvious lung-burst of the chorus to an excessive degree and it's a steady and original adaptation of the song. Again, knowing (roughly) what the lyrics are in English helps to appreciate the song.

9.En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor
This song reminds of Brassed Off when the coal pit brass band play and the conductor says 'that's orange juice to you'. Anyway, this is a Spanish ballad with a famous melody. This song was made for Carlos the Matador, and it fits his voice in particular very well. The accompaniment is largely spanish guitar and strings, although there is fuller orchestration towards the end (no key change, hurrah!) and a slightly bizarre electric guitar solo part way through

10. Esisti Dentro Mi (insist on my dentist)
The beginning of this song sounds a lot like 'all by myself', infact I had to check I hadn't skipped back to that song. There's more harmony in this song, various combinations of the guys singing together (incase you don't know what harmony is :)
This is another song I was previously unfamiliar with. I've just noticed it has the word 'ancora' in it - I was going to try and be funny and say it means anchor but I've just found out that it really is from the verb 'to anchor'.

11. Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore
I've heard this song before, and I've got a suspicion it's on an ill-advised purchase of a Celine Dion album.
This is a pop song, and for me they sound a bit funny singing this song - perhaps too much of a foray into pop. That's except for Sebastien, French of course. It's one of those beat...click...beat...click pop ballads and for me it's the weakest track, just doesn't blend with the more operatic tracks (and I think we have two key changes here, as if to push you into getting involved)

12. O Holy Night
This was produced in what seemed like a bit of a rush last year around Christmas time but I'm glad they've put it on an album. This is my favourite Christmas song, and the way it builds lends itself to Il Divo's style. Plus it's in English so we can all sing along merrily - I could do with it being just a tad faster though. Still, it's the songification of Christmas.

********The packaging
The cover of this cd bears much resemblance to the last one - four men in black and white suits. But they look more relaxed on the cover here, more smiles, more assured of their knicker-filled futures no doubt. Inside there are pictures of each of them and another group shot (all still black and white) as well as the lyrics of the songs, which is great if you're multi-lingual - only two of the songs (I believe in you, and O Holy Night) are in English.

********Price
I got mine for £9.97 at Woolworths. Now that price won't last long, but it seemed fair to me. It's £8.47 at Amazon (plus shipping), and £8.99 at play.com (free shipping) but I couldn't wait :)

********Overall
My music reviews also tend to not do as well as, say snack-type products, but I really like this group and their music so I thought what the heck I'll write a review anyway to tell you about it and my experience of it. Their website, once again, is www.ildivo.com
My one gripe with the last cd was that it came with its own player, which meant, among other things, that I couldn't play it in the car. This cd, however, is playing quite happily on Windows Media Player.
I am going to see Il Divo at Wembley next April - I will not be flinging garments on stage...I expect they'll land a few rows in front of me.

Summary: Not as novel as their first , more familiar covers on this second album from the popera boys