Tiffany's "Silence" Rocks Loud & Clear!!! "Outstanding piece of work. This is one of the best CDs I have bought in a long time. Every track is great. Talent like this is a rarity." "A good investment for your ears!" "Flawless" "If there is justice, 'Silence' will succeed!" TIFFANY BIO: Like many successful performers, Tiffany's career began when she was very young. Born on October 2, 1971 in Norwalk, a quiet suburb in Southern California, Tiffany was performing nationwide at fairs, special events and on talent shows such as Star Search by the time she was five. Her performances were marked by an incredible presence and control that enabled her to deliver songs such as "Delta Dawn and "Stand By Your Man" with honesty and conviction. By the time Tiffany was 13 years old, her voice and determination landed her an audience with producers George Tobin and Brad Schmidt. Soon after, she was offered a contract with MCA Records and began work on her first album-the self titled debut, Tiffany. To promote the album to her target audience, a plan was hatched to have Tiffany perform nationwide at shopping malls. Within weeks she was singing to over 5,000 screaming fans in Salt Lake City, Utah. "Mall managers started to look at Tiffany differently after Salt Lake City. The turnouts were getting enormous," explains Schmidt. "It started out as a marketing tool and as a way to get her in front of people and it turned into a phenomenon." Overnight, Tiffany had become a pop culture and teen icon featured in magazines, newspapers, and even on the The Tonight Show. Both "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Could've Been" were US #1 singles. "I Saw Him Standing There," which hit the Top Ten, was also included on her 1987 debut album. Tiffany even managed to dethrone the King of pop, Michael Jackson, knocking him from the number one spot on the album charts. Tiffany's trajectory to super-stardom was unprecedented: Her humble beginnings with a mall tour led to two number-one records and domestic album sales beyond the six million mark, with over 14 million records sold worldwide. Her second album, Hold An Old Friend's Hand, went double platinum and included the Top Ten hit "All This Time." By the early 1990s, Tiffany decided to take a break. "People think I disappeared. But I took time away to be a person, not just a personality." Time away from the spotlight allowed Tiffany to mature personally and professionally. Already a gifted performer, she devoted herself to writing lyrics that would more clearly reflect her experiences, emotions and spirit. The resulting effort, the album The Color of Silence, was co-written by Tiffany and reveals a depth of artistry not often found in the world of pop music. "This album is a reflection of my life over the past ten years. A lot has changed, and people are not aware that my music represents the pains and joys I've experienced as a musician, full-time mother and successful business woman. Reviews of Tiffany's 2001 release, The Color of Silence, were stellar: * "The Color of Silence is thoughtful, intelligent, and full of grace. It's also inpretentious. Consider it Tiffany's equivalent to Alanis Morissettes landmark, 'Jagged little Pill.'" (Billboard, 8.2000) * "The Color of Silence is one of the finest pop albums of 2000." (Billboard, 9.2000) * "Super Sexy"(Spin.com 7.2000) The Color Of Silence Review 02/17/2005 4:36 AM, AMG If a class reunion of sorts were held for teen sensations from decades past, Tiffany might have every other guest writhing in envy thanks to The Color of Silence. The flaming red-haired pop singer has long provided the essence of embarrassing '80s musical preferences and the core of one-hit wonder teasing (though she was more of a four-hit wonder). What a surprise then that she is now a geek resurrected and reinvented. Take heed, bullies of the music world -- Tiffany was "most likely to prove us all wrong" from the very start. The Color of Silence is the Tiffany album listeners have been waiting for. It is extravagant and unbridled, spilling with good ideas molded into eclectic rock pieces and passionate pop songs and ballads. If anyone should question a Tiffany return, they need only hear "Open My Eyes," which introduces itself as a guitar-strumming ballad before exploding into one of the most flavorful and hard-edged pop choruses of 2000. She follows similar suit on "Good Enough for Me," which glistens with simple catchy charm. Intentionally or not, The Color of Silence bridges three decades of music, which is a primary factor in its appeal. Tiffany's voice itself, as immaculate and deliciously raw as it has become, is still a leak through from the '80s. Many of the femme power messages and alternative angst from the '90s scourge the album, yet every song is carried by a glossy modern 2000 production and absolutely terrific instrumentals. There are the kind of albums that sound horrible until they grow on you and you break each song down to reveal the intricacies and beauty underneath. There is a rarer kind of album which sounds great on the surface, but is not full of cliché a-b-c lyrics and arrangements either. The Color of Silence needs to be broken down but not in order to love the album, rather, to love it more. This "comeback" attempt could simply be credited with good marketing in the way it filters intelligent, poetic lyrics through the current trend in synthesized, electric pop. It is quite evident that Tiffany and her team of writers (including producer Tim Feehan) seem to have a higher goal than hitting marks on the radio station spectrum. The ballad "If Only" may be lovely and radio friendly but it is also a haunting cry for unrequited love that runs a blatant four-line course on suicidal tendency. "Piss You Off" is a track that also may not go over well with parents of young Tiffany admirers, but with all the other radiowave junk running amok, at least it has something to say. Boasting clever lyrics, it compares two lovers to hateful neighbors ("Too bad if you think I'm leaving/Who cares if you hate my dog/Maybe I'll get another/Just to piss you off") and one of the great melodies on an album filled with hooks. Tiffany reaches a targeted adult audience while keeping her lyrics toned on most of the album to appeal to all ages -- they are wholesome and deep but not baffling (There is a fine line to walk in turning self expression to pop music and at moments Tiffany has a better grasp than the Alanis Morisettes or Sarah McLachlans). The first single "I'm Not Sleeping" mixes dark melody and fun with additional vocals by rap artist Krayzie Bone. It is not a surprise that Eureka Records changed their choice in first single release (it was originally "Open My Eyes") because half the album would boast well for a single. Here is hoping that the album will do well enough to eventually release the dazzling rocker "Christening," which is downright scary when you keep in mind it was sung by the same mall girl who gave listeners "I Think We're Alone Now." Call her a mall girl now -- dare ya. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide