Lesson Plan #14 - Music Review By SNN Reporter
Note: We recommend that you print this article
and distribute it to your students.
CD: Aqua: Aquarius
By Bill Yong, Oakwood Collegiate,
Toronto, Ontario
Three tedious years have crawled
by before this capricious Danish quartette introduced a new album
after their highly successful debut chart-topper Aquarium. Right
out of the recording studios in Scandinavia, Aquarius is yet
another Europop/Dance collection Aqua has released to the worldwide
market.
With the advent of this new album, Aqua
has the promise to dominate the dance floors all over the globe
and is unquestionably foreshadowed by the high success of the
first single Cartoon Heroes.
Somewhat comparable to the previous works,
this album is mostly comprised of the fun-loving, beat -driven
tunes synthesized by band members Søren Rasted and Claus
Norreen. Combined with the unforgettable vocals of Lene Grawford
Nystrøm and René Dif, several tracks are reminiscent
of past melodies Barbie Girl and Roses are Red. Although the
liveliness remains, the overall sound has grown over the past
years for it sounds more developed with the addition of new elements.
Reggae influences, Latin American sound
and brush with Country themes are a few new tricks used by Rasted
and Noreen after their various experiences worldwide. The band's
period of repose also has affected the Nystrøm, and in
effect, she demonstrates an incredible vocal power and dexterity.
This sophomore album of Aqua begins with
their trademark timpani solo as it develops into a full orchestral
accompaniment in Track 1 Cartoon Heroes -- a probable counter
reformation to their Techno-forged Barbie Girl impression. The
Symphonic-Pop fusion continues intermittently onward with other
songs such as Track 5, An Apple A Day and Track 8, Back From
Mars. Integrated in the collection are epic ballads which showcase
Lene's new vocal talents such as Track 3 We Belong To The Sea,
Track 9 title track, Aquarius and the melancholy Track 12 Goodbye
To The Circus.
This auditory delight will send a rhythm
straight to the listeners' soul until they feel the need to dance.
The melodies are so addictive and entrancing that they captivate
and embody the purest of high-spirited emotions. Aquarius has
showcased faultless musical talent in the Pop and Dance industry
to an extent one hasn't seen since ABBA. Definitely this is another
incredible album not intended for a dance lover's shelf, but
within their boom box.