Product Description

'From Now On' is the debut album by the Arts Educational School musical theatre student who won ITV's Pop Idol competition, Will Young. Included are the singles 'Evergreen', 'Light My Fire' and his duet with Gareth Gates, 'The Long And Winding Road'.

Track Listing

1. Evergreen
2. Anything Is Possible
3. Light My Fire
4. Lover Won't You Stay
5. Lovestruck
6. The Long & Winding Road
7. You & I
8. Side By Side
9. What's In Goodbye
10. Cruel To Be Kind
11. Over You
12. From Now On
13. Fine Line

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7625 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-05
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Thankfully, Will Young's debut album From Now On wasn't subjected to the same fast-track production that the Pop Idol album suffered, so at least the show's 2002 winner has a fighting chance to prove himself as an album artist. It's all very slick and well produced, which suits the smooth crooner image of Will, but this methodical approach leaves it a little sanitised and flat with no room for the songs to breath.

Rather than describe the album as 13 versions of the same song with different lyrics, it can be broken down into three main groups. There are the loungey, Andy Williams-style numbers such as "Love Struck", "Over You", the rather lovely "What's In Goodbye" and hit single "Light My Fire" (the Jose Feliciano arrangement, not the Doors one). There are acoustic, rhythm-based songs in a Ronan Keating vein, such as "Side by Side" and the title track, which smacks of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" (although less rocking). And of course, there is weak, soggy, cabaret-circuit pop such as first single "Evergreen" and "The Long and Winding Road", which although they are big sellers for Will, definitely aren't his greatest strength.

It's doubtful Robbie Williams has anything to worry about, but at the very least, From Now On will provide light relief after the bingo for many years to come. --David Trueman

Customer Reviews

he is the brittish jazz pop crooner he is fab!!
will young deserved to win pop idol he is unique its good to be different and to be distintive like elvis presley karen carpenter freddie mercury amy winehouse etc i love his style very varied which good artists are suppose to be and not just bring out same songs and style all the time he takes a risk and its exciteing that he does it because you never know what you will get he sings all styles jazz.pop,rock/pop he is cool o loved his fridays child which i think is a modern pop classic and keep pn his most recent album is very different the styles and the way he blends everything overall this is a good album buy it gareth gates who!! lol gareth gates he was boreing and bland wimpy voice and weak does anyone know if the minnie riperton light my fire version with jose felciano is the same as the one he does?

More of the same
It's a shame that shows like Pop Idol don't try to look for original talent, but just try to sell records. Unfortunately for Will, he was chosen because his rather mediocre voice was capable of producing the sound that record companies want, and this CD is testament to the above.

The songwriting might come through stronger if it wasn't for the poor arrangements, which are simply designed to make the tracks radio-friendly. The covers are pretty dreadful too - if you listen to the original of 'Light My Fire' (a la Jose Feliciano) you will see how Will's version has lost all of the fire. Although the original of 'The Long and Winding Road' wasn't the best Beatles song by far, this makes it look like a masterpiece in comparison.

It all sounds rather like a confused jumble of styles arranged in the same bland manner. I feel sorry for Will as he doesn't deserve this.

Glorious Voice, Gorgeous Style
I learned of Will on the World Idol show, and was just blown away by his vocal gifts. In reverse order I bought "Friday's Child" first, and then this CD. On both CDs he proves just how absolutely stunning a song stylist he is. He uses his voice like a musical instrument, at times sounding almost like a flute or oboe with his awesome falsetto. #4 "Lover won't you stay" is drop dead gorgeous. #7 "You and I", the way he styles this song and lavishes his delivery with riveting passion knocks me out. He performs this song on his "Will Young Live" DVD and when he kneels before the audience and pours his heart out it is a heartstopping moment. When he sings backup harmonies it adds so many more dimensions in his naturally layered voice. Will's vocal harmonics are just astonishing.

#10 "Cruel to be Kind" offers some tasty, subtle percussive and instrumental treats, and Will's writing skills and styling makes this song dazzling. #11 "Over You" is a way sexy groove, and it cooks! MmHmm. #12 "From Now On" to my ears has a southern USA vibe to it, sort of a jazz-bluesy/country/bluegrass and it is all good.

#13 "Fine Line" Dramatic, majestic instrumental wizardry weaves a tapestry of mood and visual imagary that supports Will's glorious, deeply emotional vocals. It evokes chills. This song alone gives the CD the seal of a true Masterpiece.