Music review: Susan Boyle 鈥� 鈥楢 Wonderful World鈥�
The charming dream-come-true story of Susan Boyle had its beginning back in 2009 with an appearance on 鈥淏ritain鈥檚 Got Talent.鈥�
The 48-year-old unknown singer stepped on stage and into the warm glow of the spotlight with a jaw-dropping performance of 鈥淚 Dreamed a Dream鈥� from the musical 鈥淟es Miserables.鈥� After releasing six inspiring albums, the international sensation releases her seventh album in seven years.
With 鈥淎 Wonderful World,鈥� the Scottish singer states her intention is to deliver an album of engaging covers that spans a variety of musical styles and evokes a multitude of special memories.
鈥淲hat a Wonderful World鈥� is an iconic arrangement that opens the set and helps to usher in the holiday season with a touch of class and grace. Boyle follows with a soaring rendition of 鈥淲hen I Fall in Love鈥� as part of a virtual duet with the late Nat King Cole.
A few tracks later, Boyle partners with Michael Bolton as they deliver a tender version of 鈥淪omewhere Out There,鈥� first made famous by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram in 1986 as part of the animated film 鈥淎n American Tail.鈥�
Other tracks find Boyle embracing moving numbers such as Robbie Williams鈥� 鈥淎ngels,鈥� Paul McCartney鈥檚 鈥淢ull of Kintyre,鈥� ABBA鈥檚 鈥淚 Have a Dream鈥� and 鈥淎lways on My Mind,鈥� previously performed by Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. With 鈥淢ay You Never Be Alone,鈥� Boyle offers up a glorious Christmas track that is certain to warm the heart and stir the soul with the assistance of a soaring choir and soothing strings.
Of all the songs featured on 鈥淎 Wonderful World,鈥� perhaps the most surprising and captivating performance comes on Boyle鈥檚 lush and spiritual rendition of Madonna鈥檚 鈥淟ike a Prayer.鈥� Boyle is mesmerizing as she transforms the pop song into an elegant hymn of faith and strength with her ethereal voice gently shaping a new masterpiece of heavenly joy.
Boyle brings the album to a gracious close with a charming cover of Disney鈥檚 鈥淲hen You Wish Upon a Star.鈥� This lovely number seems a fitting tribute to Boyle鈥檚 fairy-tale rise to stardom and her continued success.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.