SAME DREAM-A REVIEW BY MARK AND BEHNAM

JON SECADA-SAME DREAM 2005

A REVIEW BY MARK AND BEHNAM

Jon Secada returns with his new pop album "Same Dream" after 3 years.

So far many of you have heard the first single, "Window to My Heart", which has been climbing the charts, and is another hit for Jon's career.

Mark and Behnam, webmasters of www.JonSecada.net and www.JustSecada.com would like to share their opinions with you all after listening and
reviewing the preview of the full album. We were very fortunate to be offered the chance to listen to the new album, ahead of the release date.

Please spend few minutes to read our ideas and ratings about the album, which in some points of view is interesting:

WHOLE IDEA ABOUT THE ALBUM

Mark: Jon has successfully accomplished what he always said he was going to do. Create another great pop album, and use songs he always wanted to
play.

Behnam: I have been listening to Jon's music for about 14 years now. During these years music styles and rhythms have been changed a lot. Many Singers gave up because they were not enough talented to create new music.

Jon Secada's music has always been up-to-date. Now he has his wide ages range among his fans. This demonstrates how his music has been matching with different generation's tastes.You can obviously see the above point in "Same Dream". This album includes different rhythms. Jon's voice is more powerful than ever,
clear and pure of love. The music is really strong, great mix, perfect usage of instruments, remarkable vocal arrangement, which Jon is expert in.

I am pretty sure fans from teens to mid-ages will love it. Jon's style has been changed a little bit. It is very modernized. I can say that all of the songs can become hits!!!! My rating for the album is (5/5) AWESOME!!!.

TRACKS :

1-Bring On the Sun

M: The first track that smacks you in the face, and says ‘Jon is back, and get ready for a great album’. The song starts off with a sound like, to me, a Depeche Mode song. But, after that, it’s pure Jon. One of the standout tracks on this album for sure.

B: (5/5): This is the best song for starting and warming up the album. When I started to listen to the album by this song, I expected another great album by Mr. Secada. Beautiful lyrics, fast-tempo and a little bit alternative. Don't listen to this song while you are driving!!!! It will speed you up!

2-Window to My Heart

M: What can I say. Classic Secada. You all heard it, and know it, and love it. That’s it.

B: (5/5): The best choice as the first single. Now Jon doesn't do the same mistake as "better part of me". He knows how to attract listeners and refresh their minds with his music. This is reminding me "Love's about to change my mind-2000". Great usage of Spanish guitar and increasing energy of song in the middle of it are the key factors of the success of this song. REQUEST THE SONG FANS!!!

3-All I Wanna Be

M: A great song, with a little country/Bruce Hornsby/Neil Diamond type of sound. Jon performs this awesome song with a nice deep voice. It’s sure to be a fan favorite.

B: (5/5): Smooth mid-tempo ballad song. Jon's voice makes you feel relax. Nice background Piano is waving the song. Also Country guitar style can be heard. Generally it is a wise mix of everything. So far I have been getting crazy with the album. I can't wait for the remaining tracks!

4-My Baby Don't Rock Like That

M: Hall & Oats, watch out! The song is loosely based on the hit single from them, “I can’t go for that”. The rhythm is from that song, and Jon speaks to it perfectly. Another one crowned to be a fan favorite.

B: (4.5/5): First of all, I would love to make it 5 of 5!!! If you have listened to "Simply Red-Sunrise" or "Hall and Oats" , you will see that this song has almost the same rhythm. If you don't know what I am talking about, don't worry and rate it 5/5!!!Jon has different tone on each song. This is a very sexy song!

5-Same Dream

M: What a song. Different man, Same Dream. Very Nice. A great Jon Secada ballad. Worthy of the album title.

B: (4.5/5): Title track, which is a nice ballad song. By now Jon starts to slow down the album rhythms. I love the lyrics. As the title track of the album, honestly I was expecting more, but if same as track 4 you ignore me, this will also work for you 5/5!!!

6-Someday

M: My favorite song on the album, in fact, my favorite song ever from Jon. I always loved “Me without you” from Better Part of Me, but this takes it. Jon’s voice is so strong, and dare I say, if it is even possible, that his voice is just getting better…I know, it’s crazy, but the song is just amazing. I mean AMAZING. Did I say Amazing?

B: (5/5): The most powerful voice of Jon at this album with the second ballad. First time I didn't enjoy the song, but second time I started voting!!!! It has great music as well.

7-Tender Love

M: With the Regeeton format taking off, and sure to be the next big thing, Jon does a great Job with this track. Without a doubt, you will shake around when you listen to it. You can’t sit still.

B: (5/5): OK! Your 8 minutes break time is over! Start to shake your body!! This reggae tone track rules! Jon brings up a mix voice of himself +Shaggy style. Remember Thalia & Fat Joe "I want you"? Check out Secada's Background vocalist lady, which is so cool. It is absolutely a new genre in Jon's career. You may get shocked as the first time listener. You will love it.

8-Free

M: A Great song, with a nice Spanish music flare. Great sound from the acoustic guitar…a superb song.

B: (6!/5) : I have been all the time waiting to listen to Spanish fast-tempo rhythm like this by Jon's voice. This is my favorite track. It has a great start. Remember how "Papi" made you shake it!!! This is better than it. Believe me if Jon passed this song to Ricky Martin or Enrique, I would have got mad this time!!!

9-Love's tears

M: A nice, slow song. Sort of reminds me of “Ready for Love” from Jon’s 1997 “Secada” album. There is a chorus in the song that also reminds me of a part of “Yesterday” from the Beetles.

B: (5/5): "Free" will get all of your energy, so cool down and relax by this beautiful ballad, with a nice guitar. He is at his best on this slow, heartbreaking love song.

10-Last to Know

M: A great ballad, but at first, I did not know what to make of it. After listening to album all week, it’s one of my favorites on the cd.

B: (4.5/5): I am loving this song, may be I will change it to 5/5 next week. Generally, this album has its great ballads, but I don't believe they can catch the market as Jon's previous classic ballad songs did. I hope that I would be wrong on this one.

11- It's Over

M: Has a great piano playing opening, starts nice and mello, that goes right into upbeat pop. Almost like “Do you believe in us” from Jon’s debut record in 1992.

B: (5/5): I have always enjoyed the way that Jon starts the album and make "IT OVER"!!! before bonus tracks. Jon is singing in a unique way. It is like 2 different Jon Secada duet! I love the Piano. This song will make the fans crazy in his concerts (if it will be used at the end of the show)

Having bonus tracks at the end, instead of Jon's traditional way of having Spanish versions of album hits, is a new way of producing his album. Jon did great songs for other great singers. We have been always complaining why he didn't sing it himself. So listen to these 2 tracks as requested!

12-She's all I ever had

M: You can clearly tell that this song was meant for Jon to sing it. And he sings it the way he wrote it, I am sure. Though, Ricky Martin did a fine job with his version, the passion in Jon’s voice is obvious this one is his!

B: (5/5): This is my only favorite song of Ricky Martin, so I had to listen to Jon's version few times to find the differences. Sorry Ricky! Jon's made me not to listen to you at all!!! I am so sad that why Jon gave the song to Ricky Martin. I believe this was a biggest mistake of his career.

13-Coming Out of the Dark

M: This was not my favorite song when Gloria released it. I don’t know why, it never got to me. However, Jon singing it makes up for it. Again, another song that shows that it should have clearly been performed from Jon day 1.

B: (4.5/5): I am one of the biggest fans of Gloria Estefan. Jon did a great job for this song to return back Gloria after that terrible accident. Of course I have been enjoying Jon's version. Missing part is a good chorus. Gloria used great background vocalists (including Jon!), which made the song more powerful by the half end. I would have liked to hear the duet version of them for this album.

Mark: This is to me, Jon’s best album. Period. Even though, I am a slave to all his CD’s, and have played them all over 12 billion times, everyone always has a favorite. Big 3 records(Bill Edwards, Owner & Jon’s new Manager/Producer) has done fine work here. I met the man (Bill), and he is for sure going to do wonderful things for Jon. This album it’s all types of music formats in one record. This is for sure, Jon’s comeback album though, to me, and probably to you, he never left. I am just glad he is happy.

Behnam : All in one, Big 3 records did a great job and I hope that they catch the worldwide market. You will listen to the album over and over. I can foresee Jon's career success for at least 10 more years.

"Same Dream" is missing few things:

1- Emilio Estefan who did perfect for Jon's career. Although Big 3 did well, but you can feel the absence of Emilio.

2- "Ed Calle" and "Arturo Sandoval" have been always participated in Secada's album, except this one. They did great on Trumpet, Saxophone.

None of these instruments will be heard in this album. Without them "Same dream" has a fantastic music.