Pieces Of A Dream: Greatest Hits

True pop diva with numerous number one hit singles and successful album releases

Raised in New York City, Anastacia came from an entertainment-oriented family: her father was a singer, her mother an actress in musical theater on Broadway. Despite being diagnosed with the chronic intestinal illness Crohn's disease at age 13, she developed a career as a dancer. In 1999, she was a finalist on the MTV talent contest show The Cut, which attracted the interest of record labels. Anastacia recorded her debut album, Not That Kind, which was released internationally in 2000. The result was massive success. She has sold in excess of 20 million albums worldwide thanks to her unique and powerful voice. Now Anastacia is regarded as a true pop diva in Europe with numerous number one hit singles and successful album releases. Oddly, the Chicago singer has never been able to gain any considerable chart momentum in her home country. The little lady with the huge voice Anastacia gives music lovers her greatest hits collection entitled Pieces of a Dream. It contains all 12 of her singles from the albums Not That Kind, Freak Of Nature and 2004's Anastacia, plus a few brand new tracks and a previously unreleased club megamix.

Pieces Of A Dream: all major hits and a few brand new tracks

Among the album’s 17-tracks are all the major hits, including Not That Kind, Left Outside Alone and the excellent Sick and Tired. There’s one track that is heavily associated with the big lunged one and that is of course I’m Outta Love, easily the I Will Survive of this generation. It’s amazing to hear many familiar tunes and what a talented vocalist she is. Paid My Dues and Why'd You Lie To Me pack choruses that could pummel detractors into submission. Worthy of mention are some quality new tracks, placed towards the end but good enough to be top of the bill. Best of these is I Belong To You, a gorgeous duet with Eros Ramazzotti, which reveals a silkier side to the hard edge normally so distinctive in Anastacia’s voice, and ends with the kind of lung excess that would put Celine Dion to shame. New ballad In Your Eyes are also beautifully sung. Pieces of a Dream, the first single off this greatest hits compilation, is a classic power ballad that fits Anastacia's out of this world vocals nicely. The title track was penned by the singer with Glen Ballard and David Hodges of Evanescence, who provide a further connection herein on the epic Fantastic 4 soundtrack song Everything Burns on which Anastacia duets with the group's Ben Moody.

The singer is growing more comfortable with guitar-based rock

Contract fillers, beginner's guides to extensive back catalogues or an efficient way of wringing the last ounces of worth out of a waning star, greatest hits collections are always more than just a collection of greatest hits. And releasing them is an art. Putting out the obligatory Best Of too early can be akin to cutting a healthy career off at the knees. Wait too long and it can disappear without trace due to lack of interest. Anastacia's startling vocal ability is driven home by Pieces of a Dream, her first greatest hits collection. Her triumphant return after being diagnosed with breast cancer has been remarkable. Impressive from start to finish, Pieces of a Dream is still further proof of Anastacia's outstanding talent. The singer is growing more comfortable with guitar-based rock and edging away from the kind of Ally McBeal show adult pop that was her original vehicle to success.