Worth the money for the unreleased tracks
Weather Warden | Auckland, NZ | 01/30/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As everybody knows, I am probably Amazon's biggest Blue fan. I am in the process of reviewing all the Blue stuff on the site and realised I hadn't reviewed Best Of Blue yet!
I have the Special Limited Fans Edition of Best Of Blue, which has an extra CD with new songs and an interactive element, but I'll come to that later. First, about the main CD. Blue have released 13 singles in the UK (including Get Down On It which didn't chart because of it's length), and all but one went top 10. The boys achieved 3 No.1's (Too Close, If You Come Back & Sorry Seems To be The Hardest Word with Elton John) and numerous other top 5 singles. This is a package collection of all their singles, some fan favourite tracks and some new material.
So what were Blue's best singles? The accolade for their best single goes to their last charting hit "Curtain Falls." This song samples a Stevie Wonder song, and is absolutely brilliant. Everybody knew this song spelt the end for Blue, as shown in the lyrics. It's still a moody, midtempo treat of a song, that reached No.4 in the charts. Other brilliant singles the boys have released include "Too Close" - their first No.1 hit, a cover of Next's 1997 single, very sexy and dancey, "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" - their 3rd No.1 single, a duet with Elton John, a beautiful piano driven ballad with every member showing their vocals, "U Make Me Wanna" - a simple little pop song that reached No.4, with a catchy chorus and great lyrics, "Guilty" - the lead single for the 3rd album, written by member Duncan, reached No.2 and is gorgeous and heartfelt and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" - a collaboration with Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone, gave the boys' their lowest chart position at No.11 (undeserved, should have been higher!), is catchy and funky, a 2003 version of a classic.
I haven't even gotten onto the unreleased material of the album yet, that's only the singles. I guess you could call "Get Down On It" unreleased as it didn't chart, it's funky and fun with a guest appearance from Lil' Kim and Kool & the Gang on it. "Best In Me 2004" is a revamped version of the ballad from their debut album, it's given a new sound with new instrumentals and a fresher sound. "Love At First Sight" was co-written by Lee and is a heartfelt gorgeous ballad with all the boys on vocals. This version of the album also includes "Ah Chi Mi Dice", the Italian language version of their hit "Breathe Easy", which was a No.1 hit in Italy.
On the second CD of the Special Edition version, you get tracks co-written by Duncan, Simon and Antony. Duncan's track if "If It Takes All Night" - a very cheeky, saucy song about a good night in, fantastic job Duncan. "After The Show" is Antony's song, a cool midtempo track asking if the fans will still support Blue after they've split up (of course they will!), and "Only Words I Know" is Simon's song, about a woman the boys fancy who doesn't speak English, only Spanish and they're trying to understand each other, very funny and cute. Also included is a remix of "All Rise" album track "Long Time" titled the Smooth Mix. It's a change from the original, with different music and cooler beats. The second CD also includes an enhanced section with a 20 minute long documentary outlining Blue's successful career (there's some funny footage and some I'd never seen before), a performance of "Guilty" album track "When Summer's Gone" from a showcase they did in 2003 and a picture gallery.
Overall, this Greatest Hits package (especially the Limited Edition) is definitely worth buying for all the little extras like the new songs and new versions of old favourites. Check out the matching DVD, also titled "Best Of Blue" - which includes all their videos and loads of unreleased footage."
They should have been more popular in the US. Good group!
Preston | nc | 01/21/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The boy band Blue could have been hot in the US, but the boy band, bubble gum teen pop trend had just fazed out in 2003 before their All Rise from Got Hits came out. I still love that song, a very funky pop number where the man takes his girlfriend to court to being guilty about their failed relationship. And the crowd in the court rises when the litigants arrive in. It's a unique kind of pop song. The singers on here sound good and the one rapper in the group actually has a sharp flow and rap style. I guess that formula was what made their other singles in the UK hits. This group does have an edgier appearance and avoids the clean cut look of most groups. I am pleased that Amazon has this CD because all the music stores here don't have it. I look forward to getting the Best of Blue soon."
A GH for another english band...
Giuseppe Andrea Liberti | 08/29/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"All my people from my street say:ehi,that's probably the best english group of the millennium.WHAT?Blue are just another band that have for members four pretty boys that sing.And write lirycs with ONE topic:the Love.In this Greatest Hits we can listen all these tracks.Yes,the featuring with Angie Stone and the legendary Stevie Wonder "Signed Sealed Delivered" is nice,ok,and maybe the old "One Love" is good for our ears,but "A Chi Mi Dice",with a text written by Tiziano Ferro,an italian singer,is not the best.No no.
The hit "Bubblin'" is a kind of Puff Daddy R'n'B song...a kind,yall.
Naa...maybe I don't like Blue,but I think that it's better that Curtain Falls."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1