Donna Lewis - Now in a Minute

favorite album of all time

im not kidding.. im currently 19 and remember this album coming out as a kid. its my FAVORITE album of all time.. this is NOT an exaggeration. Maybe i'm crazy but i do NOT care! A big fan of her other three albums as well, Blue Planet, Be Still, and In The Pink. This album made me a huge collector of her work as well as for the deleted tracks for all her albums.. I am a MAJOR fan because of this album.. get it.. the experience is BREATH TAKING! December 17, 2007

Consistent, dreamy and fantasy-infused

England-born singer-songwriter Donna Lewis hit the international charts in 1996 with her global smash single "I Love You Always Forever," one of the classic pop hits of the 1990s. Though many unknowing characters believe this to be her one and only significant piece of work (often writing her off as a one timer and nothing else), the millions and millions who purchased her debut album Now In A Minute know that's completely wrong, and evidence of this misunderstanding is prolific throughout this fantastic singsong listen. Sure, the aforementioned sensation of a single "I Love You Always Forever" is by far the highlight and biggest standout of the record (its beautifully light, whispered vocals and sensual synth-infused syncopated drum beat make for a perfect, pulsating ear candied confection) but there's more to Miss Lewis than just that. "Without Love" was the second single and, although it didn't garner the history-making number of airplay spins on radio at the time that its predecessor achieved, remained an impressive, more upbeat listen nonetheless. Songs like the delightfully happy treat "Love & Affection" (although I'm almost sure I've heard it someplace before being played on radio) could have easily been released as a third single due to its catchy hook-chorus, but unfortunately it didn't reach single-worthy status, but would have undoubtedly helped push Now In A Minute and its performer into new heights and continued airplay. The soft-spoken and lyrically fantasy-driven track "Agenais" is perfectly suited for Lewis' subtle, breathy and somewhat Jewel-esque vocal coo, and--like the majority of the material here--is dreamy and enchanting to hear; "Mother," an ode to (what else) mothers everywhere, is another standout with its lullaby-influenced introduction, and its composer sings her breathy best. Sure, not everyone will groove to Donna's voice (which never exceeds anything more than a girlish breathy whisper) and the style of music presented here (big on the synths and lilting vocal effects, small on the driving rock of the period when it was released), but if you're open-minded I doubt you'll find any more complaints with this record. Although Donna Lewis might only be known for the No. 1 "I Love You Always Forever," there's so much more to her that will impress any pop or rock fan. So take a minute and get Now In A Minute; clearly, you won't be disappointed. March 28, 2007

Soft & Sensuous

The first time I heard this CD I was unsure of whether I liked Donna Lewis's style of singing. I liked "I Love You Always Forever," but hearing a similar sound for 11 songs was initially disconcerting. I have come to appreciate this album with time and enjoy it a lot. Donna Lewis's voice is intimate and sensual on this CD, making each and every song a personal experience.

This CD begins with "Without Love." This song is moderately fast. Because of the way her voice is modified the words are hard to understand, but the vocal seems to be more for effect than understanding. The lyrics are included in you want to follow along. The most fascinating thing about this song is the various vocal effects she uses, such as the quick increase in scale at the end of some words.

The next song is a tribute to "Mother." The song is sincere and grateful. Donna makes this song personal to those of us who love our mother, or some other figure in that role, as much as she makes it personal to her. The musical effects verge on being gimmicks, but in the context of the song they are very charming. This song was released as a single and reached #41 in the U.S. and #39 in the U.K.

The next song was a huge hit. "I Love You Always Forever" capitalizes on Donna Lewis's vocal style. This love song is made sensual, intimate and personal by Donna. The song whispers to your heart and makes you believe. This nicely crafted 1996 single was at #2 in the U.S. for nine weeks, reached #1 on the U.S. Hot 100 Airplay Chart and remained there for 13 consecutive weeks; hit #3 in Australia, and #5 in the U.K.

Donna Lewis has crafted a poetic song with "Nothing Ever Changes." This marvelous and melancholy song is a lamentation about love lost. I am unable to tell whether this simple song is about a love who has moved on to someone else, or whether it is about a lover who has died. In either case, she is clearly nostalgic and sad about the loss. This simple, yet gorgeous, song makes a nice companion song to the song "Forever Autumn" by Justin Hayward.

The song "Simone" is even simpler than the previous song. This song is also melancholy. This song has several very nice touches. There are strings, a Prophet synthesizer and a mellotron. This deeply introspective song is a joy to hear time if you like this kind of song.

The pace and sensuality speed up in the song "Love and Affection." The lyrics of this song are blatant regarding how she hunted and conquered her intended lover. The song is faster than the previous couple of songs. This song is performed well, but I think I prefer the more melancholy songs on this CD.

"Agenais" is all beauty and fantasy. The instruments are sparse, consisting of keyboards, bass, cello and strings. The vocals are layered with whispers and sharp comments to back the leading vocal. Fans of Enya will probably find this song very enjoyable. The lyrics are a self-contained fantasy about floating to Agenais. I am unable to adequately describe this marvelous song with its subtle whimsical feel.

The song "Fools Paradise" is relatively different from the music it follows. I think it is the dominant drums that stand out and tend to drive the song as much or more than Donna's voice. The song is quite serviceable, but it is weaker than most of the other songs on this CD.

I admit to enjoying fantasy songs. "Lights of Life" is a fantasy song. Lost in the freezing fog, surrounded by snow, prepared to give up hope; silence is an enemy, and then lights and rescue and life begins again. The Prophet synthesizer provides much of the backing for layered vocals.

"Silent World" is a beautiful love song. Capture all the beauty of a love lost, lost because the other is now gone from this world, put it to words and music and you have captured the essence of this song. This song is all Donna. She sings and plays the piano and that is all. That is all that is necessary.

The final track is a remix of "I Love You Always Forever." The remix is subtitled "Philly Remix." This remix has a heavy beat that detracts from the beauty of Donna's voice. This remix is over-orchestrated in comparison to the original. The only reason to have this version on the CD is to fill out some of the time.

This album reached #31 in the U.S., achieving platinum status (one million sales). The album has sold another million copies outside the U.S. Her music is indeed mellow and I consider this music to be easy listening or light pop. It is beautiful music in a class nearly all its own.

Donna Lewis is from Wales. Her voice is lovely and controlled, and fans of artists such as The Cranberries, Enya, and Clannad should consider listening to Donna Lewis. She has a dynamic voice, but sings in a breathy style that is unique in my limited experience. The effect is intimate and sensuous. Many times people say that the singer sounds as though they are singing to them; Donna Lewis really does.
February 16, 2007

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As the 90s pop vocal album this was presented as, it was a failure. Probably because Donna comes from a more reserved place than the bombastic scale runs and attitude required to make it as a star in that arena. She's much more connected to 80s pop, a time when tuneful songwriting was enough to make a star, and there was more space for atmospheric keyboard tones. She seems to also take some influence from the shoegaze sound of the early 90s. Nothing Ever Changes especially reminds me of My Bloody Valentine. It's a timeless pure kind of music, completely removed from trends. As relevent today as it was in 1996 or would have been in 1986. October 16, 2005

great CD

Every song is very enjoyable. I am surprised that Donna Lewis is not a superstar. October 9, 2005

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