Demon Music Group
Pop, 2025

Well, this is a surprise, as I thought Belinda Carlisle has probably retired by now. Well, her lips definitely aren’t sealed, as Once Upon a Time in California is a collection of — what for it — cover versions. 

I know, it’s not the most exciting news, as an album of cover versions usually means that the artist has minimal support when it comes to buying or making original songs. 

Still, there is a reason to justify this. This is a collection of songs closely associated to California, which Ms Carlisle was born and raised in, and she claims that this album is a personal travel through her past or what not. 

That sounds nice on paper, but let’s be honest here, Belinda Carlisle is not a vocal powerhouse. I say this as a fan, mind you, but the fun in her songs relies more on the catchy hooks and melodies. Her voice alone is kind of thin.

Hence, her cover of Harry Nilsson’s Everyone’s Talkin’ only has me pausing some two minutes in to play the original. Same with her rendition of Gordon Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind — give me the original or the disco version by Stars on 54 anytime. 

The entire album is like this. At best, I smile, think “How cute!”, and look up the original to remind myself how good that sounded. At worst, I wince and then look up the original. 

In other words, I think Belinda Carlisle, bless her, has overreached here. Some songs are untouchable for a good reason, and one has better have an amazing voice or a great recreation — Stars on 54’s disco’ed cover version of If You Could Read My Mind comes to mind — to pull it off. 

Sadly, she doesn’t quite succeed, hence this album is middling and forgettable. Let’s bin this and play Summer Rain, La Luna, and the rest of her true classics instead.