Vivace’s ‘Diamonds’ EP album review
By Naomi Ambrose, Staff Writer
Vivace, a Vancouver-based quartet of pop and classical singers, offers listeners an opportunity to explore the beauty of reinterpreted songs on their latest six-track Diamonds EP album released this past January.
The album begins with a reimagined version of U2’s hit “Beautiful Day.” The band’s interpretation is an angelic mix of female soprano vocals and baritone-like male vocals. The highlight of the song is the short yet powerful moment when one of the sopranos hits a high note to sing, “It’s a beautiful day.”
On the second track, “Mad World,” Vivace harmonizes beautifully. Listen carefully to the end of the song where you might become enraptured with the group’s superb harmonizing. Belting their way through the music towards the song’s ending, Vivace commands the audience’s attention with their vocal cohesion.
A memorable moment could be their rendition of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” By starting off the song with the female vocalists, Vivace explores the beauty of transforming a song that was previously sung by a man into a song with female singers, along with the gradual inclusion of male vocals. Even though the group doesn’t recreate Steven Tyler’s famous ending when he screams out “dream on,” Vivace sings a different version that will probably be a delight for listeners who might have wondered what a unique interpretation of Tyler’s screechy vocals could sound like.
Apart from presenting us with a reimagined vocal arrangement of this piece, the musical arrangement of Vivace’s “Dream On” reminds us of the fleeting nature of dreams. Dreams can sometimes make you feel like you’re floating on a celestial planet. The transitory nature is reflected in the heavenly feel of Vivace’s angelic rendition.
For the lovers of classical Italian opera, Vivace’s interpretation of Luciano Pavarotti’s and Lucio Dalla’s “Caruso” may be a thrill. Paying homage to the song’s themes about pain and desire, the male vocals combined with the female soprano vocals evoke feelings of despair.
On the last song, “Diamonds,” the quartet once again gives listeners a chance to appreciate the musical artistry of adding another language into an English song. Who would’ve thought that it would be possible to add Italian-sounding lyrics to Rihanna’s “Diamonds?”
In the end, Vivace’s Diamonds EP is an outstanding example of the joy a music enthusiast can feel from listening to reinterpreted contemporary and classical songs.
