Mandy Moore - I Wanna Be with You

This "special edition" album follow-up to Mandy Moore's debut So Real is heavy on sighing ballads, both new and from the earlier disc. I Wanna Be with You exists mainly to ride the success of its title single, which opens and closes the album in original and dance versions. Two inferior Wade Robson remixes (of "Candy" and "So Real") pad the CD, as do most of the previously unreleased tracks; the best cut here is So Real's sweet "Walk Me Home." Moore fans will be happy to own this, but her first album remains the better of her releases. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

I Wanna Be With You

"I Wanna Be With You", is a special edition album to her first album debut, "So Real", and with this album, there are both new and old tunes. The hit single, "I Wanna Be With You", is the only song that's released from this album to ever be played on the radio, and it is a very beautiful song, as well. The rest of the songs on this album are wonderfully recorded and beautifully remixed!
January 19, 2006

Great CD!

Suprisingly, this cd is really good for pop. I think the best song on the cd is 'your face' it's just unlike any of the other songs. It's very beautiful and passionate. Mandy Moore really does have some talent, and she doesn't get enough credit. If you're in a pop mood, BUY THIS CD! :) July 10, 2005

Pretty good...

I wasn't really feeling the first 5 tracks, but as I soon as I got to the rest I started to get into it more. Maybe if I bought this album 5 years ago, it would have been different. Gosh, it's been a long time. Now when I look as those pictures with Many with blonde hair, she looks younger. Time flies so fast. Overall, I like the songs "I like It", "Candy", "Walk Me Home", "Lock your Heart", and "So Real". April 13, 2005

If At First You Don't Succeed... Make A Second Version

Mandy Moore made her debut at the age of fifteen, in the same year that other pop singers like Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears made their debuts. Like Jessica, Mandy's debut was more innocent in nature then the other so-called "pop princesses" though the album, "So Real" did not get much attention. Because of this, Mandy released a "special edition" album, entitled "I Wanna Be With You" the year after. This album contained some new songs, some from her first album and a couple of remixes. Normally, a move like this would not work very well but the album is still great, especially if (like me) you have not heard the original debut. Mandy's vocals are more high-pitched and not as strong as other singers but they suit her style impeccably, for the most part anyway.

The album begins with a new song, the title track, "I Wanna Be With You". This is a sweet, breathy ballad that fits well with Mandy's voice. The song really doesn't have anything new to say but it is sung so sweetly that it really does not matter. The vocals during the bridge are not quite as strong as I would have liked but they sound nice nevertheless. Next up is another new song, "Everything My Heart Desires", an upbeat track that comes a little too close to overshadowing Mandy's vocals in the chorus. Lyrically it could use some work. Most would think that Mandy does not have a strong enough voice for this style of song but she actually manages to get through and does a great job. The last four lines appeal to me for some reason though I'm not sure why. ("The best thing underneath the stars, you're everything my heart desires. Don't change, stay the way you are, you're everything my heart desires").

"Want You Back" follows and begins beautifully, once again showcasing Mandy's breathy vocals. The vocals in the chorus sound a little off to me but that does not take away too much from the quality of the song. The part towards the end of the song, where Mandy sings the chorus but not quite as breathily (you'll understand when you hear the song) sounds particularly great. Up next is "The Way To My Heart" which is enjoyable but more forgettable then most of the rest of the material on this album. Mandy's vocals are actually a little stronger in this song, probably because it was not taken from her debut. The song is nice enough and pleasant to listen to but does not stand out. After that comes the first of three remixes. This time it is the remix of "So Real", a song I have never particularly been a fan of. However, the background music in this song makes it sound great. Mandy sounds particularly young in this song and the lyrics aren't great but it is still a quality remix.

Next comes two of my personal favourites, "Lock Me In Your Heart" and "Walk Me Home", both of which were on Mandy's first album. I actually found "Lock Me In Your Heart" quite irritating and cheesy at first but it quickly won me over. The way Mandy sang this song was extremely sweet and beautiful. The song borders on being too repetitive but never quite gets there. Instead, Mandy's breathy vocals are once again showcased wonderfully and the lyrics are not nearly as bad as I initially thought. I first heard "Walk Me Home" on an episode of Lizzie McGuire, without knowing that it was Mandy Moore. I loved the song but had no idea what it was called or who it was by. So, I of course was surprised when I bought this album and found it on here. This song is probably one of the best in terms of lyrical quality as well as showcasing Mandy's innocent vocals.

Up next is the mildly annoying "I Like It". This song is quite weak vocally and does not suit Mandy at all. This song probably wouldn't have been so bad if the vocals had fit better with the beat. The lyrics are also quite repetitive, mostly in the chorus, and the song is at least a minute too long. The original version of "So Real" follows and while this version is pretty good, I actually prefer the remix that appeared earlier in the album. I do still like the way Mandy sings the line "I just can't let you go" during the chorus. After that comes a remix of Mandy's single, "Candy". I also disliked this song at first but it grew on me. Mandy sounds quite off in several places (when she sings "me", it sounds like "may") but the chorus sounds great and is what got me to like this song in the first place. A touching ballad, "Your Face" comes next and though Mandy's voice is not strong enough for this kind of song, she still manages to make it great. The lyrics are especially beautiful. Lastly there is a remix of the title track. This is a nice addition but probably could have been left off in favour of something more original.

Overall Mark: 4/5

Despite the lack of recognition Mandy got from her original debut, she manages to bounce back with this entertaining version. What Mandy lacks in vocal strength, she makes up for solely by choosing the right material to show off her voice. The major issue I have with this album is that there are only ten real songs, as two of them show up in duplicates ("So Real" and the title track). While the remixes aren't bad, it probably would have been better to include only one version of each of these as well a couple more new songs. Nevertheless, with this album, Mandy proves that she can provide a great album and can stand on her own against other pop singers. Mandy's second attempt at a debut proves to be consistent as well as great.
September 22, 2004

A Great Pop Record

This has definitely got to be one of my most treasured albums. I enjoy nearly every track on it & I feel that this CD is full of good pop tracks. Miss Moore's second U.S. single, "I Wanna Be With You", was a smash hit. Its lyrics are beautiful & they really touch the heart. Moore's vocals are angelic, breathy, & passionate. The music itself is wavy, relaxing, gentle, tender, heavenly; etc. A beautiful love ballad & one of the best songs in the world. Very radio-friendly. This particular CD is a Special Edtion of the platinum-certified MM debut record, "So Real", & contains four tracks from it: "Lock Me In Your Heart", "Walk Me Home" (Moore's third American single), "I Like It", & the Australian hit, "So Real". Three remixed Moore singles as well: "Candy" (Wade Robson Remix), "So Real" (Wade Robson Remix), & "I Wanna Be With You (Soul Solution Remix). The five newer songs on here (including "I Wanna Be With You") are all amazing! They're so incredible. It's a shame that none of the other four were released to radio-play. "Everything My Heart Desires" is a great dance-pop track & can put nearly anyone in a feel-good mood. Moore's voice sounds innocent-like; yet the slightest bit smokey because of some of her lower-keyed & funky vocals. "Want You Back" is a ballad most teenagers & young adults can relate to. It's about breaking up with someone & the regret & sorrow that follows afterwords. Wondering if your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend still has love feelings for you. "The Way To My Heart" completely blew myself away when I first listened to the entire track. I adore how the tune of the song changes into more of a positive & glad one towards the end of it. Its words are rather corny...yet they speak of truth when it comes to loving someone. Mandy sings this awesomely. Oh my goodness..."Your Face" is the eleventh track on the disc & Moore has received a massive amount of good critical discussion involving the powerful vocal range delivered here. "Your Face" is quite romantic with its sentences drenched in purity & Mandy, once more, uses the angel whispers within her extraordinary talent. Magnificant song! The best songs from this fantastic love album are "I Wanna Be With You", "Everything My Heart Desires", "Want You Back, "The Way To My Heart", "So Real" (Wade Robson Remix), "Walk Me Home", "I Like It", "So Real", & "Your Face".

Most certainly, this CD is a better music offering than the CD, "So Real". It's even greater than Moore's official sophomore self-titled CD. The gold-selling & Middle-Eastern-oriented, "Mandy Moore". And believe me...that's awfully difficult to beat.

"I Wanna Be With You" (Special Edition) featuring the smash, "I Wanna Be With You", & the three revamped singles, "I Wanna Be With You (Soul Solution Remix), "Candy" (Wade Robson Remix), & "So Real" (Wade Robson Remix). August 25, 2004

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