The Promise (Il Divo album)
Encyclopedia
The Promise is the fifth studio album by the operatic pop
group, Il Divo
. The Promise was released globally on November 10, except in the US and Canada, where it was released November 18, Ireland where it was released on November 7, and Japan, on 26 November.
The album reached the No.1 spot in the UK on 16 November. The album was produced by Steve Mac
. It was announced on 10 September, that it will be named The Promise, although the tracklisting was at this time not yet disclosed.. In early messages to people who are members of the band's official site's mailiing list, it revealed to them that 'Il Divo return with their richest and most diverse album to date.' It also revealed that the album would have twelve songs. Cover songs confirmed at this time were: Frankie Goes To Hollywood
's The Power Of Love
; 'a haunting and beautiful interpretation of Leonard Cohen
's Hallelujah'; the smouldering intensity of Adagio; and the fourth confirmed song then was ABBA
's The Winner Takes It All
.
The Promise contains seven covers of existing songs, along with four new songs written especially for the album. The new songs included are: La Promessa (Italian), Enamorado (Spanish), Angelina (Spanish) and La Luna (Italian). Also contained on the album is a cover of the chart topping song She
made famous by French tenor Charles Aznavour
. L'Alba Del Mondo is an Italian adaption of the song I Knew I Loved You, a famous song based on Deborah's Theme from Once Upon A Time In America
and written by Ennio Morricone
. The final track on the album is a cover of the traditional hymn
, Amazing Grace
.
On October 24, 2008, Il Divo
flew across the ocean overnight specially for the Oprah Winfrey Show
after they had been called by Oprah on the phone on their way in the airport for a post-album recording vacation, to give a special performance on the show, where they performed the song Amazing Grace
. Following this the hymn made it into the MTV
US top 20.
The Album peaked No. 1 on the top classical albums on Billboard charts
, and up until Sept 12, 2009, It spent 43 straight weeks in the Top 10 list.
Operatic pop
Operatic pop, pop opera or popera is a subgenre of pop music that is performed in an operatic style, or a song, theme or motif from classical music stylized as pop. The term popera and adjectives poperatic and popical are used by some media editors and music reviewers...
group, Il Divo
Il Divo
Il Divo is a multinational operatic pop vocal group created by music manager, executive, and reality TV star Simon Cowell. Formed in the United Kingdom, they are also signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music...
. The Promise was released globally on November 10, except in the US and Canada, where it was released November 18, Ireland where it was released on November 7, and Japan, on 26 November.
The album reached the No.1 spot in the UK on 16 November. The album was produced by Steve Mac
Steve Mac
Steve Mac , is a songwriter, record producer and owner of Rokstone Studios in London.He has produced more than 22 number one singles in the UK and had several multi-million selling albums worldwide...
. It was announced on 10 September, that it will be named The Promise, although the tracklisting was at this time not yet disclosed.. In early messages to people who are members of the band's official site's mailiing list, it revealed to them that 'Il Divo return with their richest and most diverse album to date.' It also revealed that the album would have twelve songs. Cover songs confirmed at this time were: Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
's The Power Of Love
The Power of Love (Frankie Goes to Hollywood song)
Holly Johnson, former singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, recorded his own version of "The Power of Love" which was released on his 1999 album Soulstream and was released as a single which made #56 in the UK. The single stayed in the charts for 2 weeks...
; 'a haunting and beautiful interpretation of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's Hallelujah'; the smouldering intensity of Adagio; and the fourth confirmed song then was ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
's The Winner Takes It All
The Winner Takes It All
"The Winner Takes It All" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released as the first single from the group's Super Trouper album on July 21, 1980, it is a ballad in the key of F-sharp major, reflecting the end of a romance...
.
The Promise contains seven covers of existing songs, along with four new songs written especially for the album. The new songs included are: La Promessa (Italian), Enamorado (Spanish), Angelina (Spanish) and La Luna (Italian). Also contained on the album is a cover of the chart topping song She
She (Charles Aznavour song)
"She" is the title of a song written, recorded and released by Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer.It reached number 1 in the UK single charts in 1974, but was not successful in the USA or France...
made famous by French tenor Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
. L'Alba Del Mondo is an Italian adaption of the song I Knew I Loved You, a famous song based on Deborah's Theme from Once Upon A Time In America
Once Upon a Time in America
Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 Italian epic crime film co-written and directed by Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The story chronicles the lives of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence in New York City's world of organized crime...
and written by Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
. The final track on the album is a cover of the traditional hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
.
On October 24, 2008, Il Divo
Il Divo
Il Divo is a multinational operatic pop vocal group created by music manager, executive, and reality TV star Simon Cowell. Formed in the United Kingdom, they are also signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music...
flew across the ocean overnight specially for the Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
after they had been called by Oprah on the phone on their way in the airport for a post-album recording vacation, to give a special performance on the show, where they performed the song Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
. Following this the hymn made it into the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
US top 20.
The Album peaked No. 1 on the top classical albums on Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, and up until Sept 12, 2009, It spent 43 straight weeks in the Top 10 list.
Track listing
- "The Power of LoveThe Power of Love (Frankie Goes to Hollywood song)Holly Johnson, former singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, recorded his own version of "The Power of Love" which was released on his 1999 album Soulstream and was released as a single which made #56 in the UK. The single stayed in the charts for 2 weeks...
(La Fuerza Mayor)" - "La PromessaFrancesco GaltieriFrancesco Galtieri is a successful lyricist, composer & producer. He began songwriting at a very early age, after listening to classical, pop, rock, country & "commercial" music. He realised that the "art of songwriting" was his life....
" - "Adagio"
- "Hallelujah (Aleluya)"
- "L'Alba Del Mondo" (Italian adaption of Deborah's Theme by Ennio MorriconeEnnio MorriconeEnnio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
) - "Enamorado"
- "Angelina"
- "The Winner Takes It AllThe Winner Takes It All"The Winner Takes It All" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released as the first single from the group's Super Trouper album on July 21, 1980, it is a ballad in the key of F-sharp major, reflecting the end of a romance...
(Va Todo Al Ganador)" - "La Luna"
- "SheShe (Charles Aznavour song)"She" is the title of a song written, recorded and released by Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer.It reached number 1 in the UK single charts in 1974, but was not successful in the USA or France...
" - "Amazing GraceAmazing Grace"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
" - Bonus track available exclusively to Barnes and Noble customers: "With You I'm Born Again (Por Ti Vuelvo A Nacer)"