On July 9, 2008, I had the opportunity to listen to Ace Young’s debut album through the AOL listening party. I’ve been waiting for a long time to see what his future album would sound like. I wasn’t disappointed by what I heard. I admit I had some high expectations after having seen him perform on the American Idol tour for season five. For me, his performances were highlights of the show.
Before we get to my thoughts on the album lets do a flashback to early 2006.
The auditions for season five were underway and viewers were forced to deal with auditions that were bad enough to make ears curl. We had weeks to wait until the actual competition began. One night the monotony of bad singers was broken up by the appearance of a man named Brett “Ace” Young. Many of us were instantly enthralled by the man we saw on our television screens. He had a million-dollar smile, long brown hair, a beanie and a voice that could soothe a crying baby. His song of choice that night was “Swear it Again” by Westlife.
A fellow Ace fan, Flo, summed up his audition with sentiments that we all feel. “Two years ago I heard Ace’s voice on the American Idol auditions. First he spoke…then, he SANG! It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. I still feel that way every single time he opens his mouth. His voice was made to entertain and move us…to touch the hearts of many. That he did for the next two years. I’ve heard him sing ‘Live’ several times…there’s nothing quite like it!”
Flash forward many weeks to the night Ace performed the George Michael song “Father Figure.” Many people that weren’t fans quickly became fans. The performance was smoking–the hand on the stomach, the outfit, the hair, the vocals–it all added up to a complete package and performance that none of us will soon forget. He had fans of all ages wanting more and wondering what would come next.
Following his run on the show, Ace embarked on a journey to record his own album. For many the time couldn’t come quick enough. Month after month we wondered when we’d hear something from our ‘Ace of Hearts.’ We made sure to catch every appearance of him on television. We watched, over and over again, his performances on the show. Time flew by though and we wondered when we were going to hear a single from him. Towards the end of 2006 the single “Scattered” was released. His fans fell in love with it right away. To many of us it reinforced the faith we had in him and his talent. Then, on April 15, 2008, the song “Addicted” was released on iTunes and Amazon.com. Now here we are, just days away from the official release of Ace’s debut album.
When asked, Flo, had the following to say about Ace’s forthcoming album. And now…..the moment we’ve all been anxiously awaiting is FINALLY here! The moment Ace has worked so hard for since he was just a young boy….HIS FIRST CD RELEASE! The CD is fabulous! I am honored and proud to be able to say that I was able to be a part of watching him grow to this point and I will be just as honored when I’m right here 20, 30…+ years from now announcing all of his wonderful achievements. He is a man destined for great things! He is one of the most genuine people I’ve met. Now we can watch him soar as we continue to tell the world how wonderful he is…that is, after all, why we are here!
After listening to the album, I had some favorites. The song “A Hard Hand to Hold” reminds me of a mix of the artists Blake Lewis and Phil Collins. That’s not a bad thing. I feel both of those artists are brilliant performers. Add that to the talent and voice that Ace possesses and you have a knock out song. It was one of my top three favorites on the album.
The song “You Redeem Me” is a beautiful, powerful song that I think will evoke a wide range of emotions in people. We all usually have someone in our lives that embodies the lyrics in that song, at least I do, so it was easy to relate to. I believe it has the potential to be a huge hit for him.
The song “Where Will You Go” could have been recorded for the movie Step Up. It has a dance beat you can’t help but move to and I think it could be great club song.
“Dirty Mind” is in a league all its own. It definitely allows fans to see yet another side of Ace. Some of the lyrics are enough to make the innocent minds blush and the older ladies wish they were a few years younger.
The entire album is a unique blend of sounds that will provide listeners with a wide range of options to choose from. If you are looking for an album that has songs to dance to, or to cuddle or sing to, then this is a definite must have. In fact, it’s like having a compilation CD of my favorite artists. Ace has managed to encompass the various styles and sounds of music that I love and create a work of art that is heartfelt, creative and beautiful.
Overall, I loved this album and can’t wait to buy it when it hits the shelves. I think many people will be pleasantly surprised once they listen to it. There’s no denying that Ace Young is an extremely talented man. I have always expected great things from him and I think he’s got a wonderful career ahead of him.
I had the privilege of meeting him when he was on tour and the man that you see on stage is the man that you meet. I’m also glad I’ve got to see him grow and continue on his journey in the music industry. It’s not an easy field to break into and if you aren’t careful, it can eat you alive. I think Ace has what it takes to withstand the negative influences around him. I think he encompasses what a true performer and role model should be.
Written by: Nicole Normandeau-Ireland
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If you would like to purchase Ace’s debut album please visit Amazon.com. It will be released on July 15, 2008.
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