Reba McEntire
Duets [MCA Nashville] 2007
Review by Cheryl Breo
I could say that “Reba’s Duets”, her latest CD, is merely a collection of 11 songs where Reba sings each track with a different artist, which, in its simplest form, would be true. But Reba hasn’t conquered the worlds of country music, the Broadway stage, national TV and the big screen by simply being “merely”, she has taken them all by storm with her enormous talent, her powerful voice and her genius for selecting the perfect venues and perfect artists to work with.
“Because Of You”, with Kelly Clarkson, is the CD’s first single release, written by Clarkson when she was only 16. The emotional, dynamic video for this song is an absolute showcase, magic.
“When You Love Someone Like That” with LeAnn Rimes, is a powerful ballad, two women caught in the confusion of love, LeAnn’s amazing vocals of the one who has just had her heart broken, blending with the familiar southern sound of Reba’s voice of the “been there, done that” wiser woman, reassuring her that she did nothing wrong, it’s just when “You Love Someone Like That", it’s so painful to let go.
Reba’s duet with Ronnie Dunn, “Does The Wind Still Blow In Oklahoma”, with it’s sweet sound of fiddles and steel guitars, blend two of the most polished country voices complimenting each other with amazing harmonies; “story telling” lyrics of two country hearts lost in the big city, but two country hearts that fate has brought together with love.
“Faith In Love”, a soulful duet with Rascal Flatts and “Every Other Weekend”, sung with Kenny Chesney, are beautiful tributes to love misguided, but not lost. Both tracks are lyrically amazing, with a line like “every other weekend I pick up the love we made” sung only as Kenny could, and both songs weaving voices as intricately and as beautifully as a handmade quilt.
Hearing the pairing of the most powerful female country voices in “She Can’t Save Him”, with Trisha Yearwood and “Sleeping With The Telephone” - Reba being joined by Faith Hill, goes beyond breathtaking, it goes to “holding your breath” as you listen to two passionate songs of a woman’s deep love for her man, both with lyrics that are bittersweet, one sad, one with hope. But I won’t reveal which is which. You’ll have to discover that for yourself when you listen to your copy of the CD!
Reba’s duet with Carole King “Everyday People” is a great up-tempo track with a message that is close to both women’s hearts, people helping people, asking nothing in return, ”everyday people are the one’s who are making miracles”, offering their hands, their hearts, their time, their everyday skills, selflessly reaching out to their brother and sisters all over this world, just “Everyday People”.
One of the most surprising duets on the CD is “Only The Promise Remains”, a softly sung ballad with Justin Timberlake. The surprisingly wonderful “fit” of the lilting Celtic sound of their combined voices, the gentle sound of acoustic guitars, crying violins and lyrics like “after all the sky has fallen down, and after all the water’s washed away, my love’s the only promise that remains”, breathtakingly beautiful.
Hearing Don Henley’s husky, weathered voice harmonizing beautifully with Reba’s on “Break Each Other’s Heart’s Again” is fantastic. This tear jerker ballad has some of the most raw, honest songwriting, ”these arms wanna hold you, these lips wanna kiss you, these eyes are glad to see you, baby I miss you”. The emotion and passion simply oozes from the words, ”it feels so good to let you hurt me one more time”, what a brilliant turn of a phrase.
By far my favorite rack is the duet by Reba and Vince Gill, “Broken Hearts”. Even though Reba and Vince have paired previously, making magic with their songs and exquisitely matched voices, this is the absolute BEST I have ever heard them. Vince’s ability to make you “feel” the heartbreak with just the lilt of his voice, and Reba’s passionate delivery of the lyrics of love’s farewell, made my heart simply ache. “Broken Hearts” is a song of two people whose love has faded away, but neither of them knowing how or why it happened. The guitar bridge is beautiful and the lyrics so real, “a sadness in the wind, I wish you well my friend, only time will mend these broken hearts again”. There truly is something about the joining of Reba and Vince’s country voices that is almost spiritual, a perfect blend.
Usually when I review a new CD, I don’t give you a description of every track, wouldn’t want to put you all to sleep! But, with “Reba’s Duets”, I had to break my own rule, I would have done this CD and you a great injustice not to highlight each track. This is an amazing CD where you will hear that iconic signature voice singing with 11 soul mates, creating a ground breaking collection of genre-crossing music that is the embodiment of creativity. To quote Reba, “To me, there’s only two categories of music, good and bad”. Well Reba, not only is the music on this CD “good”, it is brilliant. I know I’m only supposed to give a rating of 1 to 5 stars, but, Reba, 10 stars from this reviewer!
