Connie Talbot
Connie is a 12 year old pop singer from the UK who shot to fame in 2007 aged only 6, where she became the runner up on the first ever series of Britain's Got Talent. Following this success Connie released her first album Over The Rainbow which went gold within one week of it's release in the UK, and was certified platinum/double platinum in several other countries. She became a YouTube sensation with someone viewing one of her videos every 0.7 seconds! In 2008, Connie released her second album Connie's Christmas Album, which was then re-recorded the following year with two extra tracks titled Holiday Magic. Holiday Magic was also released as an hour long PBS special. Her first original single Beautiful World was released in 2011, and her second single Sail Away in 2012. Following the success of these, her fourth album also titled Beautiful World, was released in late 2012. Connie also hold three Guinness World Records, being the youngest artist in the UK to reach the charts, the youngest ever to receive a gold record, and more recently for the most backing singers ever(she was accompanied by 6031 children at the O2 arena in London). She's inspired by singers such as Whitney Housten & Mariah Carey, and in her spare time enjoys doing artwork, playing netball & piano, and hanging out with her adorable dog Minty.
Official Website
Official Website
2013
Haven't Met You Yet(Live)-Connie Talbot
This cover is from the O2 in London & we were really looking forward to hearing a good quality version of this song It's just the perfect fit for her vocal.
The first thing you notice is how much more comfortable she has grown on stage, and as the listener this really comes across and you enjoy it even more. The choruses are absolutely fantastic & the quiet bit is just as beautiful. A really enjoyable performance and we cross our fingers for a studio version. The only concern is audio quality, although much better then other versions of this song uploaded before, this version is still muffled.
Video Upload Date: 20 Jan 2013
Age When Recorded: 12
Genre: Pop
Rating:
The first thing you notice is how much more comfortable she has grown on stage, and as the listener this really comes across and you enjoy it even more. The choruses are absolutely fantastic & the quiet bit is just as beautiful. A really enjoyable performance and we cross our fingers for a studio version. The only concern is audio quality, although much better then other versions of this song uploaded before, this version is still muffled.
Video Upload Date: 20 Jan 2013
Age When Recorded: 12
Genre: Pop
Rating:
2012
Beneath Your Beautiful-Connie Talbot
We thought we'd take a look back at some of Connie's home Youtube videos. There's loads there, although she hasn't done that many lately due to her album been released, so this one is a couple of months old. You can see that the coat is the same one used for the Beautiful World photo shoot.
The first thing you notice is that her piano playing is really good, and its great to see her accompanying herself. Unfortunately the piano's too loud, and stops you from hearing her voice properly. She could have done with a microphone as well. However, a fantastic interpretation of this song, and if a studio version ever came out we'd be rushing to buy it!
Video Uploaded: 13 Nov 2012
Age When Recorded: 11
Genre: Pop
Rating:
The first thing you notice is that her piano playing is really good, and its great to see her accompanying herself. Unfortunately the piano's too loud, and stops you from hearing her voice properly. She could have done with a microphone as well. However, a fantastic interpretation of this song, and if a studio version ever came out we'd be rushing to buy it!
Video Uploaded: 13 Nov 2012
Age When Recorded: 11
Genre: Pop
Rating:
Beautiful World(Album)-Connie Talbot
It can be safely said that this album was long awaited. Although only 2 years after the release of her last one, it's 4 years since Connie's released another album that's not Christmas songs.
We were really excited about this album, but at first glance at the tracklist we thought it wasn't going to be as good as we'd hoped. The Young Voices version of Let It Be had just been offered as a download, we'd bought the single Beautiful World a year earlier, and Imagine was already on her first album. The rest of the songs were all fairly recent or heavily covered like Amazing Grace. It seemed to miss the older kind of songs that her first album had, many of which we'd never heard before.
On listening though, the tracklist ceases to matter, so don't let it put you off. This is a great album, and all the songs she's done before are all re-recordings. They've also taken care to change up the arrangement to make the songs feel a bit fresher.
The CD also looks great, it comes in a nice box and we love the bright colours they've chosen in the theme. The booklet also contains all of the lyrics and some beautiful photos.
1. Count On Me- This is probably one of the best tracks on the album. A strong vocal and just an enjoyable song. 4.5/5
2. Let It Be- This is a great cover but we ever so slightly prefer her Young Voices version due to the amazing harmonies on it. This version does have a nice little instrumental bit in the middle though. 4.5/5
3. The Climb- We like the expressive nature Connie gives to this track and the arrangement is good, giving the song a more laid back feel than the original. Some fantastic notes here as well. 5/5
4. What The World Needs Now- We really love the fact that they chose to put this one on the album. It's different from the rest and we haven't heard a recent cover of it. In fact we only know the song from watching the Austin Powers movies! Flowing, fluent and beautiful with a timeless meaning, we love the freshness it brings to the album. 5/5
5. Fireflies-This one has an unusual arrangement but its great. It's fun, you can hear Connie giggling in the background. The dreamy effect to the chorus and the soft notes she shows here are the highlights. 5/5
6. Beautiful World- This is a magical re-recording of Connie's first original song. You can hear the difference in how her voice has matured, yet it retains the mellow yet memorable feel of the original single. We like both versions equally so it just depends on which kind of arrangement you want to listen to at the time. 5/5
7. Amazing Grace-Amazing grace again! We have about 10 different versions now. It's predictable but she sings the track well and with a lovely tone. You can also get the vintage mix for free from Evo88 when you order the CD. 4.5/5
8. Pray- We like the original of this too. Connie's version, with the arrangement is different in places which helps to lift the song and make it her own. A powerful track. 5/5
9. Gift Of A Friend- It's great to see her cover a song from her idol Demi Lovato. It's perfect, there isn't anything we don't like about it. Brilliant! 5/5
10. Imagine- Compare this to the version on Over The Rainbow and the difference is remarkable. We love the softer notes at the start, and in the second half Connie really shows off her range and vocal ability. Some of the high notes are beautiful. 5/5
11. Colours Of The Wind- At first we were skeptical of Disney Songs, but after hearing what Jackie Evancho has done with several, we now look forward to hearing different artists take them on. This cover is amazing, and better than the original. The vocal feels so sincere and it almost has a spiritual feel to it. Stunning. 5/5
12. Heal The World- This is another welcome surprise on the album. It's wonderful, with a beautiful message captured in Connie's youthful voice. 5/5
13. Hero- The perfect choice to round off the album. We love the way this is sung, instead of bluntly belting out the whole song she gives it the perfect balance of powerful and more delicate notes, making it a treat to listen too. 5/5
So in summary an amazing album, and one we're sure you'll enjoy for years to come. Now we can't wait for her new album of originals!
Original Release Date: 26th November 2012
Where To Buy: MP3-Amazon/iTunes, CD-evo88.com only
Age When Recorded: 11
Genre: Pop
Rating:
We were really excited about this album, but at first glance at the tracklist we thought it wasn't going to be as good as we'd hoped. The Young Voices version of Let It Be had just been offered as a download, we'd bought the single Beautiful World a year earlier, and Imagine was already on her first album. The rest of the songs were all fairly recent or heavily covered like Amazing Grace. It seemed to miss the older kind of songs that her first album had, many of which we'd never heard before.
On listening though, the tracklist ceases to matter, so don't let it put you off. This is a great album, and all the songs she's done before are all re-recordings. They've also taken care to change up the arrangement to make the songs feel a bit fresher.
The CD also looks great, it comes in a nice box and we love the bright colours they've chosen in the theme. The booklet also contains all of the lyrics and some beautiful photos.
1. Count On Me- This is probably one of the best tracks on the album. A strong vocal and just an enjoyable song. 4.5/5
2. Let It Be- This is a great cover but we ever so slightly prefer her Young Voices version due to the amazing harmonies on it. This version does have a nice little instrumental bit in the middle though. 4.5/5
3. The Climb- We like the expressive nature Connie gives to this track and the arrangement is good, giving the song a more laid back feel than the original. Some fantastic notes here as well. 5/5
4. What The World Needs Now- We really love the fact that they chose to put this one on the album. It's different from the rest and we haven't heard a recent cover of it. In fact we only know the song from watching the Austin Powers movies! Flowing, fluent and beautiful with a timeless meaning, we love the freshness it brings to the album. 5/5
5. Fireflies-This one has an unusual arrangement but its great. It's fun, you can hear Connie giggling in the background. The dreamy effect to the chorus and the soft notes she shows here are the highlights. 5/5
6. Beautiful World- This is a magical re-recording of Connie's first original song. You can hear the difference in how her voice has matured, yet it retains the mellow yet memorable feel of the original single. We like both versions equally so it just depends on which kind of arrangement you want to listen to at the time. 5/5
7. Amazing Grace-Amazing grace again! We have about 10 different versions now. It's predictable but she sings the track well and with a lovely tone. You can also get the vintage mix for free from Evo88 when you order the CD. 4.5/5
8. Pray- We like the original of this too. Connie's version, with the arrangement is different in places which helps to lift the song and make it her own. A powerful track. 5/5
9. Gift Of A Friend- It's great to see her cover a song from her idol Demi Lovato. It's perfect, there isn't anything we don't like about it. Brilliant! 5/5
10. Imagine- Compare this to the version on Over The Rainbow and the difference is remarkable. We love the softer notes at the start, and in the second half Connie really shows off her range and vocal ability. Some of the high notes are beautiful. 5/5
11. Colours Of The Wind- At first we were skeptical of Disney Songs, but after hearing what Jackie Evancho has done with several, we now look forward to hearing different artists take them on. This cover is amazing, and better than the original. The vocal feels so sincere and it almost has a spiritual feel to it. Stunning. 5/5
12. Heal The World- This is another welcome surprise on the album. It's wonderful, with a beautiful message captured in Connie's youthful voice. 5/5
13. Hero- The perfect choice to round off the album. We love the way this is sung, instead of bluntly belting out the whole song she gives it the perfect balance of powerful and more delicate notes, making it a treat to listen too. 5/5
So in summary an amazing album, and one we're sure you'll enjoy for years to come. Now we can't wait for her new album of originals!
Original Release Date: 26th November 2012
Where To Buy: MP3-Amazon/iTunes, CD-evo88.com only
Age When Recorded: 11
Genre: Pop
Rating:
Let It Be-Connie Talbot(Young Voices Studio Version)
We can't help but think that this cover was a bit lost in the lead-up to the release of her new CD "Beautiful World". This version of the song is NOT the same as the one on her new CD. It was recorded in a studio in London as part of her Young Voices Tour. This is our opinion is the better version, not that anything is wrong with the newer one at all.
It was offered as a free download on her old official site for a limited time, but thankfully if you didn't manage to get it then someone has uploaded it onto YouTube for you to have a listen.
The harmonies are what really make this version special, & Connie shows an amazing degree of skill in doing these. There absolutely flawless. Then she throws in some beautiful soft high notes and its complete; the perfect cover.
Original Release Date: November 2012
Age When Recorded: 11
Genre: Pop
Rating:
It was offered as a free download on her old official site for a limited time, but thankfully if you didn't manage to get it then someone has uploaded it onto YouTube for you to have a listen.
The harmonies are what really make this version special, & Connie shows an amazing degree of skill in doing these. There absolutely flawless. Then she throws in some beautiful soft high notes and its complete; the perfect cover.
Original Release Date: November 2012
Age When Recorded: 11
Genre: Pop
Rating:
Sail Away
Snippets of Sail Away were first shown on Connie's Youtube channel a couple of months prior to the song being released. Listening to this preview we were blown away and couldn't wait to hear the full song. Why? Because it was so different to anything else Connie had done before, her team themselves described it as an experiment. The prospect of this particular song was exciting because it showed Connie widening her target audience. Sail Away could have happily sat in the charts alongside Ellie Goulding and Bruno Mars. It's electronic backing and excellent production have made this song fantastic. Sadly, the publicity just isn't there for Connie, there's been no-one to push and sell her songs since her last album Holiday Magic, after which she split with Rainbow Recordings. Unfortunately this means that Sail Away, although a song that could of been commercially successful, didn't receive the airtime that it deserved.
You've probably guessed by now that we love the song. In fact we think it's leaps and bounds away from Beautiful World which she released last year. What's really noticeable about this track is how much more mature Connie's voice sounds than her past recordings She now has a solid lower range as well as the higher notes which she has always done perfectly. Connie's voice seems to suit this kind of song more than for example Beautiful World(even though it was a great track), as it allows her to use the power behind her vocal better. It's perfect for summer, due to the upbeat tempo. The intelligent soul who wrote the lyrics here has got a perfect balance, the lyrics are completely age appropriate, but they don't go too far and make the song cheesy. The song is all about letting the music take you away and imagining you were someone else, and this is exactly what that song does. It's also great to see Connie do some more uptempo numbers, as a lot of songs she covers are slow. A karaoke version has also been released of a very high quality. Although too high for a lot of adults, this is a great gesture to kids, and will be great for Connie to see other people covering her songs.
It is the only song however we've ever seen Connie struggle with live. Listening to her perform it on CleverTV was a little bit uncomfortable, she seemed to be straining to hit the notes in the chorus that were so easily done in the studio version. This affects in no way the actual song, as many many songs are designed not to be sung live, people always need to think about this before they make judgements on the track itself.
Overall, summery, fun, up-tempo what more could you want?
Original Release Date: 29th May 2012
Where To Buy: CDbaby, iTunes, Amazon
Age At Time Of Recording: 11
Editions Available: Normal, Karaoke
Genre: Pop
Other People Thought....
"I heard a lot of singers during the last decades only a few are as outstanding as Connie Talbot and she becomes better and better over time. Additionally this song is one of the best I ever heard."
"You hear an improved, more mature and sophisticated voice and vocal style here with Connie."
"It's cheerful, uplifting, with a mature feel but still keeping it within her age range."
Rating:
You've probably guessed by now that we love the song. In fact we think it's leaps and bounds away from Beautiful World which she released last year. What's really noticeable about this track is how much more mature Connie's voice sounds than her past recordings She now has a solid lower range as well as the higher notes which she has always done perfectly. Connie's voice seems to suit this kind of song more than for example Beautiful World(even though it was a great track), as it allows her to use the power behind her vocal better. It's perfect for summer, due to the upbeat tempo. The intelligent soul who wrote the lyrics here has got a perfect balance, the lyrics are completely age appropriate, but they don't go too far and make the song cheesy. The song is all about letting the music take you away and imagining you were someone else, and this is exactly what that song does. It's also great to see Connie do some more uptempo numbers, as a lot of songs she covers are slow. A karaoke version has also been released of a very high quality. Although too high for a lot of adults, this is a great gesture to kids, and will be great for Connie to see other people covering her songs.
It is the only song however we've ever seen Connie struggle with live. Listening to her perform it on CleverTV was a little bit uncomfortable, she seemed to be straining to hit the notes in the chorus that were so easily done in the studio version. This affects in no way the actual song, as many many songs are designed not to be sung live, people always need to think about this before they make judgements on the track itself.
Overall, summery, fun, up-tempo what more could you want?
Original Release Date: 29th May 2012
Where To Buy: CDbaby, iTunes, Amazon
Age At Time Of Recording: 11
Editions Available: Normal, Karaoke
Genre: Pop
Other People Thought....
"I heard a lot of singers during the last decades only a few are as outstanding as Connie Talbot and she becomes better and better over time. Additionally this song is one of the best I ever heard."
"You hear an improved, more mature and sophisticated voice and vocal style here with Connie."
"It's cheerful, uplifting, with a mature feel but still keeping it within her age range."
Rating:
2011
Beautiful World-Connie Talbot
This song could certainly be viewed as Connie's "comeback" single after the unfortunate split with rainbow recordings, (rhythm riders) after her third album Holiday Magic. After this decision to part ways, Connie would not release another studio song until almost two years later-the result being Beautiful World. She did however upload many YouTube videos of cover songs during this time, which show her voice growing and maturing.
The song is captivating with Connie's gentle vocal kicking in on the chorus. We love the personal touch that Connie has given to this track by writing all of the lyrics herself(when she was only seven as a poem). We feel it really captures a child's sense of the world, and how we should appreciate the things that are already beautiful around us. You can still hear traces of the vibrato here and there, but she has a lot more control over this now than in her debut Over The Rainbow. The song has been nicely arranged with a simple piano riff making the song recognisable in the first few seconds. A very successful first original song from Connie.
We thought we would also add a few words about the acoustic version. It was stated on its release to show off Connie's vocals better. It does, the vocal sounds as if it is slightly different in places, and it is overall a lovely version. It's probably not worth buying both though(unless your a super fan) so have a listen to the samples and see which one you prefer. Personally, we prefer the original version, as the last chorus makes more of an impact there, rather then not quite hitting the mark in this one.
It's great to hear some new material from Connie after such a gap in her career. It's relieving that this fantastic talent, and she really is fantastic, hasn't dropped off the radar. We look forward to hearing more.
Original Release Date: November 22, 2011
Where To Buy: Amazon, iTunes
Age At Time Of Recording: 10
Editions Available: Original, Acoustic, Karaoke
Genre: Pop
Rating:
The song is captivating with Connie's gentle vocal kicking in on the chorus. We love the personal touch that Connie has given to this track by writing all of the lyrics herself(when she was only seven as a poem). We feel it really captures a child's sense of the world, and how we should appreciate the things that are already beautiful around us. You can still hear traces of the vibrato here and there, but she has a lot more control over this now than in her debut Over The Rainbow. The song has been nicely arranged with a simple piano riff making the song recognisable in the first few seconds. A very successful first original song from Connie.
We thought we would also add a few words about the acoustic version. It was stated on its release to show off Connie's vocals better. It does, the vocal sounds as if it is slightly different in places, and it is overall a lovely version. It's probably not worth buying both though(unless your a super fan) so have a listen to the samples and see which one you prefer. Personally, we prefer the original version, as the last chorus makes more of an impact there, rather then not quite hitting the mark in this one.
It's great to hear some new material from Connie after such a gap in her career. It's relieving that this fantastic talent, and she really is fantastic, hasn't dropped off the radar. We look forward to hearing more.
Original Release Date: November 22, 2011
Where To Buy: Amazon, iTunes
Age At Time Of Recording: 10
Editions Available: Original, Acoustic, Karaoke
Genre: Pop
Rating:
2008
Over The Rainbow-Connie Talbot
Connie is one of the most famous child stars of today. She has been described as everything from "the modern day Shirley Temple" to "the next Adele". If you live in the UK and watch Britain's Got Talent, the name or the face may ring a bell. It was 2007 when a 6 year old above adorable Connie stepped out onto the stage, and captured the nation with her acapella version of Over The Rainbow. She progressed right through to the final, singing "Ben" by Michael Jackson in the semi-final, and "Over The Rainbow" this time with music for the final. Simon Cowell described her as "pitch perfect", and Piers Morgan(yes nasty Piers Morgan!) said she was the best six year old singer in the world today. In the end, Connie lost out to Paul Potts coming second in the competition, but in reality it was Connie who became the real winner, recording three albums and travelling all around the world. In some countries she has even outsold Mariah Carey.
Over The Rainbow is Connie's debut album, and at the time of writing is her own non-Christmas album, meaning it's the only one you can listen to all year round. The album was released all over the world with each country releasing a different cover. Because of this, covers have become extremely collectable by fans and rare ones(especially physical singles) fetch a fair price on the eBay market. The album went gold in the UK just one week since its release, but was even more popular in Asia where it reached Platinum. One thing to note if you want to buy this album is to beware of the Christmas Edition! In 2007 when the album was first released it contained three Christmas songs to time it with the season. Three new tracks were then added the following year and it was re released in June 2008. Three new songs now replaced the Christmas ones. These are Three Little Birds, Any Dream Will Do and You Raise Me Up. Make sure you check the track list for these before you buy as they're definitely worth having on the CD!
A lot of you will probably see the track list and roll their eyes. There are some cheesy choices on here including "Favourite Things" (Mary Poppins, really?) but also some very pleasant surprises like Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds". There are 19 tracks in total(ours seems to have Over The Rainbow again as the 20th track) including the instrumentals and Christmas tracks. There are no original tracks on here, but Connie is after all only six and seven, so originals aren't really expected at this stage.
1. Over The Rainbow- Connie's signature song sang beautifully. Every word is crystal clear and the whole track has a gentle calming feel to it. Connie tackles the lyrics with a real sensitivity, explaining them in an interview to be about heaven. 5/5
2. I Believe- A track we'd never heard before but the standout track on the album. A great saxophone in the production too. Connie seems passionate about this song, she seems to understand the meaning behind it. Excellent, and Connie hits some big notes here. 5/5
3. Smile-Another track that surprised us. Simply outstanding. Connie covers this song really well, and again seems to understand the message behind it. Her voice suits this slow swing kind of style and her diction is excellent. Another stand out track. 5/5
4. Three Little Birds-One of the later editions and a song that never fails to put a smile on your face. It just makes us think of sunshine and summer. In fact the video was filmed in sun-dappled Jamaica(you can watch it on the DVD). If you're not fussed on vibrato, but want to give Connie a listen we'd recommend this song. 5/5
5. Imagine-We can see why they chose this song for Connie to sing. Who better to sing about world peace than the innocent voice of a child? It gives such a sweet feel to the track and we love the "yoo-hoo-hoo" bit as well. 4/5
6. Favourite Things-We said before this was a cheesy selection but strangely it's a bit of a guilty pleasure. It's the song that we quite like but we know we shouldn't! The message to the song is quite uplifting and it's just good fun! When she sings this, it just sounds so carefree you can't help but smile. 4/5
7. Any Dream Will Do-We like this song, there isn't a track on this album we don't like really, but it doesn't stand out. Connie maybe struggles with some bits on this which we don't hear her do in the other tracks. The children's choir is a nice addition here. 3.5/5
8. Wonderful World-A delightful cover of this well known song, still keeping the slow "sway like" feeling to it. It flows well in one fluent motion and seems to be over before you know it! 5/5
9. Ben- This is a very sweet cover. A good interpretation and it feels heartfelt as if she is singing about a real close friend. Again, it carries Connie's innocence through her voice. 4/5
10. I Will Always Love You-We wouldn't have thought to put this track on this album but we're really glad they did. It's a really innovative selection. It starts with an acapella section breaking into a gorgeously gentle first verse, where Connie's voice guides across the notes in a way that can only be described as beautiful. Not that she doesn't show power, she hits the notes in the chorus with the perfect amount, not going into it over-enthusiastically and screaming her lungs out. You may think this is an odd choice for a six year old's album, but Whitney Houston is her idol which makes this selection understandable. A definite 5/5.
11. I Have A Dream- Another bit of a cheesy selection but another guilty pleasure. Who doesn't like ABBA secretly? The instruments give an Indian feel to the song, but this makes a nice twist from the original. The children's choir blend with Connie really well, and they are a great addition to this track. Her enthusiasm is infectious and you soon find yourself tapping your foot or singing along. We now find Connie's version more memorable than the original! Another strong song. 5/5.
12. You Raise Me Up-Connie demonstrates a nice balance of hard and soft notes here. We like the bagpipes, an unusual choice but somehow works. The song gets to it's best when it kicks in towards the end with the choir, as the choir help to keep the song moving. An engaging track with some strong bits. 3/5
This is a great debut and we can't believe she's only six years old! She seems to understand the lyrics(aside from I Will Always Love You understandably) and this gives the songs more depth than you would expect. Connie has a delicate vibrato voice here, and listening now it is completely different. At age 11 she really is a powerhouse and misses some of the gentleness displayed in her vocals here. It's a good mix of fun and serious songs, and strangely the whole album has quite a chilled out mellow feel to it. Nothing is fast fast, but nothing is drearily slow. We must note as well that she has amazing diction, for a six year old, and for a six year old missing her front two teeth!
Original Release Date: 26 November 2007, Re released 18 June 2008
Where To Buy: connietalbot.com, amazon, iTunes, evo88.com
Age At Time Of Recording: 6 (Track 4, 7 & 12 recorded at age 7)
Editions Available: Christmas Edition, Normal Edition, Deluxe, Special Asia Platinum Edition
Genre: Pop
Rating:
Over The Rainbow is Connie's debut album, and at the time of writing is her own non-Christmas album, meaning it's the only one you can listen to all year round. The album was released all over the world with each country releasing a different cover. Because of this, covers have become extremely collectable by fans and rare ones(especially physical singles) fetch a fair price on the eBay market. The album went gold in the UK just one week since its release, but was even more popular in Asia where it reached Platinum. One thing to note if you want to buy this album is to beware of the Christmas Edition! In 2007 when the album was first released it contained three Christmas songs to time it with the season. Three new tracks were then added the following year and it was re released in June 2008. Three new songs now replaced the Christmas ones. These are Three Little Birds, Any Dream Will Do and You Raise Me Up. Make sure you check the track list for these before you buy as they're definitely worth having on the CD!
A lot of you will probably see the track list and roll their eyes. There are some cheesy choices on here including "Favourite Things" (Mary Poppins, really?) but also some very pleasant surprises like Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds". There are 19 tracks in total(ours seems to have Over The Rainbow again as the 20th track) including the instrumentals and Christmas tracks. There are no original tracks on here, but Connie is after all only six and seven, so originals aren't really expected at this stage.
1. Over The Rainbow- Connie's signature song sang beautifully. Every word is crystal clear and the whole track has a gentle calming feel to it. Connie tackles the lyrics with a real sensitivity, explaining them in an interview to be about heaven. 5/5
2. I Believe- A track we'd never heard before but the standout track on the album. A great saxophone in the production too. Connie seems passionate about this song, she seems to understand the meaning behind it. Excellent, and Connie hits some big notes here. 5/5
3. Smile-Another track that surprised us. Simply outstanding. Connie covers this song really well, and again seems to understand the message behind it. Her voice suits this slow swing kind of style and her diction is excellent. Another stand out track. 5/5
4. Three Little Birds-One of the later editions and a song that never fails to put a smile on your face. It just makes us think of sunshine and summer. In fact the video was filmed in sun-dappled Jamaica(you can watch it on the DVD). If you're not fussed on vibrato, but want to give Connie a listen we'd recommend this song. 5/5
5. Imagine-We can see why they chose this song for Connie to sing. Who better to sing about world peace than the innocent voice of a child? It gives such a sweet feel to the track and we love the "yoo-hoo-hoo" bit as well. 4/5
6. Favourite Things-We said before this was a cheesy selection but strangely it's a bit of a guilty pleasure. It's the song that we quite like but we know we shouldn't! The message to the song is quite uplifting and it's just good fun! When she sings this, it just sounds so carefree you can't help but smile. 4/5
7. Any Dream Will Do-We like this song, there isn't a track on this album we don't like really, but it doesn't stand out. Connie maybe struggles with some bits on this which we don't hear her do in the other tracks. The children's choir is a nice addition here. 3.5/5
8. Wonderful World-A delightful cover of this well known song, still keeping the slow "sway like" feeling to it. It flows well in one fluent motion and seems to be over before you know it! 5/5
9. Ben- This is a very sweet cover. A good interpretation and it feels heartfelt as if she is singing about a real close friend. Again, it carries Connie's innocence through her voice. 4/5
10. I Will Always Love You-We wouldn't have thought to put this track on this album but we're really glad they did. It's a really innovative selection. It starts with an acapella section breaking into a gorgeously gentle first verse, where Connie's voice guides across the notes in a way that can only be described as beautiful. Not that she doesn't show power, she hits the notes in the chorus with the perfect amount, not going into it over-enthusiastically and screaming her lungs out. You may think this is an odd choice for a six year old's album, but Whitney Houston is her idol which makes this selection understandable. A definite 5/5.
11. I Have A Dream- Another bit of a cheesy selection but another guilty pleasure. Who doesn't like ABBA secretly? The instruments give an Indian feel to the song, but this makes a nice twist from the original. The children's choir blend with Connie really well, and they are a great addition to this track. Her enthusiasm is infectious and you soon find yourself tapping your foot or singing along. We now find Connie's version more memorable than the original! Another strong song. 5/5.
12. You Raise Me Up-Connie demonstrates a nice balance of hard and soft notes here. We like the bagpipes, an unusual choice but somehow works. The song gets to it's best when it kicks in towards the end with the choir, as the choir help to keep the song moving. An engaging track with some strong bits. 3/5
This is a great debut and we can't believe she's only six years old! She seems to understand the lyrics(aside from I Will Always Love You understandably) and this gives the songs more depth than you would expect. Connie has a delicate vibrato voice here, and listening now it is completely different. At age 11 she really is a powerhouse and misses some of the gentleness displayed in her vocals here. It's a good mix of fun and serious songs, and strangely the whole album has quite a chilled out mellow feel to it. Nothing is fast fast, but nothing is drearily slow. We must note as well that she has amazing diction, for a six year old, and for a six year old missing her front two teeth!
Original Release Date: 26 November 2007, Re released 18 June 2008
Where To Buy: connietalbot.com, amazon, iTunes, evo88.com
Age At Time Of Recording: 6 (Track 4, 7 & 12 recorded at age 7)
Editions Available: Christmas Edition, Normal Edition, Deluxe, Special Asia Platinum Edition
Genre: Pop
Rating: