Search - Gloria Estefan :: Unwrapped

Unwrapped
Gloria Estefan
Unwrapped
Genres: International Music, Pop, Rock, Broadway & Vocalists, Latin Music
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1


     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Gloria Estefan
Title: Unwrapped
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 3
Label: Sony
Original Release Date: 1/1/2003
Re-Release Date: 9/23/2003
Genres: International Music, Pop, Rock, Broadway & Vocalists, Latin Music
Styles: Adult Contemporary, Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 696998679023, 5099751260028, 5099751260097

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CD Reviews

Groundbreaking music marks Gloria's deserved comeback
Kevin Martin Murnane | Donnybrook, Dublin 4 Ireland | 09/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can be said of this truly amazing album by Gloria Estefan that can justify it's innovation. For a start Gloria has returned with a sound unlike anything she has ever done before and unlike her contemporaries she has not resorted to a musical form in order to impact the current top 40.
It's production values are truly outstanding and if given the correct marketing this could be the album of 2003. Outstanding tracks include the promotional single "Wrapped". It's raw, acoustic sounds combined with Peruvian pan-pipes, mandolin guitar, harmonic vocals and poetic lyrics, haunt you for a long time after it's finished. "A little push" is truly surprising as Gloria's lush vocals float atop a bed of brooding baselines and moody unplugged guitar rifts, finding her visit a place she's never been before. On the acoustic, guitar driven ballad "Your Picture" Gloria takes us on an uplifting journey through nostalgia to a place where our memories reunite us with those passed on. Here her rich, honey soaked vocals accompany some beautifully lush classical guitar with a very modern arrangement. The powerful "I wish You" echoes elements of The Beatles at their creative-peak with an arrangement not unlike that of guitar bands Travis or Oasis and with collaborations on this album that include Stevie Wonder (who also plays harmonica on the Southern Bayou influenced "into you") and Chrissie Hynde (the uptempo, flamenco infused "One Name") we find her twisting the conventions of latin pop on its head. Sounding more genuine and spirited on this album than ever before, it is almost like a storybook of life and because it's poetic lyrics are based around real-life experiences they certainly relate to us all. Here is an album, Gloria's "Tapestry" album, dripping with untailored artistry and class. 5 STARS"
Gloria's Long-Awaited Gift
John B. Valeri | Portland, CT USA | 10/02/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"After five years away from the English market-an eternity in the business-Gloria returns with her aptly titled "Unwrapped", a collection of beautifully poetic songs that takes the listener on a musical journey through the artist's tragedies and triumphs. Each of the fourteen English songs was written by Estefan, and her intimate connection to the material is captured and showcased in the passion and conviction in which she delivers her vocals. Never known for diva-like range, Estefan manages to pull at the heart strings of her audience with a voice that is both sweet and humble, mysterious and yet instantly recognizable. The focus here, however, is on the songwriting. For the first time in her illustrious career, Gloria Estefan bares her soul in lyrics that serve as snapshots from a life that has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows. "Time Waits" and "Say Goodbye" perhaps draw influence from the singer's greatest hardships-the loss of her father and an automobile accident that left her with a broken back. The message? That time is fleeting. We never know when we will take our last breath, so we should live each moment like it's our last. "Wrapped", the beautiful first single, is so subtle in its origins that it leaves the listener pondering for whom it was written. "I Wish You" is a power ballad that finds Estefan sending love and forgiveness to those who have wronged her as opposed to avenging their cruelty. Perhaps the gutsiest song on this album, however, is "Famous", a tune that finds Estefan putting fame under a microscope and exposing its inevitable downfalls. Other highlights include the set opener, "A Little Push", a bilingual scorcher titled "Te Amare", and "Your Picture", a sparse ballad that captures what is perhaps Gloria's rawest vocal performance to date. And "One Name", a duet with rocker Chrissie Hynde that examines the gap between social classes, perfectly exemplifies Estefan's diversity as both a writer and performer. "Unwrapped" is a brilliant statement- musical and personal-from an artist who continues to raise the standard by which contemporary music is judged. 18 years after "Conga" danced its way into America's heart and launched her groundbreaking career, Gloria Estefan has given fans her definitive masterpiece, an album that has a sound and spirit all it's own. Without question, it was worth the wait."
A voice from the past with sounds of all time...
M. Alvarez | Arlington, VA USA | 09/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The art in the sleeve booklet is truly the work of an artist, using her body as a canvas; Mario Betancourt makes her look visually inspiring and unique. Her name is in the production credits as a producer, is in every single lyric and of course, her voice...that voice that brings us a new gift...the sound of "Unwrapped". Gloria Estefan is back to share what has got to be her best effort to date. An album that captures sounds, voices and chants that are only hers in a full frontal way with no attachments to anyone other than her sound and words.
With music that may reminds us of the early "MSM" times, passing by post "Destiny" melodies ending with a sound so raw it challenges current media of trash pre-fab sounds.
"Wrapped" the current single, is a song written to inspire you when thinking of a place or someone. It captures world music at its best (Peruvian this time). But with an album that doesn't have urgency for media explosion the choices for another favorite are hard, since most songs flow in unison like we've never heard before. The album hits it off with "A little push", fresh start with a happy chorus asking you to fall in love with her (how couldn't we), follows "Te amaré" with great string arrangements and a Latin folk sound. The next "Your picture" converts itself in an instant winner, lyrically rich it makes you visualize what she is singing about. We hear the sounds of "Wrapped" and this one leads to "Time waits" with an ending so awesome mixing her vocals with a chant you don't want it to end. The following track "In the meantime" is a song of love, great track (one of my favorites). The sensual "Dangerous game" is next and it leads to "Into you" with S.Wonder making wonders with the vocals ("Te quiero mucho" he says) and harmonica. The next one has another guest "Pretenders vocalist, Chrissie Hynde) "One name" blending modern and acoustic in a unique way."I will always need your love" is fun to listen to, "Say goodbye" has powerful lyrics, a lesson of life from someone whose 'been there than that'. If there is a song to be picked next to support this album it has to be "I wish you" this is Gloria at her best, both lyrically and vocally. "You" has a raspy chorus with a message of how destiny works. The album closes its English songs with "Famous" what a song! She has managed to create a truly singer/songwriter effort on this one.
She speaks to us of passion, people, places, love. But most of all this is Gloria as REAL as it gets.
Like she says on "Te amaré": "Some pass to quickly, others stay behind...but, I'm where I wanted all along..." Here, with you and me. Welcome back Gloria."