by Katy Knapp
Daily Lobo
A decade after the deaths of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, a 30-year-old Canadian crooner is helping keep the classics alive - and reaching a whole new audience.
Michael BublÇ, who released his first live album and DVD Caught in the Act on Nov. 15, is blowing the dust off some golden oldies, and revitalizing a genre.
The CD includes some old favorites like "Summer Wind" and "Smile." His smooth, classical voice is flawless, like he was born to sing this music. BublÇ's suave suits and baby face doesn't hurt either. BublÇ could make women of any age swoon, and the screams of the audience on the CD prove it.
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BublÇ even manages to pull off some more contemporary hits, such as "Can't Buy Me Love," by the Beatles, and "You and I," a Stevie Wonder joint.
But he doesn't do it alone. BublÇ is backed by a big band, complete with a horn section, stand-up bass and orchestra. The band's timing is perfect and fits with BublÇ's voice.
Of course, BublÇ also belts out his first American chart hit, "Home," which has been making major rounds on Top 40 and adult radio, as well as VH1. BublÇ's performance of a song about missing home despite traveling to exotic locales is perfect. His emotions ooze out of the speakers - maybe because he wrote it.
The CD only has eight tracks, but the record company makes up for it with a DVD of the live show, which includes 20 extra songs.
The highlight of the DVD is BublÇ's performance of "Come Fly with Me," and Queen's classic song, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
BublÇ has had huge success in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia since his 2003 self-titled debut with remakes like "Let it Snow," "Mack the Knife" and "Fever."
According to his Web site, BublÇ credits his musical taste to his grandfather, who first exposed him to jazz. He learned to love Ella Fitzgerald, Sinatra and the Mills Brothers at an early age, he said.
"Although I like rock 'n' roll and modern music, the first time my granddad played me the Mills Brothers, something magical happened," he said. "The lyrics were so romantic, so real. The way a song should be for me. It was like seeing my future flash before me. I wanted to be a singer, and I knew that this was the music that I wanted to sing."
This album and BublÇ's performance style is enough to make Ol' Blue Eyes proud.
