After more than a decade without releasing an album, living legend Cher released her 25th studio album, Closer to the Truth, on September 20, 2013. It’s about time for another album review, so let’s dig into Cher’s music for a bit. I love this album, it sounds current and Cher-like at the same time. It debuted at number 3 in the US, becoming her highest-charting solo album, beating even her ground-breaking 1998 album Believe! She is supporting her album with music videos, live presentations, TV interviews and the upcoming Dressed to Kill Tour, set to start in March 2014. The 67 year-old diva can still kick some serious butt, and all I can say to this new generation of pop divas is, in Cher’s own words, “Follow this, you bitches!”
Album Cover
1. Woman’s World –A dance song about female power,
this is the first single from the album. It’s catchy, as all singles should be,
and it does have a nice message about women (in the club, in the world,
whatever) coming together to show their strength and “rise above.” The promo
video also has this message, with women of different shapes, color and age
dancing next to Cher, who wears her now famous newspaper wig, among other hair
and wardrobe changes.
2.
Take It Like a Man – another catchy dance song,
which provides a smooth transition from the opening song to the rest of the
album. Aside from the suggestive title, this song is about a woman who seems to
have been damaged by previous romances, and now needs someone strong enough
(pun intended) to prove that he is worth of her love, before she falls for him.
The vocals here are the trademark Cher-effect, the robotic auto tune voice we
all know and love. I’m glad she is using her signature sound 15 years after she made
it popular (look it up). Oh, and this song has a line that says “It’s all or nothing
now.” Yep, it’s Cher.
3.
My Love – in this love song, the speaker highly esteems
a man and wants to provide him with all the security he needs to pursue his
dreams. An “I got your back” kind of thing. Cher’s vocals are deeply explored
here, starting with low notes in the first two verses and then exploding into a
faster rhythm with higher notes on the chorus, without the use of a lot of
effects. It’s a beautiful song, and it’s also pop enough to be enjoyed by all.
4.
Dressed To Kill – Cher’s upcoming tour was
named after this song, which shouldn’t surprise anyone since she co-wrote it! It’s
about a super confident woman who knows she is irresistible. It paints an image
of this sexy femme fatale kind of girl who will mess with your mind and break
your heart. It’s an upbeat song with lots of vocal effects, and a great one to
open a show (fingers crossed).
5.
Red – this is my least favorite song of the
album, but it is a fun song. The lyrics are quite poetic, really, with some
interesting imagery and using colors as metaphors for feelings, even though all
the speaker can see is red. It’s an end-of-relationship song, from the
perspective of the person who was dumped, in an enraged yet hurt tone.
6.
Lovers Forever – another one co-written by Cher.
This one seems to be from a goddess’ perspective, asking someone to surrender
to her so they can be lovers forever, and in exchange she will give him more
than any human could ever desire. For some reason the tone of the speaker’s
voice and the rhythm of the song makes me imagine a really seductive and destructive
Eris-like woman who can put up a good fight.
7.
I Walk
Alone – this song was written by P!nk, and it’s about knowing that there is a
time for everything and knowing when that time is, even when it’s time to be alone.
I like this song, but I’m not sure it’s right for Cher. She sang it
beautifully, and it is a great song, but I think it’s more P!nk than Cher. But I
have to give her credit for going out of the box with this one, singing something
different from what we are used to hearing from her, and it does work
harmoniously with the rest of the album. Also, the name of the album comes from a line in this song, so I guess it's there for a reason.
8.
Sirens – my absolute favorite song in the album.
It’s just so beautiful; it reaches my soul and embraces it lightly. Cher’s
voice is at her best, it is sweet and powerful, and added to the occasional
strum of acoustic guitars and the constant drumming in the background, it
creates a soothing and dream-like sound. Let me just emphasize the fact that
Cher’s voice is heavenly and as perfect as it gets in this song.
9.
Favorite Scars – this song compares love to a
dangerous adventure that is worth the while. It has the power to destroy a
person, but like a good adventure, it leaves “favorite scars.” It’s a nice ballad;
I really enjoy the drums on this one.
10. I Hope You Find It – this is the second single
of the album, and Cher has been going hard about its promotion, performing it
live everywhere. This song was originally recorded by Miley Cyrus for the
soundtrack of The Last Song, but I think it’s safe to say Cher’s version
is way better (it’s my blog I can write what I want and I won’t stop). It’s a
simple song, but it is beautiful and touching and powerful, with great vocals
which Cher is proud to prove is her own voice and not mechanical effects. I expected
the second single of the album to be another dance song, but Cher went on a
different direction, and I’m glad. This song has the potential to be another
one of her timeless classics.
11.
Lie To Me – another P!nk song, but this time it
sounds perfect for Cher. It’s a slow, melancholic love song, which may not be
the greatest way to end an album, but somehow it works. It’s also another
raw-voice song, once again showcasing the goddess of music’s amazing pipes. I hope
one day she performs it live, it would be incredible.
Watch Cher's video for the album's first single, "Woman's World":
