Vanessa Amorosi's Somewhere In The Real World (GenQ Music)

Vanessa Amorosi's Somewhere In The Real World

By Leigh May
Music Editor

Published Jun 1, 2008

A lot of people have said in the past that Vanessa Amorosi had disappeared into the world of obscurity after her first album, but the truth is she has used this time to create the PERFECT follow-up album, one that introduces the world to a new, mature Vanessa. With the release of Somewhere In The Real World, which has found it's new home at Universal Music, Vanessa shows the world that she is capable of recording an album that not only showcases her vocals to a new level, but also shows that she can write some pretty amazing songs!

By now, most of you would have heard her 2nd single from the album, Perfect, and realised just how much you've really missed our V-Amo, but it's the rest of the album that really sells this album. The title track is a Motown/Gospel-sounding track that talks about how, no matter how low you might feel at times, "somewhere in the real world, we are loved". This is also the song that shows the strength and range of Vanessa to the biggest extent on this album, hitting notes so high that it's surprising it's still in our hearing range.

I have to admit, however, one of my favourite tracks on the album is 19 Turning Point. This track is quite reminiscent of Kelly Clarkson, and is all about how we all have a turning point in our lives that's around the age of 17-25, with Vanessa's being 19. This song would sound AMAZING live, and I, for one, can't wait to hear that in person!

Another track I love on this, which I found to be quite a surprise for Vanessa, is I Thought We'd Stay Together, which originally wasn't written to be on the album (read our interview with Vanessa to learn more)! Sung as a letter to her producer, it tells the reason why she had taken so long to record the song he'd sent her, and is quite a funny track to listen to ... wait til you get to the last chorus!

Other highlights on the album include A Little Love (the beat in this song reminds me a little of the beat in Kylie's 2 Hearts), Send Me The Manual (which shows that, despite everything, Vanessa is also capable of recording a more contemporary track), My House (probably the naughtiest song I've heard Vanessa ever sing), My Problem Is You, and I Want Your Fire.

One thing that makes this album stand out from so many others released this year is that almost every song on this album is one of my favourites! I could honestly listen to this entire album without skipping a track, which is very rare these days for me! Vanessa has mastered the art of creating an album with all hits, and no fillers, and all this on her comeback album!

Somewhere In The Real World is out now through Universal Music, and is one that this GenQ writer HIGHLY recommends you add to your collection ... you WON'T regret it!!!

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