What I'm Listening to Today: 1/23/04

1:00 P.M. - "Mirror Ball" - Sarah McLachlan - When I saw this CD at my library I was excited to see some old radio favorites and couldn't wait to put it in my computer to play. I really love these songs but I can't stand live versions! I had no idea the songs were going to be recorded from concerts. I figured the CD would be a "mirror", a CD of her greatest hits. Greatest hits they are, but they're done with a screaming crowd in the background. Her voice is crystal clear and beautiful but nothing ruins a song for me more than "AAAAGGGHHHHHH"'s in the background. Even though I'm aggravated that this is a live CD I just love Sarah's voice and can't believe I've missed out on her since the time I bought her "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" cassette tape in high school. WHAT was I thinking, missing out on such an enrapturing voice?! Well, I am going to make it a project to catch up on this lovely voice. It is a refreshing voice in a world where most artists these days are starting to sound so similar. She would stand out like a sparkling diamond in the middle of a bucket of ashes. Sarah, I'm so sorry I've missed out on you!

2:30 P.M. - "The Best of Cher" - As overplayed as her song "Believe" is, I still really get into it. It's the first song of the album and I think that's a great introduction to the rest of the CD. Cher has a really powerful voice and gives the image that she is also strong at heart and mind. "If I Could Turn Back Time" is a song I think a lot of us could probably relate to. "If I could turn back time, and take back those words that'd hurt you...." Gets me thinking of all the things I've said to my poor husband. ;) Funny how there can be songs on a greatest hits compilation that I've never heard before. Well, "Heart of Stone" is one of those songs and I kinda "dig" it! I think I'd probably like just about any of her later works. "I Found Someone" is a super powerful song. Cher sings with a lot of strength and aplomb and this reflects her confidence in her womanhood and who she is. Oh! Can someone PLEASE get me a dancefloor, FAST! The Junior Vasquez Vocal Edit of "One by One" is pulsating! I know I like an artist when I can hear a song for the first time and really delight in it. With other artists it takes a few listens to begin to appreciate it, but that's not the case with the songs on this Cher CD. Every song that I am new to I have given two-thumbs up. This is a MUST have CD.