Site Update: Listen to Sarah's Music Online!
April 12, 2008
After searching around for ways to add streaming mp3s to the site, I finally decided on Flash as the best way to do it since it'll give everyone control over what they hear and how they hear it. Though I realize that adding music to the site might be frowned upon by the powers that be, I want the opportunity for people who have never heard any of Sarah's music to get a taste of it as well as the opportunity for those who have heard a bit of it already but want to hear more, more, more! to be able to do so.
Two songs from each of Sarah's main albums are available for online listening via the new Media Player (also accessible under Audio in the menu bar on the left). Note that you will need Adobe Flash Player installed to be able to use it; many of you will already have it installed since Flash movies are commonly used on websites anyways and you would have installed it at some point to view something-or-other (probably mostly ads, to be honest). All the songs are CD-quality and full-length except where the CD might have truncated a track.
And of course, if you like what you hear, remember that there's plenty more where that came from! Visit your nearest music store or order online to support Sarah. All your CDs will come with pretty pictures and that fine new-CD smell... something a download never will. This doesn't mean I am against sharing great music, but Sarah is worth the price of a real CD.
Site Update: Future Plans for the Website
March 14, 2008
I hope to be able to add some streaming mp3s to the site soon; currently I am looking around for some code to make it work.
I suspect there might be something wrong with the Guestbook, at the very least the site navigation doesn't display properly with it. I think visitors might have been trying to sign it and failing, an unfortunate thing since I would love to hear feedback from anyone who wants to give some.
Also I might be bringing a forum but this is dependent on how popular this site becomes and whether or not there is a fan base for it (of course, Sarah has an extensive fan base but I am naturally referring to how many of them find their way here). On that note, page views seem to have essentially doubled lately, undoubtedly in large part due to the recent release of Symphony and the resulting public interest. And rightly so.
Comments and suggestions are welcome; if my guestbook doesn't work, feel free to drop me an e-mail as per my Contact page.
My First Impressions of Symphony
February 7, 2008
On
January 29 I braved the -42° Celsius
Canadian winter to purchase Symphony (well, it was also on my way).
Imagine my chagrin when HMV didn't have it, especially considering that
I was fairly certain I was in the right country to be seeing the album
out in stores on the 29th. But anyways, I had it in my hands a week
later and am listening to it for the second time as we speak.
I am somewhat disappointed that the lyrics were not included in the CD insert but on the other hand there are several beautiful pictures of Sarah in it which you can all see in my Gallery here. (Fortunately the lyrics are available from the official website which I have copied over here).
What do I think of the album? Musically it is somewhat like a mixture of Fly, Time to Say Goodbye/Timeless and Eden (Sarah's 1995, 1997 and 1998 releases, respectively). I don't think it has the magic of Harem, Sarah's previous 2001 release, but then in my opinion it's nearly impossible to live up to Harem's appeal and success on all fronts.
The best tracks on Symphony would have to be the first two, Gothica and Fleurs Du Mal, which form essentially one track since the first is an instrumental lead-in to the second. I also suspected that there might be a hidden track and it turns out there is a short instrumental piece on the Gothica/Fleurs Du Mal theme after the last track. The classical genre plays a heavy part in this album and the influence of rock is minimal; Sarah sings four duets including a ballad with Paul Stanley of KISS which is surprising to say the least.
Of all the songs on Symphony, Attesa provides what I think is the best example of Sarah's wonderful vocal abilities. But it goes without saying that her vocals are phenomenal as usual for the whole duration of it.
Site Update: Site Redone, New Pictures, and Symphony Lyrics
January 28, 2008
The site has been redone (yet again) to make it easier on the eyes. A bunch of pictures have been added to the Gallery, some of which are from Sarah's new album Symphony, and the lyrics to the songs from this album are also up.
News Update: Sarah's New 2008
Album "Symphony"
January 26, 2008
Source: sarah-brightman.com
Sarah's much-anticipated new album, Symphony, will be released early in 2008. Recorded in Germany, the US and the UK, Symphony features all-new songs, and was created by Sarah with long-time producer, Frank Peterson. The album features 13 tracks that explore a bold range of styles. From the Gothic tempestuousness of “Fleurs du Mal,” to the pleading “Let It Rain,” Symphony is a thrilling collection of material that cannot be easily categorized, yet remains accessible to lovers of a vast array of musical genres.
According to Sarah, the album earned its title because it is “a coming
together of many different elements, to create consonance with
harmonious textures that still hold true to a common thread running down
the centre of the album." She goes on to say, “Throughout my career, I
have worked in so many different styles of music. This is the first
album where all of these styles come together to create a very diverse
musical landscape.”
In addition to reuniting her with Andrea Bocelli on the romantic “Canto
Della Terra,” this characteristically eclectic album features
collaborations with Spanish countertenor Fernando Lima (“Pasión”),
Italian tenor Alessandro Safina (“Sarai Qui”), and rock superstar Paul
Stanley (KISS) on “I Will Be with You.”
Another album highlight is “Running,” the IAAF's Green Project Charity
song, which Sarah performed earlier this year at their Championships
opening ceremonies in Osaka, Japan.
Release dates are as follows:
January 28 – Mexico
January 29 – USA, Canada
January 29 – Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan
February 4 – Korea
February 25 – Rest of South East Asia
February 27 - Japan
March 17 – Europe, Australia, New Zealand and rest of world (with bonus
audio track)
TBA - UK/Ireland
Track Listing:
1. Gothica
2. Fleurs Du Mal
3. Symphony
4. Canto Della Terra
5. Sanvean
6. I Will Be With You
7. Schwere Träume
8. Sarai Qui
9. Storia D'Amore
10. Let It Rain
11. Attesa
12. Pasión
13. Running
14. Fleurs Du Mal (Reprise) [Hidden]