One of the highlights of TRACY GOES COUNTRY is YOU NEVER CAN TELL, where Tracy Huang's lively and robust singing matches perfectly the cheerful spontaneity of the fast paced music. I'm sure many of Tracy's detractors, even her fans, would not have known that she had it in her to be able to pull off such a difficult piece so effortlessly and naturally, both in her precise enunciation as well as her sure grasp of the rhythm and energy of the song. Another lovely number is MAKING BELIEVE, where against the sparse music, Tracy's voice sounds tender and sweet.
The album contains many numbers that Tracy conveys convincingly and with simple honesty and sincerity, as if she has always been a true blue singer of country songs! Such songs include STAND BY YOUR MAN, MEXICAN DIVORCE, SUBSTITUTE, as well as the lingering mellowness of SHE'LL HAVE TO GO.
One of the reasons why listening to Tracy's English cover versions of this period is such a pleasure is because of her natural ability to take a song, whichever genre it may be from, and deliver it with such ease and so few reservations that she takes absolute control of the song and stamps her individuality on it. Whether the song is from ABBA, Simon and Garfunkel, Rod Stewart, Tammy Wynette, Dusty Springfield or Brabra Streisand, when Tracy takes charge she is in her element and what she may lack in terms of originality, she more than makes up for by sheer effort and sincerity in delivering her very best. Second Review by Poh Lee Originally released in 1981, this album did not create much of an impact on me then. Tracy Goes Country? It didn't sound quite right. Especially after the the pop oriented Weekend album which was released in the same year.
In retrospect, Country is one of Tracy's best releases. In this album, Tracy puts her heart on her sleeve. She sings about lost love, brokenhearted love, uncertainties in love, and the celebration of love. All in the unique style that only Tracy is capable of doing.
Country music is sophisticatedly simple, partly because it uses simple musical instruments to bring out the meaning in a song. Country music is also difficult to sing, because the mood has to be conveyed in the voice of the singer: the angst, happiness, contentment, liveliness, joy, sadness, everything. Tracy handles all of this in an incredibly brilliant manner. Dare I say that no other Asian singer has had this capability deal with country music in the manner that Tracy has? I think so.
Her voice expresses liveliness (You Never Can Tell), happiness together with uncertainty (Fear of Flying), sadness and apprehension (What Will I Write), disappointment and sadness (Making Believe, Mexican Divorce), and fulfillment and happiness (A Little Bit More). You can feel the various emotions through Tracy's voice.
The cover of the album is refreshingly country like, with Tracy looking refreshingly different. Country music is never pretentious, it conveys meanings directly. Hence, Tracy's make up is daring and bold, complementing Tracy's unique beauty.
All in all, Country has all the elements of a classic Tracy album. The style is unique and bold, some of the songs are refreshingly uplifting, and it celebrates human emotions in a way that only country music can do. Bravo to Tracy for handling such difficult material in a very capable manner. |
