|
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
CD Description
Mary-Jess made front page news for being the British student who won a Chinese equivalent of The X Factor in 2010, voted the winner by an audience of 70 million. Her debut album, Shine, introduces the voice from the West with a sound for the East with a dreamlike sound-world conjured up by top producer Ross Cullum (the man behind hit albums by artists such as Tori Amos and Enya). Mary-Jess’ contest-winning song is, of course, included: "Yue Guang Ai Ren (A Love For All Time)", from the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, complete with chorus in Mandarin. Also features "An Angel Walking" (Michael Nyman’s haunting folk-theme from The Piano), and the self-penned "Stand As One" and "My Own Sunrise".
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When I heard some samples from this album I thought that it was nothing special and that I had heard it before, however after reading the reviews on here and hearing A Love Before Time in full I thought I would give it a chance and I am glad I did. I think I dismissed Mary-Jess too soon and after listening to the album it turns out that she has a beautiful voice and is very talented. On this album she has co-written many of the songs and I think all of the songs are well chosen for her voice and it is very cohesive as a sound and as a message and shine really sums up the message of the songs. I love how the album sounds very Enya like and I love the chinese influence on the album and the use of different instruments and percussion to get this sound.
Some of my favourites:
Are You The Way Home? This is really catchy, you can hear the chinese influence- a lovely song
Lighthouse of Mine- I love the message of this song
Glorious- I thought this would be boring after hearing a sample, but is really shows Mary-Jess' range.
A Love Before Time- it is worth buying this album for this song alone, Mary-Jess sounds even better in chinese than English, I think she should do a whole album of chinese songs- this is really atmospheric and really well done.
Burning Love- this has amazing orchestration- especially towards the end.
An Angel Walking- I think this is based on 'The Promise' from the film the piano- the lyrics are good and I love this melody.
This is just a few of the good tracks- the ones that stand out for me- Mary-Jess is very talented and she deserved to do very well. Buy this album and you will not regret it, Mary-Jess has real talent!!
Some of my favourites:
Are You The Way Home? This is really catchy, you can hear the chinese influence- a lovely song
Lighthouse of Mine- I love the message of this song
Glorious- I thought this would be boring after hearing a sample, but is really shows Mary-Jess' range.
A Love Before Time- it is worth buying this album for this song alone, Mary-Jess sounds even better in chinese than English, I think she should do a whole album of chinese songs- this is really atmospheric and really well done.
Burning Love- this has amazing orchestration- especially towards the end.
An Angel Walking- I think this is based on 'The Promise' from the film the piano- the lyrics are good and I love this melody.
This is just a few of the good tracks- the ones that stand out for me- Mary-Jess is very talented and she deserved to do very well. Buy this album and you will not regret it, Mary-Jess has real talent!!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Mary-Jess Leaverland is a student studying Music and Chinese at the University of Sheffield. Her course involved work-experience in China and it was there, singing in Chinese, she won a competition (the Chinese equivalent of X-Factor).
This debut album has twelve top-quality songs, with strong poetry in the lyrics; seven were co-written by Mary-Jess. Her voice is outstanding, her diction clear and the recording is excellent.
The opening track (the best of all in my opinion) "Are You The Way Home?" shows the Chinese influence in her music and Track 8, the delightful "Yue Guang Al Ren" (A love before time), is sung largely in Chinese. Track 2, "Glorious", with a strong orchestrated rhythm from percussion and strings, shows the full range of her capabilities.
Other particularly strong songs include; Track 3 "Lighthouse Of Mine" (heart-warming poetry), Track 4 "Rising From The Fire", Track 11 "Burning Love" (with a wonderful piano climax) and Track 12 "Heaven Is Empty" (where again the Chinese Influence is unmistakable). In fact there isn't a duff song on the album - the CD notes include all the song lyrics over which it is worth meditating. In common with the other reviewers. I have no hesitation in recommending this outstanding and unique album.
This debut album has twelve top-quality songs, with strong poetry in the lyrics; seven were co-written by Mary-Jess. Her voice is outstanding, her diction clear and the recording is excellent.
The opening track (the best of all in my opinion) "Are You The Way Home?" shows the Chinese influence in her music and Track 8, the delightful "Yue Guang Al Ren" (A love before time), is sung largely in Chinese. Track 2, "Glorious", with a strong orchestrated rhythm from percussion and strings, shows the full range of her capabilities.
Other particularly strong songs include; Track 3 "Lighthouse Of Mine" (heart-warming poetry), Track 4 "Rising From The Fire", Track 11 "Burning Love" (with a wonderful piano climax) and Track 12 "Heaven Is Empty" (where again the Chinese Influence is unmistakable). In fact there isn't a duff song on the album - the CD notes include all the song lyrics over which it is worth meditating. In common with the other reviewers. I have no hesitation in recommending this outstanding and unique album.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I pre-ordered Shine long before its original release and, nearly six months on, it is still my most played album; so much so that I recently bought a second copy to be sure of always having it available both in the car and indoors.
The album opens in style with the bubbly yet dreamy 'Are You the Way Home'. I also love the official video for this track.
'Glorious' has become Mary-Jess's trademark song, and definitely lives up to its name.
Brilliant as the first two tracks are, it is the third, 'Lighthouse of Mine', that is my absolute favourite from the album. Starting so simply, those first few notes always set my emotions reeling in anticipation of what is to come; frequently it sets the tears rolling down my cheeks.
Every heart-warming track is worth listening to in its own right, yet special mention must be made of the achingly beautiful 'My Own Sunrise' and 'Burning Love'.
Mary-Jess's beautiful voice calms me yet excites me. Its seemingly fragile quality at times just adds to the exquisite appeal of this album for me. Shining like a beacon, it keeps drawing me back towards it.
The album opens in style with the bubbly yet dreamy 'Are You the Way Home'. I also love the official video for this track.
'Glorious' has become Mary-Jess's trademark song, and definitely lives up to its name.
Brilliant as the first two tracks are, it is the third, 'Lighthouse of Mine', that is my absolute favourite from the album. Starting so simply, those first few notes always set my emotions reeling in anticipation of what is to come; frequently it sets the tears rolling down my cheeks.
Every heart-warming track is worth listening to in its own right, yet special mention must be made of the achingly beautiful 'My Own Sunrise' and 'Burning Love'.
Mary-Jess's beautiful voice calms me yet excites me. Its seemingly fragile quality at times just adds to the exquisite appeal of this album for me. Shining like a beacon, it keeps drawing me back towards it.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Simply amazing
I bought the CD after seeing some YouTube samples with high expectations and the album definitely came up to my expectations. The music is amazing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Petr Vandas
Fantastic new sound!
Haven't heard such a fresh new sound in such a long time. It has been fantastic to have on the back ground for working to. Read more
Published 4 months ago by flm90
a classic
This highly accomplished debut cd by Mary-Jess is one of the most beautiful records I have ever heard. Read more
Published 4 months ago by mike brooks
Quite simply ... superb
This is without doubt the best CD I have bought in many years. I cannot believe that Mary-Jess hadn't been discovered until winning the Chinese X Factor. Read more
Published 5 months ago by JWM
Fresh and vibrant crossover
Crossover tends to gain negative press for having lack of creativity, vision and originality consisting of albums full of Nella Fantasias, Time To Say Goodbyes and Ave Marias. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Nicola Jarvis
Shine
Mary Jess has a fantastic voice and I will be buying her future albums. Her music is very relaxing to listen to and the clarity of her singing is quite outstanding. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Kevin Read
Disappointing
I haven't given this cd a good rating simply because I found it difficult to understand the lyrics. If she wants to be considered a serious cross-over singer, her diction needs to... Read more
Published 6 months ago by John Hourigan
Great CD very relaxing Will buy more from this singer
I first heard Mary Jess sing on UK Television and was very impressed so I bought her first two CDs of which this is one.
I am delighted I did. Read more
I am delighted I did. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mick
Just Glorious
Recently on a BBC radio station I heard an unaccompanied voice so pure
just beautiful. It belonged to Mary Jess so refreshing at a time when
it is difficult to hear... Read more
just beautiful. It belonged to Mary Jess so refreshing at a time when
it is difficult to hear... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Big Bob
Wonderful debut!
Our niece shared a room in China with Mary-Jess and supported her in the audience when she won the Chinese equivalent of X Factor. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Simon Palmer
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
