First of all, I'm a die hard SB fan, I owned 17 of her album/EP/musicals. Now get down to business.I'm not very sure what Sarah is trying to lead us this time. This is more of an average pop album than anything else she's good at. I'm not saying that she shouldn't try new things. In fact, songs like "A Question of Honor" proves that a new blend can be very promising. But things are not going well in this album.
Take "Harem" as example, it can be a song of great potential, but the way Sarah sung it gives it all away.
BTW, I don't think we need her singing too much pop (not too much operatic vocal either), a balanced mix of all suits her better since she is so so versatile, and certainly can achieve a lot more.
Well, if someone is trying to look for an SB commercial hit parade, I'll recommend "As a came of Age" over "Harem".
Sorry for the harsh comments, please understand she can be so much better than this. Alas!
I bought Harem Yesterday, when it came out. It's such a beautiful CD. I'm going to start, by talking about the CD packaging. Well, the digipack carton is really nice, but will not take a lot of wear. The ink on the digipack will end up dying your fingers, if it gets wet. Be careful!
There are beautiful pictures inside, and we're treated to so many more pics in Harem compared to any of her other CDs. Also, if you have the Canadian version and this one, you'll notice that the CD itself here, is painted blue, with silver palm trees. The Canadian one is the opposite.
I'm really happy though! Thank you Sarah!Alrighty now...Here is my review of Harem, song by song:
Harem:.......A gorgeous marriage of Instrumental suspense, mixed with moving electronic techno-dance beats makes this an excellent opening track. I love the suspenseful, dramatic crescendo from the slow, rythmic percussion, to the gradually rising melody, and then turning into a bouncing, looped keyboard riff, which then shifts into high gear with a sensuous, electronic dance beat. I love it!
What a wonderful world:.....Sarah has revisited a Classic song (originally by the great Sachimo "Louis Armstrong"). Sarah has re-invented this classic, giving it a pixie-esque finish. The song is unique, and has a lovely melody which only Sarah and Frank can come up with. Lovely!
It's a beautiful day:........Pure Euphoria! I love it as much as I love the original "Madame Butterfly or (Un Bel Di vedremo). What a gorgeous soaring mix of Classical with a slower electronic beat. This song can easily fit into the Fly CD material, because it's got that heavenly, off the ground vocal effect on me. This is the only song in which Sarah puts any operatic voice into. Kind of says "thank you", for all the fans who loved her classical music of the recent past.
What you never know:.......Lovely! Beautiful accoustic guitar solo, which makes me feel sentimental. And Sarah's ageless "Kate Bush-esque" soprano voice gives it a touch like no other song. This is probably one of Sarah's best love songs yet!
The Journey Home:.....Another dramatic melody builder! It starts out really slow, and percussion sets in. The background vocals are to die for, and the violins and orchestrations just glide smoothly.
Then what I love, is Sarah's smooth, crystalline Soprano voice arrives with the first lines of the song. It builds up to another fine electronic dance beat, which soars through the sky like an eagle. I get goose bumps every time this song plays. Ofra Haza's voice is so lovely on it!
Free: Sad but beautiful......Sarah sings about wanting to be free, and to move on. This one is another sweet melody, where Sarah's voice opens up into one emotional bliss. How pretty!
Mysterious Days:.......Is mysterious, melodical and really pretty. I think it's one of the most "rock-sounding" of all the songs on the CD. This one could really work as a single. I absolutely love the chorus line.
The war is over now:.......Very pretty, simple and catchy. Duets aren't my thing, but this one is an exception. Sarah's light, airy voice, and Kadim Al Sahir's voice is brilliant. They go really great together, and I think this proves that they should duet a lot more together in the future. I can't get over the chorus line in this song too, because it's so easy to sing to, and even though it's a bit repetitious, the song has a pleasing melody.
Miserere Mei:.......Lovely! Simply Put!
Beautiful:.......Simple and melodic. Fits in so well with the theme. Makes me think I'm travelling into the desert, and learning a lot about life and beauty of things.
Arabian Nights:.......What a lovely little medley of Arabic songs. It's so pretty that Sarah sings in Hindi. I Love it! Sarah's voice is such an instrument. She can pull her voice in, or bring it out like a slap in the face. I like the versatility of this piece.
Stranger in Paradise:........It's just plain OK. Nothing too new, nothing too startling. I've already heard a lot of versions of this piece, and I prefer Sarah's. The original comes from composer Alexander Borodin.
Until the end of time:........what else can I say, but this is my 4th favourite on Harem. I love everything about this tear-jerking song. It's something that should be found on any passionately-written CD. Sarah has found my heart when i listen to this track.
Sarahbande:.......What is going on here? It's really strange! I think this song would fit in well on "Cirque Du Soleil" or as a theme for some kind of Hockey channel. Sarah's vocalise is fine, but when she meets those shrill, terrifying high notes, the song is spoiled. She goes too high, and for what? Do the Japanese fans enjoy hearing her wailing up high like that? I like it, but not those high notes. The beat is almost like a "Lord of the dance" soundtrack song, and should have been redone in a lower key, and used as an international song, not only on this Japanese release.
I went to see Sarah live today (May 28th, 2003), at the signing for Harem. She is such a wonderful person to meet in person. You'll never meet a sweeter lady than her.
After the signing, I went to see her in a live taping of an interview for Harem. She was such an angel, and that made me feel so much closer to her music and to her, period.
Well, that's it for my review!
Hope it helps you!!!
This album is much different from Timeless, Eden and La Luna, but Sarahys great soprano voice is as beautiful as ever. She is so talented. Sarahys voice shone with joy. You can hear her warm-heartedness and arrangement in every word she sings throughout this album. All songs are recorded with a symphony orchestra. Harem is a brilliant album.The song HAREM takes you on a fantasy-voyage into the Arabian Nights (1001 nights fairy-tales). The song has a mysterious Oriental sound. The song yCancao do Mary is used for HAREM. Sarahys voice is so beautiful, very bright and crystal-clear. Great rhythm.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, same lyrics as with Louis Armstrong but in a new style. Sarah sings passages from Pucciniys yUn bel di vedremoy, from Madama Butterfly during ITyS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. It would be phenomenal to hear Sarah sing the original versions of yVissi dyartey by Puccini and yCasta Divay by Bellini.
WHAT YOU NEVER KNOW, is a very beautiful song - when you get to know it. THE JOURNEY HOME from the Indian musical yBombay Dreamsy has a fresh rhythm. Sarah sings it incredible with her lovely voice. FREE, is a marvellous song with Nigel Kennedy playing violin at the end of the song
MYSTERIOUS DAYS, fantastic song. Ofra Haza (a Jewish female singer, who sadly passed away 3 years ago) has a fabulous beautiful voice too. Ofrays and Sarahys voices suit each other perfectly. The song has a great dance beat.
THE WAR IS OVER (fortunately). Sarah sings it marvellous. She sings duet with an Iraqi singer Kazem Al-Sahir. He sings in Arabic: yWelcome all people of the worldy.
MISERE MEI is an interlude to BEAUTIFUL. Two very beautiful songs. ARABIAN NIGHTS. Great beat. Again a voyage-song, like you are travelling on a flying carpet and seeing exotic places. Sarah sings even in Hindi (Indian). Wonderful.
STRANGER IN PARADISE is from yPrince Igory (Polovtzian Dance). A magnificent song and melody. Sarah sings it superior. Rhythm and style a bit like TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. UNTIL THE END OF TIME, is like a fantasy-voyage. You travel in your mind to the sound of Sarahys amazing voice.
SARAHBANDE sounds like a great theme for a TV-series.
When you buy a CD with Sarah, you always get MUCH MORE than you pay for. This album is not just another brick in the wall, but a milestone in the music-universe y like the other Sarah-albums.
