Disco de Laura Pausini: “E Ritorno da Te: The Best of Laura Pausini”

This is my first Laura Pausini CD, but certainly won't be my last; it is an exceptional compilation spanning the years 1993 through 2000, though the early ones have been updated, and read "2001 version".

"Seamisai (sei que me amavas)" is a duet with Brazilian singer/songwriter Gilberto Gil from Laura's 1996 "Le Cose Che Vive" CD, and she sings one song in English, from the soundtrack of the 1999 Kevin Costner film "Message in a Bottle", and it is exquisite, and features the great Dean Parks on guitar.

A winner of many awards, Laura won first place with "La Solitudine" at the prestigious San Remo Festival in '93 when she was 19 years old, and third place with "Strani Amori" in '95.

Laura's voice has a tender and smoky sound when singing softly, and has a powerful high register which she uses masterfully (in this respect she can be compared somewhat to Celine Dion) and her pitch is perfection...it reminds me of a tennis player hitting the ball in the sweetspot of the racket...Laura hits each note in its sweetspot.

The arrangements are lush and beautiful, and many of the songs incredibly lovely, and could not possibly be sung better. The booklet insert has all the lyrics, recording info, and many photos of the doe-eyed Ms. Pausini. The sound is terrific and total playing time is 66'24.

I really like this CD. I am an Italian speaker, and I love listening to Laura sing in Italian. Before buying the CD, on the radio I had heard the Spanish versions of 'Tra te e il Mare', 'Ritorno da te', and 'Incancellabile'. The Italian versions were a pleasent discovery for me. Laura is very talented.

She has a wonderful voice, and even if one doesn't understand or speak italian, one can tell these are songs from the heart. Definitively two thumbs up!

Laura sei meravigliosa! This CD is very well done. There are only a couple of problems I have with this CD. Personally, I am not a big fan of re-makes. Some critics suggest that songs like "Strani Amori" we re-done because Laura's voice sounds better now compared when she sang the original. You've got to be kidding! Although the re-make is nice, the original is better. I guess that's maybe why she almost pulled off winning San Remo back in the mid-90s with the song, competing with megastars like Andrea Bocelli and Giorgia. The other problem I have with it, although minor, is Gilberto Gil. I hope he was half-asleep while singing his duet with Laura. That would at least give him an excuse for that sorry performance! We love you in America Laura...if you come to USA in concert, I'll be there for you. 4 stars!!

Laura is right now the best-selling italian female singer worldwide.

She's a star in Europe, in the Spanish-speaking countries (both Spain and South america) and Brazil.

She managed to become such star by singing in all these languages.

This collection with-holds all the singles (except for FIDATI DI ME) she released throughout her stunning career so far.

Laura proves to be what could be defined an all-round artist by diving into diffrent genres.

Pop songs, Ballads, Uptempos...you name it..she has got it.

The package includes 2 new songs E RITORNO DA TE and UNA STORIA CHE VALE (both co-written with newcomer lyricist Daniel): they are two different sides to the same theme: what happens when a romance is about to end.

Will it go on by finding strength in each other's faith (as in case/song # 1) or will it end and remain a precious memory(as in case/song # 2)?

LA SOLITUDINE and STRANI AMORI are the ballads that Laura updated to a more modern sound, while NON C'E' and GENTE have been reworked on to sound more dance and hip-hop-like.

Laura also gives an international flavour to the collection by presenting a half-portoguese version in duet with Gilberto Gil of SEAMISAI, including the spanish version of MI RESPUESTA and adding the Richard Marx-penned, David Foster-produced ONE MORE TIME from the MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE soundtrack (fan fact file: this song was to be recorded by Lara Fabian at first....).

The outstanding tracks to me are IN ASSENZA DI TE (this is OUR song when it comes to me and Sakis... a foggy night in the greeke mountains while driving in his car, this song comes up and..pow! there goes OUR song, remember?) and TRA TE E IL MARE (powerful and full of feeling).

IL PIANETA DEL CUORE is a spanish flavoured track and IL MIO SBAGLIO PIU' GRANDE is written by pop sweden sensation songwriter Andreas Carlsson...great energy and beats.

Bottom line: this cd is something you want in your collection if you like good music and good sounds.

Laura is up for even wider success with her upcoming European release of FROM THE INSIDE...just wait and see!