What people search:
 | Title : Harem
Author : Sarah Brightman
Release Date : 20030610
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.49
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Editorial Reviews :
If one's notion of 'world music' promises a touch of the exotic and indigenous, often overlooked is the fact that the influence of western pop music has seeped into every corner of the globe, creating a hybrid that's often more than merely the sum of its influences. Theater vet Brightman steps into that pan-cultural hall of mirrors here, wedding her fascination with the music and rhythms of the 'forbidden places' (the title's Arabic meaning) of the Middle East to her own oft ethereal vocal charms and rock-solid sense of drama. And if the diva's equally sound crossover sensibilities (and that of longtime producer Frank Peterson) sometimes mire it in familiar world-beat pastiche, Brightman's charmed muse manages some transcendent moments nonetheless. Her musical borrowings (Borodin for the title track; Puccini's *Madame Butterfly* for 'It's a Beautiful Day') are as compelling as her choice of collaborators: classical violin star Nigel Kennedy and Iraqi vocalist Kadim Al Sahir add compelling touches to the weary timeliness of 'The War is Over.' The musical influences range from Europe across the Mediterranean and as far East as the Indian roots of 'Bollywood' composer A.R. Rahman's 'The Journey Home' and Brightman's own 'You Take My Breath Away' to evocative recastings of the emblematic standards 'Stranger in Paradise' and Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World,' while ex-Killing Joke keyboardist Jaz Coleman provides the savory East-meets-West orchestrations that ensure Brightman's star turns the seamless foundations they deserve. --Jerry McCulley
Buyer Reviews :
I have been anticipating the release of the new Sarah Brightman cd 'Harem' for some time now. I haven't been into her music for too long, maybe like 2 years now. Her last cd was a compilation of new and original material which I thought was fairly good but I preferred her greatest hits (import only). 'La Luna' was what got me into Sarah's breathtaking vocals. I wasn't sure if I wanted to wait until I got the new Delerium cd or to get it now. I'm glad I got it today. 'Harem' is definitely a departure from 'La Luna' and 'Eden'. Sarah embraces world and dance music with her more familiar classical-pop sounds. I found this new sound quite refreshing and exciting to hear from Sarah. Of course she still has her breathtaking ballads like 'What you Never Know' and a cover of Mandalay's 'Beautiful'. My favorite, favorite song off the cd has to be track #5 'The Journey Home'. The song starts off as a ballad and slowly shifts into a dance song. I love the melodies as well as the lyrics. I also loved Sarah's rendition of the classic 'What a Wonderful World' which surprisingly works quite well as a dance song. All the songs are stunning masterpieces. I could not find one song on the cd that I didn't enjoy. Sarah sounds better than ever as a vocalist. It is good to hear her experiment with other styles of music and incorporate with her brand of classical-influenced pop music. 'Harem' definitely ranks as one of this year's best albums as well as one of Sarah's best albums.
(by Juke Joint Jezebel)
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