Sing or Die

by Dreams Come True

Overview

The U.S. debut by Dreams Come True (they have many more releases in their native Japan, where they're stadium-level stars) is almost exactly what people who have never heard Pizzicato Five probably think Pizzicato Five sounds like. This is slickly commercial synth pop with none of the irony or subversive qualities that make Pizzicato Five so intriguing, and not as many of the hooks and melodies that make them so much fun to listen to. While there's nothing actively bad about Sing or Die, some of the songs sound as if a computer programmed to synthesize the 1996-1998 Billboard Top Ten singles chart wrote them. The ultra-cheesy "Will to Love," the opening track and first single, is a particular offender in this regard. However, a few of the songs are catchy and silly enough to please the discerning pop fan. The soaring "Dandelion Hill" sounds like a really good Spice Girls single, and "This Is Not Love at All," cleverly built around a sample of a ringing telephone, has a slinky and dramatic charm oddly reminiscent of some of Trevor Horn's more over the top mid-'80s productions. Perhaps best of all, "Kelo Kelo" blends tropical percussion, an oddly whiny and utterly delightful lead vocal by Miwa Yoshida (imagine Macy Gray as a member of Bananarama), and a singsong melody that's the most memorable aspect of the whole record. The high points don't quite outnumber the low on Sing or Die, but they are there. ~ Stewart Mason

Product Details

Release Date:	11/15/1997
Label:	Emi Music Distribution
UPC:	4988006147072
Rank:	231879

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dreams Come True   Primary Artist
David T. Walter   Guitar
Raul d'Oliveira   Trumpet
Pinise Saul   Choir/Chorus
Ruby Serame   Choir/Chorus
King Masa   Bass,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass
Jess Bailey   Piano,Organ (Hammond)
Shikisha   Vocals (Background)
Martin Drover   Trumpet
Miwa Yoshida   Vocals
Youssou N'Dour   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Geoff Dunn   Drums
Nick Pentelow   Saxophone
Peter Thoms   Trombone
Jiro Takada   Guitar (Acoustic)

Technical Credits

Takahiro Nishikawa   Assistant Engineer
Andy Salas   Assistant Engineer
Dewey Nicks   Photography
Amanda Sissons   Design,Art Direction
Ricky Graham   Assistant Engineer
King Masa   Arranger,Composer,Programming,Sound Editing,Drum Programming,Brass Arrangement,Vocal Arrangement,String Programming,Percussion Programming
Shikisha   Vocal Arrangement
Masashi Gotoh   Engineer
John Seymour   Assistant Engineer
Dreams Come True   Producer
Roland Herrington   Mixing,Engineer
Mike Pela   Engineer
Brian Sperber   Mixing,Engineer
Mike Tocci   Assistant Engineer
Miwa Yoshida   Composer
Vladimir Meller   Mastering
Youssou N'Dour   Vocal Arrangement
Masato Nakamura   Arranger,Composer