Il Divo’s brand of classical pop

The quartet Il Divo is the result of an intensive search conducted over a period of two years in several countries by American Idol judge Simon Cowell. The process of creating a group out of diverse personalities is nothing new. This was already being done successfully as far back as the ‘60s with the hitmaking teen group the Monkees as the best known example. What made this one different was that the search was only for classical singers, not pop. I believe that the idea was something like, let’s grab these guys before they get into the serious business of opera and become heirs to Pavarotti.

Then there was that other requirement. While most of the searches for new pop idols focused on singing talent, this one also required good looks. Since they will not be singing La Boheme on stage in heavy make-up, the boys of Il Divo must also look good. Think GQ models. The result would be a group of guapos singing beautiful melodies like archangels from heaven above. Nice idea and as the first self-titled album with the classical version of Unbreak My Heart (Regresa a mi) handily proved, also a successful one. As of this writing, Il Divo has already sold five million albums worldwide.

The latest by Il Divo is entitled Ancora and it sticks pretty much to the group’s formula of classical voices doing pop melodies. Ancora is an even bigger hit because it made No. 1 in Billboard Magazine’s Top 200 album list. That means that these newcomers went over the heads of the likes of Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and other pop idols. Top song in the album is I Believe in You which features Celine Dion.

The other cuts are All by Myself (Solo Otra Vez), Isabel, You Raise Me Up, Si Tu Me Amas, Hasta Mi Final, Heroe, En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor, Esisti Dentro De Me and Pour Que Tu M’amimes Encore.

I actually see Il Divo as an example of what would happen if you outfit four mannequins with voice boxes. Not much feeling in there. But they do sing correctly, are never offensive and are very pleasing to look at. I do not mind having them sing their hearts out to me all day long. Besides, if they will open the ears of music buyers to the many joys of classical music, then I am all for having them around forever.

Il Divo is made up of David Miller, tenor from the US; Sebastien Izambard, tenor from France; Urs Buhler, tenor from Switzerland; and Carlos Marin, a baritone from Spain. Now if plans do not miscarry, Il Divo will be singing their hits live in Manila later this year. Watch out for them.

Il Divo’s Ancora spent a sweet two weeks on top of Billboard Magazine’s albums list. It was great while it lasted and I am sure that these guys would have wanted to stay there for one more week or two. But there was just no stopping the attack of a monster locomotive of tunes driven by the ageless Barry Manilow. Thus, Il Divo fell from the top.

And what do you think the King of Schmaltz has to regale his followers this time around? A collection of songs from the ’50s like Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Beyond the Sea and It’s Not for Me to Say. Nostalgia is not only alive and well. It has become an epidemic and Manilow is back on top. Here now are the Top 10 lists for the week.

The Top 200 Albums: The Greatest Songs of the Fifties by Barry Manilow; The Breakthrough by Mary J. Blige; Amore by Andrea Bocelli; Unpredictable by Jamie Foxx; In My Mind by Heather Headley; Ancora by Il Divo; Curtain Call: The Hits by Eminem; Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood; Back to Bedlam by James Blunt; and For Me It’s You by Train.

The Hot 100: Check on It by Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug; You’re Beautiful by James Blunt; Grillz by Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp; Be Without You by Mary J. Blige; So Sick by Ne-Yo; Yo (Excuse Me Miss) by Chris Brown; Unpredictable by Jamie Foxx; Shake That by Eminem featuring Nate Dogg; and Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.