""This Is My Life" is a case where a great soundtrack strengthened a mediocre film with strong music scoring and one of the most beautiful and poignant love songs written, "Love of My Life". Written as a love song to her children, Carly Simon has composed a simple yet sublime melody and lyric that bookends this unique and thematic soundtrack and provides the major motivation of the movie's central character. Though never commercially popular, those who've seen the movie comment on the lovely love song that weaves throughout the film."Back the Way" provides duality in view points, both from the adult and children and the use of ukelele keeps it playful and personal."The Night Before Christmas" should become a contemporary holiday classic. Carly's strong vocal, a lush arrangement and sweet children voices provide the background support to a strong cut which has also been beautifully covered by Amy Grant on her first Christmas collection.The only unqualified disappointment is "The Show Must Go On", Carly's failed attempt at a theatrical song. The song is whimsical and clever but the vocal and arrangement never quite gel and it becomes increasingly tedious to the end.Overall, Oscar winning Carly and often professional partner Frank Filipetti have produced a unique and engaging soundtrack that should satisfy most discerning listeners."
A Carly Simon Classic
Arthur Larsen | 02/21/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"My mom made a tape for my 13th birthday. The first song on it was Love Of My Life from Carly Simon. It describes our relationship perfectly. Now at 17, I still listen to that song and The Night Before Christmas. Moving Day is quite moving also. The first song describes the wonderful relationship between the parents and the daughter."
Simple words highlight weak but eligent film.
Arthur Larsen | Brooklyn, NY United States | 09/09/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"On "this is My lif" Carly Simon gts in touch with the skill that made her famous ... painting a vrbal picture of everyday life on the verge of the extraordinary. The album shows a great longing on the part of the characters it is representing It can be derived that Ms Simon has befriended her fictional subjects. She understands the longing behind there laughter on the track "Bak the Way" where ms simos muses "Back the way it was before, Before the door was broken". In this work Ms Simon has shown her loyal fans that the preparation is still there and the skill still backs it."
Woody Allen and Pumpernickel Bread
charon-the-oarsman | West Hollywood, CA United States | 04/06/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Carly Simon is the only songwriter who would put Woody Allen and pumpernickel bread into the lyrics of a pop song, and that's why we love her. Still, being a soundtrack for a mediocre Nora Ephron movie does not a great Carly Simon album make. The highpoint is "Back the Way," which sounds like a fun jam session in Carly's living room. I could take a whole album of that."