I've been a fan of Celtic Woman almost since the very beginning when friends of ours gave us the first show on DVD. Since then my sisters and I have purchased all of their CD's, and the 'New Journey' piano songbook. So it was with great anticipation that we awaited the new CD - and by no means were we disappointed!
I honestly believe that this CD, "Songs from the Heart" is Celtic Woman's finest collection of songs yet. A few faces are missing - Hayley, Maev and Orla - but the new additions are amazing. Lynn Hilary has a lovely voice (though she does need to work on not looking so... stiff... when she's singing) and Alex Sharpe is just drop dead gorgeous and a pure joy to listen and to watch. I could seriously watch YouTube clips of her songs all day. You can just tell how much she loves singing and performing, you can just feel the joy behind that gorgeous smile radiating off the screen at you. Yeah, I'm a confirmed Alex Sharpe fan and I ardently hope she stays with Celtic Women for a long time!
As for the other girls, Lisa is still has as lovely a voice as ever. Chloe has really developed a beautiful voice as she has matured more, though I can't say I'm too fond of the eye make-up overload that they gave her. Mairead still dazzles the crowd with her fiddling.
Overall, I think this group of girls is the best yet. There are more group songs than solos in this album, which is totally awesome because when they sing together... they just sound amazing. Their voices just blend in a way that past groups didn't.
Well, with that being said, here's my song by song breakdown.
Fields of Gold - Lisa Kelly: The first time I heard this song, I fell in love. It has such a magical feel to it... I can just see a golden field in the early morning mist.. Lovely melody and such romantic lyrics. ^_^
Favorite Lyrics: "Will you stay with me, will you be my love among the fields of barley?"
Amazing Grace - Full Cast: Now, I will admit when first saw this song listed on the back of the CD case, I inwardly groaned. Don't get me wrong - I love Amazing Grace! My thoughts were though, that it was just going to be another overdone gospel version or (more likely) boring a Capella. Was I ever wrong! I can truly say that this is the most beautiful and inspiring version of Amazing Grace that I have ever heard!
Favorite Lyrics: T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear and Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Nil Se'n La - Full Cast: What a fun song! The lyrics are part Gaelic, part English and the melody is so fun and lively. I especially love the video for this one, the costumes are great and the girls do a little bit of fun dancing that makes me just want to jump up there and dance with them.
Favorite Lyrics: Tell me that the night is long, tell me that the moon is streaming. Fill my glass, I'll sing a song and we'll keep the music streaming until all the songs are sung.
My Lagan Love - Lynn Hilary: The lyrics for this song are quite lovely, as is Lynn's voice... but I just can't get into this song. Just a little too laid back for me and I don't like it when a girl sings a 'love song' about a girl... but if you like laid back than you might like this song.
Favorite Lyrics: Where Lagan stream sings lullaby, there blows a lily fair the twilight gleam is in her eye the night is on her hair.
When You Believe - Chloe: I do so love this song! Personally, I prefer the version that Chloe did when she was younger, but this one is really neat, too. It has a lot of feeling to it, and I like the extra verse/bridge that they added.
Favorite Lyrics: Who knows what miracles you can achieve, when you believe.
The New Ground/Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears - Full Cast: The New Ground is a lovely, very Celtic sounding song played on uilleann pipes that flows into Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears - a bittersweet song about Elis Island.
Favorite Lyrics: That isle of home, isle of pain, isle you'll never see again, but the isle of home is always on your mind.
The Coast of Galicia - Mairead: This is a fairly upbeat song, though not as fast as some of her past ones. As indicated by the name, it has a slightly Spanish feel to it towards the beginning and goes into a more Celtic sound towards the end.
Favorite Lyrics: Well, it's hard to have lyrics in an instrumental song...
Non C'e Piu - Full Cast: This a gorgeous song, mostly in Italian, sung to Dvorak's Symphony #9 - Second Movement, which I absolutely love.
The Moon's A Harsh Mistress - Lisa Kelly: Quite frankly, this song doesn't do much for me. The melody is very pretty and musically it is nice, but the lyrics... eh, I don't care for them. Plus it's kind of weird when a girl sings this song...
Favorite Lyrics: The moon a phantom rose, through the mountains and the pine, And then the darkness fell.
You'll Be In My Heart - Alex Sharpe: I love, love LOVE this song! It's so sweet and motherly, and Alex is just a very motherly sort of person when she sings this... and it is really neat how they combine the movie and credit versions for this song. It's just... really... WOW! I got chills the first time I heard it, it's so amazing.
Favorite Lyrics: You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say. Yes you'll be in my heart, always.
Goodnight My Angel - Lisa Kelly, Lynn Hilary and Chloe: This is such a sweet song! A gentle lullaby, and these girls sing it beautifully.
Favorite Lyrics: Someday your child may cry and if you sing this lullabye then in your heart there will always be a part of me
Galway Bay - Chloe: An gorgeous rendition of an Irish classic. I love the emotion in Chloe's voice when she sings this, especially in the final verse.
Favorite Lyrics: I will ask my God to let me make my Heaven, In my dear land across the Irish sea.
The Lost Rose Fantasia - Mairead: Another gorgeous violin solo from Mairead! This one has more of a ballad feel to it, and it sounds like there's a few different tunes mixed in there together. I love depth of feeling here.
O, America - Full Cast: This is a beautiful, patriotic song and it provides a nice finale to the CD. I wish I could honestly tell America that I'd be "true to thee" but given the state of our country right now... but then again, you could read the lyrics as promising to help her get back out of the slimey pit we've fallen into. Hmmm, yeah...
Favorite Lyrics: O, America no weeping, Let me heal your wounded heart. I will keep you in my keeping, Till there be… a new start.
And that concludes my review of Celtic Woman's "Songs from the Heart". I've made a few signatures, and if there is any interest I'd be happy to post them at some point.
Be sure and let me know what your favorite songs all are! I'm sure you can tell which one's are mine. ;)
