A LABOUR OF LOVE FOR BUBLÉ
Burnaby’s Michael Bublé has had more on his mind the last two years than making music and his latest album Love reflects that. He’s working familiar territory on all 11 tracks, but he might be at his sweetest. Here are five things to know about Love, writes Stuart Derdeyn.
1.
The classics
While he has always had eyes for the classics of the Frank Sinatra-era songbook, Bublé stacks Love with even more than the usual number. From the opener I Only Have Eyes for You to My Funny Valentine and Unforgettable, these chestnuts are well roasted. Credit is due to him for being able to wring a bit more life out of some of these songs.
2.
Strings, strings and more strings
The orchestration here is huge and produced for maximum effect. Just check out the harp trills on the opener When I Fall in Love or those massive string section swoops on Where or When. You can practically imagine the scene in a Hollywood classic where the song comes in. It’s that vintage and lush.
3.
Such a Night
There had to be at least one or two swinging boogie numbers to avoid smothering the listener in schmaltz and Bublé digs into his version of this tune as well as letting the sax player and brass section go all full Nelson Riddle.
4.
Duets
There are two duets on Love, each pairing Bublé’s smooth instrument against a distinctive female voice. It works so well that it’s surprising he hasn’t done a whole album of duets. La Vie en Rose with Cecile McLorin Salvant doesn’t really work, even if it features what I think might be Bublé’s first French-language verses. Help Me Make it Through the Night with Loren Alfred is far more successful, perhaps because of how nicely the two get into this country classic. Bublé has some Jim Reeves in there. 5.
Forever Now
This Bublé-penned piano ballad proves, once again, that the guy can write quality material. No other track on the album comes close to the emotion expressed on this one. His phrasing is lovely.