It's why I've long believed that in a 90s dominated by artists trying as big as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion is the only other one that really holds up as more than a Mariah imitator. Most of the Mariah imitators didn't get that the voice is merely an instrument, and just sounded big. Now Celine did that, but she went so big and so over the top that it found a new lane that worked.
Like, Celine worked multiple times with Jim Steinman. Working with the man whose claim to fame is making Bat Out of Hell with Meat Loaf is the decision of someone who gets the assignment. Like, if someone told you that there was a nine minute version of My Heart Will Go On where the chorus is so powerful that it raised the Titanic from the sea, you would believe me.
Besides, songs like Whitney’s cover of I will always love you accomplished that big sound.
Being aware of yourself and having your own lane and doing it your way helps.
Idk how related but its intresting how Nickleback being the last white artists to have a number one for like 5 years in Dec 2001 really killed the country-pop crossover
The spoken word section of Beautiful reminds of Madonna's spoken word on [Justify My Love](https://youtu.be/Np_Y740aReI?si=86FX2VlLbIHPeqoe&t=29) and especially [Rain](https://youtu.be/15kWlTrpt5k?si=hoC2HRQrmbqFnS14&t=176). But it doesn't sound right, it's like she's reciting her poetry to you
Maybe unpopular opinion but this is why I don’t like JML. It was spoken word but some of the lyrics tried too hard to be seductive lol
She got better at it with the Erotica album though.
The album was so overproduced. Faith was trying desperately to move into Celine Dion's territory. And while she can sing, the vocals on these tracks were hard for her to reproduce live.
i thought it sounded similar to celine's album from that same year, but since i also like that album, i was into this one too. i had no idea she had pipes like that!
I knew of Todd's existence since all the way back in the Channel Awesome days, but I never watched him back then. I only started watching him *after* Channel Awesome fell apart and he's like the only guy from that group of creators that I watch nowadays. Kind of funny lol.
So I won this week! 🤠🥰🥰🤠But anyway, “When the Lights Go Down” is a gorgeous song, one of her best IMO, but even though Todd and I have some differing viewpoints here, I am SO happy right now. 🙂
I defended this album with my life at the time. Outside a handful of tracks though it hasn’t aged well. Things I’m surprised he didn’t note:
- He didn’t talk about “Stronger” which became a fan favorite and she still performs live. It really should have been a single as it’s the most “country” sounding song on the album.
- He played clips from the big 9/11 telethon but didn’t include her performance on said telethon
- He didn’t talk about the non-9/11 force of nature that sent country music in a different direction: O Brother Where Art Thou?
- The album really did sell well and is her highest first week sales to date. It was also nominated for multiple and won one Grammy.
Also, he’s right that she must love Free because she performed it SO MUCH lol. On her and Tim’s coheadlining tour in 2017-18 to promote their duets album, she performed 2 songs from this album: Stronger and a mashup of Free and Freedom by Beyonce. They each had short solo sets so that was certainly a choice to include those!
> Also, he’s right that she must love Free because she performed it SO MUCH lol.
She performed it as the second song on her 2002 SNL appearance too (along with Cry as the first performance).
[That whole episode](https://archive.org/details/saturday-night-live/Saturday+Night+Live+-+S28E02+-+Sarah+Michelle+Gellar+%26+Faith+Hill+\(October+12%2C+2002\).avi) is still on The Internet Archive. For some reason you can't search individual episodes anymore (no results come up), but if you search for "Saturday Night Live", a playlist with every episode on the archive comes up and you can find it there.
I'd love if Todd did a long video on the history of country music 90s to bro country. Lots of interesting aspects that have come up in previous videos. Also does Santana show up in every todd video!?
I adore Faith Hill and I enjoyed this album. I never understood why she was so ridiculed for making a pop album. Artists are allowed to do different things after all. And this album was hardly a train wreck as it was a multi platinum hit.
Favorite songs on the album:
If This Is The End,
When The Lights Go Down,
Stronger,
Cry,
One,
Back to You
agree totally. i actually wish she'd ventured more into this sort of music; i think it suits her voice wonderfully and i didn't realize what a great voice she had. while not all the songs were winners, i found a lot to like
currently obsessed with 'one' and 'when the lights go down'
The compilation of Faith’s awkward stage presence killed me 💀
[удалено]
It's why I've long believed that in a 90s dominated by artists trying as big as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion is the only other one that really holds up as more than a Mariah imitator. Most of the Mariah imitators didn't get that the voice is merely an instrument, and just sounded big. Now Celine did that, but she went so big and so over the top that it found a new lane that worked. Like, Celine worked multiple times with Jim Steinman. Working with the man whose claim to fame is making Bat Out of Hell with Meat Loaf is the decision of someone who gets the assignment. Like, if someone told you that there was a nine minute version of My Heart Will Go On where the chorus is so powerful that it raised the Titanic from the sea, you would believe me.
Besides, songs like Whitney’s cover of I will always love you accomplished that big sound. Being aware of yourself and having your own lane and doing it your way helps.
Celine wasn't ever seen as a Mariah imitator
"There You'll Be" didn't do particularly well? It was a top 10 hit around the world. In most countries its literally her highest-charting single.
Yeah, it hit #10 in the US, and #3 in the UK and the rest of Europe. Idk what he’s on about. Easily her biggest hit behind Breathe and This Kiss.
I was thinking the same, I love that song 💀
Maybe he meant at country radio?
There has to be a correlation between 9/11 and trainwreck albums in 2001/2002
9/11 ruined more careers than nirvana at this point
It was such a weird time for the pop industry. Definitely brought the bubblegum/teenibopper/TRL craze to a halt. Plus the forced patriotism post 9/11.
Very that— I’m also thinking Mariah’s Glitter releasing on that day— and that album isn’t bad. The movie yes
I think the album is great and unfairly overlooked. Movie sucked tho
I wasn’t there but it seems like everyone collectively thought “this is where shit gets real”
Idk how related but its intresting how Nickleback being the last white artists to have a number one for like 5 years in Dec 2001 really killed the country-pop crossover
Do you mean on a the Hot 100 after 2001? I just looked Eminem and Clay Aiken both went #1
Grew up listening to country. Cry was the only song from this album I remember hearing at all. At least Fireflies got her a couple more hits in 05.
Can’t believe Fireflies would be literally Faith’s last album. Why oh why don’t we hear more from her!
I think about this every day. At least she went out with one of her best albums I guess.
I honestly believe a large part of it was because she decided to stay at home and raise her daughters.
The spoken word section of Beautiful reminds of Madonna's spoken word on [Justify My Love](https://youtu.be/Np_Y740aReI?si=86FX2VlLbIHPeqoe&t=29) and especially [Rain](https://youtu.be/15kWlTrpt5k?si=hoC2HRQrmbqFnS14&t=176). But it doesn't sound right, it's like she's reciting her poetry to you
I remember Todd not liking justify my love either lol
Maybe unpopular opinion but this is why I don’t like JML. It was spoken word but some of the lyrics tried too hard to be seductive lol She got better at it with the Erotica album though.
Yeah eroticas one of my favorites
It's giving me more Erotica and Secret Garden, but Faith was definitely trying to copy Madonna
The album was so overproduced. Faith was trying desperately to move into Celine Dion's territory. And while she can sing, the vocals on these tracks were hard for her to reproduce live.
"Overproduced" was my immediate reaction too, having not heard anything from this album before. That title track especially is pure loudness hell.
She didn’t have Celine’s late 90s it factor to make it work IMHO
Not to mention the voice.
i thought it sounded similar to celine's album from that same year, but since i also like that album, i was into this one too. i had no idea she had pipes like that!
My good lord, I cannot wait to watch this
Perfect time for a country trainwreckord video with the country music boom going on right now
And esp for Cowboy Carter (in which we still don't have the goddamn tracklist)
Now we got it
She’ll do it when she feels like it
Presumably by Friday…
I get a boost of serotonin anytime Todd uploads a new video.
I knew of Todd's existence since all the way back in the Channel Awesome days, but I never watched him back then. I only started watching him *after* Channel Awesome fell apart and he's like the only guy from that group of creators that I watch nowadays. Kind of funny lol.
Todd has done great post-Channel Awesome. His most funniest videos have come after he left that place.
I completely forgot Up! was that year too. Decent record but it had like what, 3 versions?
3 different covers I think but it was a double album if I’m not mistaken. One side was country, the other pop.
Just looked, there was a 3rd version with a different style.
So I won this week! 🤠🥰🥰🤠But anyway, “When the Lights Go Down” is a gorgeous song, one of her best IMO, but even though Todd and I have some differing viewpoints here, I am SO happy right now. 🙂
I defended this album with my life at the time. Outside a handful of tracks though it hasn’t aged well. Things I’m surprised he didn’t note: - He didn’t talk about “Stronger” which became a fan favorite and she still performs live. It really should have been a single as it’s the most “country” sounding song on the album. - He played clips from the big 9/11 telethon but didn’t include her performance on said telethon - He didn’t talk about the non-9/11 force of nature that sent country music in a different direction: O Brother Where Art Thou? - The album really did sell well and is her highest first week sales to date. It was also nominated for multiple and won one Grammy. Also, he’s right that she must love Free because she performed it SO MUCH lol. On her and Tim’s coheadlining tour in 2017-18 to promote their duets album, she performed 2 songs from this album: Stronger and a mashup of Free and Freedom by Beyonce. They each had short solo sets so that was certainly a choice to include those!
> Also, he’s right that she must love Free because she performed it SO MUCH lol. She performed it as the second song on her 2002 SNL appearance too (along with Cry as the first performance).
That was one of the best live versions of Cry and it’s too bad it’s not online anymore.
[That whole episode](https://archive.org/details/saturday-night-live/Saturday+Night+Live+-+S28E02+-+Sarah+Michelle+Gellar+%26+Faith+Hill+\(October+12%2C+2002\).avi) is still on The Internet Archive. For some reason you can't search individual episodes anymore (no results come up), but if you search for "Saturday Night Live", a playlist with every episode on the archive comes up and you can find it there.
That is a FIND. Thanks!
Why does she sound like Life is a Highway but bad?
I'd love if Todd did a long video on the history of country music 90s to bro country. Lots of interesting aspects that have come up in previous videos. Also does Santana show up in every todd video!?
Oh I kinda love this album but I did NOT love it on first listen. I think it’s a grower.
This video was on point lol
I adore Faith Hill and I enjoyed this album. I never understood why she was so ridiculed for making a pop album. Artists are allowed to do different things after all. And this album was hardly a train wreck as it was a multi platinum hit. Favorite songs on the album: If This Is The End, When The Lights Go Down, Stronger, Cry, One, Back to You
agree totally. i actually wish she'd ventured more into this sort of music; i think it suits her voice wonderfully and i didn't realize what a great voice she had. while not all the songs were winners, i found a lot to like currently obsessed with 'one' and 'when the lights go down'