Love is in the air. And according to Michael Bublé, it is the most vital, necessary thread in the tapestry of life.
With the release of his 10th studio album, Love, this Canadian-born singer is back from a two-year hiatus to give fans a taste of both classic and original songs featuring covers of artists such as Nat King Cole, Édith Piaf, The Flamingos, Elvis Presley and Kris Kristofferson.
And each of these jazz-influenced songs centers on themes such as the power of family and the everlasting bond of love.
Bublé’s original “Love You Anymore” is about a man who can’t move on from a previous relationship (“Just because I know I’ll never feel the same/Doesn’t mean I love you anymore”), while “Forever Now” tells the story of a father’s love and support for his children (“We’re gonna keep you safe/First time I held you in my arms, I knew I’d love you all the way”).
Bublé croons Nat King Cole’s “When I Fall in Love,” which focuses on a man who wants a love that will last forever: “When I give my heart/It will be completely/Or I’ll never give my heart.” “Unforgettable” is about a woman who has engraved herself on the mind of the man who loves her.
Bublé includes two songs from the 1937 musical comedy Babes in Arms: “My Funny Valentine” and “Where or When.” The first song is about a woman who isn’t perfect, but who is nevertheless perfectly loved (“But don’t change a hair for me/Not if you care for me”). The second recalls a meeting that feels wonderfully familiar: “It seems like we’ve stood and talked like this before/ … But I can’t remember where or when.”
The classic “I Get a Kick out of You” insists that drugs can’t compare to love (“Some they may go for cocaine/I’m sure that if I took even one sniff/It would bore me terrifically too”). While Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose” and “When You’re Smiling” revolve around the powerful effects that love can have on someone who’s under its influence.
Covering Elvis Presley’s “Such a Night,” Bublé sings that he’s “filled with desire” and set “afire” by a woman’s kiss.
“Help Me Make It Through the Night,” originally sung by Kris Kristofferson and featuring Loren Allred with Bublé this time around, is about spending all night with a woman: “Take that ribbon from your hair/Shake it loose and let it fall/ … Come and lay down by my side/’Til the early morning light.” And “Love You Anymore” briefly alludes to a past sexual experience.
In an interview with Magic Radio, Michael Bublé said, “Every record is a snapshot of where you are in your life and what you’ve been through.” And that’s true this time around, too. Fans know that Bublé’s recent two-year hiatus from singing was due to his son Noah’s battle with (and victory over) liver cancer. As a family, the Bublés stepped away from all other obligations to dedicate themselves to Noah and to one another during this trying time.
Given that poignant autobiographical backdrop, this spirit of true, committed love sounds clearly through each of the 13 tracks here. Similar to Bublé’s previous efforts, this one infuses jazz standards with renewed life and vitality, as the old-school singer strives once again to keep this classic genre alive. And though a few sensual moments turn up, the better part of the album revisits the age-old, inherently human desire to love and be loved.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
