Spirited, fun Sweet Adelines quartet Brava!, formed in 1989 in Vancouver, BC, almost immediately became the highest-ranking Canadian quartet ever, placing in the top 10 at International 6 times, grabbing Silver in Portland, Oregon in 2001, and finally winning the coveted Gold in Phoenix in September of 2003. Since then Sandy, Lynn, Elaine and Shannon have been having big fun in concert and recording this excellent studio album (Made in Canada), "Tickled Pink," also an apt description of their feelings about singing together. This vibrant, talented foursome brings us 12 songs, some belters like "All Aboard For Dixieland," "Fly Me to the Moon/East of the Sun" and "Toot, Toot, Tootsie;" and some romantic heart-tuggers like "I Will Love You 'Til the End of Time," "La Vie en Rose," "Sweet Adeline" and "I've Got You Under My Skin." There's some rampant silliness on two Weird Al Yankovic covers, "You Don't Want Me Anymore" and "One More Minute" (called "One More Contest" here), both songs with very funny parody lyrics about group annoyances and getting dumped. We particularly liked the classics, "Without A Song," arranged by our good friend Kirby Shaw, and Billy Joel's timeless "And So It Goes." Well-chosen, beautifully performed stuff by Canada's, and now Sweet Adelines', finest! |
