Olivia Newton-John's Back On Track With Grace & Gratitude~
Written: Nov 30 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: lovely, meditative music with spiritual lyrics; lyrics and message included in booklet
Cons: nothing to mention
The Bottom Line: I listen to this while reading or writing usually, but it could help you fall asleep if you're having trouble relaxing.
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| jankp's Full Review: Grace & Gratitude - Olivia Newton-John |
I hadn't heard an Olivia Newton-John album since Let's Get Physical back in the 80s and while I loved it, I just didn't follow her ensuing career like many other artists I lost track of until recently. Recently a friend loaned me Olivia's 2007 import album called Grace & Gratitude, something she picked up in a discount bin. Now I wish I had kept listening to her mellow soprano if this was the quality of her work, but it seems that having survived breast cancer (cancer-free for over five years) she has reached deeper into her musical soul to co-write the album with Amy Sky. Her loyal fans agree that it's her finest album possibly ever.
She named it what she did for ‘my appreciation of the gift of life.' In the booklet with the CD is a message from her, explaining how important it is to take care of her body with relaxation and meditation and that music can be a very powerful tool. Research has proven how music lowers stress hormones, slows brain waves and boosts the body's healing processes. She talks about seeing her endocrinologist Dr. Deepak Chopra when she was diagnosed in 1991 and reading in awe his book Anatomy of the Spirit that I haven't heard of. At least one of her ten songs is featured in the feature film The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success produced by Chopra and I'll have to check it out. I once read one of his books, but maybe I was too young to appreciate it.
With the ten songs are ten instrumental interludes that together last a relaxing, gorgeous sixty minutes. These interludes are inspired by the different chakras, which Chopra described as the seven energy centers of the body. I've heard that there are may be a few more resulting in ten, but that's what her message states. These chakras reflect a particular power center of your body, thereby reflecting your psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being and, interestingly, making your biography your biology.
I didn't manage to review Grace & Gratitude during Breast Cancer Awareness Month or on Thanksgiving weekend, but, hey, it's the holiday or holy day season as well and a time for appreciating the first Americans. This CD is still timely and something most of us in our busyness and the stress of the year will really be grateful for. If you endure a serious physical or mental illness, you will not only feel soothed and reenergized by its melodic tunes, but discover much to embrace in its lovely lyrics. Maybe the whole chakra deal sounds out there, too Eastern for you, but the lyrics are simply inspired by her spiritual journey with God that anybody may relate to. I can. Olivia hopes that her music will help to heal our hearts. She believes that we are all connected and have in common a search for peace, love and compassion, and hopes we can accept and respect our different traditions ‘no matter what our personal beliefs.'
I will give you the names of her songs that reflect her hopes and her journey so well, but leave the strange-sounding (Indian?) names of her interludes alone:
Pearls On A Chain
To Be Wanted
Learn To Love Yourself
Grace & Gratitude
Love Is Letting Go Of Fear
Gate Gate (with accents on the e)
Let Go Let God
I Will Lift Up My Eyes
The Power Of Now
Instrument Of Peace
Olivia's tender, beautiful voice is accompanied by mostly a rich piano in the background while the interludes are usually composed of haunting flutes. I love the simplicity of the music that allows me to enjoy Olivia's voice and lyrics. The lyrics and other details are given in the CD's booklet, but for me she's very easy to understand. I can't think of a flaw in Grace & Gratitude from this Australian, especially if it can be found in a discount bin. I'll be looking for my own copy.
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This is a late entry to the Breast Cancer Awareness Month write-off (see http://www.epinions.com/user-laurashrti) and the Lean-n-Mean VII write-off (see http://www.epinions.com/user-sleeper54).
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Going to Sleep
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jankp
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 in Movies, Books |
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Member: Jan Peregrine
Location: Lincoln, NE
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1500th review was $200 book: Comprehensive Handbook of Iodine
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