Some Hits and Misses:

1. Gotta Tell You - her first single, and the best song on the album. It hit #4 on the charts with its catchy beats and hooks, and it's one of the few songs on the air right now that actually seems to have a point to it: "Don't wanna love you if you don't love me/Don't wanna need you if you won't need me too..." (5/5)

2. Body II Body - a hit in Europe, but as far as I'm aware has not been released in the US... *Kimmie pauses to read other reviews* ...a David Bowie remake? ...*pauses to check the CD case*...why, yes it is. What do you know, Amazon.com reviews teach you something new everyday. :-D

Anyway. The song itself isn't bad, if a bit stereotypical in its message...it's your average party song. (4/5)

5. Lately - I never liked this song when it was first released by Divine (personal preference, feel free to disagree), so my opinion is biased here. Suffice to say that I agree with the other reviewers that it was too early to do a remix of this song. (2/5)

7. Always Come Back to Your Love - There's just something likable about this song. I think it's the heavy beat compared to the softer vocals. With its relatively simple lyrics, this is one of those "filler" songs that you wish every singer had. (5/5)

8. The Boy - track eight seems not to have fared well on either sides of the Atlantic. On the US release it is called "The Boy," and is way too repetitive and senseless for my tastes. (1/5)

9. Feelin' is right - one of the better dance songs, this one might do well as a single if it was just a tad more creative. (4.5/5)

10. Never Meant to Be - The lone ballad...I don't count "Lately." ^_^ But an excellent addition to the album that features her voice well. (5/5)

If you like standard pop, I recommend this album. Though it would be wise to use `Body II Body' as your measuring stick rather than `Gotta Tell You,' because that's the sound the album follows (Europop) and if you like that, you'll like the album. The CD has gotten fairly good magazine reviews, if you like to judge by that angle...and Samantha herself co-writes seven of the songs, if you value that. If you're a fan of pop music or female vocalists, you'll probably like this album...just place the emphasis on pop. Otherwise...well, to sound like a stodgy schoolmarm, "Samantha is not living up to her potential." While she does has the potential to be a "baby diva," as she refers to herself in one of her songs, cross your fingers that she expands on her sophomore release. If so, that's when she'll be the full-fledged diva, and I'll be first in line for the album.


I Give Her Effort...but...   January 25, 2001
LAB1 (somewhere upstate NY, USA)
0 out of 11 found this review helpful

No, no, no, no! I mean, I give her credit for trying to pursue her dream, but why pursue it if you sing like a retarded cow and look like one too? She looks like one of those starving children on those commercials with a good hairdo. Besides that, her vocals are weak and blank sounding.