Album Review: "A Musical Heart" by Patrice Tipoki

Whaddup, pretty people!
Sssoooo, I was super excited when Patrice Tipoki's debut album "A Musical Heart" was released. It was actually the first thing I've ever pre-ordered because that's how flipping excited I was for the album to be released.

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMNET INTENDED.
TAKEN FROM THE iTUNES PAGE.

And she did not disappoint.

Here, I'm going to do a brief track-by-track summary:

1. "Shall We Dance?" from "The King And I"
Because why not start an album off with a song with one of the most successful songwriting duos in musical theatre songwriting history, Boubl.... (I know what you were thinking. That comes later.)
It's Rogers and Hammerstein. 
I actually remember "The King And I" as being one of the first musical films I ever saw and I honestly only remember parts of it. The community theatre group (the Irish call it the AmDram,
being amateur drama. So from now on, it'll be AmDram to me.) group I'm a part of did it in 2005 (eight years before I joined) and all I can say now, is that Patrice's cover has made me want to revisit the film. Or see the stage show. Or whatever I can get these chubby hands of mine on.

2. "I Dreamed A Dream" from "Les Misérables"
Here's the Boublil and Schönburg I promised.
It would probably be a dick move not to cover "I Dreamed A Dream" on one's debut album whilst being the CURRENT Fantine, now, wouldn't it?
When I saw the show on the 2nd of August last year,  (I'm really good with dates. It freaks people out. It freaks ME out.) Patrice did this GOOOOOORGEOUSLY. And this version is even better. Probably because you can do takes when you're recording an album (not that Patrice needed the extra work but the option's great for perfectionists, isn't it?)
I have no words on how much I love it. And I'm glad it was kept fairly traditional.

3. "Defying Gravity" from "Wicked"
Bit of a belt? Don't mind if I do. And like "I Dreamed A Dream", I am so pleased this was kept fairly traditional. But some of those lovely notes.....

Holy shit.

4. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from "The Lion King" 

The best way to Little Ti's heart? A Disney cover. 

I have no words. Just gorgeous. But I LOVE the African vibe. Sah pretteh.

Even though the song is traditionally a ballad, this is a great twist. 

5. "Anyone Can Whistle"

I'm not going to lie. I'm not exactly familiar with the show, "Anyone Can Whistle". But I loved the Patrice's version of the song. Get back to me when I've heard a bit more about the show ;)

6. "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers

A soppy love ballad? Tick.

A beautifully-voiced co-star to duet with? Tick. 

Patrice's "Les Misérables" co-star, Simon Gleeson (Jean Valjean) duets with her on this track sickeningly beautifully. Does that make sense? Does now.

And again, keeping it traditional. I like traditional.

7. "Tonight" from "West Side Story"

This is getting a bit repetitive, isn't I don't have a lot of words to describe my love for this album.
Now, I've never really gotten into "West Side Story", but this is wonderful. I don't mind somebody who can not only belt (referencing back to "Defying Gravity", but uses their head voice beautifully. Not a lot of people can do that. It's often one or the other. Even with trained theatre actresses. But this, again, was GOOOOORGEOUUSSSSS.

8. "Somebody To Love" by Queen

I'm a little sick of using the word 'traditional', but this was kept on the traditional side, with a bit of a gospel vibe. And I love it. The acapella "Find me somebody to love" part was kept in. Wait, of course it was kept in. This is a Queen song. 

And Queen is classic.

Because rock ballads are life.

9. "I'm Not Afraid Of Anything" by Jason Robert Brown

This, like "Anyone Can Whistle", I wasn't particularly familiar with, but it's well-done, and like many Jason Robert Brown songs, it tells a convincing story. And Patrice tells that story beautifully.

10. "Beauty And The Beast"

I'm not going to lie. I must've been hormonal when I heard this, because I cried. 

This is one of my favourite Disney songs... and... excuse me, I *sobs* need a moment.
I literally have no words to describe the perfection that is this track. A FAN-FLIPPING-TASTIC WAY TO END AN ALBUM!

I said this was going to be brief. 

I lied.
Sorry.
Sort of. 

Anywho, I'm out.

Have a wonderful day (it's actually night here, but you know the sentiment) and stay classy, kids!

Tiarna Ellen 

xx