Cher - Living Proof

Released: 2001 (2002 in the US, which is the version I have)

First Thoughts: What a way to start off! This is my favorite Cher album, and one of my favorites of all. I went to see her on tour (WHICH WAS AMAZING) a couple weeks ago, and this was the first album I played on my way down, so it's not like I've forgotten it at all. I was actually disappointed that she didn't do anything off the album when she did both her songs from Burlesque and bloody "Walking in Memphis." I mean, I like "Walking in Memphis," but why the hell did she do that instead of "Song for the Lonely" or "Alive Again"? But I digress.

Purchase: From SwapaCD, two Decembers ago, just as I was getting into Cher. I think this was her second album that I got, after The Very Best of Cher. Maybe third, after It's a Man's World. I've JUST NOW discovered thanks to Wikipedia that I apparently have the Walmart reissue that has the radio edits of "Song for the Lonely" and "A Different Kind of Love Song" instead of their album edits. Might have to get a copy of the original version, since apparently I've never heard those album edits.

Playthrough: Song for the Lonely continues to slay my life. I think I like it even better than Believe. It's just so anthemic and powerful. It doesn't have the personal meaning for me that, say, You Haven't Seen the Last of Me has, but I have teared up a couple times listening to it in my darker hours.

A Different Kind of Love Song is criminally underrated. I associate it with Madeleine L'Engle's book A Ring of Endless Light as I was reading that at the time I got the album and it fits in with the uplifting and vaguely pagan lyrics ("there is some kind of light that flows through everything").

Alive Again is great. I'd say it's this album's version of Strong Enough, but I like it A LOT better than Strong Enough. Not as good as the first two, but still pretty damned good.

The Music's No Good Without You is probably the weakest song on here (not counting You Take It All, which isn't on the US version, thank God). It just feels kind of empty and trend-chasing. Nice enough melody, but the production needs to either be beefier or completely different (it would work well as a sunny Kirsty MacColl-type tune with piano and guitar and some synths) It's still a 6/10 or so, which is better than around half of the Believe album, mind you. Nonetheless it's the first track I'm skipping before it ends to get to the rest of the album, which is way better.

Rain Rain is the definition of "good album track." It's filler, but it's still enjoyable. And it gets stuck in my head whenever it rains, even more than Ace of Base's similarly themed and far catchier Everytime It Rains. Real Love - same thing, but not as catchy.

Love So High is kind of fillery as well, but her vocals elevate it a little.

Body to Body, Heart to Heart is fun. I'm surprised Cher hasn't done more Latin-themed songs; they'd suit her well.

Love Is a Lonely Place Without You, Shania-length title aside, is more filler, but it has a certain euphoria to it, which is funny given the lyrics.

Love One Another is where things get really exciting again. I can't understand how this wasn't a worldwide club smash - it's not very radio-friendly, but it's so anthemic. You know what I'd like to hear, actually? I'd like to hear Kesha cover this. That would be kind of fantastic.

When You Walk Away is the best thing on the goddamn album, which is saying a lot (this review is making it sound like I like the album a lot less than I do). Would never have guessed it's a Diane Warren song, but - God, what a tune. It should have been a single, and it should have been a huge hit. It's just classic Cher sing-along material on a par with If I Could Turn Back Time and Believe.

When the Money's Gone is a fantastic closer. My biggest complaint is that I hate its structure - the chorus isn't very exciting, and the first verse is more subdued than the rest of the song, so I only get to experience the best bit ("When the money's gone, no more caviar, will ya eat fast food in a beat-up car?") once. The "money, money, money's gone" hook is fun, though.

Verdict: This has definitely been a grower for me. I loved a few of the songs (Song for the Lonely, A Different Kind of Love Song, When the Money's Gone) right away, but it took a few plays for the rest to stick with me. That said, it's unseated the US version of It's a Man's World as my favorite Cher album - no mean feat. 8.5/10.

Standouts: "Song for the Lonely" and "When You Walk Away"