Sarah Brightman’s “Fly” – Japanese Edition

I would like to assume that you’re looking at this page because you already know the album Fly in its original format, and simply want to know if forking out extra money for this new edition is worth it. This review is simply about this edition, not to the actual Fly album, which I think is a complete and utter classic that epitomises perfection.

This is the fourth edition of Fly (yes, that’s right, the fourth of her least successful studio album), but it is the first release for Japan. Perhaps Sarah Brightman and team really want to drum into the world what they missed back in 1995 when this gem was originally released, and I do not blame them – the world did miss something.

A Guide to “Fly II” by Sarah Brightman

This article is for anyone who is seeking more information on the rare Fly II and/or having difficulty in obtaining it.  On this page you can learn of its origins, details of what is on it, where to get it, and where else individual songs can be found other than on Fly II.  Each song will be discussed individually.

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Fly II was briefly made available to fans at concert venues during her La Luna tour in 2001.  It was then very briefly made available on Sarah Brightman‘s official store on her Official Website in 2002.  It was then priced between $15-$25.  It sold out, however, and Brightman’s team have since vowed that it will not make a reappearence.  It is not known how many copies were made but there is probably no more than 3000 copies.

Sarah Brightman’s “Dive”

This is a pleasant album from Sarah Brightman, the first of many and ongoing collaborations with German producer Frank Peterson (one of the creators of new age group Enigma). The influences from Peterson’s visions of chant, electronic and chill out music are easy to recognise on this album. Indeed, there are not really any chants in the same way Enigma has them, but the opening track ‘Dive’ and other conjunctioning songs such as ‘Cape Horn’ and ‘Siren’ are definite indicators with their ocean sounds and whale vocalisations. This album is also a pioneer of a tradition that Brightman still practices today, which is to link all of her material with a common theme. In this case, it is the ocean.

Sarah Brightman’s “Love Changes Everything”

Every now and again, Andrew Lloyd Webber likes to cash in on his ex-wife’s success and release these albums. This is Webber’s sixth release of Sarah Brightman singing his material (or fifth, it depends how you view the album The Songs That Got Away).

It is the sixth, and it’s also the weakest. It has some tracks that fans have not heard Sarah sing before, which is probably where its market value is coming from, but these new tracks are so atrocious that it is little wonder why they have been locked up inside the Webber recording vault until now. Actually, the wonder is why he decided to let them out!

Sarah Brightman’s “Diva: The Singles Collection”

To date Sarah Brightman has three ‘Best of’ albums. One was released in 2000 that primarily focused on Brightman’s collaboration with Frank Peterson. It was a good solid release but it failed to acknowledge Brightman’s career pre-Peterson, indeed, it only included songs that were recorded and released with the nineties. The other two releases came about at the same time in 2006. Europeans (i.e. us) were lumbered with Classics: The Best of Sarah Brightman. A pigeon holed release that did not demonstrate Brightman’s career at all, and focused purely on her more classical recordings. The rest of the world was gifted with this gem. Aptly called Diva: The Singles Collection this album gives us the true image of Sarah’s long career spanning the time between 1986 and 2004 (no, it does not include the ever memorable Starship Troopers!)

Beginners Comprehensive Guide to Sarah Brightman’s Discography

I know how it feels.  To find a brand new artist, to be excited, then to slam the keys of their name into Amazon only to find an overwhelming 20 pages of results.  Where to start?  As I pretty much have the whole catalogue (excluding several singles and her vinyl years) I thought I would share my extensive knowledge of Brightman’s discography.

This guide is divided into sections from what I deem the most important, to the least important:

• 1. Nemo Studio Albums (the essential releases)
• 2. Andrew Lloyd Webber Collaboration Albums
• 3. Pre-Nemo Albums
• 4. Best of/Compilation Albums
• 5. Live/Miscellaneous
• 6. Tour Albums
• 7. Musicals
• 8. Notable Editions
• 9. The Gregorian Project
• 10. Other Albums Sarah Notably Features On
• 11. DVDs/VHS
• 12. The End

Sarah Brightman’s “Symphony”

This is a good solid album which probably delivers what die-hard Sarah Brightman fans have been yearning for over the past five years since her last studio release of Harem.  Harem was quite a departure from the crossover realm that Brightman created with Eden and La Luna, and for those hoping that she has further branched out with this album in the same way will be disappointed, as this album is of the same skeleton of those two albums. For critics of Harem and for safe listeners that wish for Brightman to never change, this album will be their delight. Harem‘s package promised a Eastern influenced sound, which it definitely delivered.

The album cover, and the promo that led to this release led us to believe that this album was going to be heavily symphonic metal influenced. I understood she couldn’t go down the Within Temptation route, as it would have alienated a lot of her fans, but only two songs (or maybe three, if you include the intro ‘Gothica’) has any real gothic influence which does not justify the misleading marketing.