Johnny Mathis - Because You Loved Me - Songs of Diane Warren

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Music reviews of Because You Loved Me - Songs of Diane Warren

Music Review: Mathis Shows The Power Sirens How To Sing
Rating: 4 Stars

I needn't have worried, though; Mathis takes these same songs and in his own QUIET way sets to work teaching these two how a song SHOULD be done.

"Because You Loved Me" is a very contemporary-sounding recording much like its successful and better predecessor, All About Love (1996). And to be honest, that synthesized sound puts me off a little. I believe Mathis sounds best when his voice is matched to real instruments, real violins, not a machine that tries to sound like them.

The song receiving the most airplay is "If You Asked Me To", and Mathis handles some major octave jumps with great skill. The surprise and joy is the re-engineered Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine hit "Live for Loving You"; it's been toned down a couple notches for the benefit of those of us over 35, but retains its Latin roots and is very danceable! I wish they would have made this either the first or the last track.

All in all, Mathis' vocal performances are very strong throughout, maybe a little high in a couple songs. I feel the mature Mathis voice works best in the lower registers. The arrangements work for the most part also; not too overdone, and there are some outstanding studio guitarists on this album. The worst songs in my opinion are the title song and "Set the Night to Music".

Someone who cherishes the sound and the orchestration of the teenage Mathis is going to be disappointed, but we've all got to grow up sometime. Mathis has gone way beyond "Chances Are" with his last two studio recordings, and it seems he's not looking back! Good for him.

Description of Because You Loved Me - Songs of Diane Warren

Broadway & Vocalists CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock