Hey, Man Go Buy It! (Whoa Nelly! - Nelly Furtado)

Member Name: dannycoward

Product:	Whoa Nelly! - Nelly Furtado
Date:	03/09/02 (286 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I'm Like A Bird, Hey, Man!, ...On The Radio

Disadvantages: Some Strange Tracks

'Whoa Nelly!' is the debut album of Nelly Furtado, the 23 year old Portuguese-Canadian. The album is full of gems and will take your breath away with its sheer diversity. Furtado has a mesmerising voice that can sway thought the softest of ballads and then explode into all out rap. While the base of the album is undoubtedly 'pop' orientated, there are various influences present on the album, like funk, hip-hop, R'n'B, just to name a few! When you combine these influences with meaningful lyrics (written by Nelly herself) and close harmonies you just get a splendid album that is a joy to listen to. An indication of the diversity of the album is the fact that each song is unique, with lyrics being delivered in English, Portuguese and Hindi. This diversity vocally is matched and bettered by the presence of a vast amount of instruments including Spanish guitar, steel drum and even a tabla and sitar in there!

Anyhoo onto the songs!

1: Hey Man! (4.10) 5/5

The album starts with a great bit of solo violin and string instrumentation. The beat then starts to pick up and introduces the vocals of Nelly Furtado. You will just be blown away trust me, the lyrics and the whole beat of the song are just immense. Nelly's vocals are so unique, I have not heard of any like them before; they sound so fresh, pure and sincere. You cannot help but be impressed with the range of her vocals either, soaring to extreme highs to sultry lows, and that's juts on this track! The song for me is about just living and everyday feelings about insecurities about situations. A great way to start the album, you just hopes that it can be kept up.
Look out for the chorus, it is very catchy!

2: ?On The Radio (Remember The Days) (3rd single charted 18) (3.54) 5/5

This is a very hip-hop and beaty affair. The track just jumps about throughout the duration. The chorus contains the hook that will keep you coming back to thi
s track again and again. The vocals are again top drawer, Nelly is one of the few that actually sing with an accent, and it just makes the lyrics come to life and so original. The song for me is about looking back and reminiscing about past mistakes and how you where at times naive and made mistakes. But they are what made you who you are and you should stay true to yourself. The vocals are at times synthesized on the track. Yet again another stunner that you will be singing along to in no time!

3: Baby Girl (3.46) 4/5

A very dark and haunting start to this track. The music to me is very Caribbean and this mixed with a base line and hip-hop makes this a very unique song. The music always plays second to the outstanding vocals, the pace of the track is very fast, but the vocals match this and just race through the song. For me the song is about not wanting to be a kept person and just to be your own person. The song is not up to the high standards of the previous two tracks, but expectations are high and this is still a good track.

4: Legend (3.34) 4/5

Another track and another style! This track starts with a piano intro; this then subsides to allow the steady beat to take over. The song just sways through and it is very smooth and soothing. The vocals of Furtado adapt to this mood perfectly, and are top drawer. The lyrics are so unique and so thought provoking, which is unusual for a pop album. They are not concerned about simple rhyming couplets. The song is about someone just being popular and famous and the fact that he will get plenty of opportunities with the opposite ex.

5: I'm Like A Bird (1st single charted number 5) (4.03) 5/5 (best track on the album)

The smash hit of the album and the one that claimed the limelight for Nelly. The song is just pure class. It is pop based with a simple drumbeat, guitar and keyboard. It is really the vocals and lyrics that bring the song to life. They are so original
and just grab your ears and force them to listen to the song. The chorus is so addictive and a definite sing along, you can tell when it comes along as the drum beat picks up to warn you! At times the vocals tremble with emotion that is the true quality of Nelly Furtado. The track is just a feel good track that will pick you up from the darkest of moments. It even helped me pass my driving test, as it calmed me down driving to my test. Worth the price of the album for this song alone, that is how good it is!

6: Turn Off The Light (2nd single charted 4) (4.36) 5/5

With the previous track being almost impossible to follow, this track does more than manage to keep the momentum going. Yet another bouncy affair that combines hip-hop, pop and R'n'B. Another classic trademark hook for the chorus will leave you wanting the song to just continue for a long, long time. In periods of this track the vocals are so emotional, driven and fast. At time you think that Nelly will run out of breath! The guitars and base on this track are again like all the music so well produced. They never take the limelight of the vocals but supplement them superbly. The song is about never quite knowing what is real and what is just an opinion or a belief. Hard to describe but a great track with some thought provoking lyrics.

7: Trynna Finda Way (3.33) 3.5/5

The song is very basey and trippy. It starts slow and then picks up a little before subsiding for the chorus again. The song is very technically produced with synthesisers and drumbeats etc. This may put you off, but believe me it works; I think that it is mainly rescued by the lyrics and grooves that are created by the Nelly Furtado. The vocals tell of just trying to make something of your life, a good solid message. At times Furtado just speaks the lyrics at normal pace and this is just great to listen to, she has just got an amazing voice. A strange track hut well worth a listen and a definite gro
wer.

8: Party (4.02) 3.5/5

Another musically strange beat, very dark and hip-hop based. The song almost drones on, the beat is constant and is quite monotonous. The song is very similar in parts to its pre-dessecors, both lyrically and vocally. The vocals are superb and just work with the various beats, from the drum tambourine and other instruments that I don't even know the name of!

9: Well, Well (3.01) 4/5

The song is very low key and stripped down compared to the two previous efforts. It is a lot easier on the ear as well; it just breezes through and is a love song about always coming back to the one you love. The chorus is as expected very catchy, you will be singing along without noticing! The tempo is quite up beta and the song will soon be over before you will know it. Overall a catchy but quite repetitive song, but still class.

10: My Love Grows Deeper Part 1 (4.22) 3/5

A very dark and strange song musically. The music has influences from the keyboard and those space sounds that can be produced on them, (you know like Ross form Friends!) The music for me offers too much diversity and distract from the lyrics and vocals. It is hard to concentrate on the track as too much is going on, not a big fan of it but still listen able and no need to skip.

11: I Will Make You Cry (3.59) 4/5

A great bit of piano kicks the album back into life. The very trippy and basey sound is back. There is the influence of those diverse sounds from the previous track, but they do not distract from the vocals. The voice of Furtado is so mesmerizing and at time in this track the lyrics just roll of the tongue so fast that you cannot believe what you have just witnessed. The speed is just unbelievable and takes the track to the next level. The song is just about being strong and not being bossed about, and maybe a woman being a little bit of a heartbreaker. Another solid track that picks up the standard after so
me strange tracks.

12: Scared Of You (6.09) 4/5

Spanish acoustic guitar is the order of the day on this track. The tempo is very slow and this allows for full concentration on the vocals of Miss Furtado. Believe me this is something to just sit back and enjoy. They are so tender and fresh; it just takes your breath away. The song has harps in there and the harmonies are just a pleasure to absorb. There is also some Portuguese in there I don't know what she is saying! But it adds another dimension to the song and album. A very sombre and harmonic track, maybe to long for some, but I like it!

13: Onde Estas (4.14) 3.5/5

Spanish guitar is again the main influence for the track. As the title suggests the track is lyrically Portuguese I think but don't quote me on that! The track is again very angelic and sounds to me very Enya like, with the accent and Spanish influence, you get the general drift! It is another track to just sit back and relax to, I feel that the order of songs is quite good as it starts quite up pace and then goes darker and then finishes with these sombre soothing tracks. Not a great track but still worthy of a place on the album.

14: I Feel You (Featuring Esthero) (4.10) 3.5/5

The song is again quite basey and in a similar vein to some of the previous tracks. The song is brought to life by the vocals that bring depth to the constant mid tempo music. The chorus is also quite catchy, but not a great track and the majority of the better tracks are definitely at the start. I feel that Nelly on this album is very experimental and maybe for her next album she might settle down a little.

15: My Love Grows Deeper (Single Version) (4.56) 4/5

This version is a little more commercial and for me benefits for this. There is a little reggae in there, and it is a little lighter and on a happier note. The vocals both from Nelly and the backing singers are fantastic and bring a lot of cha
racter to0 the song. It is a very nice way to finish of the album, and leaves you waiting in heavy anticipation for her next album.

This is a great debut album for Nelly Furtado and got her a nomination at the 2002 Brit Awards. The album is very diverse, and I believe that there will be something on her for everyone. It has brought a very much-needed breath of fresh air into the pop world. I cannot wait for Nelly's next record, as I am a big fan. Go and but this album! Words of warning look out for the track listings, as there are so many versions available, look out for the UK version as this has the tracks mentioned in this review. Some versions only have 12 so you are missing out on 4 tracks. The UK version also includes 'I'm Like A Bird' CD-ROM video, which is a nice bonus!


Released 14 May 2001)
Label: DreamWorks
Highest Chart Position: 2
Total Playtime 62.29
Genre: Adult Contemporary/Pop/Singer-Songwriter

Summary: