What absolute garbage! I don't often hand out ratings of 0.5 on RateYourMusic, but I just had to after hearing this tripe.

Here's my review:

[img:$uid]http://www.onlineticketmarket.com/media/gbu0/prodlg/il%20divo.jpg[/img:$uid]

I was an unwilling listener of this album recently. While I had heard some of their music played in shopping malls and seen advertisements on TV for their material, I had managed to mostly avoid Il Divo until a friend put this on while my wife and I were visiting with a few others. Actually, I seem to recall one of my wife's work colleagues buying this for her as a Christmas present, and it was hastily jettisoned with nary a listen. In any case, I had rather happily spent the last six years largely ignorant of this schlock, but I was powerless to continue along the straight and narrow. I silently shuddered at the thought of my ears becoming devirginized to the aural assault of the popera kings, and my trepidation proved to be quite warranted.

The album is just as calculated and sickeningly melodramatic as I expected it would be. Essentially, Il Divo try their very hardest to woo the panties off of middle aged women worldwide across twelve songs that span three human dialects, but only one real language- the language of amor. And so it is that they take already overblown and overcovered showstoppers like "Unbreak My Heart" and "My Way" and beat them into submission in their quest to titillate. Thankfully, the conversation in the room was able to divert my attention at times, but then another dramatic moment would seize the day and permeate the room like cheap cologne. Tension began to mount between the host and the only person in the room who commented about enjoying the music, and it didn't subside until the album had finished. That this music could have contributed to it ever so subtly says more than I can about the abomination that Il Divo is.

As we were headed out, I took a look at the album cover, and it featured a red sticker that boldly stated "The World's First Operatic Supergroup!", much to my chagrin. That I subsequently discovered that Simon Cowell was behind this should have come as no surprise. I don't know whether the cleanly-shaven thirtysomethings always decked out in suits and ties that comprise the group are in on the gag, but if the laughter of the two on the right of the album cover doesn't answer the question, surely the beedy eyes of the rat-faced guy with greased hair on the left, who has always scared the bejesus out of me, surely do. This is a wholly contrived product crassly conceived to ignite a storm amidst a sea of estrogen, and the fact that I've come to their artist page to review this album only to discover that Il Divo (which I'm guessing means the male version of "The Divas") have released five albums in the ensuing six years proves that it succeeded mightily in this aim. Oh, the humanity!

[Edited 8/18/10 16:58pm]

I wish the topic title bar wasn't molested

alphastreet said:

I wish the topic title bar wasn't molested

He's being polite

Very nice.

But if you were a middle-aged woman with far more interest in estrogen-fulled
fantasy than musical substance, would you then recommend?

Brendan said:

Very nice.

But if you were a middle-aged woman with far more interest in estrogen-fulled
fantasy than musical substance, would you then recommend?

No- these scamps will leave you cold and dry!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

alphastreet said:

I wish the topic title bar wasn't molested

He's being polite

I don't like them either, just saying...

You're lucky cos in europe they've been churning out dry-balled ballads for what seems like most of the last decade. never realised Cowell was behind them, not at all surprised.

[img:$uid]http://www.onlineticketmarket.com/media/gbu0/prodlg/il%20divo.jpg[/img:$uid]

I don't know about MUSICALLY but dude on the left can molest me anytime.

I'm a virginal slut.

[Edited 8/19/10 12:28pm]

Your fury unleashed is quite a thing to behold.

I don't have to have my ears molested - just one look at the cover & I feel like throwing up.

Popera?

rialb said:

Popera?

Devastatingly so!

Timmy84 said:

[img:$uid]http://www.onlineticketmarket.com/media/gbu0/prodlg/il%20divo.jpg[/img:$uid]

I don't know about MUSICALLY but dude on the left can molest me anytime.

I'm a virginal slut.

[Edited 8/19/10 12:28pm]

Dear God, no! The guy that is getting the attention here is the one that scares me to death with his rat face and greased back hair- truly the stuff of nightmares!

Some asshat actually took the time to put this in each of the members' Wikipedia entry:

"Besides their musical experience and prowess, the members of Il Divo are also recognized for their impeccable taste in fashion, dressing almost exclusively in Armani suits, along with their handsome looks."

I also have come to discover that their name means "divine male performers". Goodness gracious.

[Edited 8/19/10 18:42pm]

ScarletScandal said:

Timmy84 said:

[img:$uid]http://www.onlineticketmarket.com/media/gbu0/prodlg/il%20divo.jpg[/img:$uid]

I don't know about MUSICALLY but dude on the left can molest me anytime.

I'm a virginal slut.

[Edited 8/19/10 12:28pm]

Please! It's too much! Tell me this doesn't freak out out even slightly:

[img:$uid]http://ildivoforlife.webs.com/53466514_108ac87f1170246920.jpg[/img:$uid]

Moonbeam said:

Please! It's too much! Tell me this doesn't freak out out even slightly:

[img:$uid]http://ildivoforlife.webs.com/53466514_108ac87f1170246920.jpg[/img:$uid]

It's like he's looking through my soul.

I like Josh Groban better.

A waltz when she walks in the room
She pulls back the hair from her face
She turns to the window to sway in the moonlight
Even her shadow has grace
A waltz for the girl out of reach
She lifts her hands up to the sky
She moves with the music
The song is her lover
The melody's making her cry
So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently

A waltz for the chance I should take
But how will I know where to start?
She's spinning between constellations and dreams
Her rhythm is my beating heart

So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently

I can't keep on watching forever
I give up this view just to tell her

When I close my eyes I can see
The spotlights are bright on you and me
We've got the floor
And you're in my arms
How could I ask for more?

So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently

I can't keep on watching forever
And I'm givin' up this view just to tell her

EmeraldSkies said:

I like Josh Groban better.

Moonbeam said:

Please! It's too much! Tell me this doesn't freak out out even slightly:

[img:$uid]http://ildivoforlife.webs.com/53466514_108ac87f1170246920.jpg[/img:$uid]

that guy would be perfect for a new Bond villian, I mean, a nasty, decadent, hateful, irritating, scary Bond villian hell Daniel Craig kicking the hell out of this guy would be a nice sight, that's for sure...

That said, I HATE HATE HATE Il Divo, his ridiculous popera versions of classic pop/rock songs and the Armani Suits, just because they keep pretending they are the coolest band ever in suits, oh yeah have they even heard about a fella named Ferry???

That said Pt.2 : "their" music sucks, but I gotta admit, that technically, they all have good voices...

These fools did an entire set mid-concert at Barbra Streisand's last tour and boy oh boy was the audience not feeling it. I wonder if they originally opened for her but a lack of interest forced them to force the show mid show so that there would actually be an audience.

All I know is that I have them to blame for missing Babs' first song cause they didn't open and we were busy getting drinks and t-shirts. Errrrr....

Moonbeam said:

EmeraldSkies said:

I like Josh Groban better.

JoeTyler said:

Moonbeam said:

Please! It's too much! Tell me this doesn't freak out out even slightly:

[img:$uid]http://ildivoforlife.webs.com/53466514_108ac87f1170246920.jpg[/img:$uid]

that guy would be perfect for a new Bond villian, I mean, a nasty, decadent, hateful, irritating, scary Bond villian hell Daniel Craig kicking the hell out of this guy would be a nice sight, that's for sure...

That said, I HATE HATE HATE Il Divo, his ridiculous popera versions of classic pop/rock songs and the Armani Suits, just because they keep pretending they are the coolest band ever in suits, oh yeah have they even heard about a fella named Ferry???

That said Pt.2 : "their" music sucks, but I gotta admit, that technically, they all have good voices...

Oh, I would LOVE to see this guy get his teeth kicked in repeatedly. That would make for quite the worthwhile expenditure of money!

EmeraldSkies said:

Moonbeam said:

I guess I just hate popera, as Josh Groban would rank (and I do mean rank) quite highly on my list of least favorite artists!

Moonbeam said:

What absolute garbage! I don't often hand out ratings of 0.5 on RateYourMusic, but I just had to after hearing this tripe.

Here's my review:

[img:$uid]http://www.onlineticketmarket.com/media/gbu0/prodlg/il%20divo.jpg[/img:$uid]

I was an unwilling listener of this album recently. While I had heard some of their music played in shopping malls and seen advertisements on TV for their material, I had managed to mostly avoid Il Divo until a friend put this on while my wife and I were visiting with a few others. Actually, I seem to recall one of my wife's work colleagues buying this for her as a Christmas present, and it was hastily jettisoned with nary a listen. In any case, I had rather happily spent the last six years largely ignorant of this schlock, but I was powerless to continue along the straight and narrow. I silently shuddered at the thought of my ears becoming devirginized to the aural assault of the popera kings, and my trepidation proved to be quite warranted.

The album is just as calculated and sickeningly melodramatic as I expected it would be. Essentially, Il Divo try their very hardest to woo the panties off of middle aged women worldwide across twelve songs that span three human dialects, but only one real language- the language of amor. And so it is that they take already overblown and overcovered showstoppers like "Unbreak My Heart" and "My Way" and beat them into submission in their quest to titillate. Thankfully, the conversation in the room was able to divert my attention at times, but then another dramatic moment would seize the day and permeate the room like cheap cologne. Tension began to mount between the host and the only person in the room who commented about enjoying the music, and it didn't subside until the album had finished. That this music could have contributed to it ever so subtly says more than I can about the abomination that Il Divo is.

As we were headed out, I took a look at the album cover, and it featured a red sticker that boldly stated "The World's First Operatic Supergroup!", much to my chagrin. That I subsequently discovered that Simon Cowell was behind this should have come as no surprise. I don't know whether the cleanly-shaven thirtysomethings always decked out in suits and ties that comprise the group are in on the gag, but if the laughter of the two on the right of the album cover doesn't answer the question, surely the beedy eyes of the rat-faced guy with greased hair on the left, who has always scared the bejesus out of me, surely do. This is a wholly contrived product crassly conceived to ignite a storm amidst a sea of estrogen, and the fact that I've come to their artist page to review this album only to discover that Il Divo (which I'm guessing means the male version of "The Divas") have released five albums in the ensuing six years proves that it succeeded mightily in this aim. Oh, the humanity!

[Edited 8/18/10 16:58pm]

[img:$uid]http://ildivoforlife.webs.com/53466514_108ac87f1170246920.jpg[/img:$uid]

On second thought nevermind. He's scary than a motherfucker there.

Timmy84 said:

[img:$uid]http://www.onlineticketmarket.com/media/gbu0/prodlg/il%20divo.jpg[/img:$uid]

I don't know about MUSICALLY but dude on the left can molest me anytime.

I'm a virginal slut.

[Edited 8/19/10 12:28pm]

It's the guido dude on the right that could do it to me whenever.

johnart said:

Timmy84 said:

[img:$uid]http://www.onlineticketmarket.com/media/gbu0/prodlg/il%20divo.jpg[/img:$uid]

I don't know about MUSICALLY but dude on the left can molest me anytime.

I'm a virginal slut.

[Edited 8/19/10 12:28pm]

It's the guido dude on the right that could do it to me whenever.

He's got a funny look on his face though.

I'm guessing dude on the left of dude on the far left would be nice... then again after looking at that picture of the guy on the far left that was posted with him looking like a creepier Constantine I don't know now.

And if they sound as scary as they look forget it.

Timmy84 said:

johnart said:

It's the guido dude on the right that could do it to me whenever.

He's got a funny look on his face though.

I'm guessing dude on the left of dude on the far left would be nice... then again after looking at that picture of the guy on the far left that was posted with him looking like a creepier Constantine I don't know now.

And if they sound as scary as they look forget it.

I don't own any of their music but I remember seeing them on Martha Stewart (of all places ) and some other show. The dude I like is totally cheezy-stereotypical-EYEtalian and always has a funny look on his face. He could do bad "funny" things to me.