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Saran, Jennifer: Wake Up
Added: November 27th 2017 |
US Review: Jennifer Saran “Wake Up”
11 Dec
Jennifer Saran is a Hong Kong based singer songwriter with a new album titled Wake Up, the follow up to her holiday album Merry Christmas, You Are Loved released in 2015. First things first. If you are solely into progressive rock you might as well stop reading this immediately as this is adult contemporary pop music with the occasional nod to jazz and soul. To prove my point the first time I put this in the player my wife replied, “this is nice.” She is not the biggest prog rock fan if you get my drift although she does like the occasional helping of Floyd and Rush. The album recording is top notch with the instruments and vocals very clear. On the plus side Saran does have a beautiful voice and she also gets help from the African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo on three tracks including the lead off title tune which also includes lead guitar from Carlos Santana. Here is playing is reserved and mostly set back in the mix although it is always a treat to hear the man play. The rest of the songs are mostly slow to mid-tempo balladic fair with ear candy choruses and lush strings.
Music Street Journal Track-by-Track Review: Jennifer Saran “Wake Up”
9 Oct
“Jennifer Saran’s new album includes guests like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Carlos Santana and Narada Michael Walden. I previously reviewed her Christmas album. Her style of music isn’t really my kind of thing, more of an adult contemporary sound mixed with pop. Still, she manages to surpass that and make it work. If you really dig that kind of stuff, you will probably be crazy about this. I will say that there is quite a range of music on this set.
Track by Track Review:
Wake Up – featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Carlos Santana and Narada Michael Walden There is a tribal, almost reggae, vibe to this song in a lot of ways. It’s energized, catchy and classy.
Jesus to a Child (Tribute to George Michael) This ballad has a lot of jazzy sound in the mix. It’s a pretty cut that works really well. I suppose that it’s a little similar to some of George Michael’s music in some ways. That said, this was a song by George Michael. I prefer this version to that one.
Really Now, I’m not really a big fan of this. It’s too heavily based on modern pop music. It feels far too over-produced, too. It’s fast paced and catchy, but not enough to overcome the other problems. I’d consider this to be a “skip” tune.
Me & Mr. Jones (Tribute to Billy Paul) Now, this is very much a mellower jazz take. It works really well. In fact, this might be my favorite tune here. Of course, I loved the Counting Crows version of this tune. The Billy Paul to whom this is dedicated, though, is the person who actually wrote and originally did the song. Mind you, both that version and Billy Paul’s were titled “Me & Mrs. Jones.”
You Are My Star featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo We move back into tribal territory with this piece. I like the duet vocal approach on this song. It’s a nice change and effective number.
Too Young to Know More of an adult contemporary pop music piece, this is a fun number that works really well.
Better Than Me (for Anjali’) A pretty balladic number, this is classy stuff. It’s very much cut from the adult contemporary school of sound.
Look at Me Fly Another built on a bouncy pop styled arrangement, this is catchy and effective. It has a duet built into it. That is a nice touch and brings a soulful element to the table.
Old Cape Cod (Tribute to Patti Page) Given the dedication, you would probably expect a retro styled number. That’s exactly what we’ve got here. This is a ballad that feels like it could have been released in the 1920s or 1930s.The funny thing is, Page’s version was released in the 1950s and feels more contemporary than this one does.
Try to Forgive (But I Cannot Forget) This is another energetic pop tune. I like this quite a bit. It creates some nice contrast to the previous one because it’s a modern sounding piece.
Lean on Me (Tribute to Bill Withers) featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo This has a real tribal vibe here. While I prefer the original, I like the vibe of this one. It’s sort of a different side to the musical ideas.
Grace Is the Champion Another that has a modern pop vibe, this doesn’t suffer from over-production. I’d say that this lands more on the end of rock music than it does pure pop, too. It’s definitely a good tune. In fact, this is one of my favorites here.
I Will Always Be Your Home With a lot of strings in the mix, this blends a rock ballad with an adult contemporary one. I’m not crazy about the mellower parts of this, but I like it quite a bit when it’s more powered up.
My Love and Devotion (Tribute to Doris Day) This is precisely what you’d expect of a cover of Doris Day. It’s delivered in the style she operated within and sounds a lot like her. It’s definitely a slice of a long-gone time.
Aad Guray There is a good chunk of world music on this balladic number. I love the multiple layers of voices on this piece. While I don’t think this is the strongest number here, it has a sort of grounding quality that makes it work well as the final tune on the album.”
Order or preview the album now on iTunes http://smarturl.it/wakeuplp
Contemporary Fusion Reviews FEATURE: Jennifer Saran “Wake Up”
5 Sep
“Jennifer Saran prolific singer Jennifer Saran – WAKE UP: What an absolutely tasty set of music to arise to in my Great Northwest abode… one word of advice before I go any further… listen to this with the volume WAY up, or (better yet) with your headphones on!
Jennifer is based in Hong-Kong, but she must have connections… the title track/opener, “Wake Up“, features Carlos (YES, Santana), and it’s a song we NEED in these days of political babble and blab… LOVED the energy on this excellent song, and it will most assuredly help you to spread the message that needs to be sounded ’round the globe – WAKE-UP, people! One of the reasons I opted for pushing this to a FEATURED slot is the video Jennifer & friends made, which you can watch below:
The driving percussion wafting under Jennifer’s vocal on “Too Young to Know” will have you up & moving ’round the room in the immediate moment! This definitely isn’t in the “jazz” arena, but longtime readers here know that genre doesn’t figure into my selections for review… only the ENERGY… you will become a fan of Jennifer’s RIGHT NOW when you listen to my personal favorite of the fifteen songs offered up… “Look at Me Fly” features Narada Michael Walden in a full celebration of how great life will be when your spirit is free! I give Jennifer a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99! Get more information at Jennifer’s website. Rotcod Zzaj”
Order or preview the album now on iTunes http://smarturl.it/wakeuplp
Singer/Songwriter Jennifer Saran to Release New Album ‘Wake Up’
14 Jun
To say the very least, JENNIFER SARAN is a prolific artist. After releasing her debut holiday-themed album Merry Christmas, You Are Loved in 2015, followed shortly thereafter by Walk With Me in 2016, Saran is now finalizing her new 15-track album WAKE UP. A mix of alt-pop and adult contemporary covers and originals produced by the legendary Narada Michael Walden at his Tarpan Studios in San Rafael, CA, WAKE UP features guest appearances by multiple Grammy-winning guitar legend Carlos Santana and South African Grammy-winning male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. WAKE UP will release in stores & online worldwide on July 7th, 2017.
JENNIFER SARAN is a North American artist, songwriter, and vocalist based in Hong Kong. In 2016, Jennifer teamed up with Narada Michael Walden (they obviously love working together) and Ladysmith Black Mambazo to create her new album’s titular single “Wake Up.” Also, making a special guest appearance on the track is multiple Grammy-winning legend Carlos Santana. This stunning collaboration is a heartfelt appeal to recognize and address worldwide inequality and impoverishment, a cause incredibly important to each of these amazing artists involved. Jennifer travelled to South Africa to record with Ladysmith and to film scenes for the song’s music video, released with the single on November 11, 2016.
WAKE UP features Jennifer’s versions of classic hits from artists such as Patty Page, Doris Day, Bill Withers, and George Michael, each of whom holds a special place in her heart. Jennifer’s original songs and conscious messages have resonated with fans and media alike, and her music has been released to many great reviews and widespread radio exposure around the world, including interviews on syndicated radio stations in the US and the UK. The “Wake Up” single was reviewed or mentioned in magazines and websites including Songwriting Magazine, Women Talking, and Clare Balding conducted a wonderful in-depth interview with Jennifer on BBC Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday. The “Wake Up” music video aired on over 100 broadcast video outlets in the past several months across the US, including rotation on California Music Channel, PC Music Pool, and The Sound Chamber, reaching millions of viewers. On social media, the video has had almost 100,000 views across Facebook and YouTube.
The Daily Country: Carlos Santana, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Narada Michael Walden Join Jennifer Saran in an Inspiring World Peace Anthem “Wake Up”
30 Nov
All Proceeds from Sale of New Track to Benefit the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation
Alt-pop/adult contemporary singer-songwriter Jennifer Saran has teamed up with South African Grammy-winning male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Grammy and Emmy-winning producer, drummer, singer and songwriter Narada Michael Walden (Producer/Co-writer), known for his work with Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Mariah Carey, to create her newest single, “Wake Up.” Making a special guest appearance on the track is Grammy-winner and legend Carlos Santana (Featured Guitarist), whose guitar licks generate inspiring vibes. The stunning collaboration is a heartfelt appeal to the world to recognize and address inequality and impoverishment, a cause incredibly personal and important to all the amazing artists involved. “Wake Up” will be featured on Saran’s third album, produced and co-written by Narada Michael Walden, which will be released in early 2017.
“Wake Up” is a rousing and uplifting anthem for the world at large. Saran takes meaningful action through her lyrics to encourage change – “It’s time to Wake Up!” This worldly, heartfelt, and thought-provoking singer has been dazzling listeners with her message of positivity and encouraging them to stand up to the world’s struggles and incite change, first on her debut album Walk With Me (2016), and now on this new song.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who won a Grammy for “Best World Music” in 2015 for their album Live: Singing For Peace Around The World, was brought in through Walden, whose goal was “to make a new sound for the world and inspire a new consciousness in the world – that of waking up.” It was Walden’s responsibility to create a space between these artists – passionate about the same worldly concerns – with the intention of inspiring a global movement of like-minded people with a single goal in mind: peace.
Proceeds from sales of the song, which is available now on iTunes, will go directly to the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. As an outspoken defender of human rights and campaigner for the oppressed, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is one of the world’s most revered peacemakers. The mission of his US-based nonprofit is to support and promote the creation of a culture of peace throughout the world.
Saran created an accompanying web-based video that was released on the Archbishop’s 85th birthday. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/rWRljsgvUQY
Help spread the word of peace with “Wake Up” – https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wake-up-feat.-ladysmith-black/id1161862170
http://jennifersaran.com
https://www.facebook.com/jennifersaranmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/jennifersaranmusic/
For more information about The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation please visit: http://www.tutufoundationusa.org
iTunes Hot Track Alert: “Wake Up,” the inspiring world peace anthem from Jennifer Saran, Carlos Santana, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Narada Michael Walden
29 NovCongratulations to Jennifer Saran on her new single “Wake Up,” which is now being featured on the front page of iTunes and is currently climbing the Hot Tracks Chart!
Alt-pop/adult contemporary singer-songwriter Jennifer Saran has teamed up with South African Grammy-winning male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Grammy and Emmy-winning producer, drummer, singer and songwriter Narada Michael Walden (Producer/Co-writer), known for his work with Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Mariah Carey, to create her newest single, “Wake Up.”
This stunning collaboration is a heartfelt appeal to the world to recognize and address inequality and impoverishment, a cause incredibly personal and important to all the amazing artists involved. “Wake Up” will be featured on Saran’s third album, produced and co-written by Narada Michael Walden, which will be released in early 2017.
Watch the video now: https://youtu.be/WAzK3mAlmrA
Buy the song:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wake-up-feat.-ladysmith-black/id1161862170
More info can be found:
http://jennifersaran.com
https://www.facebook.com/jennifersaranmusic/
https://twitter.com/jennsaranmusic
https://www.instagram.com/jennifersaranmusic/
More incredible support coming directly from Carlos Santana for the new inspiring world peace anthem “Wake Up” from Jennifer Saran, Carlos Santana, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Narada Michael Walden
15 Nov
From Team Santana:
We invite you to check out Jennifer Saran’s new “Wake Up” single and music video featuring Carlos, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Narada Michael Walden. All proceeds of this release go to The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
Watch the video now: https://youtu.be/WAzK3mAlmrA
iTunes link:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/wake-up-feat.-ladys…/id1161862170
Del Equipo Santana:
Te invitamos a escuchar “Wake up”, el nuevo single y vídeo musical de Jennifer Saran, acompañada por Carlos, Ladysmith Black Mambazo y Narada Michael Walden. Todas las ganancias de este lanzamiento se destinarán a The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
Mira el vídeo ahora: https://youtu.be/WAzK3mAlmrA
Enlace de Itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/wake-up-feat.-ladys…/id1161862170
