Connie Talbot ' Over The Rainbow ' ( Her Very First Album ! )

Earlier in the year, I wrote an article about little 6-year old finalist of UK-iTV1's " Britain's Got Talent " - Connie Talbot, whose heartly-captivating performances at the ' Britain's Got Talent ' show won the hearts of not only millions of consumer viewers across the UK, but also of the judges on the judging-panel of the show, even the usually-hard-to-please Simon Cowell. I also wrote that so impressed with Connie Talbot's performance was Simon Cowell, that Simon signed her up with his record label Sony BMG, and took her into the Sony BMG Recording Studio to start recording her very first ' recording ' ( though at the time, I didn't know whether that would have been in the format of a single, EP, or full album... ).

Yesterday afternoon, after some browsing on the internet for Music of Connie Talbot, I found out that it is all indeed True ! Connie Talbot has recorded her very first debut album, called " Over The Rainbow " ( pictured ), supposedly named after the title-track of her heart-winning performance that got her this far in the first place - " Somewhere Over The Rainbow " - the song that got her to the final of UK-iTV1's " Britain's Got Talent " show. The New Debut album " Over The Rainbow " is scheduled to be released on sale on 26/27th November, 2007, making it available in good time for Christmas 2007.

Amendment - Saturday 10th November, 2007 : 1:45 PM : I just found out this afternoon through on-line sources that Simon Cowell had recently decided to 'drop' Connie from his initial Sony BMG Recording deal, apparently because of her age ! However, Connie has very quickly been picked up by the Rainbow Recording Company, through whom her new debut album was successfully produced, if not for which, Connie's debut album might not have been produced at all, let alone in time for Christmas. But luckily for Connie, the Rainbow Recording Company speedily signed her up and got under way with her album.

Several of the songs from the new debut album are featured on Connie's MySpace Music Page, including the title-track " Somewhere Over The Rainbow ". She also does a cover version of Whitney Houston's ' I Will Always Love You ', which she does really beautifully, and draws out a soft-spot in your heart, and sounds so sweet and beautiful, it could almost bring a tear to your eye. Technically though, amazingly, it sounds alot like the Whitney Houston version, and she sings it nearly note-for-note ( accurately, I might add... ) on contrast to the Whitney Houston version. I'd say if you ask Whitney Houston, I'd think Whitney would be proud ! ; I'd just like to add that as much as so beautifully sung does Connie on this song ( and I DO think she sings it spotlessly and extraordinarily beautifully... ), I think she's way too young to properly understand the adult-contemporary notions in the lyrics of the original Whitney Houston version. Nevertheless, well-done Connie ! ; The other songs featured on Connie's MySpace Music Page are ' I Have A Dream ' and ' Ben '.

I'd also mentioned earlier that relevant organisations had elected to compare Connie Talbot to Charlotte Church ( who is techically a Soprano ), though I think Connie is currently too young yet to be relevantly compared to any contemporary artists. I think at such a young age, Connie has many options and many avenues open to her, and the direction she evetually takes will depend on how she develops her voice in the years to come. If she's at all likely to become a Soprano, like they say she might, I think she's going to have to 'round' her voice a little more.; Although at the moment, at best, she reminds me of ( and sounds a little bit like ) Nikki Webster, the young Australian starlette who sang ' Under Southern Skies ' at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony and ' We'll Be One ' at the Closing Ceremony of the same event.

Just for the record, From a conceptual and generic point of view, I Don't usually believe-in nor like artificially-manufactured artists, but on this ' rare ' and particular occassion, after hearing Connie sing, I'd be willing to overlook it - just this one time ! I think Connie is exceptionally extraordinary, and she does have ' real ' natural talent. I'd want to say that some-day she'll stand on her own two feet, but the fact is, she already IS ! - Hearing her natural beautiful voice is a testament to that ! In fact, I reckon Connie is so good that she clearly out-classes, and is so-much more deserving than most of the commercial mainstream artists by a lo-ng mile - even at her young age !

Anyway, Here's the Track-Listing for Connie Talbot's New Debut Album " Over The Rainbow " :

.1. Somewhere over the rainbow .2. I believe .3. White Christmas .4. Smile .5. Imagine .6. Walking in the air .7. Favourite things .8. Wonderful world .9. Ben 10. I will always love you 11. Silent night 12. I have a dream

The Album is out November 26th, 2007.

" Over The Rainbow " has not yet been scheduled for release here in Australia, but however, I will keep an eye out for it, and if and/or when it gets released here in Australia, I shall post a notification here.; " Over The Rainbow " is available for pre-order on-line via Amazon US or Amazon UK.; I will be purchasing it on-line via Amazon UK.

Last, but definitely not least, I'd like to express my warm Congratulations to Connie on her outstanding achievements so far. I'm really looking forward to the new debut album soon, and all the Best Wishes to Connie for all her successes in the future years to come.

Update : Thursday 6th December, 2007 : 10:35 PM :

My " Over The Rainbow " CD Order arrived in the mail a few days ago. The actual album is presented in a soft-cover sleeve encasing the plastic CD case in which the CD is held. The image depicted on this page is the image on the front of the soft-cover sleeve, not the image on the front of the the inlay-booklet.; I've already had a chance to listen to the album in its entirety. If you've followed Connie's progress with interest thus far, then believe me when I say the ' Over The Rainbow ' album is one of 'the' most beautiful things you have ever heard ! Connie sings with such beauty, grace, and a warm sense of feeling that really touches your heart. Connie does a tremendously terrific job of each and every track on the album. For every track that is a ' cover ', I'm sure even the original artist for whom the song is usually known for would be very proud of Connie's beautiful renditions of the songs. This album is nothing short of ' Absolutely Brilliant ' ! If you haven't heard it yet, then you really have no idea what you're missing out on ! This album is worth every penny. I'm really looking forward to more new songs from Connie. Sometimes I wonder why there aren't more so-gifted people in the world like her.

NOTE : I have amended the purchase link below from Amazon-US to Amazon-UK as Amazon-UK is retailing the same item at a cheaper price than the US.; In accordance, I have changed my mind and pre-ordered my item from Amazon-'UK' now, instead of Amazon-US.

Connie Talbot : " Over The Rainbow " ( 2007 ). .Buy This Album On-Line at Amazon (UK)

Related Links :
* Connie Talbot's Official MySpace Music Page.
* Connie Talbot's Official Website.
* Connie Talbot Sings at ' Britain's Got Talent ' ( You-Tube Video ).

A Fan of Hayley Westenra or Andrea Ross ? Meet Kelly Sweet.

Where Do I Start ? Here's somethng relatively new for the fans of the Cross-Over music genre. If you already have this album in your collection, then for you I guess she needs no introduction. You will have already experienced for yourself first hand what she's like, and will have already formulated your own impressions of her as an artist, before I've even begun here. If you're already a fan of Hayley Westenra or Andrea Ross, then you're in for a great treat.
She's one of the latest new music artists to join the Cross-Over music genre. She's only 18 years old, and she's from Montclair, New Jersey, USA. Her debut album is called " We Are One " ( pictured above Left ), loosely described as semi-Pop and semi-Cross-Over, influenced by the styles of Jazz, Classical, and Cross-over. Her name, is " Kelly Sweet ". Her music is so much more than can be described in words.

My pathway to initially discovering Kelly Sweet was primarily through participating in forum disccussions on Andrea Ross's Official Forum, where one of the forum participants mentioned having CD titles from Hayley Westenra, Andrea Ross, and Kelly Sweet in his/her favourite CD collection. Of the three, Kelly Sweet was the only artist un-familiar to me at the time.; I've already been a big fan of Hayley Westenra for some time now, and I discovered Andrea Ross sometime earlier in the year, and have a been a fan of ever since. That leaves Kelly Sweet, who at the time, I had never heard of, until I saw her name mentioned on a discussion thread on Andrea Ross's Official Forum. At the time, I was thinking if this person also liked Hayley Westenra and Andrea Ross like I do ( and he/she did convey in communication to the effect that Kelly Sweet is somewhat similar to the other two... ), I thought it would be worthwhile and maybe even interesting, to follow it up and check out who Kelly Sweet is and what she's like. If he/she likes Hayley Westenra and Andrea Ross, and would put Kelly Sweet in the same boat, then I gather Kelly must bear some merit. And this is what initially convinced me to investigate the subject further. First instincts are of course to find out whether she ( Kelly ) has an official web site where I could find out who she is, what she's like, and whether there are sample music audio clips to listen to.; Yeah, I checked out Kelly Sweet's official web site, and her MySpace music page. I also scoured a number of music web sites on the internet looking for Kelly Sweet sample music audio clips to listen to, and after some familiarising myself on Kelly Sweet, I eventually made the decision to purchase her debut album " We Are One " online via Amazon UK. I've had the album in my possession now for a not-so-long period of time that can only be counted in weeks, a small number that you can count on the fingers of only one hand !; Already in this short time, I will tell you with confidence, that Kelly is good ( really good ) ( and she really can sing ) ! and I too would definitely rank her along side the likes of Hayley Westenra and Andrea Ross, who of late, has made this Cross-Over journey somewhat of a unique collaborative adventure.

Kelly Sweet ( in the same-ness of both Hayley and Andrea ), is as Genuine an artist as it gets. As Kelly's official web site quotes, that Kelly is " No pre-fab pop confection or eager-to-please talent-show contest winner ". The team at Yahoo-Music says that " Not every young singer is following a By-the-Numbers career path, when it comes to making new music... ". At an interview with the people at Yahoo-Music, Kelly says that she has been approached by people who wanted her to do either straight Pop or straight Jazz, but Kelly in her honest heart didn't want to do either ! She wanted to sing ( in her words ) ' the music that she heard '. Kelly also said that people close to her advised her to do what she wanted to do, and not what other producers expected her to do. So, she waited until she could find the right producer and the right people to work with, who would produce her unique sound. On her debut album " We Are One ", Kelly sings in four different languages, including English, Italian, French, and Sanskrit.;

Here is the track-listing for Kelly Sweet's debut album " We Are One " :

.1. We Are One .2. Raincoat .3. Dream On .4. Caresse Sur l'Ocean .5. Crush .6. Ready for Love .7. Giorno Dopo Giorno .8. I Will Be Waiting .9. Now We Are Free 10. How 'Bout You 11. Love Song 12. Je T'Aime

On Kelly's MySpace Music Page, you will find the bonus MP3 Christmas track " White Christmas ". Two other MP3 Christmas tracks " Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas " and " Silent Night " ( performed by Kelly ) are also available on various other music web sites that feature music by Kelly Sweet.

She's not Hayley ! She's not Andrea ! But her debut album " We Are One " certainly exhibits the sounds and essence that puts her in the one-in-the-same 'spirit' of the genre of which both Hayley and Andrea are now big contenders !

I believe that if you like Hayley Westenra and/or Andrea Ross, you will like Kelly Sweet ( I do already..., and I like all three ! ). Kelly's music is comfortable, and relatively soft - you don't need to have the volume up high to appreciate it.

She's Fresh, She's New, She's Talented, and she's Unique ! She's .... Kelly Sweet....
And her new debut album is " We Are One ", the new sound of Cross-Over.

Video Clip : Introducing Kelly Sweet : Watch a video clip of the Yahoo-Music exclusive Interview with Kelly Sweet.



Audio : The Kelly Sweet ' We Are One ' Music Sampler : Listen to Sample Audio clips from Kelly Sweet's debut album ' We Are One ' on the Amazon.com Music Sampler. Click the Link Below.



If you're a fan of the Cross-Over/Classical Cross-Over genre, and you already have a decent collection of Hayley Westenra CDs, and maybe even the " Moon River " CD by recent new-comer Andrea Ross, then Kelly Sweet's " We Are One " CD is a Must-Have addition to any great Cross-Over/Classical Cross-Over collection.

Here is a montage image of the three Cross-Over artists mentioned on this article - Hayley Westenra, Andrea Ross, and Kelly Sweet :



Buy Kelly Sweet's ' We Are One ' - the debut Album Now, at Amazon UK, or at Amazon.com US. ( Please See Below. )

Kelly Sweet - We Are One ( Import Edition ) ( 2007 ). .Buy This Album On-Line at Amazon (UK) .Buy This Album On-Line at Amazon US

* Kelly Sweet's Official Web Site | Kelly Sweet's MySpace Music Page.

See Also :

* Andrea Ross and ' Moon River ' - A Review.