For those out there looking for an album to get laid to–look no further. Harry Connick Jr.’s latest creation, Your Songs, offers up a plethora of romantic tunes with a jazz inspired twist. Each track is essentially a love song, making Your Songs accurately titled and a perfect gift for that special someone.
Taking songs from such renowned artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and Nat King Cole–among numerous others–it would be nigh impossible for this record to turn sour. Connick Jr. recreates classics such as “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” (Elvis Presley) with success. Surprisingly, each track is just as strong as the rest of the album and as intensely powerful as the originals.
Having a record comprised entirely of covers without any new material could have proved disastrous, and yet, Connick Jr. seems to have compiled them effortlessly with the help of record producer Clive Davis. Both Connick Jr. and Davis hold several Grammys under their belts, and the resulting collaboration is brilliant. The fact that the two have more than one Grammy to their name comes as no surprise after just one listen of Your Songs.
In charge of selecting the tracks for Connick Jr. to cover, Davis brings out songs that showcase not just Connick Jr.’s vocals but also his almost full-orchestral ensemble, including the also Grammy Award winning Marsalis brothers on saxophone and trumpet. Each arrangement was originally composed by Connick Jr. himself, but they all certainly show Davis’ influence.
It is hard to pick a track to speak entirely for Your Songs. “B?same Mucho,” originally written by Consuelo Vel?zquez, proves an interesting addition to the record as Connick Jr.’s version takes lyrics both from the original written by a teenage Vel?zquez and the cover by Frank Sinatra.
With lyrics such as “B?same, b?same mucho/ Como si fuera esta noche la ?ltima vez,” which roughly translate to “Kiss me/ Kiss me a lot/ As if tonight was your last night,” it is not hard to imagine the song being used to enchant someone in the bedroom.
“Smile,” a Nat King Cole cover, is, according to Connick Jr., sung for a young girl he met while in Paris. Taking the girl on a tour of the city, Connick Jr. remembers watching the girl smile while on top of the Eiffel Tower, despite being blind and unable to see the amazing landscape offered by the city of love. One of the more upbeat and less-romance-focused tracks on the album, “Smile” is certainly worth a listen as both Connick Jr.’s vocals and the background ensemble demonstrate the sheer amount of talent to be found on the record.
In the end, the only downfall to Connick Jr.’s Your Songs is that it does not present any new material. After all, the originals are relatively well-known and, if anyone wanted to, it would be incredibly easy to listen to them. Nevertheless, Your Songs is a strong compilation of some of the most romantic songs ever sung, making this CD something worth listening to. It’s hard to go wrong with a record exuding romance…especially as it is certain to help a few people out.
4 out of 5 stars
