SCHAFFER_REVIEW2

Artist: Vanessa Carlton Title: Be Not Nobody Release date: April 30, 2002 [|A & M Records]

When most of us hear the name [|Vanessa Carlton], we automatically think of her most well known song, “[|A Thousand Miles]”, and start chanting the lyrics. “Making my way downtown…” 22 year old Vanessa, classically trained pianist and ex-ballerina, creates a debut album full of songs that express emotional love and life experiences. A soulful and pop album, //[|Be Not Nobody]// is sweet, dynamic, with a unique catchy tone to each song. Vanessa explains, "Be Not Nobody is where I am at in my life right now. I know I'm only 21 but I had to go through a lot at that dance school. I lost a lot of who I was. I fell apart and it was really hard. You feel completely alone, like no one cares. Writing this record let me recapture who I am. It is summed up in the title //Be Not Nobody//. You need to feel comfortable in your skin and do whatever you need to do for yourself, to heal or to grow." Vanessa was [|nominated] for 2 Grammy Awards; Record of the Year and Song of the Year (A Thousand Miles) as well as an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist. She won the 2003 **BMI Pop Award** for “A Thousand Miles” and the 2002 **VH1 Big Award** for best song, “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.” “A Thousand Miles”, her most popular hit that reached number one for four straight weeks, is one of those songs that everyone from young teens to matured adults is familiar with. Accompanying herself on the piano, Vanessa plays and sings her heart out to the profound, lyrical, catchy melody about her man of interest. Including an orchestration made up of selective strings, multiple pianos, and harmonious vocals, the song fit for either a happy or sad mood. People can relate to her lyrics as they are an example of realistic situations that most people go through. “It’s always times like these when I think of you and I wonder if you ever think of me...” ([|Lyrics from A Thousand Miles]) Whether or not this applies to you and your significant other, we become attached to these universal lyrics. In her first album, Vanessa Carlton really displays her songwriting skills and piano abilities. The appealing melodies can each be classified as a unique piece, yet have the same thing in common, piano. It is rare to find a young, attractive artist whose songwriting abilities match her piano talent. Her style is different than the pop norm; however it is a rare album that is rather enjoyable. It is actually alluring because of what she could potentially achieve next. Vanessa’s creativeness and potential can lead her to endless success and popularity. Out of four stars, I would rate this a four. Each song on the album conveys a new emotion with a refreshing unique melody. Most of all, her lyrics are relatable and easy going. Being a pianist myself, I see Vanessa’s music as pleasurable to play as I attempt to mimic her incomparable skills… and I think we all know how that turned out.