Released October 3, 2000 Artist Yanni Producer Yanni Genre Instrumental | Length 62:40 Release date 3 October 2000 Label Virgin Records | |
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If I Could Tell You
(2000) The Very Best of Yanni
(2000) Similar Yanni albums, Instrumental albums | ||
If I Could Tell You is the twelfth studio album by Keyboardist Yanni, released on the Virgin Records label in 2000. It peaked at #1 on Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at #20 on the "Billboard 200" chart in the same year.
Contents
Background
This was Yanni's first studio album in seven years, an introspective and deeply personal project which came in the wake of a two-year sabbatical, a move to the east coast of the U.S., and other changes which refocused his life and life's work.
Critical reception
In a review by Zac Johnson of Allmusic, Greek composer/musician Yanni has scaled back his grand musical architecture for If I Could Tell You, a sharp contrast to 1997's grandiose Tribute. The synthesized choral works seem almost sparse and frail, and the elements of world music that have been increasingly injected into his previous works are scaled back as well. Still present, however, are the straightforward melodies and overtly romantic themes that Yanni has been known (and in some cases disliked) for, but these too are less classically inspired and almost atmospheric. Unfortunately, this release may not be sweeping enough for those who fell in love with his romance novel soundtracks, and conversely it doesn't get dreamy enough to attract fans of ambient electronic musicians like Vangelis and Brian Eno. While it is somewhat surprising for Yanni to back away from the richly orchestrated works on Tribute and 1993's In My Time, the move shows a real sense of direction and growth that few give him credit for.
Production
(Production as described in CD liner notes.)
RIAA certification
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold and Platinum database entries:
Songs
1On Sacred Ground7:11
2The Flame Within5:57
3Midnight Hymn5:52