Search - Michael Ball :: This Time Its Personal

Golden Voice in New Tunes

Z. Yang | Hockessin, DE USA | 02/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you think Michael Ball is only good at showcasing big musical numbers and belting out high notes, you should listen to this album. The same Michael Ball will give you different feelings and you probably will re-look some of the songs that you've already known for a long time. I have to say that Michael's singing is mesmerizing. His exquisite vocal delivery and empathy with the songs contributed the best to the artistic appealing of this album.



For the first time Michael tried his voice in American country tunes, and it is surprisingly good. Songs like "If Tomorrow Never Comes", "The Dimming of the Day", and "The Dance" simply couldn't get better. "You Bring the Best Out of Me", which is a song specifically written for Michael by Paul Carrack, is a song about the singer himself. The words are very sincere and Michael sings it with such emotions and true feelings. Michael co-authored two songs in the album. They cannot be more different in their styles. "Just When" is a touching romantic love song, flowing smoothly. "Never Coming Back", with its story-telling approach and deep punchy rhythm, expresses the feelings of struggling and desperation. A little surprise comes from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "No Matter What", for which Boyzone already set the standard with their version. There is no doubt that Michael gave this song his unique charm by adding his personal touch in it.



This is an album that is well produced and packaged. The orchestration, the sound mixing, and the recording are superb. You won't regret for every penny you spend. Please do yourself a favor after a whole day's of work: light the candles, get a glass of wine, and enjoy the wonderfulness Michael brings to you."

This Time It's Different - - But It's Ball at his Best

Robert McNeill | Kent, WA, USA | 03/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Too few singers take chances with their music; preferring to stick with what works. They try to reinforce what they do best, while throwing out an occasional track that deviates from their norm, merely to placate critics.This CD again demonstrates the versatility of Michael Ball in a performance that combines subtlety and power with orchestration and interpretations that only a first-class vocalist can deliver.I have the added benefit of having watched the videotaped performance of Michael performing these songs; the intensity of Ball's performance so clearly seen in the video, translates equally well into the music on the CD. Seldom does a vocalist make the transition from the power of Broadway's showtunes to the streets of American country music as smoothly, stylishly and emotionally as Michael Ball. His romantic rendition of the classic, "The First Time Ever I Saw Her Face" is one of the few I've heard that can stand up to Roberta Flack's soulful masterpiece. And Michael's showmanship and joy of performing is clearly in evidence in a truly rousing delivery of "Walking in Memphis."Singers often evolve into vocalists, with their style and interpretive ability leading the way. The truly great vocalists explore beyond their strengths; expanding their musical horizons and their talents to encompass music they enjoy, offering their version of classics and new material, leading the listener into a new world of performance, trusting in the talent of the artist. Few - if any - of today's musical talents can equal Michael Ball's combination of talent, vocal power, musical styling and stage presence. "This Time It's Personal" - in both CD and video - proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Michael may have ventured into new ground with this album, and while I'll never get enough of his work with Broadway scores, I'll eagerly await his next venture into the next chapter of his "personal" musical evolution."

Wow!! what a cd this is, got to be listened to by all

volx@pirch.com | manchester, england | 11/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"being a big country fan i was really suprised and delighted to find that micheal has sung some of the best country music songs around. i have followed micheal's path to stardom and this cd is one of the best yet. tracks such as if tomorrow never comes send a shiver down the spine, even garth brooks didn't do as good a job as micheal, think twice, no matter what and i don't want a lover show that micheal can sing any song and make it his own. any fan of micheal ball will be playing this cd over and over again i know i will."