CD Review: Donnie Williams
When I was in middle school and early high school, I was drawn towards bands like Boys II Men. What can I say; I had a romantic bone inside of me that was aching to be picked. I daydreamed about growing up to enjoy candlelit dinners, rose petals strewn across large beds and passionate kisses. And I listened to the music by men who painted tales of that kind of romance. These days, I’m more inclined towards songs by female singer-songwriters with independent spirits and creative careers. But there’s a soft spot in my heart for the kind of music that makes women with a passion for passion swoon in their silk lingerie. The CDs by Donnie Williams and Park Place have this kind of music.
Just Like Magic is filled with music that harkens back to what I listened to in those days. Track 1 (“Feel So Right”) sets the tone, starting off with the lines “Girl, I’ll give you the world, all the good things you want from me”. The CD winds through emotional ups and downs but sticks to a theme of soulful passion (getting into “let’s make love” on Track 5 “Show Me Yours”). Donnie’s warm, deep voice wraps its arms around you in the kind of hug that you longed for as a daydreaming girl.
If Donnie’s name sounds familiar, it could be because he was an American Idol finalist. Or it could be because he’s worked with some important musicians. Just Like Magic is notable because it’s got a number of different vocalists and instrumentalists featured throughout its 14 tracks. Several female vocalists contribute to making the CD more well-rounded than might be possible if it was just Donnie’s voice on the album. For example, in “Send My Baby Back”, Bonnie Boyer and La Toya London create the feeling that there’s a dialogue between a man and woman on this CD. This contrasts to just hearing a man’s voice throughout the CD, making it more of a story than a love letter.
Learn more about Donnie and the album from Chump Change Records.
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