Buy anything from the World Music store and you can get the official CD from the Songlines Music Awards 2013 for just £1.99. Offer ends at 23:59 on Sunday, June 30. Learn more.
Buy anything from the World Music store and you can get the official CD from the Songlines Music Awards 2013 for just £1.99. Offer ends at 23:59 on Sunday, June 30. Learn more. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
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".
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By S. Croft
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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!!
8 of 9 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
By J. Harvey
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 8 reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pleasnt music
This cd was purchased after hearing Mary Jess sin on the final of China's Pop Idol. Her voice is fantastic and a delight to listen to.
Published 15 days ago by W1zzy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift
I bought one of this young ladies CD's and liked it so much that I got the second one for my husband as he said she has a pure voice.
Published 2 months ago by Julie Maslowski
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shine
Very enjoyable, modern but not too much. Would buy more of her music, lovely voice. Great cover. Good quality recordings.
Published 2 months ago by Pat
5.0 out of 5 stars
a good quality album... a thing of rarity these days
absolutely beautiful! fantastic voice, and an interesting infusion of west and chinese melody. why we don't have artists like Mary-Jess in today's chart saddens me... Read more
Published 2 months ago by demonsblood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely voice,
Heard her once at the Bournemouth International Centre, she has a fresh, clean voice has a variety of tempos on this c.d. Is well worth the money
Published 3 months ago by linda Pidgley
5.0 out of 5 stars
special pressie
very quick service my son has wanted this album for a while but couldnt get it anywhere else many thanks
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. Am Green
4.0 out of 5 stars
A pure voice without a false American accent for a change.
Having heard Mary Jess at a live gig I bought her album Shine on Amazon. I am not disappointed. The combination of tracks has something for everyone.
Published 4 months ago by glyn barratt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing voice
I had been looking forward to listening to this album for a long, long time. I was not disappointed! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Damon Lord
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shine
I Already had this cd. I Bought this one for my granddaughter who loved listening to mine in my car.
Published 6 months ago by Janet Ann Sheehan
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 14 months ago by Petr Vandas
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!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
