Amazon.com: Discovered singing in a noted New York City watering hole, the Syracuse native's successful major label debut quickly made him a rising star who garnered comparisons to Mario Lanza--from Tony Bennet, no less. But Amante's showy, soaring style and good looks seemed destined for a wider audience than opera's, and indeed this sophomore release largely delivers on the tenor's rich crossover potential. While many classically educated singers seem challenged to throw off the formal constraints of their rigorous training in tackling pop material, Amante's journeyman musical background has gifted him with a more pliant delivery. It's hard to imagine Bocelli tackling such oldies Top 40 fodder as Gary Puckett's "Young Girl," let alone imbuing it with the melodrama that Amante effortlessly imparts it here. His "Delilah" strives for the kitschy verve of Tom Jones' original, with a voice whose natural power begs comparison with the Welsh sex symbol on the opening "Till" as well. Amante mixes enough Neopolitan standards and originals into the mix to maintain its crossover appeal, but curiously it's pop standards like his soaring, emotional take on Orbison's "Crying" (in a performance that reminds us that the rock legend was arguably a crossover pioneer as well) and a cover of "Back On My Feet" that seem to best engage his considerable talents. It's an album more oriented towards Vegas than Verdi, which seems precisely the intent. --Jerry McCulley
Michael purrs thru these tunes! I really enjoyed listening to this cd. His voice is very soothing and easy to listen to. I especially enjoy listening to "Last Morning of my Life". It includes songs made famous by others such as"Back on my Feet" and "Young Girl". I have his other cd which features music from various operas. I would say you won't be sorry that you bought this cd!!!!!!
Disappointed I have seen Michael Amante in concert and this CD is not the best of his voice. He has a very powerful voice and it did not come out in this CD. The music he picked to record was good, mostly Tom Jones type music, but his voice is not at it's best. I think it needed better back-up or accoustics to bring out the power of his voice.
Better the Second Time Around Michael Amante is back. Much to the chagrin of his many detractors and surely to equal delight of his many fans.
I purchased this CD not sure what to expect since Mr. Amante's first CD was a rather uneven attempt at Opera. Luckily the old adage " It get's better with time" applies to his sophmore CD.
I find the song selection and style much more appropriate to his voice and with the exception of songs like "Young Girl" and "Delilah" this is a very nice CD.
Mr. Amante's voice seems more setteled and just a tad darker than on his first CD and he displays masterful command over the stylistic nuances of the English selections. I particularily enjoyed the Jazz influenced styling of the Mario Lanz stanadrs "Be My Love" and " Because You're Mine" as well as the old Neapolitan fav "Dicitencello Vuie". Also his reading of the classic "Caruso" is surpassed only by Maestro Pavarotti and even that is disputable.
Of course Mr. Amante still seems to have some trouble with the Italian language at times but nothing of the massive difficulty he displayed last time around.
Considering that his musical genre, "Popera", is dominated by Italians (Bocelli & Safina)& Brits (Russell Watson & Sarah Brightman)I think Mr. Amante deserves the credit due him as being a worthy American representative. Of course there is also the over-rated Josh Groban but that's neither here nor there.
4 stars for this CD over the 3 stars for his last effort. Couldn't give it 5 stars because in all fairness, Mr. Amante really ought to get a better understanding of the foreign languages he interprets. Other than that this is a fine CD.
Simply Amaz(on)ing To the Music Fan in Calgary. You are living proof that the cold weather in Canada is not good for one's hearing. Dear Michael's voice is stronger than ever. All you have to do is hear him live singing in Rao's Restaurant on a Monday night without a microphone or amplification and you will realize the error in your ways. Trashing a talent like Michael Amante is further proof of your inability to distinguish between a good voice and a great voice. Obviously with all of the positive reviews that you see herew and read throughout the world, all of our ears cannot be lieing to us all at once. Perhaps you were in a bad mood or your stereo just couldn't handle his high notes and was distorting? Give his first album another listen (as long as your ears are thawed out) and I believe you will reconsider. You may end up throwing your trash where it belongs. In the garbage can !
wonderful Some of you may have read my review of his "operatic album" which I whole heartedly condemned as trash (which it is, since the music is so poorly sung and so badly interpreted), however, this is a reflection of the man and his voice doing what it should be doing. This man is NOT an opera singer and his fans should not for a moment think they are getting any understanding of opera when they listen to him, for they are not. However, singing the music best suited to his voice, he is wonderful. This album is truly enjoyable. Here his voice can shine forth in all its splendor, and we are all enriched by what he has to offer. Why so many good singers who are simply wonderful in their own area of expertese wish to sing opera when it really doesn't suit them (even if they have the notes) is something I can't understand. Michael Amante is so wonderful here, and I found listening to him simply thrilling. ONE WORD OF ADVICE DEAR MICHAEL: Stick to what you do best and let others do what they do best. This album is really a treat, and the mellow caressing sound Amante makes is truly exciting.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
