Review of Annie Lennox : Medusa/Live in Central Park
1995 RCA release, a double slimline jewel case containing hersmash 1994 covers album 'Medusa' and a nine track bonus CD featuring the studio version of Paul Simon's 'Something So Right' (with Simon guesting on vocals & guitar) and eight tracks recorded live in Central Park in New York City on September 9th, 1995: 'Money Can't Buy It', 'Legend In My Living Room', her Eurythmics's hits 'Who's That Girl?' & 'Here Comes The Rain Again', plus 'Why', 'You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart', 'Little Bird' and 'Walking On Broken Glass'. 19 tracks total.

Users's Reviews - Annie Lennox : Medusa/Live in Central Park...better than original Medusa CD
I like Medusa/Live in Central Park because of Annie's choice of tracks and updated styles. All tracks are so different to the originals except for A Whiter Shade of Pale. This track is almost kept in its pristine manner. Whether the Harpsichord is real, or synthesized through a keyboard, it is a touching choice of instrument voice for the song. Speaking of instruments, Annie's vocal workouts on the inspirational Train in Vain are no less than amazing. Never before have I heard such a moving tune done by her.

While waiting for Medusa to be released, before I bought the original 1 disc version, I thought anything would be good from Annie. I wasn't wrong, but slightly disappointed because there was nothing new and original to her name. But, because of No more I love you's, I decided I just had to get the cd/s.

Now about the Live part.
Two things come to mind when writing this review. One is that when I bought the cd, I had already seen the concert from which the live selections (disc 2) come from. The concert was excellent, and the background sound and accoustics are and were pretty nice. I appreciate having at least the live version of Little Bird on cd, even if the original video never made it to Annie's Totally Diva DVD. I haven't been too fond of the live Eurythmics selections, but You've placed a chill in my heart is an exception too! Good improvisations. Annie knows exactly where and when to kick in with her emotional and moving song extensions in her live performances.

The interior photo is nice, with Annie in her plaid outfit. It's so like her! I like the duet version of Something so Right. Fits right in considering it was Paul Simon who originally wrote the song. Waiting in Vain is so pretty too, with all it's layering of vocals and soulful tones.

Compared to the original release of Medusa, Medusa/Live in Central Park is pretty with the pale blue cd booklet and back sleeve. It's much nicer than the way too simple original.
Most of the songs on Medusa I've never heard of. That's why when I noticed that the cd was entirely made up of cover tunes, it surprised me at just how modernized I was. I needed a little bit of the older great rock and pop classics in my head.

Where did Annie get the idea of putting letter type all over her face? Is it actually real, or is it put on using photoshop? I wonder. Whatever it is, it's a bit tacky and really not very pretty compared to the Diva album cover image. I found Annie too simple in the Medusa images. What my expectations were, were that she wear makeup like on Diva, but maybe less voluptuous.

Despite my small complaints, I am really happy to have found this marvelous 2 cd set. Shows that some songs are meant to be timeless. So are the songs on Medusa.

Your latest reviews - Annie Lennox : Emotional and Artistic
I was and am a big fan of Eurythmics. However, I was unsure of whether I would be as big a fan of Annie Lennox as a solo artist. Then I saw the video for "No More I Love Yous" and I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the song and Annie Lennox's interpretation. It took me a while to buy this CD, but I am very glad that I did.

The song "No More I Love Yous" was written by David Freeman and Joseph Hughes in about 1986. I have never heard their original version, but Annie Lennox puts her heart into surreal aspects of the song, as the song describes what happens when feelings leave words behind. While aspects of this song sound like they are gimmicks, this song is nicely produced and orchestrated in an almost ironic way. I am unable to explain why I enjoy this song so much, but I suspect it is because I too have felt such strong emotions that I lose my ability to describe them. This song won a Grammy award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1995.

"Take Me to the River" switches from the emotional charge of the previous song to a style that reminds me of the music of Eurythmics. This song has a pulsing beat and aggressive vocals that challenge you to ignore the song, which is difficult to do. This song is quite a contrast with the delicacy of the opening song.

Procol Harum provides Lennox with the classic "A Whiter Shade of Pale." As with the opening song, Annie imbues this song with a style and emotion that is deeper than that provided by Procol Harum, though I still enjoy the original as well. I also appreciate the possibly inadvertent connection between this song and the opening song. This song is full of fantastic images that once again reflect on the lack of ability to describe things with mere words.

Keeping on a classic vein is "Don't Let It Bring You Down," a Neil Young song that is given a marvelously mellow interpretation by Lennox. This time the sound is big and powerful and Annie Lennox keeps her voice relatively quiet and high. The quiet singing is somehow as powerful as shouts from the rooftop.

The beat changes in Lennox's cover of Bob Marley's "Train in Vain." I appreciate this song after the backing vocals and then the trumpet kicks in. This song keeps some of original flavor, but the song has added soul and jazz elements to spice things up. "Waiting in Vain" is another Bob Marley song that is reasonably well done and located at the ninth track, but I think I prefer the former song to this one.

Styles change again with "Can't Get Next to You." This song is sung in an R&B style with a faster pace. The strings and acoustic guitar adding a Spanish flavor are excellent touches that provide interesting contrasts at key points in the song.

"Downtown Lights" is the longest song on this CD, and allows for a lot of musical exploration. This song is mellow pop with very catchy hooks. This song has one fault in that for part of the song the phrase "How do I know you feel it" seems to go on for far too long. Otherwise this song is perfect pop and very nicely interpreted.

"The Thin Line between Love and Hate" is similarly mellow, with a much more serious subject. This Pretender's song describes how a peaceful, faithful woman can only be that way for so long, until one day she snaps. I am reminded of some of Eurythmics' music again, as the treatment and equality of women was a frequent topic of that group. The harmonies on this song are beautiful, and the pop music surrounding the vocals is a cozy blanket that is ironic given the topic of the song.

I like Paul Simon's song "Something So Right," and I think I prefer it to this version. However, Lennox's interpretation is still quite good and ranks close to Paul Simon's original. The emotions are deeper in this version, but perhaps the emotions run a little too deep and the song becomes just a little too dramatic. Regardless, this song is still very good.

The question regarding any work of art, musical or otherwise, is how you feel about the experience once the experience is over. When I first began this review I had predetermined that the CD should get five stars. But I realized I was focused on the most incredible music on this CD and my love of Annie Lennox's vocals, and I had ignored the music on this CD that detracted in some way from the original. I enjoy this CD and have listened to it many times, and will listen to it many more. However, the music is not perfect. The CD has a prominent place in my collection, and I regard it as excellent pop that is in that gray area between very good and great.