Amore [Bonus Track]

Disc 1
1	Amapola 3:43
2	Besame Mucho 4:00
3	Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves) 4:49
4	Mi Manchi 3:35
5	Somos Novios (It's Impossible) 4:22
6	Solamente una Vez 3:29
7	Jurame 3:23
8	Pero Te Extraño 4:06
9	Canzoni Stonate 5:17
10	L' Appuntanmento (Sentado A'beira Do Caminho) 4:08
11	Cuando Me Enamoro (Quando M'Innamoro) 3:56
12	Can't Help Falling in Love Live 3:26
13	Because We Believe 4:38
14	Ama Credi E Vai (Because We Believe) 4:40
Disc 2
1	Tu Me Acostumbraste Bonus Track 3:21

Barnes & Noble

Between his albums of romantic Italian pop and his recordings of opera, Andrea Bocelli has attracted music fans of many stripes, but with the love songs on Amore, he might just acquire a whole new following. The album makes it clearer than ever that he's the true heir to some of the 20th century's most popular easy-listening vocalists, tackling songs made famous by the likes of Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and even Elvis Presley. Sometimes a classic song turns up with an unfamiliar title: "Somos Novios" was Como's hit "It's Impossible," and "Cuando Me Enamoro" scored big as "A Man Without Love" for Engelbert Humperdinck. Other sophisticated tunes, like "Besame Mucho" and "Autumn Leaves," have been around for so many years that they've acquired countless interpreters, but Bocelli's intimate and passionate delivery always satisfies on its own terms, whether the romantic language of choice is Spanish, French, Italian, or English. And on top of all the standards, "Because We Believe" is featured here as the 2006 Winter Olympics theme song. Producer David Foster -- who virtually owns this sort of music these days, masterminding the albums of Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, and many more -- crafts a wonderful variety of sounds to accompany Bocelli's voice, especially on the Latin-flavored numbers, while guest artists like Kenny G, Christina Aguilera (a surprisingly strong match for the tenor's crooning), and especially Stevie Wonder (on "Canzoni Stonate") put several tracks over the top. But Bocelli is always the centerpiece; his fans wouldn't have it any other way, and they're not going to be disappointed by Amore, a Valentine's Day gift that's sure to last year-round. Scott Paulin

All Music Guide

Even as "the fourth tenor" has become one of the world's most popular and renowned classical and operatic singers, Andrea Bocelli has been teasing pop fans over the years by recording brilliant duets with the likes of Celine Dion and Sarah Brightman. Who better to helm the Tuscan-born vocal giant's first pure pop album than David Foster, who has made foreign language singing all the rage by introducing the world to Josh Groban? Amore features songs from various musical eras, from the 1920s through the '80s, which Bocelli sings in his native Italian, Spanish, and French. He launches the collection with beautiful Spanish on the tender, soaring ballad "Amapola" and a graceful "Besame Mucho" before introducing his facility for French with the lush, film score-like "Les Feuilles Mortes," which becomes "Autumn Leaves." Foster then unleashes a successful Santana-styled duet approach on the singer, pairing him with Kenny G ("Mi Manchi"), a delightfully torchy Christina Aguilera (on "Somos Novios," which became "It's Impossible") and Stevie Wonder (who adds vocals and harmonica to "Canzoni Stonate"). Purists may balk at such tandems, but pop fans will be enchanted, and Foster handles the productions of these tracks with admirable restraint. Though he covers artists ranging from Edith Piaf to Luis Miguel and Frank Sinatra, the most engaging reworking is a sweet take on "Can't Help Falling in Love," which was recorded live at Lake Las Vegas. In typical Foster's tug-the-heartstrings fashion, the disc closes with Italian and English versions of the inspirational ballad "Because We Believe," but for the most part, this magical effort fully realizes its aim to become a trendsetter for romantic pop in the 2000s. [The exclusive Barnes & Noble edition includes a bonus CD featuring an extra song, "Tu Me Acostumbraste."] ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide