What My Heart Wants To Say- Gareth Gates (What My Heart Wants To Say - Gareth Gates)

Member Name: SpookyMoon

Product:	What My Heart Wants To Say - Gareth Gates
Date:	11/06/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice mix of styles and themed songs.Upbeat.Has some covers of old pop songs some might like.

Disadvantages: Unforgettable-generic pop at best.Nothing special musically, lyrically or vocally.

What can I say, if you thought I was unkind about Will Young (who I actually do like 10 times better than Gareth Gates) then perhaps don't read any further.

Gareth Gates, who competed with Will Young in Pop Idol, was later signed by Simon Cowel. And although I am not a fan, I think this was a good business move. This is about as nice as I can be about Gareth Gates' musical career. I think die hard teeny bopper pop fans will have appreciated the efforts of Gates, but as far as him having any longevity in his career, I dont think it is likely.

In this album he covers 'Unchaned Melody' and to his credit, he can sing in tune, but his voice (though melodic) is highly regular and unimpressive. There really isn't anything memorable or distinguishable about it (unlike Will Young-who at least has a clearly distinguishable voice). I disliked 'Unchained Melody' originally anyway but I feel that Gates has really knocked the little magic the song originally had out of it.

The second song on this album confirms him as a 5 minute pop wonder that really (hopefully) wont go down in history. 'Anyone of us' is p*ss poor lyrically and musically. It really is generic pop at its worst and really doesnt even reflect contempory pop music of the time, it's more like something Big Fun would have come up with, doing a gross disservice to the genre.

Songs like 'Sentimental' are actually a credit to this album. They at least show the progression and mergence of pop into the 'funk' and electronic era. It's a cathcy tune and sounds like something Justin Timberlake might have come up with. I really do like this song and miraculously Gates voice sounds a little bit more sophisticated. But then he lets you down again with his cover of 'Suspicious Minds' which sounds like an over drummed/trumpeted anthemic red nose day single.

The album is ecclectic though, I will give it that. It shows a real mixture of styles like a resume of all that pop can do-but still remains wholely unimpressive.

Summary: Considering he has been classically trained in music, you wouldnt guess it from this album.