Music Review Monday Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

Here's how it works: I pick a song, I make an opinion of it, and I share it with you. Songs have many layers. Here, I will critique the Music, Lyrics, and Performance. I will also have a special category for other influences, like media/radio stations.

So, without further ado:

HitmanJ's review of "Unwritten" as performed by Natasha Bedingfield

Overall Rating:

Music

The base layer of this song is simple yet beautiful. It has a very subtle hip-hop beat track. Don't let that fool you, though. This is NOT hip-hop. On top of that beat is a melodic guitar layer that just sticks with you mixed with a gentle spice of Latin Percussion®. The palette is filled out with voice and keyboard. The simplicity of the music keeps you from being distracted from the real power of this song--the lyrics.

Lyrics (click for printed lyrics)

When done right, a song should leave some emotional impact on the listener. Sometimes the beat makes you get up and dance, sometimes the singer's voice melts your heart. In the midst of all the pop songs about love, hate, murder, anger, and loneliness, Danielle Brisebois, Wayne Rodrigues, and Natasha wrote a set of lyrics that has a special message. Observe:
"I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find"
Choosing positive message over some of the more popular approach of attacking the enemy, these lyrics challenge the listener to look inside and "Live your life with arms wide open."
Please, if you have not already done so, do yourself a favor and read the lyrics of this song. This is the sort of message that can move mountains, break down barriers.

Well written, well organized, and well thought out, these lyrics poses few flaws. No signs of made-up words, poorly pronounced words, or grammatical privilege just to make a rhyme.

Performance

Natasha Bedingfield has the sort of voice that can make a listener's knees weak. Her voice is pure, strong, and clear. She enunciates the words quite well. When the song calls for gentle, her voice is like a mother's soothing whisper. As the message gets strogner, so does her voice. Her passion comes through and helps move the message from speaker's cone to listener's heart.

After a brief search on the internet, I was unable to find the name of the choir that sang on this track. This is unfortunate, as credit needs to be given! The voices just really added to the overall flavor of the performance. They kick in on the first chorus and are present throughout. First one voice, then two, then the whole lot. The harmonies are spot on and every voice is clear. Natasha blends beautifully. The producers did a magnificent job mixing the chorus--just enough Natasha above the choir.

The bridge on this performance is so unique and really builds the emotional crescendo. It is a subtle, one, though, nothing more than a modified chorus gospel style.

When listened to on headphones, the listener can practically feel the singer's lips next to his ear. Every crack of her vocal chords and wave of her tongue can be heard clearly and really enhances the performance. Vocals this beautiful need not be hidden.

Other

Natasha is a beautiful woman. Born in the UK, she is the younger sister of Daniel Bedingfield of "Gotta Get Through This" fame. Perusing the internet looking for info I came across many devoted fan sites. Clearly Natasha loves her fans as much as we love her. She has taken the time to meet many of them and even had some contests where the winners joined her in a special studio session. She seems to be a humble artist who just loves her work.