Mandy Moore

I Wanna Be With You

If At First You Don't Succeed... Make A Second Version

Review Score:

(8/10)
Mandy Moore made her debut at the age of fifteen, in the same year that other pop singers like Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears made their debuts. Like Jessica, Mandy's debut was more innocent in nature then the other so-called "pop princesses" though the album, "So Real" did not get much attention. Because of this, Mandy released a "special edition" album, entitled "I Wanna Be With You" the year after. This album contained some new songs, some from her first album and a couple of remixes. Normally, a move like this would not work very well but the album is still great, especially if (like me) you have not heard the original debut. Mandy's vocals are more high-pitched and not as strong as other singers but they suit her style impeccably, for the most part anyway.

The album begins with a new song, the title track, "I Wanna Be With You". This is a sweet, breathy ballad that fits well with Mandy's voice. The song really doesn't have anything new to say but it is sung so sweetly that it really does not matter. The vocals during the bridge are not quite as strong as I would have liked but they sound nice nevertheless. Next up is another new song, "Everything My Heart Desires", an upbeat track that comes a little too close to overshadowing Mandy's vocals in the chorus. Lyrically it could use some work. Most would think that Mandy does not have a strong enough voice for this style of song but she actually manages to get through and does a great job. The last four lines appeal to me for some reason though I'm not sure why. ("The best thing underneath the stars, you're everything my heart desires. Don't change, stay the way you are, you're everything my heart desires").

"Want You Back" follows and begins beautifully, once again showcasing Mandy's breathy vocals. The vocals in the chorus sound a little off to me but that does not take away too much from the quality of the song. The part towards the end of the song, where Mandy sings the chorus but not quite as breathily (you'll understand when you hear the song) sounds particularly great. Up next is "The Way To My Heart" which is enjoyable but more forgettable then most of the rest of the material on this album. Mandy's vocals are actually a little stronger in this song, probably because it was not taken from her debut. The song is nice enough and pleasant to listen to but does not stand out. After that comes the first of three remixes. This time it is the remix of "So Real", a song I have never particularly been a fan of. However, the background music in this song makes it sound great. Mandy sounds particularly young in this song and the lyrics aren't great but it is still a quality remix.

Next comes two of my personal favourites, "Lock Me In Your Heart" and "Walk Me Home", both of which were on Mandy's first album. I actually found "Lock Me In Your Heart" quite irritating and cheesy at first but it quickly won me over. The way Mandy sang this song was extremely sweet and beautiful. The song borders on being too repetitive but never quite gets there. Instead, Mandy's breathy vocals are once again showcased wonderfully and the lyrics are not nearly as bad as I initially thought. I first heard "Walk Me Home" on an episode of Lizzie McGuire, without knowing that it was Mandy Moore. I loved the song but had no idea what it was called or who it was by. So, I of course was surprised when I bought this album and found it on here. This song is probably one of the best in terms of lyrical quality as well as showcasing Mandy's innocent vocals.

Up next is the mildly annoying "I Like It". This song is quite weak vocally and does not suit Mandy at all. This song probably wouldn't have been so bad if the vocals had fit better with the beat. The lyrics are also quite repetitive, mostly in the chorus, and the song is at least a minute too long. The original version of "So Real" follows and while this version is pretty good, I actually prefer the remix that appeared earlier in the album. I do still like the way Mandy sings the line "I just can't let you go" during the chorus. After that comes a remix of Mandy's single, "Candy". I also disliked this song at first but it grew on me. Mandy sounds quite off in several places (when she sings "me", it sounds like "may") but the chorus sounds great and is what got me to like this song in the first place. A touching ballad, "Your Face" comes next and though Mandy's voice is not strong enough for this kind of song, she still manages to make it great. The lyrics are especially beautiful. Lastly there is a remix of the title track. This is a nice addition but probably could have been left off in favour of something more original.

Overall Mark: 4/5

Despite the lack of recognition Mandy got from her original debut, she manages to bounce back with this entertaining version. What Mandy lacks in vocal strength, she makes up for solely by choosing the right material to show off her voice. The major issue I have with this album is that there are only ten real songs, as two of them show up in duplicates ("So Real" and the title track). While the remixes aren't bad, it probably would have been better to include only one version of each of these as well a couple more new songs. Nevertheless, with this album, Mandy proves that she can provide a great album and can stand on her own against other pop singers. Mandy's second attempt at a debut proves to be consistent as well as great.

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