Diana DeGarmo - Blue Skies

Diana DeGarmo's is a voice--a big, melting, LeAnn Rimes-y kind of voice--in need of a sound, and on this, her debut disc, a team of experts including legendary producer Clive Davis attempts to find her one. The overall effect is a little like watching the baby faced would-be American Idol champ try on outfits at a department store: Half the time, she's riffling around the junior department, churning out angsty teen anthems (check lyrics like "I'm the one that you want/You know I'm heaven sent/I'm a little Lynyrd Skynyrd/A little 50 Cent" from "Then I Woke Up"), and the other half she's trying to find her size in the more grown-up misses racks (both "Blue Skies" and "Dreams" are drenched in an inspirational, Amy Grant-ish vibe best suited to lite FM radio). Luckily, DeGarmo's vocal derring-do saves her from seeming rudderless. The sweet, adult-leaning "Go On and Cry" proves for time eternal that 17-year-old pipes can soar, and the Idol showstopper "Don't Cry Out Loud," a cover of the Melissa Manchester classic, along with "Boy Like You" earn her instant access to the big-belter club. Blue Skies may run into clouds finding its audience, but it forecasts a clear career horizon for the talented DeGarmo. -Tammy La Gorce Amazon.com

A singer who manages to make LOUD kind of fun

19 Productions American Idol CDs have never been much for subtlety. Time after time I've listened to an album that starts out promisingly with some really catchy tracks, but by the time I get to Track 7 or 8 I'm ready to scream "Enough already!" After a while the only image in my mind is of someone banging their head against a wall over and over and over...

"Blue Skies" is not really an exception to this general rule, and like other AI discs, it could have benefited by a least a couple of songs with a bit of restraint and understatement, but I have to hand it to DeGarmo - somehow her voice made it work this time.

Highlight tracks for me were "Cardboard Castles", "All I Never Wanted", and "Don't Cry Out Loud", but there are no real clinkers here. Even a silly piece of fluff like "Boy Like You" has a certain appeal when sung by a performer who manages to be able to combine a certain purity of tone with a surprising sense of humor.

I did not see Seasaon 3 of Idol, but I'm beginning to understand why Diana DeGarmo made it so high. It's a shame this CD didn't prove to be the first step to an AI success story. I'm hoping her new project in the works will take her where she wants to go. (And, a little bit of subtlety along the way couldn't hurt.) June 26, 2008

Diana DeGarmo / Blue Skies

This Cd is fantastic, music and vocals are strong especially the song "A Boy Like You". You won't be disappointed, I wasn't. I highly recommend this Cd x 5. March 11, 2008

WONDERFULL

THIS GIRL SHOULD OF WON.DIANA IS A GREAT SINGER I LOVE HER CD!!! EVEN IF IT DEBUTE AT NUMBA #51 IN THE BILLBOARD IT DOSENT MEAN IT'S A BAD CD THIS CD IS VERY GOOD AT LEAST SHE CAME IN #2ND PLACE IN AMERICAN IDOL SHE IS A GREAT SINGER!! January 2, 2007

The kind of voice to give you goose bumps!

I have become an avid follower of the idol groups since its inception a couple of years back. Scouting for new talent becomes easy when you have this kind of competition on the go. Diana Degarmo has an absolutely stunning vocal ability. My favorite song is "don't cry out loud" which I believe she sang in the competition as well. I orginally heard this track done by Shirley Bassey a very heavy and almost dramatic rendition. Diana gives this song wings. She has an amazing vocal range and the produciton and arrangement on this album is first class. I highly recomend this to people looking for a combination of superior quality and great vocal talent. November 7, 2006

Surprised...didn't even look when it debuted..

I didn't give this young girl much credence when she came in second to Fantasia (wasn't really into Tasia, either.) Since I have been searching Clay ( my ultimate Idol) for his new "Without You" I have had to "endure" all the other Idol contestants. I was behind a bunch of them, but didn't pay much attention to Diana. Since I have listened to all of them on IdolWaves, I have come to just love Diana's stylings. I don't think anyone gave her much of a chance. Check her out...she has some very good cuts on this album. You go, Diana...love Kathy4clay from Wyoming, but willing to give you a chance.!!!!! September 3, 2006

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