Ronan Keating visits a variety of styles whilst bringing alongside a range of artists on new album Twenty Twenty. Titled as a celebration of his twenty years of success, Ronan takes us from country to slow piano ballads to fun, upbeat tracks. This collection of songs and reworked classics is a genius concoction ready to be unearthed.
Whether you are a fan of Keating or not, it’s clear that his ear for making his songs sound exactly how you envision your first dance at your wedding to be is scarily picture perfect. Emile Sande helps him bring this vision to life with One Of A Kind. Creating two different versions, this song is listed twice in the album, once as a piano ballad and the other with acoustic guitar being the main instrumental focus. This beautiful love song is both uplifting and easy to listen to as it leaves you smiling and wanting to fall in love whilst the choral backing vocals, string excerpts and flawless blend of vocals between Emile and Ronan drive the song forward.
The One with Nina Nesbitt pulls off this same feeling as Ronan expresses his loyalty to reassure his partner that they can rely on him. Nina’s top harmonies in this song reinforce the magic that it projects and gives the sense of calm and ease that this song requires.
Of course, not all his songs sound like your dream wedding day. His reworked songs Life Is A Rollercoaster and Lovin’ Each Day carry a more pop-like style with catchy sing-along choruses and a slight 80s twinge. Being able to balance the serious love songs and upbeat, fun-loving tracks isn’t always easy but something that Keating can get right.
Meanwhile, amongst all this, Keating can’t let us forget his love for country music. Forever Ain’t Enough, Little Thing Called Love and Forever & Ever – Amen are all beautiful songs following the lead of the country sounding acoustic guitar taking him back to his roots. If that wasn’t enough, adding the violin parts in Forever Ain’t Enough makes it that more wholesome.
Ronan Keating makes you feel like you are part of your own film, awaiting your happy ending no matter what that happy ending consists of. His emotion and power in his voice as well as his capability to make his lyrics sound like a love poem is something that others would struggle to do so well. Ronan Keating has once again managed to produce another great album.
Score: 4/5
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