Originally Posted by
midnightman
I liked the album so much when I first got it. I did get it after seeing the Double Platinum film [[in fact, I think I bought Never Say Never and EDIAND at the same time, not sure though). And I actually had it on repeat but looking back, it's such a weird period. Like yeah, Diana recorded a bunch of songs that catered to the dark side of romantic relationships [[namely the end of a relationship) but she had started the album with two inspirational songs [[He Lives in You from Lion King and Love Is All That Matters, a solo version of the song used from Double Platinum) and then after that, just sad song after sad song [[in the middle of it there's Hope Is an Open Window).
Like someone said, the sequencing was off. It seems Diana wasn't sure of what sound she wanted. Half the album was very in tune to the neo-soul-ish R&B sound current of the times, another part were some adult contemporary ballads and others are dance remixes. Diana was at a crossroads, I believe. Also with the remixes of Not Over You Yet and Until We Meet Again [[there were two dance remixes), she wanted to get the same comeback route of Cher that year with "Believe" but also the same respect that MJB was getting from her albums. And it's clear that's where she wanted to go but when you're an artist who is so grand as Diana appeared to be, it can be hard to compete. Plus, Diana had been on a losing streak commercially since 1985 so it was harder for her to match with what Tina Turner and Cher managed to accomplish at the time. It's still a very good album of good songs though!
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