Album: Joe McElderry, Classic (UCJ Music)

Andy Gill
Friday 19 August 2011 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Having triumphed in two TV talent-shows, there is perhaps some validity in Joe McElderry's label calling him "Britain's favourite singer"; but that can't disguise his shortcomings whenever the Popstar to Operastar winner strays outside the show-tune comfort-zone of songs like "Solitaire".

Attempting "Time to Say Goodbye" and "Nessun Dorma" simply highlights the gulf separating him from a Bocelli or a Pavarotti. It's perfectly decent karaoke delivery, with McElderry rolling the Italian syllables of "Canto Della Terra" round his mouth like he's savouring a fine wine; but his already prominent vibrato becomes noticeably less steady the longer he has to sustain an intonation, which is probably why this album leans so heavily on non-classical material.

DOWNLOAD THIS: She Was Beautiful; I Dreamed a Dream

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in