Search - Brenda Doumani :: Brenda Doumani

Karen Carpenter/Toni Braxton sound with movie star looks!

10/22/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brenda has the kind of rich sultry soulful voice that is a sort of combination of Sarah Vaughan and Karen Carpenter. Her ballads, a sort of pop with an R & B slant that feature positive lyrics set to great melodies--make Celine Dion sound, well, very white and unsoulful. And it certainly doesn't hurt that Brenda may be the most gorgeous white woman on the planet earth. She covers the standard "Ill Wind" with the best, most haunting rendition I've heard done since Ella Fitzgerald did it in the 50's and Sarah Vaughan in the 40's. And she more than holds her own with both these legends. Wow! Her rendition of "Superstar" is sensational, Ms. Doumani having the same kind of vocal quality Karen Carpenter had. You'd swear Karen came back from the dead. It's that good. But most amazing of all is her inspirational power ballad "If You Believe", a duet she performs with the incomparable Phillip Ingram. Together, these two make Celine and Peabo sound almost sick. Great song. Great performance. Great message. Instant standard. Everyone, in short, why listen (and have to look at) Celine Dion when there's BRENDA DOUMANI!"