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

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...

Window shopping

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.14.2005 Knee update: I went to the doctor today for a checkup, and saw his assistant. I’ve been concerned because there’s still inflammation in my knee joint, and it’s been almost 4 months since the surgery. She said she’d talk to the doctor about it tomorrow and call me. Sometimes he suggests laying off the PT to see if that causes the inflammation to go away, but I don’t know if that will work because lately I’ve been pretty active outside of PT. At PT today, the therapist did ultrasound and some sort of electrical current on the joint. Hopefully that will make the inflammation start to go down. I’ll know by tomorrow, probably. Writing: Mt. Hermon conference starts this Friday! On Thursday night, I’ll be at the Santana Row Borders bookstore to help out (and hopefully learn a bit, too) at a booksigning for several of the ACFW authors who are attending Mt. Hermon . That should be lots of fun. I had a good brainstorming time at ...

I GOT A CONTRACT!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day ...

Favorite chocolate?

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.22.2008 Lately I’ve been on this chocolate kick. Normally, I’m not a huge chocoholic like Captain Caffeine. I enjoy chocolate, but if given a choice, I’ll usually choose a fruit or custard/creamy dessert over a triple decadence chocolate layer cake or a chocolate-lovers’ downfall brownie. But lately, I’ve been eating dark chocolate squares. I think it started when I went into Joseph Schmidt gourmet chocolate shop in Santana Row. We’d gotten Joseph Schmidt truffles for Christmas, and they’d been fabulous—I can honestly say that they were as good as DeBrand truffles (author Colleen Coble’s favorite). So when I saw the brick and mortar shop in Santana Row, I went in immediately. Inside, this man was buying up stacks—and I kid you not, stacks —of the Joseph Schmidt Belgian Dark Chocolate bars. He raved about them, said they were terrific. A cashier was restocking the display case the man had cleaned out, and I snagged a bar. “I’ve got to try one, after watc...

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...