Overall good stuff... (Dreams Can Come True - Gabrielle)

Member Name: Cwej1

Product:	Dreams Can Come True - Gabrielle
Date:	15/11/01 (78 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some brilliant vocals, Heartfelt lyrics

Disadvantages: The covers are not 'meant'

I'm gonna just do this track by track as I listen to the album.

1. Dreams - 'Move a step closer, you know that I want you, I can tell by your eyes that you want me too' The one EVERYONE knows. Opening with that familiar guitar riff. Uplifting lyrics, if you look at them in terms of a relationship OR in terms of life generally. :) It's not actually one of my faves, but I can see why it is so popular. The chorus is such a singalong and that string solo is a classic moment in 90s pop.

2. Going Nowhere - 'No need to feel so lonely, cos darkness turns to light, just know I'll be right here, to hold you tight...' The BEST song of Gabrielle's early career. The strings of Dreams are replaced by a strong brass section. This is early 90s pop at its best. The lyrics are gorgeous and the beat is energetic. Gabrielle's voice sounds much stronger on this than on Dreams as well as she shows up her vocal range to a much better degree.

3. I Wish - 'My heart skips a beat whenever you are here, and I just don't know what I'm gonna do...' Not as much of a classic as the first two tracks, but still a pleasant enough listen. Slower, more of a ballad, (whilst not really being a ballad!). Apparently this was written about one of her producers, the saucy devil she is! There's little moments with 'woo' sounds that make me like this! listen to it and you'll know what I mean!!!

4. Because Of You - 'Should you ever feel the need wanna fly away, I will fight to change your mind, I'll try to make you stay...' When I was 11 this was my favourite song - but now it's pretty average to be honest. Sounding vaguely like Dreams, it lacks real depth, though has a nice singalong chorus and the fadeout chorus is nice, with additional harmonies which really make the song.

5. Give Me A Little More Time - 'Then I knew it was true, all the feelings that I had inside for you...
9; Gabrielle showed her own individual style for the first time really with this Motown-esque track, sounding so different to anything else around in 1996. Her vocals had improved dramatically from 1993 aswell and this is just an amazing classic with brilliant brass and strings.

6. Forget About The World - 'You gotta hold on to what you want, what you've been fighting for, you gotta believe in it, hold on, until you can fight no more' Gabrielle goes controversial. The tale of a lesbian woman deciding between her girlfriend and her family. Why this didn't do better I'll never know because it is perhaps Gabrielle's best ever record. Powerful, lyrically, vocally and musically, with an amazing bridge. It is also quite haunting in its own way.

7. If You Ever - 'If I said that I would be your one and only, promise that you'll never leave me lonely' A cover of an old Shai track this song suffers from an incredible amount of over-production. Far too much in fact, so the vocals are hardly recognisable. Shame cos it's an OK love song.

8. If You Really Cared - 'Said you cared, now you're asking for forgiveness, It's much too late, I don't want you near' The first song where Gabrielle really went into a depressive state methinks! This had a great video, but on its own, it's quite a weak song. Carries on in the Motown vibe that 'Give me A Little More Time' had, but is ultimately TOO slow!

9. Walk On By - 'Foolish pride that's all I have left, so let me hide the tears and the sadness you gave me when you said goodbye' Another sad one. This is a good song but sometimes it seems Gabrielle doesn't come across so meaningfully when the songs are not her own. That is the feeling that comes across and the song falters because of it.

10. Sunshine - 'I'm looking at the world in an optimistic light, you made me appreciate my life' Such a positive
and uplifting song. Only this and 'Don't Need The Sun To Shine' can make me smile when I'm depressed. Once again Gab's vocals improve, the song flows and is such a singalong classic. Great one.

11. Rise - 'Much time has passed between us, do you still think of me at all, my world of broken promises, now you won't catch me when I fall' Depressing and uplifting at the same time, this song is perhaps a little overrated, but I can see why people like it. A slow ballad, it does seem to plod along without going anywhere!

12. When A Woman - 'Driving down the highway, Roberta? Donnie Hathaway. Playing on the airwaves as we're making our way' TOO HAPPY! This song is too happy it makes you want to be sick. Not one of Gabrielle's best.

13. Should I Stay - 'It seems we've grown attached, though we're not the perfect match, I just can't explain...' Wow. This song is just amazingly orchestrated. Sounding like something Massive Attack would release it is just a haunting ballad and beautifully sung. Haunting.

14. Out Of Reach - 'So confused, my heart's bruised, was I ever loved by you?' I'm so sick of this song. You all know it so I won't bother reviewing it. You either like it or you don't!

15. Don't Need The Sun To Shine (To Make Me Smile) - 'Don't need to hitch a ride when I could run a million miles, yes I would, just to see you smile...' I love this song. So uplifting. A midtempo track that just makes you smile with it's happiness. :)

16. If I Walked Away - 'All the promises you made, they never saw the light of day, many times you said you'd changed, I was a fool to wait' Sounding quite like 'If You Really Cared' but much better. This is a highlight of Gabrielle's career and unfortunately is the only track on here to not be a single. Hopefully she'll have the sense to release it becaus
e it is just an amazingly gorgeous ballad and her voice sounds amazing. She gives me gossepimples at the bit where she sings 'many times you said you'd changed'...

So there you go. Hope that helps?! If it doesn't, tough. ;)

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