Bad Boys Blue - Heart & SoulModern Romantics Productions (2008)
It is with great pleasure I am able to bring to you a review of one of the most anticipated classic Eurodance albums in many years. After nearly two years in production, we have the new Bad Boys Blue album, the first completely new album in several years and well worth the wait. Some things take time to get it right, and not rush. You will find that the album is solidly reminiscent of their most coveted style which they made so famous I in the late 80s and early 90s days of what has been thought of as "Glamour Disco". A fitting analogy of this style, which has the pulsing beat of a Dance track, but with an edge to the melody, production and nuance that is in keeping with one would feel is nu-age classical music with a full vocal. That sound is Bad Boys Blue, and on this album it is certainly the feel from start to finish.
The lead single, “Still In Love” has become what I can see their biggest club hit since “How I Need You”. Here we hear the original mix version by MS Project from France in all it's glory. A perfect pick as the first physical single from this album, it has all the NRG anyone could possibly covet in a EU club release without pandering to easy commercialism like many acts have been doing in the past few years.
“In His Heart, In His Soul” is a stunning follow up, with its storybook lyric that mirrors their most famous single “You’re A Woman”. There is a perfect female vocal on the chorus that is extremely engaging and loved by fans whenever used on a BBB song.
The next single up is the solidly Eurodance production on the Spanish themed treasure “Matador”. I think fans of 90s Euro will really enjoy the synth riffs in this song, mixed with lovely flamenco guitars to delicious effect.
One my favorite new songs is the incredible “Queen Of My Dreams”. To me, this style of writing personifies the distinct beauty of Eurodisco. Utterly sparkling production with a classy romanticism and solid hook to the chorus make this to me one of the most brilliant new songs on this album. The strumming acoustic guitar chording brings a dimension to this song that literally make you want to get up and Dance all night long!
My favorite song on the album is next, and it is an absolute killer Dance song that dazzles with a breathtaking melody on “I Don’t Wanna Know”. I am a huge fan of heavily orchestrated Dance music that has immense concentration on the lyrics and melody – but also the instruments chosen in the mix equally. This song has it all, and I can only imagine what club remix versions of this would bring to it. If you like glitzy piano and bubbling euro string arrangements, you’ll find this to be absolutely magical Eurodisco. It also has a chorus that defies get it out of your mind after a couple of listens. To me personally, it is the epitome of the best of Bad Boys Blue’s legendary sound, utterly flawless… I can’t say that very often, but I will here.
A solid follow up is the powerful HiNRG prowess of “Make My Dreams Come True”. Lovely vocal harmonies make this song shine brightly which is hard to do after the last song! The production is strongly Eurodance on the production side of the mix, but again we have strong lyrical value to the song as well.
There is no doubt to me that European Pop ballads are more often than not the loveliest music in the world. It is in that spirit I must praise the sensational work on the album’s first ballad “You And I”. As a long time fan of this group I know their music extremely well, and ballads are rarely produced by them. I have to say this is a welcome addition to this album with it's gorgeous melancholy vibes, something I feel has a distinct Dieter Bohlen touch to the track. I mean that in a very positive way, as I feel he is the master of this rather elegant style of "love ballads".
Just when the last beauty fades, the orchestration begins again on the happy and upbeat “Tonight Is The Night”. Here we hear some pretty engaging male/female vocal harmonies with a strong production and pizzicato string riffs that are just sensational.
Music-box piano keys echo in the big room orchestral sounds on “Sometimes”. A laid back mid-tempo love song, to me this is one of the most 80s sounding songs in the album that compares to their earliest work and has a deeply nostalgic aura with whispering female vocals and dramatic string arrangements.
Next up is another of my favorite songs from the album. “Show Me (The Way To Your Heart)” has the deep musical presence with awesome lyrics and a dramatic chorus and truly outstanding vocal production work.
“Hold Me In The Night” has been a fan favorite since very early samples were released in late 2007, and for good reason. One of the strongest choruses on the album, it is utterly infectious ear candy – and would be huge as a club record in the most celebrated Discos in the world today where the pundits prefer a great song and melody with their Dance beats over superfluous and vacuous percussion all night long. After many years, this tide has changed back to this and I am thrilled to see BBB doing the style they are beloved for again.
“Pictures Of You” is the second ballad on the album and has an absolutely gorgeous symphonic sound to it, and the lead vocals are soft as velvet here and used to perfection on this moving love song.
The group created a terrific song for their most loyal fans in the world from Russia. “Russia In My Eyes” is a potent and clear thank you to their community for years of undying support, where I expect this to be a single in the coming months in that territory.
To end the album, a rare cover is included of the classic 1968 Folk ballad “Those Were The Days” by Mary Hopkin with a wink towards Euro-Pop in the mix.
The group has changed many times over the over two decades they have been consistently releasing albums, remixes and collections. This new album celebrates all facets of the best of the Bad Boys Blue hit formula that has made them infamous all over the world. From their days as the hottest Eurodisco trio in the 80s to their prolific comeback in 1998, one thing has remained solid – the quality of the music. For the first time BBB has been produced outside of the country of Germany. This is the first full album of new material since the 2003 album "Around The World".
This album also includes the #1 “Still In Love" (U4IC-Almighty Exclusive Vox Remix), and extended club versions of “In His Heart, In His Soul” and “Queen Of My Dreams”. It is quite a package, with 14 album edits and 3 exclusive club remixes. An astounding array of new material from likely the most beloved group in Eurodance/Disco history that has proved longevity is certainly possible in an ever changing and evolving style of Dance music and can be with timing, great material and class still be loved and relevant today after so many years.
Track Listing
01 Still in Love
02 In His Heart. In His Soul.
03 Matador
04 Queen Of My Dreams
05 I Dont Wanna Know
06 Make My Dreams Come True
07 You And I
08 Tonight Is The Night
09 Sometimes
10 Show Me (The Way To Your Heart)
11 Hold Me In The Night
12 Pictures Of You
13 Russia In My Eyes
14 Those Where The Days
15 Sitll In Love (Almighty-U4IC Exclusive Vox Remix)
16 In His Heart. In His Soul. (Extended Mix)
17 Queen Of My Dreams (Extended Mix)
02 In His Heart. In His Soul.
03 Matador
04 Queen Of My Dreams
05 I Dont Wanna Know
06 Make My Dreams Come True
07 You And I
08 Tonight Is The Night
09 Sometimes
10 Show Me (The Way To Your Heart)
11 Hold Me In The Night
12 Pictures Of You
13 Russia In My Eyes
14 Those Where The Days
15 Sitll In Love (Almighty-U4IC Exclusive Vox Remix)
16 In His Heart. In His Soul. (Extended Mix)
17 Queen Of My Dreams (Extended Mix)
Text: Jason E Davis
