Artist: Francesca Battistelli
Album: My Paper Heart
Year: 2008
Label: Fervent Records/Word Records
Website: http://www.francescamusic.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/francescabattistelli
Twitter: @francesca_music
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Sara Bareilles, Kelly Clarkson, Rachael Yamagata, Bethany Dillon, Charlotte Martin, Ayiesha Woods, Joy Williams, Sara Groves, Nichole Nordeman
Rating: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

Francesca Battistelli is not part of the pile. She is determined to make a difference with their debut album “My Paper Heart”, a different approach that uses Pop, Jazz, Rock, R&B and even some funk and gospel sounds as ingredients. She is obviously passionate about the composition, and this has led her to receive her first Nominations on Grammy Awards 2009 as Female Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year for “I’m Letting Go”. The album was produced by the brilliant Ian Eskelin (Remedy Drive, Stellar Kart, Starfield, Avalon) and shows us the ups and downs of the life of 23 years’ girl, her faith and emotions to find a whole new world with dazed heart.

“Free To Be Me” (second single) immediately makes Francesca’s voice stand out from the guitars, pianos, bass and Hammond organ that set the track. Sounds like Sarah Kelly and Amy Grant in a motivational message that reminds us that everyone makes mistakes, nobody is perfect and that God loves us as we are: “Sometimes I believe that I can do anything / Yet other times I think I’ve got nothing good to bring / But You look at my heart and You tell me / That I’ve got all You seek / And it’s easy to believe / Even though”. Ranked as one of the best songs in Christian music history, the first single “I’m Letting Go” tells us about leaving the past behind and start a new journey with the Lord. Captivates us with an atmosphere with jazz piano arrangements and energetic pop/rock that resemble “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles. The impulsive “Unpredictable” brings the essence of Nichole Nordeman with the incredible purpose of evaluating our identity as Christians: “When I know that I know / What You have down the road / When I’m sure that/ I’ve figured You out / Help me see that I’m small / That I can’t know it all / ‘Cause You’re so unpredictable”. The titletrack has a kind of exotic Jazz/Pop sound based on rhythmic piano that draw us our heart is too delicate and may be stepped on and torn apart in just a few seconds, based on Proverbs 3:3 and the fragility of the human heart:  “My paper heart is Yours now / I have landed in Your hands / Come so far to find out / My life will never be the same / Since you wrote Your name / On my paper heart”. The fourth and latest single “Beautiful, Beautiful” enhances Francesca’s soft and hoarse voice, a wonderful interpretation that somehow resembles Evanescence/Amy Lee. It’s about our quest for hope and encouragement, and that God knows our pain and heals us creating something new, beautiful, in his own image: “Like sunlight burning at midnight / Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful / Mercy reaching to save me / All that I need / You are so beautiful, beautiful”. Then, breaking the mold of the album, “Blue Sky” catch us with organs and rhodes in a charming R&B/Soul/Jazz with Ayiesha Woods & Newworldson Gospel features demonstrating the wide vocal range and versatility that this girl possesses: “When the rain is falling / And there’s no silver lining / And you just can’t seem to find the light / When you need a reason / To help you keep believing / Let my love be your blue sky”. Then, “Forever Love” draws on its implementation and setting ambitious, as orchestrated hymn which plunges us into a romantic composition which declares God’s love forever. Soft piano with an intimate and personal lyric that could easily be sung in a Sunday worship service: “Nothing in this world could ever separate us / I will love You more than anyone on earth / Nothing I desire could ever satisfy me the way that You do”. The next track “Someday Soon” is like the pop Kelly Clarkson offers us, but beats harder in a sincere expression of need and dependence on God: “Yeah I’ll be telling you I love you / On a picture perfect day / And those words inside my head / They sound like angels singing praise / It’s what I was made to say”. The piano at the end of the track deliver a particular magic. Francesca becomes more Adult Contemporary or Casting Crowns with “Behind The Scenes” that tells the truth about our weaknesses, reminding us that all we are equal. No one is perfect, but our strength to overcome our unity comes from each other: “Things aren’t always what they seem / You’re only seeing part of me / There’s more than you could ever know / Behind the scenes / I’m incomplete and I’m undone / But I suppose like everyone / There’s so much more that’s going on  / Behind the scenes”. Similar melodies to Sara Groves and Bethany Dillon. The third single from the album “It’s Your Life” which reminds us that people’s life is about making decisions. Pop/Rock portraying the struggle between good and evil in the human heart, with fresh lyrics that will leave you enthralled: “To live the way that you believe / This is your opportunity / To let your life be one that lights the way”. Finally, “In Between Time” closes the album with a ballad that again takes up the promise of the return of Christ to the world. It is a picture of life and death of Jesus into music that inspires us to spread the gospel and to bless our church: “That brings me to my knees / Knowing you came for me / And all that I can’t be / I’m amazed, so amazed / And I thank You for the time in between”.

This is one of those albums that you will never forget. A powerful voice, a personal message and a elegant piano/pop sound sample that can turn into different genres and ensure the bright future of Francesca Battistelli. She wants people to know that God loves them as they are, and encourages them to leave the world and have a wonderful adventure making a difference for Him. “My Paper Heart” is a dynamic, agile, intelligent, cool and interesting debut that deserves more than a billion applauses.

Francesca Battistelli no es parte del montón. Ella está decidida a hacer la diferencia con su álbum debut “My Paper Heart”, una propuesta diferente que usa como ingredientes el Pop, Jazz, Rock, R&B e incluso algo de Funk y Gospel. Ella está evidentemente apasionada en la composición, y esto le ha llevado a recibir sus primeras nominaciones a los Grammy Awards 2009 como Vocalista femenina del año, Nueva artista del año, Canción del año y Canción Pop/Contemporánea del año por “I’m Letting Go”. El álbum fue producido por el genial Ian Eskelin (Remedy Drive, Stellar Kart, Starfield, Avalon) y nos muestra los altibajos de la vida de una muchacha de tan solo 23 años, su fe y emociones al encontrarse con un mundo totalmente nuevo y un corazón deslumbrado.

“Free To Be Me” (segundo sencillo) inmediatamente hace que la voz de Francesca destaque sobre las guitarras, los pianos, el bajo y el órgano Hammond que ambientan el track. Suena como Sarah Kelly y Amy Grant en un mensaje motivador que nos recuerda que todo el mundo comete errores, nadie es perfecto y que Dios nos ama tal cual somos: “Sometimes I believe that I can do anything / Yet other times I think I’ve got nothing good to bring / But You look at my heart and You tell me / That I’ve got all You seek / And it’s easy to believe / Even though”. Catalogada como una de las mejores canciones en la historia de la música cristiana, el primer sencillo “I’m Letting Go” nos habla sobre dejar atrás el pasado y emprender un nuevo camino con el Señor. Nos cautiva con una atmósfera con piano de Jazz y enérgicos arreglos Pop/Rock que se asemejan a “Love Song” de Sara Bareilles. La impulsadora “Unpredictable” nos trae la esencia de Nichole Nordeman con el increíble propósito de valorar nuestra identidad como cristianos: “When I know that I know / What You have down the road / When I’m sure that/ I’ve figured You out / Help me see that I’m small / That I can’t know it all / ‘Cause You’re so unpredictable”. El titletrack tiene una especie de exótico sonido Jazz/Pop basado en acompasados pianos que nos dibujan la metáfora que nuestro corazón es demasiado delicado y puede ser pisado y desgarrado en segundos, inspirado en Proverbios 3:3 y en la fragilidad del corazón humano: “My paper heart is Yours now / I have landed in Your hands / Come so far to find out / My life will never be the same / Since you wrote Your name / On my paper heart”. El cuarto y más reciente sencillo “Beautiful, Beautiful” realza la ronca y suave voz de Francesca, en una interpretación maravillosa que de algún modo se asemeja a Evanescence/Amy Lee. Se trata acerca de nuestra búsqueda de esperanza y aliento, y que Dios conoce nuestro dolor y nos sana creando algo nuevo, hermoso, a su propia imagen: “Like sunlight burning at midnight / Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful / Mercy reaching to save me / All that I need / You are so beautiful, beautiful”. Seguidamente, rompiendo el molde del álbum, “Blue Sky” nos hechiza con órganos y rhodes en un encantador R&B/Soul/Jazz con rasgos Gospel de Newworldson y Ayiesha Woods que demuestran el amplio rango vocal y la versatilidad que esta muchacha posee: “When the rain is falling / And there’s no silver lining / And you just can’t seem to find the light / When you need a reason / To help you keep believing / Let my love be your blue sky”. Luego, “Forever Love” atrae por su instrumentación y ambientación ambiciosa, como himno orquestado que nos sumerge en una romántica composición donde se declara estar enamorado de Dios eternamente. Suaves pianos con una lírica íntima y personal que fácilmente podrían ser cantados en un culto de domingo: “Nothing in this world could ever separate us / I will love You more than anyone on earth / Nothing I desire could ever satisfy me the way that You do”. El siguiente track “Someday Soon” se asemeja al pop que Kelly Clarkson nos ofrece, pero palpita con más fuerza en una sincera expresión de necesidad y dependencia de Dios: “Yeah I’ll be telling you I love you / On a picture perfect day / And those words inside my head / They sound like angels singing praise / It’s what I was made to say”. Los pianos al final de la canción le entregan una magia particular. Francesca se vuelve más Adulto Contemporáneo o Casting Crowns con “Behind The Scenes” que dice la verdad acerca de nuestras debilidades, recordándonos que todos somos iguales. No hay nadie perfecto, pero nuestra fuerza para vencer viene de nuestra unidad el uno del otro: “Things aren’t always what they seem / You’re only seeing part of me / There’s more than you could ever know / Behind the scenes / I’m incomplete and I’m undone / But I suppose like everyone / There’s so much more that’s going on  / Behind the scenes”. Similares melodías a Sara Groves o Bethany Dillon. El tercer sencillo del álbum “It’s Your Life” que nos recuerda que la vida de la gente consiste en tomar decisiones. Pop/Rock que retrata la lucha entre el bien y el mal en el corazón del hombre, con frescas líricas que te dejarán cautivado: “To live the way that you believe / This is your opportunity / To let your life be one that lights the way”. Finalmente “Time In Between” cierra el disco con una balada que nuevamente retoma la promesa del retorno de Cristo al mundo. Es una fotografía de la vida y muerte de Jesús hecha música que nos anima esparcir el evangelio y bendecir a nuestra iglesia: “That brings me to my knees / Knowing you came for me / And all that I can’t be / I’m amazed, so amazed / And I thank You for the time in between”.

Este es uno de esos álbumes que nunca podrás olvidar. Una poderosa voz, un mensaje personal y una elegante muestra de sonido Piano/Pop que puede transformarse en diversos géneros y aseguran el futuro brillante de Francesca Battistelli. Ella quiere que la gente sepa que Dios los ama tal y como son, y les anima a salir del mundo y tener una maravillosa aventura haciendo la diferencia por Él. “My Paper Heart” es un disco dinámico, ágil, inteligente, fresco e interesante debut que merece más de un billón de aplausos.