S.H.E
Once Upon A Time (Bu Xiang Zhang Da)
First, I guess a quick introduction is in order. I’m Geof, the newest contributor to CMB, here primarily to try and get around to a few of the translation requests, but I’ll drop the occasional review as well, like I intend to do today. If you care, you can find out more in the forums. Anyway, on with the show.
I’ll be doing my reviews a little differently to the others, too - I plan to do mine in two steps, first impressions relatively soon after getting the CD, and then revisiting it after a few weeks to see if it’s grown on me or proved to be nothing more than a fling. So here we go with my first impressions of the new SHE album, Once Upon A Time (不想长大), and bear in mind - this is without having paid particularly much attention to the lyrics as yet. Being a non-native speaker of Chinese means that takes a bit more effort for me, so in the follow-up expect more on that front.
In short - if you like your music innovative, intelligent, and creative, buy something else. But let’s be honest here, if you’re buying SHE CDs for musical innovation, you’re probably not too sharp. This is bubblegum music, pure and simple - and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Once Upon A Time is essentially more of the same formula the girls have refined to a fine art - I few up-tempo, high-energy party songs mixed in with a few pop ballads. And this is both one of the main strengths of the album and one of its biggest weaknesses. In terms of track layout, this CD is almost perfectly planned; starting off with a couple of the aforementioned high-energy tracks, the first of which - 不想长大 (I Don’t Want To Grow Up) - is one of the best tracks on the album. It then eases off the pace with a few ballads, picking it up again at the end to leave on another high note. Well, almost. The final track, while entirely passable, is a bit of a soft ending for the album, and leaves kind of an overall… dull impression at the end. Plus, as an English speaker, the English bit in that song just… argh, NO. NO NO NO. Anyway.
The problem caused by this, though, is that it gets, well, remarkably forgettable in the middle. After 天灰 (Grey Skies), track 4, it tails off into a succession of wallpaper music ballads that just blur together after a couple of minutes, to the point it’s hard to remember what track you’re on. This lull lasts through a full three tracks, almost a third of the album. Personally I would prefer if they did a few more of the power numbers, since those have a lot more character to them than the cookie-cutter ballads.
On the plus side, when it’s good it’s excellent. Standout tracks, for me, would be:
Track 1: 不想长大 - the title track and first single. To be honest, at the present point in time I can’t remember which classical piece they’ve used on this, but it provides a good driving sound to the track, which is just a nice fun-sounding piece. I would say this is the second best track on the album, and they made an excellent choice making this the lead single.
Track 4: 天灰 - there’s a very Jay-like quality to this one, to the point I actually had to check the album insert to verify that neither he nor Alexander Fang had anything to do with it. Good harmonies, nice pace, never pushes itself too far. Really makes me continue to wonder what a duet between Jay and either Ella or the whole group would sound. Ella needs to stop trying to hit those high notes though - goddamn did that hurt to listen to.
Track 8: 好人有好抱 (Good Hugs for Good People - Hao Ren You Hao Bao) - This one’s a nice, relaxing, acoustic number that works surprisingly well. Very old fashioned sound to it too, but I can’t quite explain why…. Plus it’s one of the only tracks that really seems to fit the theme of the album.
Track 9:神枪手 (Sharpshooter - Shen Qiangshou) - Easily the best track on the album. Very country-influenced, great fun, and damn if it’s not the catchiest thing I’ve heard in months. I dare you - dare you - to listen to this one and not at least be tapping your feet before the first verse is done. They really should’ve ended with this track, gone out on a high note.
To sum up - if you like a bit of lightweight fun, this is what you’re looking for. Polished, well-executed, and only really let down by a few tracks in the middle. There’s also a definite improvement in the quality of the singing over Encore. If I had to give it a star rating, based on my ratings for the songs in iTunes, I’d say 3 and a half, leaning toward four. Certainly not the best album in the collection, and I would hesitate to call it a must-buy, but if you’ve been in two minds about it, I’d say go for it. It’s been in high rotate on the iPod for the past week, but come back in a few weeks to see if it stands the test of time.
- Track Listing & Personal Rating
1 不想长大 (”I Don’t Want To Grow Up”) (*****)
2 Super Model (***)
3 不作你的朋友 (”Let’s Not ‘Just Be Friends’”) (***)
4 天灰 (”Grey Skies”) (****)
5 月桂女神 (”Laurel Goddess”) (***)
6 绿洲 (”Oasis”) (***)
7 谢谢你让我爱过你 (”Thank You For Letting Me Love You”) (***)
8 好人有好抱 (”Good Hugs for Good People”) (****)
9 神枪手 (”Sharpshooter”) (*****)
10 星星之火 (”Twinkling Star”) (***)
Written by Geof on Dec 4, 2005
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28 Comments, Join the discussion
zee
The classical piece used for the 1st song is from Mozart, but I forgot what’s the name. =p
Dec 7th, 2005
MJ
I like the ballads, in fact I prefer the ballads to 09 神枪手. Agree with u - the songs r for easy listening, not sth u buy for sth new or different from prev SHE’s efforts.
Dec 8th, 2005
Steve
Wow X 99, I’m very impressed with the review, Geof.
Dec 9th, 2005
~*~*~Cydney~*~*~
hihi^^…..i like the song { 不想长大 }
i like u guys…..
~*~*~*~Jia You~*~*~*~
Dec 14th, 2005
~Jessy~
天灰 is so Jay-like.
In fact I thought the song is written by Jay until I read this review due to the likeness to Jay’s songs of the melody.
Dec 21st, 2005
Shez
i heard that 不想长大 had a bit of mozart in it :S it sounds good, i like the violin part XD i’m not sure about the whole bubblegum pop thing but i was into the spice girls (O M G…..)
Jan 5th, 2006
Swifty
… It’s Mozart’s 40th Symphony.
Jan 13th, 2006
Tanti
I don’t like SHE, just like I don’t like Jolin and Cyndi. I like Ella for her personality only. :) But the review is well written, Geof.
Jan 17th, 2006
secretive
I LOVE JOLIN + CYNDI !
Mar 7th, 2006
secretive
TANTI HOW CCAN U SAY TT ?!!!
Mar 7th, 2006
Geof
Secretive - you’re an idiot. Stop.
Mar 7th, 2006
magicalxjourney
Wow, I must say you have an excellent review up there. I certainly would not have made my aunty buy the CD to send to me, if I had first read your review. I completely agree with the ballad section. I personally prefer more upbeat songs, which the album Once Upon A Time, did not have enough of in my opinion.
Hopefully they’ll produce something better next time.
Apr 7th, 2006
EricOng
Greetings,
I’m a forum administrator for S.H.E Asia Fan Club. An english-based forum for chinese-illeterate. We all love S.H.E’s song very much. But for [不想长大], the album mainly, has proved that they’ve already grown up. Every single tracks in this album has its originality. Not to mention, Bu Xiang Zhang Da. Although the chorus part has Mozart’s creation in it. (Mozart 40s Symphony). But for the others, its all fresh and original.
I personally prefer:
Tian Hui
Xing Xing Zhi Huo
Yue Gui Nuu Shen.
For Yue Gui Nuu Shen, it has a story behind this song. Its about the lost love between Apollo and Daphne. I personally love that song.
However, I’m not really happy for its rating. The same applies for Tian Hui and Xing Xing Zhi Huo. I think there’s more room for the contributer to improve about writing this article.
Sorry if its offensive.
Regards,
EricOng.
Apr 9th, 2006
Kevin
OMG i got this…
I LOVE IT!~
Apr 19th, 2006
Winne the Pooh
Well, the song was nice- quite lah. ( I don’t want to grow up) But i don’t like S.H.E…… No offence to all S.H.E fans……..So Sorry
Apr 24th, 2006
kary
the songs were wonderful…pity i cant find them for my blog =(
May 13th, 2006
lacus clyne
如果你不再出现 我的世界 还有什么可贵
可惜不够时间 让我们试验 什么叫永远
想念变成怀念 心动变成心碎
偏偏还会关切 你最後属於谁
我的天空今天有点灰
我的心是个落叶的季节
我不知道如何度过今夜
所有的灯 早已经全都熄灭
如果你从没出现 我会不会 觉得快乐一些
可惜残忍时间 总要把诺言 一点点摧毁
想念变成怀念 心动变成心碎
偏偏还会关切 你最後属於谁
我的天空今天有点灰
我的心是个落叶的季节
我不知道如何度过今夜
所有的灯 早已经全都熄灭
我的天空今天有点灰
我的心是个落叶的季节
我不知道如何度过今夜
所有的灯 早已经全都熄灭
我的天空今天有点灰
我的心是个落叶的季节
我不知道如何度过今夜
所有的灯 早已经全都熄灭
Jun 6th, 2006
lacus clyne
the song i posted is s.h.e (不想长大)if you don’t know how to sing you may look at the s.h.e lyrics in http://chinesemusicblog.com/group/she-once-upon-a-time-%E4%B8%8D%E6%83%B3%E9%95%B7%E5%A4%A7-bu-xiang-zhangda
Jun 6th, 2006
love_daniel
can i have the pin yin for the song hou niao??pls and thank you
Aug 18th, 2006
jacqueline
i like this album very much…….
Oct 6th, 2006
jacqueline
hey,frens!do u like it?
Oct 6th, 2006
Heidi
About the last song… I totally agree. The English ending detracts from the song because it is, well, extremely cheezy, for lack of a better description.
To comment on the music videos, I think the Bu Xiang Zhang Da one is awesome!
Great review!
Oct 17th, 2006
kath
i never bored to listening this album. s.h.e love u 4ever they rock
Nov 29th, 2006
Ryan
Laurel Godness is my fav track now
Feb 26th, 2007
...
I dont like Selina. I only like Hebe + Ella :)
May 18th, 2007
Ally
hope alwaqys happy……
Do ur best……
HI ihihihihihihihihi…………..
Sep 25th, 2007
sin
ohh s.h.e
i love you guys i have heard all of your songs and i like most of them.i got your 10th ablum play i really like it keep up the good work please release more ablum.thank you oh ella did a great job on hana kimi with wu chun hopefully you guys had start hana kimi 2.hebe did a great job on bull fighting with mike and the other boy keep up the good work.selina did an find job an kang xie lai le but anyway still keep up the good work.
Dec 8th, 2007
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