Skip to main content

Awake by Josh Groban

Captain’s Log, Supplemental

ChristianFictionQueen generously gave me her extra copy of this CD to listen to. I’ve listened to it a few times now, so that I can give an honest opinion of it.

The songs in Italian or Spanish or whatever language he’s singing in are absolutely beautiful. The first song, “Mai,” is gorgeous. Of course, I have no idea what the songs are about, but they’re pretty.

The songs in English are nice musically but I have even less idea what the songs are about. That’s why I had to listen to this CD a few times. I still have no idea what some of the songs mean. I think I’ve given up trying to figure it out.

Am I just a music Neanderthal or something? I’ve listened to “February Song” a dozen times and I have no idea what it’s about. The music is beautiful, but the words stump me. The other songs are sweet, but I listen to the lyrics and go, “Whaaaaaaaat?” I get only a fuzzy idea what he’s singing about.

I didn’t like the last song at all. It’s this retro funk 80’s sound that doesn’t appeal to me.

Overall, I’d give this CD a 3.5 out of 5. Not that I’m a music connoisseur, but since I’m a writer, the English lyrics kind of killed those songs for me since they’re just vague and make very little sense to me. I imported the CD into my iTunes, and I only play the non-English songs when I play the album.

Comments

Unknown said…
Hey Camy,
I agree with you...I think about a 3.5 is a goood rating for this CD. It is SO not his best work. I like "February Song" -- I think that's the best English cut (I heard a rumor online that it was about his breakup with former girlfriend, actress January Jones). And the last song is HORRIBLE. His own writing is a real hit or miss deal. The foreign language cuts are the strongest...probably the most enjoyable 'cause I don't know what he's saying, LOL!!!
Ruth
http://www.xanga.com/christianfictionqueen
Winter Peck said…
His older stuff is much better, and the English lyrics make more sense. But the best thing about the songs for me, I don't pay attention to them and sing along when I'm writing. Guess that's why I have a lot of instrumental stuff to use when I need music as I write, and the songs with lyrics are used during revisions or when I'm really into my writing and oblivious.

Am I weird or what?! LOL!
Anonymous said…
Okay, I'm an admitted Joshaholic. My dad, sis and I even went to see him in concert this past February. I love his voice and his look. He has a poet's soul that comes out in his lyrics.

But "Awake" was not my fave album. I do have some fave songs on it, but I would rank it 3rd of his 3 releases.

"February Song", however, speaks to me because it makes me think of what depression feels like. February is that month that's not the end of winter yet and there's no hope of Spring. Josh sings about colors fading into shades of gray and he wonders how did he slip into this life. Oh yeah. Been there. Depression isn't something that happens in one day. It's not a disappearing act, here one day gone the next. It's a gradual slipping away until you look around at your life and wonder how you got there. This song describes that so well. But he does offer hope: he'll be back one day.

So yeah, I like this song. Like I said, it speaks to me.
Tina M. Russo said…
I agree. I love Josh, but his earlier CDs are better and his in concert DVD is excellent. I'm also a Michael Buble fan and if you go to my myspace site there is a youtube video of Josh Groban surprising Michael at one of his concerts.

Tina
http://www.myspace.com/tinamrusso
Unknown said…
Hi Camy,
I've discovered a new artist you might like -- Daniel Kirkley. His debut LET LOVE WIN releases 5/22 but you can hear samples on his website (www.danielkirkley.com) or his MySpace page (www.myspace.com/danielkirkley). He is VERY Josh Groban-esque a little more on the "pop" side...but fantastic range. The whole CD's terrific...it was produced by Mark Hammond who worked with Josh on his CLOSER CD (the track "When You Say You Love Me" -- one of my favorites!). I just wanted to share!

Ruth
www.xanga.com/christianfictionqueen

Popular Posts

She insulted a hat 👒 and ruined her Season

Welcome! My name is Camille Elliot, and I write Christian Regency Suspense with slow-burn romance and a touch of the supernatural. Thank you for— “Cut!” Lissa, one of my characters, shouts and stomps onto the stage. I stare at her. “I’m not filming a commercial.” “It doesn’t matter. You’re being boring.” I shift uncomfortably, because she’s probably right. “Well then, what should I say? I’m writing a blog post for someone who doesn’t know anything about my books.” “If you start with pleasantries, I will hide your tea,” she threatens. “ All of it.” I gasp in horror. “You wouldn’t!” “Try me!” “I was just going to ask readers to subscribe to my newsletter.” “I shall topple into the shrubbery as I fall dead asleep on my feet.” “Rude,” I mutter. “Maybe start with an explosion. Or at least a hideous hat that ruins my reputation forever.” “Your reputation wasn’t ruined,” I protest. “You were simply unfortunately overheard.” “As I insulted a hat.” “Then maybe you shouldn’t insu...

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci...

New book idea a la Captain Caffeine

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.14.2009 So my husband, Captain Caffeine, had lunch with a few friends a few days ago. And they asked about my writing, and if I’d been on Oprah yet. (Yeah, right) They then discussed NYT bestselling books, and why can’t Camy write a NYT bestseller. (Sure, let me just open a vein over a blank page and it’ll come right out.) So Captain Caffeine came home with ideas for my new NYT bestselling novel. First it starts with vampires, because Twilight is so hot. But not just any vampires. This one’s an Amish vampire. And he’s not just an Amish vampire, he’s a cop in disguise, infiltrating the Amish community to protect a witness. (Hmm, that storyline sounds familiar ...) But wait! There’s more! To add more conflict and stick with my brand of Asian fiction, we introduce the Tibetan monk! Who joins the Amish community to get away from the pressures of monkhood. But in reality, he’s protecting the Chinese princess on the run, trying to escape from her father’s Hong...

Mansfield Park (BBC 1986)

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Valley of Betrayal by Tricia Goyer It Happens Every Spring by Gary Chapman and Catherine Palmer Jane Austen miniseries I love Jane Austen. She’s my favorite classic writer, and I even bought audiobooks of her novels and listen to them again and again. I also love Amazon.com and visit my Gold Box every day (not that I buy that often). One day I had a deal for the entire set of DVDs of miniseries produced by BBC of Jane Austen’s novels. No, I didn’t buy the set—but it made me curious, and so I put the miniseries on my Netflix queue. The miniseries are all rather old. I just finished Mansfield Park . I’m quite divided on it. Costumes: score 4. They were mostly really rather nice, appropriate to the character’s background and income, and not too flamboyant, although there were several places the women’s headgear was just way over the top. Acting: score 4. I l...