I Will Love
Again: The Reviews
Various
© Billboard, Globaldance, hitmakers April-may 2000
BILLBOARD REVIEW
April 29, 2000
Singles
Edited by Chuck Taylor
NEW & NOTEWORTHY
LARAFABIAN I Will Love Again (3:45)
PRODUCERS: Mark Taylor, Brian Rawling
WRITERS: P. Barry, M. Taylor
PUBLISHER: Rive Droite Music Publishing,
MCPS/PRS
REMIXERS: David Morales, Hex Hector, Thunderpuss
Columbia Records 79375 (CD Promo)
Columbia Records is taking quite a chance with its new
golden treasure, Lara Fabian, among the most promising
female vocalists to be fired out of the publicity machine
since Celine Dion a decade ago. The label has chosen as
her U.S. debut single a pure dance song, something radio
often seems hesitant to embrace (witness Tina Turner's
"When The Heartache Is Over"). But if
programmers are able to get over their narrow playlist
methodologies and put this instantly accessible would-be
hit where it belongs -- in heavy rotation -- listeners
will be staring open-jawed at their radios, wondering
whom this astonishing voice belongs to. "I Will Love
Again" has a broken-hearted Fabian proclaiming
strength in the midst of turmoil, swearing that love will
come her way once more. This singer/songwriter brings
with her the goods; an amazing, sky-sweeping delivery
that packs emotion behind the beat and the kind of
powerhouse chops that you're simply not going to believe.
In fact, "I Will Love Again" commandeered by
Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling (Cher, Enrique Iglesias),
merely hints at what's around the bend with the upcoming
release of Fabian's self-titled album, a collection of
drama-soaked ballads that will leave even the stoic
reaching for hankies. This musical artisan comes by way
of Quebec, where she has already sold 6 million albums in
just the past two years. A master of French and Italian (she
was born in Belgium) she makes her first foray into
English here.
Consider this your introduction to an artist with the
potential to be the next big thing;
she's extraordinary.
GLOBALDANCE.NET REVIEW
Lara
Fabian
Massive. That one word could be this entire review and it
would suffice. Belgian-Italian songstress Lara Fabian
hits a grand slam with her American debut single, "I
Will Love Again," and with the voice she has and
stunning international sales of her French-language
repertoire, the building buzz that she is Sony's
unofficial successor to Celine Dion seems relatively
obvious.
"I Will Love Again" is a sparkling, low-120s
pop/house confection in its original version, with an
enormous chorus led by Fabian's undeniably powerful pipes.
(There are traces of Dion in there, but that "I Will
Love Again" isn't simply a remixed ballad helps
differentiate the two singers.) Producers Mark Taylor and
Brian Rawling (a.k.a. Metro) have become the best in the
world at blending dance grooves to smart pop songs (co-written
by Paul Barry)and vocals, and this will only further
their amazing sales track record of the last 18 months.
But speaking of remixes, there are three sterling
versions of "I Will Love Again" produced by Hex
Hector, Thunderpuss and David Morales, the biggest
assemblage of superstar mixers (and the biggest payoff)
on one record in a long time.
All three mixes begin with a different dramatic buildup,
with Morales' version kicking into a trademark classic
house journey with a healthy dose of piano (though it is
used more as an accent to the vocal and only really lets
loose during instrumental sections of the mix, as in the
intro). Fabian sounds classy in this setting, her rich
voice cushioned by Morales' multiple layers of keyboards
and bass. Then Thunderpuss and Hector each up the ante
with much harder, trance-textured mixes that are in a
dead heat as to which one is better.
Thunderpuss come out charging with a flurry of trance
percussion and a huge buildup before dropping out into a
long, beatless section that introduces Fabian's vocal.
Chris Cox and Barry Harris then let the beats fly again
amid a bed of trance synths. After hearing this mix, as
well as their killer version of Enrique Iglesias' "Be
With You," there is no doubt Thunderpuss have trance
down. Their break even manages to work in a little of
their classic feel as well, adding up to a something-for-everyone
mix.
Hector mines similar territory as Thunderpuss, and his
version opens with a deep, racing progressive pattern
before dropping some insanely dramatic piano keystrokes
in (it soundslike he's been listening to Moby's "Why
Does My Heart Feel So Bad"). A minor vocal interlude
kicks things up another level before another synth
stretch, and then the vocal takes over completely. Hector's
mix is slightly darker in flavor than Thunderpuss, and
that will probably make it New York's mix of choice.
It's the rare record that doesn't have a dud in the
double-vinyl bunch, but when the song, singer, producers
and remixers as strong as the ones responsible for "I
Will Love Again," it's really, really hard to go
wrong. This is a killer record.
PERFECTBEAT.COM
Hmmm.. well the story on this one is Sony signed Lara
Fabian specifically to take over Celine Dion's place as
Canadians money maker... errr um... hit maker. But let
there be NO MISTAKE... this girl is GOOD! In fact we were
so pleased with Sony because they got 3
HUGE remixers to remix this track! Which one is better?
Well fortuantely the all have a different time of the
night vibe.... The Morales mix is LATE LATE night or
early evening whereas the Thunderpuss and Hex mixes can
be played peak time! This here is a Perfect Beat pick!
HITMAKERS.COM RADIO HOSTS
REVIEWS
LARA FABIAN "I Will Love Again" (COLUMBIA)
ROB ROYALE, MD, KYLZ, Albuquerque
"Great song! A must!"
VIC THE LATINO, MD, WPYO, Orlando
"The Hex Hector mix is awesome! It's a great female
record!"
JIMI JAMM, APD/MD, KC101, New Haven
"She's got a terrific voice and this should be a big
hit for her!"
CHRIS K., MD, KDND, Sacramento
"I think this will do very well and I'm expecting
women to really latch on to it."
VAL STEELE, MD, KDUK, Eugene
"This sounds great on the air! A good uptempo
summertime song."
SONNY VALENTINE, PD, KFRX, Lincoln
"My initial reaction was that it was very good!"
STEVE KRAUS, MD, KHTO, Springfield
"Very powerful stuff!"
KANDY KLUTCH, MD, KSLZ, St. Louis
"This is a good record."
KRASH KELLY, MD, KSMB, Lafayette
"She has a haunting voice that really stays with you.
This is a great tune from a beautiful voice."
J.P. MARKS, PD, WOWZ, Utica
"Phones are picking up nicely."
NIKKI, MD, KISS101.9, Las Vegas
"I like this song. It's like Celine Dion meets
Jennifer Lopez."
ADAM BURNES, PD, KSLY, San Luis Obispo
"This is a very strong record and the lyrics really
hit home."
DAVID BURNS, MD, WIXX, Green Bay
"It's got all the makings of a hit record!"
VINCE D'AMBROSIO, PD/MD, WLAN, Lancaster
"This is a real solid record! She's the next Celine
Dion."
JASON McCORMICK, MD, WNKS, Charlotte
"A solid song and it's good!"
TOMMY EDWARDS, PD/MD, WPRR, Altoona
"This is a good song and an add this week!"
MIKE DANGER, PD, WPXY, Rochester
"This is a female anthem!"
STEW SCHANTZ, PD, WSKS, Utica-Rome
"I'm convinced it's a hit!"
ZAK TYLER, Interim PD, WVSR, Charleston, WV
"Great voice! Great song! I want her digits!!"
MICHAEL WILDE, MD, WWAX, Duluth
"I like the Dance version the best. It's kind of
like Lisa Stansfield meets Celine Dion meets Cathy Dennis."
KYLE CURLEY, APD/MD, WXYK, Biloxi
"This record is a smash! Huge adult phones."
MIKE FORTE, APD, WYKS, Gainesville
"This is a good song. She has a super voice and is
good looking."
GARY BLAKE, MD, WAEZ, Johnson City
"This is a good balance record and I like it a lot.
Getting some curiosity calls."
SKIP CHURCH, APD/MD, WFBC, Greenville
"The more I hear it, the more I'm digging this
record!"
HOLLY LOVE, MD, WHHY, Montgomery
"She has an awesome voice and this is a beautiful
song!"
KEVIN WALKER, MD, WHTS, Quad Cities
"She's got quite a vocal range, and the song is very
poppy and upbeat. This will be big!"
DAVE B. GOODE, MD, WHZZ, Lansing
"She's got the whole Celine thing going on, and I
see big things happening in the near future. This has a
lot of potential!"
WES McCAIN, MD, WIFC, Wausau
"Good voice with a beautiful person behind it."
JIM DAVIS, PD, WKEE, Huntington, W. VA
"This is reminiscent of Cher's Believe and I think
it will be a big hit for Columbia!"
RON PRITCHARD, PD/MD, WKHQ, Northwest, MI
"I like this song and think it will be a smash!"
GINA MAGIL, MD, WKXJ, Chattanooga
"This lady has a beautiful voice and good talent and
I really like the record."
JOHN VINCENT, PD, WLKT, Lexington
"This will be huge!"
BRIAN STOLL, MD, WLVY, Elmira
"This is going to be a big early hit for summer!"
STEVE SMITH, PD, WMGI, Terre Haute
"Pretty voice, pretty face and sounds like a hit to
me!"
DAVE LOZZI, PD, WMRV, Binghamton
"She's a beautiful lady with a beautiful voice!"
JOE KELLY, Interim MD, WNCI, Columbus
"It is growing on me."
BOB QUICK, PD, WNKI, Elmira
"What a great record!"
TOMMY EDWARDS, PD/MD, WPRR, Altoona
"Good song. This has a lot of potential."
STEVE BROWN, MD, WQAL, Cleveland
"A great song by a singer with the lungs to back it
up. Move over, Celine. It's time to share the podium!"
MARK JACOBS, PD/MD, WQSL, Wilmington
"This sounds a lot like Celine Dion and I think it's
great!"
GINA JONES, MD, WSKS, Utica-Rome
"It will be a smash in no time!"
SCOTT EVANS, MD, WSTO, Evansville
"This is a good song."
MIKE ROSSI, MD, WSTW, Wilmington
"Great song, pretty voice. Good phones. I am sold.
"
BRETT SHARP, PD/MD, WVSR, Charleston, WV
"She is beautiful mang, with a beautiful voice mang."
JON REILLY, PD, WXLK, Roanoke
"I like this one a lot!"
JOJO MARTINEZ, APD, WXSS, Milwaukee
"This is definitely a good record and I like it!"
SCOTTY VALENTINE, PD, WXYK, Biloxi
"#1 adult female phones! Top 10 phones overall. She
has a great, powerful voice."
DAVID JAY, PD, WZOK, Rockford
"I really like this record. It's a great song from a
beautiful lady."
JENNA WEST, MD, WZOK, Rockford
"I absolutely love this record!"
ALEX DIAZ, MD, WZYP, Huntsville
"Wow! I really think this song will prove itself."
CASEY KEATING, PD, Z95.7, San Francisco
"This will be a chart-topper!"
TRADUIRE
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