| Wonderland | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Faryl Smith | ||||
| Released | 30 November 2009 | |||
| Recorded | Sarm Studios, Notting Hill, London | |||
| Genre | Classical | |||
| Length | 51:57 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Producer | Jon Cohen | |||
| Faryl Smith chronology | ||||
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Wonderland is the second studio album by teenage mezzo-soprano Faryl Smith, released by Decca Records on 30 November 2009. Smith became famous after her participation in Britain's Got Talent in 2008, and subsequently, aged 13, signed with Universal Classics and Jazz, releasing her debut album, Faryl. Released only a few months afterwards, Wonderland contains a mix of classical and non-classical songs, which were chosen by both Smith and her record label. A concept album, it is based on Alice in Wonderland, and features a digitally produced "duet" with the late Luciano Pavarotti, as well as a song set to "Winter", from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Wonderland, like Faryl, was produced by Jon Cohen.
Smith promoted the album with appearances on television and radio. For the most part, critics responded positively to the album, with praise for Smith's vocals, the song choice and the musical arrangement, but criticism for "the lack of emotional weight". Further, critics observed that Smith's voice had improved since her appearance on Britain's Got Talent. Despite this, Wonderland appeared in the UK Albums Chart for only one week, peaking at 54.
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Smith, aged 13 at the time, signed a record-breaking multi-album deal with Universal Classics and Jazz in December 2008,[1] six months after finishing outside the top three in the Britain's Got Talent series two final.[2] Her debut album, Faryl, was released in March 2009.[3] Smith later described the album as "an introduction to me and an introduction for me to recording".[4] It was in July that it was announced that work had begun on her second album, with hopes to release it later in 2009. Smith said in an interview that "We're starting to look at what songs will be on the second album ... I'm not really choosing the songs myself, I'm leaving that up to the people at the record label. I'm really happy that they want me to do another album so soon – I didn't think I would be working on one so quickly after the first one was released ... I'm just excited to get under way with it."[5]
In September, it was announced that the album was to be named Wonderland, and a preliminary release date of 30 November was put forward.[4] The album was recorded at Sarm Studios in Notting Hill, London, and completed in early October.[6] Smith recorded her parts during her school holidays.[7] Smith was initially asked for a track listing, but said that she "didn't know what songs would be wrong or right for an album". Instead, she and the record label both created their own lists, and the final track list was compiled from the two.[7] The result included a variety of songs; Smith said she was pleased with the mix, citing "classical numbers" like "The Prayer", in contrast to "a more unexpected song", "Close to You".[8] The track "O Holy Night" features a "duet" with Luciano Pavarotti, who died in 2007;[9] this was produced by Pavarotti's vocals being digitally added to Smith's recording, giving the effect of sounding "as if they're really there together".[10] The title track, "Wonderland", is set to "Winter", from Vivaldi's Four Seasons,[11] and the lead track, "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Somewhere Far Away)" is an adaptation of a piece by Ryuichi Sakamoto, originally from Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.[7] Smith's favourite tracks on the album are "O Holy Night" and "The Prayer".[7]
The album was produced by Jon Cohen,[4] who also produced Faryl and has previously worked with artists including the Opera Babes and Vanessa-Mae.[12] Cohen said that Smith has "matured as an artist since the first album" and that he had "no doubt that once again, people will be astonished and moved by her performances".[4] Smith's father, Tony, said that the bosses at universal were "hoping it will sell more than the first but it's a tough market. Lots of people bring out albums at Christmas".[6] Brian Roberts, writing for the Daily Mirror, claimed that Wonderland "is tipped to go head to head" for the number one classical album position with releases from Il Divo and Rhydian Roberts.[9]
The album is a concept album loosely based on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The album took the title from the book, and was created with the intention of taking listeners on a journey, as well as showcasing Smith's voice. She said that "that's something I like to hear in music. Whether I listen to Beyonce or Vivaldi, music is supposed to transport you away, escape from the everyday."[13] Smith said that she sometimes felt like Alice chasing White Rabbit, and, for this reason, "Wonderland" was a suitable title track for the album.[8]
Smith embarked on a promotional tour, beginning at the end of October, with magazine, television and radio appearances.[6] Appearances included Ready Steady Cook, Blue Peter, the BBC News Channel, Sky News Sunrise and The Alan Titchmarsh Show.[14] Speaking about the album's promotion, Smith said "[i]t is always a struggle when a second album comes out because you never know how it is going to do but fingers crossed people will enjoy it. I am very proud of it. ... I am excited about going on all the shows too – especially Ready Steady Cook because I can't cook and I think it will be fun."[14]
Reviewers also responded postively to the album. Paul Callan, reviewing the album for the Daily Express, described the album as "a joy"; he compared it to other Christmas albums, saying that "[t]oo many are tired, much-repeated carol selections." He described Smith's "control, tone and warmth" as "very moving".[15] A reviewer writing for The Sun described the album as a "lush collection" of songs, and said that Smith's "voice is now stronger, richer and even more musical".[11] Andy Gill, reviewing Wonderland for The Independent, gave a more mixed review. He said that the influence of Alice in Wonderland was often hard to perceive, and said that Cohen and Smith had "sweetened the classical elements". He praised the arrangements of "Adiemus", "Barcarolle", "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" and "Blow the Wind Southerly", but noted that "on "Close to You" and other tracks, the lack of emotional weight is telling." Overall, Gill gave Wonderland 3 out of 5.[16]
Local paper the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph reported that Wonderland was selling well; on Amazon.co.uk's charts, it appeared at number one on the symphonies chart, 13 on easy listening and 95 overall. A spokesman for the local HMV store was quoted as saying "Sales of the new Faryl album have got off to a storming start – she is proving hugely popular at HMV. ... We're actually selling as many copies of Faryl's new album as we are Susan Boyle right now."[17] However, the album entered the top 75 of the UK Albums Chart for only one week, peaking at 54.[18] It appeared on the Arts & Book Review (Independent Print) classical albums chart for two weeks, peaking at number 6.[19]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Somewhere Far Away)" | Sakamoto Ryuichi | 4:28 |
| 2. | "O Holy Night" | Placide Cappeau, Adophe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight | 5:09 |
| 3. | "Wonderland" | Frank Musker, Antonio Vivaldi | 3:45 |
| 4. | "The Prayer" | David W. Foster, Carole Bayer Sager | 4:26 |
| 5. | "Adiemus" | Karl Jenkins, Michael Roland Ratledge | 3:56 |
| 6. | "Barcarolle" | Jacques Offenbach | 3:41 |
| 7. | "In Dulce Jubilo" | (traditional) | 3:55 |
| 8. | "Night of Silence" | Norell Oson Bard (Ola Håkansson, Alexander Bard, Tim Norell) | 2:58 |
| 9. | "Evening Prayer" | Engelbert Humperdinck | 4:07 |
| 10. | "Blow the Wind Southerly" | (traditional) | 3:36 |
| 11. | "Hymn to the Moon" | Brendan Graham, Antonín Dvorák | 4:48 |
| 12. | "Close to You" | Hal David, Burt Bacharach | 3:47 |
| 13. | "How Can I Keep from Singing?" | Robert Lowry, Ira D. Sankey | 3:21 |
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart[18] | 56 |
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