The countdown to dance diva-legend-extraordinaire Cher’s 26th studio album has begun. The set is expected to include lead single “Woman’s World” and Lady Gaga duet, “The Greatest Thing”. While we wait for what is sure to be a phenomenal return by the real queen, a look back at Cher’s 2001, and most recent, effort Living Proof was required. Coming off the high that was Believe, one of Cher’s biggest commercial successes, which sold roughly 3.6 million copies in the U.S. alone, the artist waited three years to release her next album. Living Proof was an unfortunately overlooked release, only selling half a million copies and experiencing a lackluster performance on the album and singles charts. Amazing from beginning to end, no filler included, the album shows Cher sticking with her dance/pop formula while giving flawless vocal performances throughout. If something isn’t broken, why mess with it? A guilty pleasure? Maybe.
In 2001, Europe was lucky enough to first receive the brilliant album with “The Music’s No Good Without You” serving as its lead single. Cher practically invented AutoTune, turned the mistake into a huge number one smash and decided to stick to what worked before. The song’s minute-long intro showcases the artist’s barely recognizable, robotic vocals in front of an electronic beat. As a whole, the track is a success, but failed to match previous hits.
One of the album’s real gems unfortunately never saw the light in the U.S. “Alive Again” has Cher belting out lyrics describing a deteriorating relationship. The artist is broken at first, but knows soon she will be able to live again. “Then maybe I can stop the leaves from falling, I only wanna learn to freeze the flames”, the queen sings on the beautiful, mid-tempo ballad that has surprisingly never been performed live.
With the album’s U.S. release date set for February 2002, stateside fans were treated to “Song For the Lonely” as the effort’s lead single. Rumored to be inspired by the tragic attacks of Sept. 11th, the song is an uplifting anthem of getting back up every time you are knocked down. Cher’s vocals steal the show, why the song was not a huge hit is shocking to me. The message is empowering, the vocals are great, as are the lyrics. Perfect combo.
The dance creations keep pouring out with “Different Kind of Love Song”. AutoTune is present once again, but Cher knew how to use the tool to her advantage, never coming off cheap or annoying as it does today. The artist’s vocals are soft, but still strong enough to carry a powerful punch. The production is fun, the lyrics are simple, sometimes cheesy, but still hold meaning. Another single that never got to shine.
The album’s first true ballad, “Rain Rain”, changes the pace and tone for the better. With simple instrumentals as support, Cher sings that her days have been dark and grey since her love left from her life. “Rain rain in my heart, every day that we’re apart”, she sings with a convincing delivery that allows listeners to feel every emotion. The song is a heartbreaking pop gem most people probably don’t even know exists.
“Love So High” carries a Spanish-influenced vibe as the artist reminisces on a love that once was perfect. The song showcases Cher’s wide vocal range, going from low and sultry on the verses and then kicking up to high gear once the addictive chorus comes along. Apparently love never dies in Cher’s eyes and you are able to hear the hurt in her voice. Experienced a recent break up? Play this song and cry out loud.
The Spanish vibe continues with “Body to Body, Heart to Heart”. Some critics have labeled the track as the weakest moment on the album, but I couldn’t disagree more. The songwriting may not be epic or groundbreaking, but that is all forgotten once the chorus comes through the speakers and Cher hits those notes that will make anyone’s hips begin to shake. It is a song that only someone like the queen could make come alive.
Hit after hit keep on coming with “Love Is a Lonely Place Without You”, a track that summarizes the type of artist Cher reinvented herself as in the late 90s/early 00s. “Love is a place I have to hide away, I’ll never love this way again”, she sings with a voice fit for heaven. Yes, the topic once again is love and heartbreak, but that never gets old as long as Cher is the one singing. The long, overdrawn notes, the angelic voice, everything is perfect.
Lovers rejoice! “Real Love” is the anthem and theme song for any relationship getting off the ground. The artist has the perfect man by her side and is starting to look at life in a whole new way. Cher is love struck and she is letting those feelings seep into her music. The production is what the early 00s was all about, it is weird yet refreshing to hear it again. Middle, Daft Punk-sounding breakdown may be out of place and unnecessary, but otherwise great.
“Love One Another” is just too good to describe, but let’s try. Once again Cher takes decent material to a whole different level. Lines such as “a fist is just a hand, it can come apart” would normally make a listener cringe and laugh for the wrong reasons, but this is Cher we are talking about. The words that come out of her mouth are the word we will forever live by. This song of acceptance and unbounded love is a real pleasure.
If one song had to be the weakest link it would have to be “You Take It All”. Now, the song is far from bad, but I could do without the dated intro. After the first minute or so, the track picks up the pace and turns into something so much better. The performance is a lot slower than the preceding tracks, the tone is warm and comforting, but the lyrics paint a more somber picture. Good song, nothing remarkable.
The album closes out with a cover of “When the Money’s Gone”, a song Cher does such a good job at making her own, I had no idea it was even a cover. The artist asks the one who has her heart if he will stay by her side when all the lavish amenities are long gone. She wants to know if it’s true love she is staring at, or was it the nice cars, caviar and big bank account that really mattered.
Living Proof is an album that never gets old, even 11 years after its release. From beginning to end, great song after great song tells emotional stories of a blossoming love that eventually comes to a tragic end. In between, songs of empowerment, acceptance and self-love are thrown in to really make the album a feel-good project. Singles such as “Song For the Lonely” and “Different Kind of Love Song” may have failed due to lack of proper promotion, but the power they hold today is proof that Cher is a true artist, capable of crafting timeless pop/dance masterpieces. With a new album just on the horizon, I look back at this effort and pray the artist doesn’t stray too far from this formula. Living Proof is perfect. The end.
Tracks to Hear: “Alive Again”, “Rain Rain”, “Love Is a Lonely Place Without You” and “Love One Another”
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