Wings of Tomorrow

Wings of Tomorrow

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Part of the Sony Music Memory Collection. 2003 reissue of the soft metal act's second album originally released in 1984, that's unavailable domestically. 10 tracks. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Koppangen (English)
The Christmas Song
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
Stille Nacht
O Jesuslein Sus
il es ne, le devin enfant
Noel
Sankta Lucia
Staffansvisa & for redeliga man
Bred Dina vida vingar
Have yourself a merry little christmas
I wonder as I wander
Cantique de noel
White Christmas
Deck the Hall / Utterns polska
O come, All ye faithful
Maria wiegenlied
Bethlehems Stjarna
Corpus Christi Carol
Sweet was the song
Koppagen (Swedish)

Amazon.com

Christmas albums by opera divas hardly make an exalted genre. Usually they involve overblown arrangements, hackneyed material, and singers sight-reading music they don't particularly like and making lame attempts at singing in English. With all her integrity, Anne Sofie von Otter would never do such a thing, and she hasn't here. This disc is a personal, eclectic mix, with the mezzo-soprano sounding sincere and approachable by sticking to the lower end of her range using small-ensemble arrangements you might hear in an evening sitting around the fire. In fact, rarely has Otter sung with such warmth as in Pereic Moraeus's "Koppangen," accompanied by accordion, guitar, violin, and mandolin. Not only is her English good but she seems to connect with the language emotionally. Amid the cozy, jazzy renditions of "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" and "Silent Night," there are a few lapses into eccentricity, such as an atonal string ensemble arrangement of "White Christmas" that easily could've been done by Alban Berg, and some Nordic-language forays in which Otter seems to be getting in touch with her primitivistic Viking roots. With good taste displayed elsewhere, she's allowed. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Musically interesting Christmas alternative.......2004-12-09

I've been in charge of holiday music for the extended family for the last decade or so, and I generally buy a half-dozen or so CDs every year from a wide range of genres. This is perhaps my favorite of them all. It manages the almost impossible feat of engaging an audiophile like me who's looking for something different while simultaneously enthralling more tradition-minded family members. The CD stands out in most of the critical areas in the holiday field. First, the selection of songs is brilliant--a few English-language standards with some foreign-language songs people may know (Il est ne, le divine enfant) and a handful of really engaging Swedish tunes. Second, the spare but warm instrumentation conveys the coziness van Otter is seeking. Last, and most important, van Otter's low mezzo is put to incredibly expressive use. For those who are turned off by overly operatic recordings that sound completely alien from the renditions of carols that we know and love, this is a much more low-key, accessible form of art music.

This disc is worth buying for the first and last tracks alone, a haunting Swedish number that is now so much part of my Christmas that I can't believe I'd never heard of the song until a few years ago (one track is the Swedish version, the other an English translation). Much as I love holiday music, I have to say that this is one of the only holiday discs I'll listen to throughout the year.

Koppangen.......2004-10-18

Like another reviewer, I bought the CD solely for one song, Koppangen, which I had heard on a flight, and listened to over and over and over throughout the flight. It's a song that greatly moves me: the melody and interpretation. And yes I'd say for having a different sort of Christmas album to play during the holidays, this would be a good choice.

Jesus is born again!.......2004-01-10

I did never take my time to write a review but for the cd time is worth it.

This cd is superb. I also saw her concert with his cd life.
It gives you a old fasioned feeling of a warm /close Christmas.

Christmas with a heart.

With her voice Anne Soie does do magic.

She is classical singer number 1 !
It's my best Christmas cd!

Yopu will have a lot of good feelings with this cd,

It is really, really by far worth it's money.
What is money in this case...

Good Luck,
Peacefull Christmas,

Alfons Bosch
The Netherlands

Something different -- provacative, but very enjoyable.......2002-12-16

Home for Christmas is not your run-of-the-mill "listen to me, I'm an opera singer lavishing my gorgeous voice on these pretty Christmas songs" recording.

Anne Sofie von Otter's fans have long-since learned to expect the unexpected from this exceptional singer and, on this recording, now several years old, that's what she offers - the unexpected. With only a couple of exceptions, the songs are traditional Christmas fare, though usually with an added twist: the distorted rhythm that makes "Tomorrow will be my dancing day" really dance, or the jazz blue notes that take "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" to the cocktail lounge. (In this, as well as White Christmas, Ms. von Otter bears more than a passing resemblance to another great cross-over artist, the late Eileen Farrell.) In this free rhythmic treatment, Deck the Halls, arranged for accordion and violin accompaniment, is much less a fa-la-la madrigal than an introspective folk-song that builds on its own momentum. In contrast, the simple hymn, Beautiful tone Star of Bethlehem, which Ingvar Wixell recorded many years ago on his Christmas offering, shows Ms. von Otter's lush voice to full effect.

Her subtle use of vibrato in "I wonder as I wander" (along with a provocative arrangement) captures the Scotch-Irish influence on the folk music of Appalachians without being a condescending parody while the marimba accompaniment and fiddle obbligato to the French "Il est le divin enfant" evoke an unidentifiable folk music - is it Spanish or French countryside? Or, is the point that it is universal?

True, a couple of the arrangements stretch beyond my endurance: Although Ms. von Otter does lavish some beautiful tone on Cantique de Noel (O, Holy Night) I found the over-echoed, new-wave arrangement irritating and White Christmas, rather than being nostalgic verges on surreal.

In total, there are twenty songs, each a little gem of interpretation. As I mentioned above, sometimes I don't really like the interpretations or arrangement; however, I never doubt for a moment, that Ms. von Otter believes what she is singing; her commitment to communicating through music is never in doubt. By the way, her English diction is exemplary - a lesson for many singers for whom English is first language.

Great Christmas album.......2001-11-27

I have never been one to buy much Christmas music -- why bother when for the month of December I can hear the stuff everywhere I go whether I want to or not. So, it's a real treat to find a disc like this one that I just want to listen to over and over again. I bought it last year and it was kind of depressing when the season was over and I had to stop listening to it until next Christmas. Anyway, the other raves for "Koppangen" are spot on: it really is a very warm and moving song and I'm glad it appears twice on this disc. There are several carols that are unfamiliar to most English listeners (me included) but they soon become favourites. And even the weird arrangement of "White Christmas" with its minimalist and almost slithering string accompaniment grows on you after a while if only for its ability to amuse. Definitely a must-have for fans of Anne Sofie von Otter or those looking for something a little different.

Average customer rating:

If you like African American Spirituals you will love this one.

United We Sing

Manufacturer: Turtle Creek Chorale
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005YC0A
Release Date: 1995-01-24

Tracks:

N'Kosi Sikelel I'africa
Amen Siakadumisa
Betelehemu
Something Inside So Strong
Over My Head
Soon-Ah-Will Be Done
Keep Your Lamps
This Little Light of Mine
Hush, Hush
Little Innocent Lamb
Ring Dem Bells
Witness
Elijah Rock
Deep River
Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho
Balm in Gilead
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
Rainbow Round My Shoulder
Hope for Tomorrow

Tracks:

Ride on King Jesus
Oh Mary, Don't You Weep
Psalm 133:1 Brethen in Unity
Holy Spirit
Available to You
I've Got Something This World Can't Take Away
Call Him Up
I'm a Testimony
Shadow of Your Wings
Make a Joyful Noise
Perfect Praise
Call Him Up (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

If you like African American Spirituals you will love this one........2005-09-07

Large male chorus singing traditional African American spirituals with great harmony and arrangement.

Average customer rating:

Here it is
Ride, ride, ride the Wings of Tomorrow
These wings will have many tomorrows
Europe Hits Big Time With 'The Wings'
Stop what your doing and buy this album

Wings of Tomorrow
Europe
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Europe
Out of This World
Prisoners in Paradise
Start From the Dark
The Final Countdown

ASIN: B00000264F
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Stormwind
Scream Of Anger
Open Your Heart
Treated Bad Again
Aphasia
Wings Of Tomorrow
Wasted Time
Lyin' Eyes
Dreamer
Dance The Night Away

Album Description

Part of the Sony Music Memory Collection. 2003 reissue of the soft metal act's second album originally released in 1984, that's unavailable domestically. 10 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Here it is.......2007-01-17

Most Americans lost their sense of humor in like 1984 out of fear of being labeled racist to the working class. Crossing over the line of androgeny with their jock image under the tone let's feel bad for me. Stormwind, Screms of Anger and the title tracks are my favorites on a classic 80s album that still holds up today because the modern sound and futuristic feel to it crosses over to a lot of today's pop culture and more high tech, industrialized working class culture whose workers made good money and actually had something to show for it. It looks and sounds good, as if it were still made just yesterday. 25 cents on taped and it's STILL out of your league! Ha!

Ride, ride, ride the Wings of Tomorrow.......2006-08-29

Man, I really love the first two Europe albums. OK, I love all of Europe's albums, but Wings of Tomorrow and the 1983 self-titled debut hold a special place in my heart. Like most people, I discovered Europe when the Final Countdown hit the airwaves, but it was the budget-priced cassettes of the band's first albums that I played to the breaking point.

Far from the super-polished AOR sound of the Final Countdown and Out of This World, Europe's 1984 album Wings of Tomorrow sounds more like a regionally displaced NWOBHM band than anything else. Songs like Stormwind, Scream of Anger, the killer instrumental track Aphasia, and of course Wings of Tomorrow are straight-up metal tracks that wouldn't have been out of place on a Diamond Head album. The rest of the album is made up of more standard love song fare, but they're still fairly hard rocking songs. The ballad Open Your Heart could have been a big hit if anyone outside of Sweden had heard it. In fact, the band re-recorded it for their 1988 album Out of This World.

Overall this is a very solid album, and is probably Europe's best release (until the tragically overlooked Prisoners in Paradise at any rate). The only real drawback is the album's poor production quality. Put this one in the CD changer with some more recent discs and you'll quickly find that you need almost double the volume to hear it.

I'm sure there are some casual fans who will be content with the Final Countdown or one of the band's many greatest hits compilations, but Wings of Tomorrow is a must-have for all serious Europe fans, as well as being one of the decade's more underrated metal albums.

Note to whoever owns the rights to the early Europe material: Can we PLEASE get some remastered versions on the market? These classic albums are practically screaming to be cleaned up with today's digital technology. Bonus tracks are optional, but digitally remastered versions of Europe and Wings of Tomorrow are mandatory.

These wings will have many tomorrows.......2006-05-26

I'm very pleased about discovering Europe.
This album is pure metal and outstanding, even better than the Final Countdown,their most famous. Energy-full.
The typical metal here is more evident. The keyboard usage by Joey Tempest is minimum in comparison to the succeeding blockbuster. His vocals are more disjointed.
The drums here are tuned differently too.
This cd has the original version of open your heart ( the newer found in out of this world 1988), the guitar solo is different.
Actually,I prefer the remake because it's more enriched.
Now I can see why Don Dokken chose John Norum to replace George Lyinch in his group for a while : his guitaring here, which is worth the price of the cd, is magnificent specially
in tracks 7 ( 2:28 what the heck???? ),
4 ( almost entire song,lick abuse , his fingers don't stand still , the atmosphere here has some rage);
5 ( instrumental masterpiece, some finger tapping to produce a "olun-lun-lun-lun"-like sound );
10 ( he sounded like the master Van Halen,check in 2:11 or 2:20)
and 6.
Most catchy songs : 3 , 1 ,8 and 6.
Dreamer is the one I like less , but not bad.
In scream of anger the guitar, with the help of a pedal, had a different muffle,interesting. The band likes playing it alive.

This album isn't very easy to find, but you can try to download if it's impossible. It's worthwhile.

Europe Hits Big Time With 'The Wings'.......2006-02-06

Swedish Hair Metal Band made the big league with their album Wings Of Tomorrow, released in 1984. Europe did a live gig in Bombay in the late eighties, I listened in and was immediately hooked. Wings Of Tomorrow was the first Europe Album I bought and listen to it even today.

The album is pure kick ass Metal. John Norum's lead guitaring is simply out of this world...lots of influence from Deep Purple with the keyboards (especially on their later albums as well)

This album is a must have for all rock and metal freeks.

Stop what your doing and buy this album.......2006-01-18

I love this album. Sure it's got some dud songs on it and is a little more American sounding. But when you get Dreamer on the same album as Wings of Tomorrow and Scream of Anger you know your dealing with a band that actually has feeling.

The force with which the rockers hit my (then) teenage mind cannot be overestimated. Joey Tempests lyrics are at times fun loving and at other times deadly serious. He had really hit his stride and the band sound fully focussed on this release.

Some people hated their next album, The Final Countdown, but if it wasn't for the success of that album most people wouldn't of gotten to hear that this album and it's predecessor existed. and that would be a real shame.

Average customer rating:

Toru Takemitsu: Choral Works

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Average customer rating:

Here it is
Ride, ride, ride the Wings of Tomorrow
These wings will have many tomorrows
Europe Hits Big Time With 'The Wings'
Stop what your doing and buy this album

Wings of Tomorrow
Europe
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Europe
Out of This World
Prisoners in Paradise
Start From the Dark
The Final Countdown

ASIN: B00002687X
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Stormwind
Scream of Anger
Open Your Heart
Treated Bad Again
Aphasia
Wings of Tomorrow
Wasted Time
Lyin' Eyes
Dreamer
Dance the Night Away

Album Description

Part of the Sony Music Memory Collection. 2003 reissue of the soft metal act's second album originally released in 1984, that's unavailable domestically. 10 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Here it is.......2007-01-17

Ride, ride, ride the Wings of Tomorrow.......2006-08-29

These wings will have many tomorrows.......2006-05-26