Back For Good

Такое сборище МЕГАХИТОВ просто невозможно не оценить по достоинству! Есть конечно парочка минусов - Cheri Cheri Lady и Angie's Heart в новом варианте мне не нравятся - какие-то слабенькие они тут, нет того хитового звучания. Но это так, мелочи. Главное - это чувства, которые всех нас тогда переполняли. Главное было то, что они ВЕРНУЛИСЬ! Хотелось прыгать до потолка и стоять на голове. Слушал этот альбом запоем, нон-стопом, и, что интересно, слушаю до сих пор и он мне НЕ НАДОЕДАЕТ!
Твердая 10. Ну как же иначе?

О! как вспомню какой был успех!очень хореший альбом, и новые песни - супер!

By reviewing this grand comeback album, I know I’ll rouse a controversy due to the clash in tastes between new and old MT-fans; and the struggle of keeping to the original style of the 80s vs. Leaning towards the modern trends of the 90s, or that of the nostalgic sound effects from the synthesizer vs. the techno beats, involuntarily became a continuous experience throughout Modern Talking’s comeback stage. And fans, depending on where they are, will utter either sings or oaths.
Owing to a chance falling from heaven, I got the album (actually a special edition of 2 CDs, i.e. the single of YMHYMS as a bonus) just several days after it was released. [Recalling how I had nearly escaped losing sight of it, I now still feel a cold shiver in my spine!!!] My first compliment for this album is the impressive sleeve. What about the music? Let’s brief some main features through the songs right now!
1. You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul (New Version)
The illustrious classic which used to write a whole chapter in Modern Talking’s glorious history is now remixed with new sounds of the 90s, upbeat, but Thomas still sang with the same tempo, through which a grandiose comeback was recorded not only for Modern Talking but the world of music as well. From the perspective of a pure listener, the remix of “YMHYMS” was captivating and there’s no reason to overpass such a potential hit. However, as a fan loyal to Modern Talking of the 1980s, I must say that only the original long version is a thorough masterpiece.
While the new sound just surprised me, though in a positive way, the video images and especially the rap part did 10 times as much shock me. Why? They should have done all this in the live performances alone and not in an official video. The video of the 1980s may be too simple, but it is surely 100 times as expressive and driven as that of the 1990s.
2. Brother Louie (New Version)
Singular sound effects were brought into this mega hit: a sudden whistling from the synthesizer made way for the classic melody of “Brother Louie” to fall upon. To be fair: the new version sounds excellent with the upbeat. That wonderful combination of good melody and good rhythm, without reckoning the super voice which retains its original quality, resulted in a successful sound product for a group which had procured itself a gigantic credit of making dance music as Modern Talking before.
3. I Will Follow You (New Hit)
It’s possible to say Dieter Bohlen’s new composing drew a lot of attention, partly for enthusiasm, but mostly for curiosity – a quite understandable feeling of fans who really wished to know how the new Modern Talking differed from the old one.
“I will follow you” is a nice ballad with good melody, and above all: Thomas’ wonderful voice. That is sweet, sweet and sweet. Listening to this song, we can be more aware of why Dieter had such trust in Thomas, and why Thomas was urgently needed for Modern Talking. There’s no HPV in here, but we may call it Dieter’s intention of generating Thomas’ voice to its utmost. Anyway, the absence of HPV is somehow forgivable in a ballad, especially a smooth one like this.
If you ever see both Dieter and Thomas sitting on the stage, with lots of candles around, and Thomas sings so beautifully in Dieter’s guitar accompaniment [let’s fancy the sight, for both you and I know Dieter hardly ever plays the guitar! :-P], that’s the loveliest video I’ve ever seen.
4. Cheri Cheri Lady (New Version)
This is one of the hits which basically changed a lot in comparison with the original version. The remake has new sounds – partly due to the new instruments, though the old melody was retained. To be honest: this creativity was genius, especially in the intro with flute and the percussions in Reggae style.
Just a shame: I prefer the latter! I simply find the old sound effects Dieter had applied for the old hit more lovable and more appropriate. Besides, everything there had also perfectly been made. The charm of “Cheri cheri lady” doesn’t lie in the power of the beats, but in the melodiousness of the voice and the harmony of arrangements. Strength has nothing to do here, but delicacy. What I expected from “Cheri cheri lady” is a lady of high birth and manners, not a bold, modern girl; and only the old version of “Cheri cheri lady” rendered me what I had searched for.
I don’t say that the new CCL is bad; on the contrary, it’s great! Still, the classic CCL is greater! 
5. You Can Win If You Want (New Version)
As I remarked in the review in the 1st album, that “You can win if you want”, due to its noble, classic piano sound, can hardly be altered without causing a considerable damage. Perhaps that’s why the new version of “You can win if you want” remains almost the same as the original one, just the beat was more dynamic and powerful thanks to the modern techniques, which produced only positive effects and made the song even better to some extent. The rhythm of the whole song was also boosted. From disco to dance, perhaps about this new “You can win…”, one can say: “Different, but somehow the same!”
6. Don’t Play With My Heart (New Hit)
Aha, now we turn to the most popular song of our FM station in 1998: “Don’t play with my heart” was frequently on air for the increasing request of listeners, and always announced to be “the best new composition of Modern Talking”! This song was later replaced by “No face, no name, no number”, but still regarded with generous compliments.
At first, a sentimental “Don’t play” made everyone believe this would be a ballad, but the beats boosted it up to a mid-tempo. Exquisite rhythm. Perfect voice. Deep emotion. The refrain was not MT-typical a switch between Thomas and the high-pitched chorus. The color of each sentence in the bridge was also highlighted via Thomas’ mastership:
“Oh my baby, please don’t go
Oh my baby, time will show”
However, many complained that the famous HPV were mysteriously left out, which made this new hit of Modern Talking sound like Blue System in Thomas’s interpretation. I myself am a fan of melodiousness, and now that “Don’t play with my heart” was really sweet and persuasive in that sense, I smiled and said “Keep going on, Dieter and Thomas!”
7. Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S For Love) (New Version)
I actually don’t have much to say about this remix. The beats are stronger and the vocals are also up-tempo. For those who don’t know Modern Talking, it is completely OK; considering, this is always one of dynamic mega hits which one can’t ignore even at the first listening.
However, for hardcore fans, the brilliance of a remix seems to beat a retreat before the original version, which without doubt had left an infallible mark in their souls. When the rhythms change to upbeat, the singer also has to sing more quickly, and thus becoming somehow less emotional, for it’s simply difficult to “beautify” every single word when one has to keep pace with the speed.
8. Geronimo’s Cadillac (New Version)
There is also not much to perceive here, for basically “Geronimo’s Cadillac” is not so different from the original version, except for the more powerful new beat. I still have the sensation that the vocals speed up. However, the general impression is deep and rather positive here.
9. Give Me Peace On Earth (New Version)
No exception has occurred so far: I still prefer the old version, though the new one obviously contains lots of charming features. The guitar, strings and flute created a beautiful intro. Thomas still sang with much emotion, but inadequate echo remarkably “dried” the harmony and broke the coherence of sounds. The drums was somehow inappropriate. In the old version, the voice and the sound smoothly mixed with each other and filled with resounding effects, but I feel Thomas had to face more hardship in interpreting the new version.
A tip: man can listen to both of them alternatively, for creativity is always encouraging.
10. We Take The Chance (New Hit)
A 1998-World-Cup-inspired song! Here is definitely one highlight of the comeback album, though it would have been much better if Dieter had taken a little consideration of the intro so that it should not so much resemble that of “The final countdown” of Europe, which caused scandalous criticisms in reality. But for this minor defect, I’d only have to congratulate both Dieter and Thomas. The sound is lovely, especially the drum beat right before Thomas starts the strophe.
I myself like the live version in Russia; at least I no longer thought of “Europe” at all for a while.
11. Jet Airliner (New Version)
Like “Geronimo’s Cadillac”, “Jet airliner” created no big surprises, for it hardly ever had a remarkable change, or it only changed in the place I never want it to, for example: the sound effects of an airliner and Dieter’s whisper. What a pity!
Besides, the deep and resounding beat of the old days was now replaced by electronic sounds, which seemed to be quite flat in my judgment. What have I spoken above? “Strength has nothing to do where delicacy is concerned”. New “Jet airliner” gains power in the place of the lost profoundness. The nostalgic melancholy which ever made me cry is now no longer.
12. Lady Lai (New Version)
In 1996, a band was engaged to play for my university gala throughout the whole evening. The musicians got a request to make an instrumental track of “Lady Lai”, but right at the first note of the original song, they all shook their heads: “This is far beyond our capacity!” So resounding the bass, so fine the melody, so perfect the background sound, all created a classic “Lady Lai”, which caused every sentimental heart to get goose-bumps whenever they listened to the song.
Now, the same “Lady Lai” was completely remixed, or rather, renovated with the piano sound and saxophone fantasia, esp. at the end. There were no beats until the refrain came in. These excellent changes made the song vary and be more colorful. Thomas still sang wonderfully as he did in the 80s, even more tenderly.
One minus: the new rhythm sounds modern, but in no way as profound as the old one, which, in my opinion, won the advantage in impression, depth and passion.
The new version is surely a success, but sometimes I can’t say which version I’d prefer.
13. Anything Is Possible (New Hit)
The last of 4 new compositions and of no less attraction. However, it, like the 3 others, hardly can be listed on the same rank with any typical MT-hits.
This is an amusing, up-tempo song with harmonious melody and dynamic sound. All was started with an impressive intro and Thomas made such a sentimental insert that at first no one expected to hear an up-tempo song: “Stay, please stay with me tonight…” But it turned out that they were “tricked”: The rhythm turned to dance so clearly that few can keep themselves motionless when the first stanza started to fall down like a shower right after wards!
The HPV was just a light echo in the background here: “Oh I’m so lonely” – “Oh you’re the only”.
A nice song indeed!
14. In 100 Years (New Version)
Another remix of the same style and method as that of “Geronimo’s Cadillac” and “Jet airliner”, but I feel positive here! The powerful beat, bright sounds and more instruments yielded a sturdy mix, which turned this new version into one of the few equivalent to the original ones, because the sound effects were used in right places. A convincing hit!
15. Angie’s Heart (New Version)
Here comes a completely new version. A pity all the effects I highly appreciated in the old hit disappeared thoroughly in this new mix. The intro was left out, the background music became “thinner”, thus remarkably lost its known attraction.
“Angie’s heart” of “Ready for romance” had actually a perfect mix: it was dynamic and melodious at the same time. Meanwhile, the piano sound of the new mix dimmed the power rhythm “Angie’s heart” had been possessed of before.
I definitely felt my heart inclining towards the old mix!
16. You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul (Original No.1 Mix ’84) and
17. You Can Win If You Want (Original No.1 Mix ’84)
Both are the original hits of “The 1st album” and reviewed in the respective part. However, I was a bit depressed because the long version of YMHYMS wasn’t released here.
18. No.1 Hit Medley
Consisting “You’re my heart, you’re my soul”, “You can win if you want”, “Cheri cheri lady”, “Brother Louie” and “Atlantis is calling”. All these songs were produced in the sound of the 1980s and it’s always interesting to hear all the super hits in a non-stop row like this. Medley is definitely a brilliant idea! Viva medleys! And viva Modern Talking!
To sum up:
“Back for good” actually comprises 10 remixes (incl. the 2 original mix ’84), 4 remakes and 4 new hits. With “remixes” we imply the tracks half-renewed, “remakes” the fully-renewed, and “new hits” naturally new compositions.
“Remix” is one category of further processing the songs based on the original materials. The bass and treble of the original version will be weakened by some computerized adjustments and replaced by new computer drum beats and a new, dynamic synthie-bass. The track is “thickened” with other sound effects whereas the original vocals remain unchanged. That’s why the remixes sound nearly the same as the original versions, just somewhat more powerful. That was the case of “You’re my heart, you’re my soul”, “Brother Louie”, “You can win if you want”, “Atlantis is calling”, “Geronimo’s Cadillac”, “Jet airliner” and “In 100 years”.
Meanwhile, in “remakes”, all the elements are completely changed: the vocals, the chorus, the instruments, the sounds… These songs consequently sound more modern and different from the original versions. Here there is one separation in taste of the old and new fans. The remakes of “Back for good” comprise: “Cheri cheri lady”, “Give me peace on earth”, “Lady Lai”, and “Angie’s heart”.
The comeback album was perfectly neutralized between the recognized sound of Modern Talking and a new experiment with the Dance floor music of the 90s. For the new fans, this is a chance to know of a famed group and get hooked on them. For the old ones, “Back for good” is a real recollection of the past and a bridge to the future. Good or bad, the comeback was the only thing that counts.
Reviewed by Peter (Ten Thousand Lonely Drums)

Они возвратились!!! И как грандиозно!!! Хотя старые версии песен мне нравились больше

Аранжировки хороши, но особенно бесценны их новые 4 песни! Масеньки... И такие красивые они тут... Как видение!

Мне кажется в этом альбоме Болен погнался за веяниями в музыке на тот момент..Эти несуразные аранжировки в новом виде старых вещей..Нелепый Синглтон..Только Angie's heart и Give me peace on Earth показались мне даже лучше в новой обработке.Новые песни в альбоме сделаны добротно,по боленовски.

Что-то никто не спешит оценивать этот альбом. И я тоже сомневалась, что поставить. Совсем его не слушаю… А потом подумалось: черт возьми, да не может здесь быть ничего ниже 10-ти!
Я стала поклонницей МТ, когда они уже давно распались, а Дитер выпускал свой десятый или около того альбом. И всегда мне было обидно, что я не застала тех времен, и всегда я верила в глубине души, что они воссоединятся… для меня. Да! Чтобы компенсировать мне пропущенные 80-е! И они воссоединились!
Помните, как все говорили: «Вы только представьте себе располневшего, постригшегося Томаса и морщинистого Дитера вместе! Да невозможно себе этого представить… без смеха!» Оказалось, очень даже возможно. Хотя мне категорически не нравится Томас на этой обложке… Ну да ладно.
А потом мы ездили на концерт в Кремль. Как Дитер там, сидя на сцене и свесив с нее ноги, сипел I Will Follow You… Это невозможно забыть.
Ай, да что там говорить… 10