They sing like they look (Il Divo - Il Divo)

Member Name: dakota196

Product:	Il Divo - Il Divo
Date:	10/02/06 (583 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relaxing, melodic, and pretty easy on the eyes

Disadvantages: a touch too slick for their own good

I saw 'Il Divo' before I heard them, so was probably biased into liking their music - they are nice boys - but even so, they sound fantastic together. Yes, they're 'manufactured' but give them a chance...

~ Who are they~
Il Divo are Carlos (Spanish), Urs (Swiss), Sebastien (French) and David (American). They were put together by the infamous Simon Cowell who apparently has said he thinks they're his best achievement.
Anyway, It's interesting that they became famous at the same time as 'G4' on the X-Factor - Il Divo are more accomplished in terms of technique and professionalism (though granted they've not been asked to sing live for votes). They're like 'G4' for grown-ups (but grown ups who perhaps value good looking singers above absolute technical precision!)

~ The paperwork ~
The black and white cover is classy, which I believe is the image they're going for. Inside there are larger pictures of each of them - Sebastian and Urs win for my money - Carlos looks like a matador. The words are all there too, for all the good it does if you don't speak Italian or Spanish.

~ The songs ~
The songs are all beautiful - some are covers (Regressa A Mi being the most obvious, and most appealing), while some (eg Mama) were written for them.
It's rather disconcerting when they switch to singing in English, sometimes mid-song - I think I prefer the melody of hearing the Spanish-language songs. The latter half of the album I seem to listen to without listening to, if that makes any sense, but it picks up with 'My Way' at the end, which rounds off the album nicely.
It's not for the cynical - yes the lyrics (at least the ones I understand) are corny and romantic but resistance is futile - give it up, sit back and soak it in.
Here's the full tracklist:

1. Unbreak My Heart (Regresa a Mi)
I'm not sure why Regressa A Mi is titled as Unbreak my Heart when they don't sing in English. This is probably their most famous song. The strings and spanishy guitar introduce the song and when the voices kick in it's a bit spine-tingly. The song glides along and builds nicely, adding the others' voices along the way. After a spanish guitar bridge, they kick in with their full voices and I think this song works really well.

2. Mama
This is not a cover, and I believe was written with the Mother's Day market in mind (duh). The tune is singalongable, and the accompaniment well-orchestrated (with the first inevitable key change coming quite early on) but the words are unbelievably cheesy: 'thank you for all the things I'm not' for example. I would imagine it's every mother's dream to have their son sing this to them, and I'd imagine it's every son's nightmare to sing it!

3. Nella Fantasia
This is a beautiful song - the music is from 'The Mission' (my Morricone, I believe) and the orchestral accompaniment could stand on its own, but the voices add an interesting focus. This song is good if you've had a bad day. It's very mellow and relaxing.

4. Passera
This song is another one with a spanish feel, accompanied as it is largely by guitar and strings. It's quite a simple tune but the boys give it their all. Not as good as the previous track but easy to listen to nonetheless. Just wish I knew what 'passera' meant.

5. Every Time I Look At You
This is one of the few songs in English and fortunately the lyrics are not as cheesy as in 'Mama'. In fact, I think I could get quite swept away if this was sung to me. The song is introduced with piano and some gentle orchestration and has a different feel from the previous songs. It has a more 'pop' ballady feel - like a good chick flick, you know where it's going but it's still enjoyable to watch/listen to it get there.

6. Ti Amero
Back to the guitar intro on this one. It has a minor key and sounds more spanish (complete with castanets) and serious. It has the requisite number of key changes, and build through the song, and thus it's more striking towards the end of the song with fuller orchestration and drums.

7. Dentro Un Altro Si (try an alternative dentist)
Not the real translation of the title obviously. This is similar to (5) in its piano, pop ballad feel, and I like this sound more. There's a less obvious progression to this song, less belting-out of choruses and more harmony. Having said that, it does build to the end, and yes, of course, there is a key change.

8. The Man You Love
Another song in two languages, which is strange. Reasonable cheese factor on the lyrics (it is a love song after all). Some Christmassy twinkly noises in this one, makes me wonder if they were going for a Christmas release. More of a rhythm accompaniment too, less orchestration.

9. Feelings
It's a bit odd the way they switch languages repeatedly again in this- I think I prefer the songs in one language or the other. Nonetheless, I like the melody of this song. We get piano and guitar in this introduction. It has quite a dramatic feel, with less rhythm (at least at first) and more orchestral acommpaniment. It sounds like it came from a musical.

10. Hoy Que Ya No Est As Aqui
Try saying that after a few drinks. Another song in a minor key, with a piano led accompaniment. More harmonies in this song, which switches rather than builds from a gentle start to a dramatic finale. (I prefer the start). The different sounds of the four singers comes out in this song, although they do blend well too.

11. Sei Parte Ormai De Mei
No spanish guitar or piano here (although there's the odd castanet) - violin introduction and orchestra accompaniment. This song tends to pass me by without realising, not least because it's towards the end of the album. I prefer the ballady ones to the dramatic minor key ones like this.

12. My Way (A Mi Manera)
A good way to finish the album. A familiar song (hence singalongable) - there are more familiar covers on their second album and I think that was a good move, since this one is nice to have here, to round off the album with a known tune, albeit with unknown words.

Overall, I have to say I prefer this to their second album - Ancora - which I've also reviewed. There are fewer 'weak links' on this one, and it was a more original concept when they brought this out. Having said that, they're a of a Marmite group - love them or hate them. Each to their own, but I like em so there.

The only disadvantage to this cd is that it has anti-pirate technology on it, ie its own player, which means you have to have the actual cd with you to listen to it, I don't think you can listen to the tracks in random order, and it has trouble playing on some car cd players, for example.

Finally, this album can be purchased at amazon for a mere £5.97 which I think is a bargain. It's 2p more at play.com.

Summary: Beautiful boys, beautiful music