Gaudet is a cross between Stevie Nicks and Billie Holliday!
author: Alec Cunningham ~ Music Critic
If you are looking for an exact mix of pop coupled with disco plus electronic and alternative with a dash of rock and a bit of a country twang to the voice then Christina Gaudet’s Heart On Fire is the perfect match for you. With her classy style, similar musical sound, and her ability to belt out lyrics, Gaudet is a cross between Stevie Nicks during her solo career and the Caucasian version of Billie Holliday. After putting out her eighth album, Gaudet could be considered a pro by now. Her songs are not over the top, nor are they overtly simple; the songs are a happy medium between the two. Each track utilizes its’ instruments completely, which complements Gaudet’s soft, elaborate voice to a tee.
“Heart On Fire,” the album’s title track comes at the very beginning. It begins with a catchy techno beat, and when the words kick in you are immediately transported back to the ‘80s. The song would fit in quite nicely at any classic disco party right in between “Stayin’ Alive” and “Dancing Queen”. As for the meaning, the title is fairly self-explanatory. Gaudet sings, “I was lost and all alone until you came alone, and you set my heart on fire.” The energetic songs do not stop there, however. Though still keeping with the same all around sound of the album, “New You Solution” has more of a funk background melody about it instead of the regular intensely pop sound. She sings of numerous cities that have offered her bright lights and music deals. Along with Gaudet’s catchy beats, she imparts some insightful messages into her lyrics. In this song, she states, “This is my new you solution. Just be who you are. . . You’re gonna be a superstar.”
“Stay” is a jazzy, soulful tune that uses not much more than a piano, drums, and a guitar. Gaudet uses the lack of numerous instruments to her advantage by being able to elaborate her voice and each of the instruments in a way that fills the speakers with ample sound. The song follows with the same overall dance theme of the album, but this one sets the mood for a slower song instead of a fast-paced song like most of the others.
The buoyancy of the album continues throughout, despite a few other songs. The pep slowly diminishes on the last few songs of the album, however. The last three songs, “Expressions of Myself,” “My Prayer,” and “Solitude” take a turn to expose what Gaudet is able to do with more tranquil, mellow tunes. Gaudet uses a line from a classic prayer, singing, “If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take,” but then she continues by adding her own verse, singing, “If I should die before I wake, remember that I will always love you.” “Solitude,” on the other hand is slightly more upbeat than the other two, in melody at least. The lyrics on the other hand are made up predominately of the word “solitude,” and her slow melody tones down the song a bit.
There is no single genre that completely fits Christina Gaudet’s musical style. On top of that, her style is rarely created by up and coming artists nowadays; her songs are not entirely of this current music time period, which is what makes her album, Heart On Fire, that much more interesting.
Review by: Alec Cunningham
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Alec Cunningham is a journalist and freelance writer from Knoxville, TN. Her passion for music goes back to the early days of her youth. For her, having the chance to interview bands and review their music, along with becoming introduced to new artists, combines the best of the music and writing worlds. She currently works for the Music section of BLANK Newspaper, Knoxville’s longest-running independent publication, writing musician interview articles and album reviews.
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