No More "I Love You's" - Annie Lennox, Freeman, David [Fly
Take Me to the River - Annie Lennox, Green, Al [Vocals]
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Annie Lennox, Brooker, Gary
Don't Let It Bring You Down - Annie Lennox, Young, Neil [1]
Train in Vain - Annie Lennox, Jones, Mick [Clash]
I Can't Get Next to You - Annie Lennox, Strong, Barrett
Downtown Lights - Annie Lennox, Buchanan, Paul
Thin Line Between Love and Hate - Annie Lennox, Members, Jackie
Waiting in Vain - Annie Lennox, Marley, Bob
Something So Right - Annie Lennox, Simon, Paul
Post-Beatles, the virtues of deft song interpretation have been consistently devalued in favor of self-contained composer-performers, seldom more so than in the initial response to this sequel to Annie Lennox's triumphant ... more »solo debut, Diva. That album's gripping originals deserve acclaim, but the lush Scottish alto remains one of the most riveting pop singers of the past two decades, and this smartly chosen, meticulously arranged collection of cover versions boasts its own abundant charms in her selection of obscure gems and bona fide classics from Al Green, Procol Harum, Neil Young, the Clash, the Temptations, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, and the Blue Nile. The songs are the rightful stars here, and Lennox brings passion and nuance to a set that plays beautifully. From the cinematic heartbreak of "No More I Love Yous" to the faithful recreation of the Blue Nile's "Downtown Lights," this is ravishing pop. --Sam Sutherland« less
Post-Beatles, the virtues of deft song interpretation have been consistently devalued in favor of self-contained composer-performers, seldom more so than in the initial response to this sequel to Annie Lennox's triumphant solo debut, Diva. That album's gripping originals deserve acclaim, but the lush Scottish alto remains one of the most riveting pop singers of the past two decades, and this smartly chosen, meticulously arranged collection of cover versions boasts its own abundant charms in her selection of obscure gems and bona fide classics from Al Green, Procol Harum, Neil Young, the Clash, the Temptations, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, and the Blue Nile. The songs are the rightful stars here, and Lennox brings passion and nuance to a set that plays beautifully. From the cinematic heartbreak of "No More I Love Yous" to the faithful recreation of the Blue Nile's "Downtown Lights," this is ravishing pop. --Sam Sutherland
Angela B. from WALKERSVILLE, MD Reviewed on 7/13/2013...
Annie's voice is so beautiful, I think I would buy a cd of her singing Happy Birthday.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Roy S. from CAMBRIDGE, MA Reviewed on 2/6/2007...
If you like Annie, this is a must. If you don't, you should -- give her a try.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
" Will You Stand By Me?"... You Betcha, Annie!!
Kenneth M. Gelwasser | Hollywood, Fl USA | 12/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of the music of Annie Lennox (and her partner Dave Stewart) since the early days of the '80s band, Eurythmics. Once she said everything she could say with that musical pairing, Lennox went on to a solo career, that continued to prove she was a talented & original, consummate artist. I think, that is why so many people were rather surprised, when she came out with the 1995 CD, "Medusa", which was basically an album of 'cover' tunes. The funny thing about 'cover' albums is that it is a niche in the music industry, where artists can so easily fail and make a fools of themselves. Many cover albums have appeared in the past that are flat, uninspired and have come off as just bad 'kareoke'. This is not the case with Annie Lennox's "Medusa". She takes songs, that I'm assuming she enjoys or has in some way ment something to her and completely gives them her own original spin. In other words, she makes them her own. Case in point would be my personal favorite cut of the album, "Don't Let it Bring You Down". This Neil Young, folk-rock tune is a classic in it's own right. It takes a lot of guts (or a certain part of the lower male anatomy) to take on a tune that is so intertwined with it's creator. Yet, Lennox does it and she's quite successful. Her version isn't necessarily better, its' just that she emotionally takes the tune to such a different place. I think that this is a strategy, that Lennox uses with most of the tunes on this album and it works. Other personal favorites include beautiful and very original covers of Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain", Procul Harem's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and Paul Simon's "Something So Right". I particularly love Lennox's upbeat and very danceble reading of The Clash's "Train in Vain". It just makes you want to move! The one song I might have a difference with is her version of The Blue Nile's "Downtown Lights". While Lennox does a very fine reading of this really wonderful song, it just doesn't have the emotional impact of the original version. Still, this is a great CD and I would urge any music fan to make "Medusa" a permanent part of their music collection. I have and the more I play it the better it gets! Highly recommended!"
PERFECT LUSH POP
R. Penola | NYC, NY United States | 12/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No matter what your listening pleasures may be, I defy anyone with a love of music not to be thoroughly intoxicated by this fabulous collection of covers. While we have all been seduced by NO MORE I LOVE YOUS in every bar, restaurant and even dentist's lounge since the album's release, there are so many more treats on this perfectly produced pop album. The arrangements reflect each original yet glimmer with their own distinctive sound, led, of course, by the supremely satisfying vocals by Annie Lennox. She truly bridges the gap between rock, pop and adult contemporary in her own niche, one that surely appeals to all. My personal favorite is WAITING IN VAIN, which has gotten me back in Bob Marley in a big way. Since I bought this CD three years ago, I rarely take it off my 5-CD carousel. It has brought me immeasurable joy and pleasure, and provides a perfect soundtrack to virtually anything you may choose to do with your time -- but every once in awhile, just sit and listen. The pleasures keep revealing themselves every time this CD spins."
Unsentimental
Kenneth M. Gelwasser | 05/24/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm yet another person who was absolutely mesmerized by the song "Don't Let It Bring You Down" from the movie "American Beauty," and I wasn't a particular Eurythmics or Lennox fan in the past. I wasn't able to stay for the credits at the end of the movie, so I had to rely on the Net to learn who performed the song. Thank goodness I did NOT buy the movie soundtrack. "Don't Let It Bring You Down" isn't even on the soundtrack, and that makes absolutely NO sense!I'm not the sentimental type, but that song nearly brought tears to my eyes w. its sheer beauty."
Much enjoyed covers of favorites
Lisa Shea | 10/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Annie Lenox could sing pretty much anything and make it beautiful. In Medusa, she takes some of her favorite songs and sings fresh life into them.
I really love the first song, "No More I Love You's" - the soaring vocals are just gorgeous, and easily draw you into singing along. You move on to "Take Me To the River" which has a great techno-pop underlying to it, perfect for dancing to.
Probably everybody knows the classic original of "Whiter Shade of Pale" - but with the tinkling background and smooth vocals, this is pretty much an equal in its own way.
That's true with every song here. They all have her own interpretation on a much-loved classic. Take one of my favorites - Something so Right by Paul Simon. You'd think that Annie Lenox couldn't really improve on that - but it's not that she's "improving" here. She's telling her own story, using the same words. You get a whole new look on what is being said, and really appreciate it.