Album Review—My Secret Heart (20th Anniversary Edition)

Journey Through Time to Celebrate the Best of Love: Whalen’s Lovely Melodies Rediscover Love’s Depths in New Colors

Music is a powerful ally of love, and in the hands of a skilled artist like Michael Whalen, it becomes a potent tool for conveying the many expressions and emotions of love. Recently, I discovered the 20^th anniversary edition of My Secret Heart and found it to be a masterpiece, wholly dedicated to celebrating LOVE. This remarkable creation showcases Whalen’s ability to craft impactful music that resonates deeply with his audience. The album is both a tribute to its legacy and a profound exploration of Whalen’s creative vision.

The special edition of My Secret Heart celebrates two decades since its original release, featuring 10 remastered versions of the most popular tracks and 8 new releases that complement the album’s theme. Altogether, the 18 songs on the album represent some of Whalen’s most intimate and poignant compositions. As a composer, producer, and musician, Whalen’s amazing musical abilities have transformed over the years, which is evident in the enduring influence the album has on listeners.

About the Artist – Michael Whalen

Michael Whalen is a versatile and accomplished 2X Emmy Award-winning composer, music supervisor, recording artist, and producer whose work spans multiple genres and mediums. The huge number, namely over a billion streams since 2015, speaks of Whalen’s influence in the music world over the years. During his renowned career, he has touched countless projects that contain diverse kinds of works from TV shows and films to commercial jingles. With all his intricate creations, he has earned global recognition among the international audience. In his creative journey, we see a strong dedication to his craft, a long list of honors like a BMI award and a Global Music Gold award, besides the regular Emmy accolades.

Two dominant characteristics that stand out in Whalen’s musical career are his diverse interests and an assortment of skills. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Whalen has also lived a colorful life with a few interesting dimensions. Notably, an unexpected stint saw him dressed up as a clown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 11 years. He is not only a gifted pianist but also an avid fitness enthusiast. He has taught at four colleges, including NYU, Berklee, City College of NY, and The New School. A natural curiosity to explore the depths of music on his piano has propelled his career over the years, facilitating a long list of achievements and inspiring several other creative initiatives.

About the Album – My Secret Heart

My Secret Heart was originally released in the early 2000s. Since then, this rare accomplishment has become an authentic exploration of ambient music. The ethereal and captivating melodies he has created make each of these tracks feel like a quiet moment of reflection for his audience. The dexterous arrangements in this album, in combination with refined textures and complex layers of instruments, make this album a momentous achievement in the genre of modern instrumental music. The latest remastering has helped breathe a fresh perspective into the original tracks, enriching the album’s appeal with the new age audience. The suite of unreleased tracks bestows additional charm on the album.

Exploring the Tracks

The sweeping and romantic tunes of the first track, ‘I Have Loved You For A Thousand Lifetimes,” set the tone for the album. The clear and deep notes create a feel of timelessness and capture the essence of love that transcends beyond time and space. The second track, ‘Hands of Silk,” is a tender work that deals with delicate emotions. In this track, we hear the warmth of piano music and the subtlety of the creative process that speaks of intimacy and warmth.

The third track wears a mysterious and meditative feel, and slow-moving rhythmic patterns build an ethereal atmosphere. The listener is drawn into a trance-like state. In the fourth track, ‘Two As One,” the artist celebrates the beauty of connection. This music feels like an intimate conversation between the instruments. Your Eyes in the Candlelight, the fifth track, projects warmth and love in its soft notes. The gentle touches of the artist make the song feel very personal and intimate. The subtlety intensifies in the sixth track, making the emotional appeal more prominent. The melodies are clear as well as highly emotional.

‘For You” feels like a direct conversation with the heart. The listener feels personally drawn into the immersive soundscape that is not only melodic but also elevating. The eighth song, Moonglow, is composed of haunting tunes that capture our hearts with nocturnal calmness. The atmosphere in this track is deep and complex, glorifying love. Listening to the next song, Swimming In A Lovely Sea Of You, makes us discover freedom and weightlessness. The atmosphere becomes dream-like, letting the audience escape into a deeply personal world. The tenth track, Love’s Secret, explores some undisclosed emotions, and the music feels even more personal.

In the eleventh track, the album moves on to an unreleased alternate take of ‘I Have Loved You For A Thousand Lifetimes.” The opening track now gets a fresh interpretation and a different kind of arrangement, giving us a uniquely different experience. Eventually, in the rest of the unreleased tracks that follow, we explore the characteristics of love in other novel ways. The cosmic exploration in ‘Light Stars Love’ feels like voyaging into an expansive universe. The melancholic tone of the 13^th track ‘Shattered’, sounds dramatic and emotionally intense. The next track, The Northern Lights, captures the magical beauty of the natural world.

We can’t resist the dynamism and energy bubbling from the tunes of ‘Dance of the Two Souls.” The joy emanating from the notes is for every listener to be enticed by. What follows is a soothing and delicate track, Soft As Rain, made of ambient textures, immersing the listener into a calming atmosphere. In the next piece, When We Loved, we come across a nostalgic song that reminds us of longing and memories connected with love. The melodies of this track are melancholic and beautiful. Finally, in the last track, the soft and haunting melodies of the album get wrapped up, prompting quiet reflections. The listener enters an intimate conversation with the music, which feels emotional and light and frees the soul.

Take Away

In the remastered songs, we discover new details that offer fresh insights into the theme. On the other hand, the inclusion of these unreleased songs allows for a more intense treatment of the subject of love. Whalen’s ability to encapsulate subtle and complex emotions within atmospheric soundscapes shines through throughout the album. In revisiting old favorites and discovering new compositions, My Secret Heart stands out as a treasure trove of beautiful melodies that celebrate the best of LOVE.